IPv4/IPv6 Dual Protocol Detection: A Simple Guide to Internal vs. Public IPs

We use the internet every day in our daily lives and work, but when it comes to clearly explaining what type of IP we have, whether it is exposed to the public internet, or whether it supports IPv6, many people feel confused.

Especially for those involved in cross-border business, e-commerce, multi-account operations, or server deployment, not understanding the difference between private and public IPs can easily lead to costly mistakes.

Today, we’ll walk you through a systematic guide to IPv4/IPv6 dual-protocol detection. You’ll learn how to use an online IP detection tool to check private and public IP addresses with one click, and combine it with browser fingerprint detection to fully understand your network environment.

1. Why Is IPv4/IPv6 Dual-Protocol Detection Necessary?

Many people check their IP address and, after seeing only an IPv4 address, assume the detection is complete. In reality, more and more network environments now support IPv6. If you only check IPv4, you may miss your real outbound IP information.

What Are IPv4 and IPv6?

•  IPv4: Traditional 32-bit address, such as 192.168.1.1

•  IPv6: 128-bit address, such as 2408:xxxx:xxxx::xxxx

•  If your network environment is dual-stack (IPv4 + IPv6), but you only proxy IPv4 and do not handle IPv6, your real IPv6 address may be directly exposed to the public internet.

That’s why IPv4/IPv6 dual-protocol detection is essential.

2. What’s the Core Difference Between Private and Public IP Queries?

When checking IP addresses, many people see addresses like:

•  192.168.x.x  

•  10.x.x.x  

•  172.16.x.x

These are typical private IP addresses, which can only communicate within a local area network (LAN).

The IP that is truly exposed externally is the public IPv4 or public IPv6 assigned by your ISP.

How to Distinguish Them?

It’s simple:

1. Open an online IP detection website.

2. Check whether the displayed IP belongs to a private range.

3. Compare it with your local command-line query results.

If the IP shown in your browser is different from the one in your local network adapter settings, then what you’re seeing is your public outbound IP address.

3. Step-by-Step Guide to Online IP Detection (Practical Steps)

Step 1: Perform a Basic IP Address Query

Open an online IP detection tool that supports IPv4/IPv6 dual-protocol detection and check:

•  Current IPv4 address

•  Current IPv6 address

•  Country

•  ISP

•  ASN information

If both protocols are displayed, your network is running in a dual-stack environment.

Step 2: Check for IPv6 Leaks

Many people enable a proxy but only proxy IPv4. The result:

•  IPv4 shows the proxy country

•  IPv6 shows the real local country

This is a typical IPv6 leak.

Solution: Disable system IPv6 or use a proxy service that supports both IPv4 and IPv6.

Step 3: Combine with Browser Fingerprint Detection

IP checking alone is not enough. Many platforms now combine data such as Canvas fingerprint, WebGL fingerprint, time zone, and language.

It is recommended to use the ToDetect fingerprint query tool to perform:

•  Browser fingerprint detection

•  DNS leak detection

•  IPv6 exposure detection

•  WebRTC detection

•  Proxy consistency analysis

Especially suitable for multi-account operations and risk-control troubleshooting.

4. Common Scenarios Where IP Detection Is Necessary

1️⃣ Cross-border e-commerce / independent websites

You need to confirm whether it is a real residential IP, whether it supports native IPv6, whether there is dual-protocol conflict, and whether DNS leaks exist.

2️⃣ Advertising placement / affiliate marketing

Platform risk control is becoming increasingly strict. You must ensure stable IP query results, normal ASN status, consistent IPv4/IPv6 country information, and a clean browser fingerprint.

3️⃣ Server deployment / remote work

Many cloud servers enable only IPv4 by default. If your business requires IPv6 access capability, you must configure it separately.

Recommendation: Before going live, conduct a complete private/public IP query, dual-protocol connectivity test, and DNS resolution consistency check.

5. An Often Overlooked Detail: WebRTC Leaks

Even if your proxy is configured correctly, the browser’s WebRTC may expose your real private IP.

How to Detect:

1. Open an online IP detection page.

2. Check whether a local LAN IP is displayed.

If you see 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x, it indicates a leak.

Solution: Disable WebRTC, use anti-leak extensions, or use a browser with fingerprint isolation features.

6. Complete IP Information Detection Checklist (Recommended to Save)

When conducting a complete IP check, it is recommended to verify:

•  Whether IPv4 is functioning properly

•  Whether IPv6 is exposed

•  Whether the country information is consistent

•  Whether DNS is leaking

•  Whether WebRTC is leaking

•  Whether ASN is abnormal

•  Whether the browser fingerprint is unique

If any one of these factors has an issue, your account may be flagged by risk control systems.

Conclusion

After completing this process, you will clearly understand your IPv4/IPv6 addresses, the difference between private and public IPs, and whether your browser fingerprint has leakage risks.

Stop blindly using the internet or relying on a single IP check. Perform a proper IP address query and use the ToDetect fingerprint query tool to examine your browser fingerprint thoroughly in one go.

Once you master these steps, you can browse with confidence without worrying about account risk control or privacy leaks.