What a DNS Leak Actually Is (and Isn't)

You ran a DNS leak test on BrowserScan and it shows a different location than your proxy IP. Is your proxy broken? Are you exposed? Let's break down what's actually happening.

What DNS Does

When you visit a website like youtube.com, your computer needs to translate that domain name into an IP address. This translation is handled by DNS (Domain Name System) servers.

Your DNS request flow typically looks like this:

You type youtube.com in your browser
Your computer asks a DNS server "What's the IP for youtube.com?"
The DNS server responds with the IP address
Your browser connects to that IP

What a DNS Leak Actually Is

A true DNS leak occurs when you're using a VPN or proxy to hide your real IP, but your DNS requests bypass the proxy and go directly to your ISP's DNS servers. This can reveal:

Your real ISP
Your approximate location
The websites you're visiting (to your ISP)

Why BrowserScan Shows "DNS Leaks" (That Aren't)

Here's where confusion happens. BrowserScan and similar tools show you where your DNS queries are being resolved. If you see a different country than your proxy IP, the tool might flag this as a "leak."

But here's the thing: this isn't necessarily a leak.

How HTTP Proxies Work

When you use an HTTP proxy (like TubeProxies), your setup is:

Browser connects to proxy server
Proxy server makes the request to the website
Website sees the proxy's IP

The DNS resolution happens at the proxy server level, not on your computer. Your local DNS settings are irrelevant for the actual website connection.

What BrowserScan Actually Tests

BrowserScan uses JavaScript to trigger DNS lookups from your browser. These DNS requests might go through different paths than your actual proxy traffic. This is why you might see:

Proxy IP: United States
DNS: Your local country

This doesn't mean YouTube or Instagram sees your real location. They see the proxy IP.

When DNS Leaks Actually Matter

Real DNS leaks matter when:

VPN usage - If you're using a VPN for privacy and DNS bypasses it, your ISP can see your browsing
Corporate security - DNS leaks can expose internal domains
Geo-restriction bypass - Some streaming services check DNS location separately

For social media automation with HTTP proxies? DNS "leaks" shown by BrowserScan are typically not a concern.

How to Verify Your Proxy Is Working

Instead of worrying about DNS leak tests, verify what matters:

Check your visible IP - Visit whatismyip.com through your proxy
Verify the IP location - Use multiple IP lookup tools
Test the actual platform - Does YouTube see the correct region?

The Technical Reality

When using HTTP/HTTPS proxies:

Your browser sends the full URL to the proxy
The proxy resolves DNS on its end
The proxy makes the connection
Website sees proxy IP, not yours

The DNS your browser uses locally doesn't affect what the destination website sees.

Summary

BrowserScan DNS tests can be misleading for HTTP proxy users
A different DNS location doesn't mean your proxy isn't working
Focus on verifying your actual IP visibility, not DNS test results
True DNS leaks are a VPN concern, less relevant for HTTP proxies

Still concerned? Contact us and we'll help you verify your setup is working correctly.