NordVPNs new free tool reveals exactly what the internet knows about your location

Date:
Fri, 03 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Description:
Ever wondered what location data you're giving away online? NordVPN has just launched 'My Location', a free browser-based tool that shows the difference between your real-world physical location and your virtual IP address. Here
is how it works.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member
features. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter NordVPN has released a new free browser tool "My Location" displays your physical location alongside the virtual location The tool seeks to help users grasp their digital privacy risks Location data can give away far more than just what coffee shop you are sitting in. It exposes the places you visit regularly, your daily routines, and exactly when you are away from home. Now, to help users understand exactly what data they are broadcasting, the team behind one of the best VPN services has released a dedicated way to check.

NordVPN has officially launched My Location , a completely free online tool designed to let you instantly check both your physical location and the virtual location visible to the websites you visit. Operating entirely at the browser level, the tool aims to demystify how different types of location
data impact your digital privacy. "Location is one of the most sensitive
types of personal information because it can reveal where you are as well as patterns about your daily life," says Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN. "Once this data is exposed or shared too broadly, it can be used for profiling, targeting, and other purposes far beyond the original reason it was collected." You may like Google killed its dark web scanner, but NordVPNs upgraded tool is here to fill the void NordVPNs new tool helps you spot
online scams and its free for everyone NordVPN just made it easier to browse from 30 'hard-to-reach' countries NordVPN: up to $50 of Amazon gift cards
with 2-year plans NordVPN is celebrating its 14th year with the return of a fan-favorite deal. While its prices haven't been reduced this time round, grabbing a NordVPN deal gives you the chance to get free Amazon gift vouchers on all its non-Basic plans. With any of these plans, you'll get: Threat Protection Pro NordPass password management Data breach scanning 10 simultaneous connections Super-quick VPN connections To get the maximum
value gift voucher, you'll need to get the most expensive NordVPN plans. Remember, though, it's only worth upgrading to plans that offer features you think you'll actually use. View Deal Real vs. virtual location One of the primary goals of the My Location tool is to educate users on the crucial difference between their real and virtual locations.

Your real location is pinpointed using device-based methods like GPS or your browser's geolocation API, which apps typically use when they ask for access to your whereabouts.

Your virtual location , however, is based on the IP address attached to your online traffic. This is the data that websites rely on by default to estimate where your connection is originating from.

Why does this difference matter? Handing over this information can lead to targeted advertising and regional price discrimination, where websites show you different prices based on your region. In more severe cases, a time-stamped location history can invite intrusive surveillance or stalking
by making it easy to infer where you live and track how you move through
daily life. How to use the My Location tool safely (Image credit: Future) Using the tool is incredibly straightforward, but there is a specific step
you should follow to protect your privacy.

When you navigate to the My Location page, you will see a button to test your location. If you are using Google Chrome, clicking "Test" will trigger a browser warning asking, "Can I give NordVPN your location?" Alongside this warning, Chrome will present you with three options: "Block," "Just this time," or "Always."

Users should opt for "Just this time." By doing this, you allow the tool to use your browser's geolocation API to determine your real physical location and map it alongside your IP-based virtual location for that single session. Because you haven't granted permanent access, the tool won't work again automatically, keeping your long-term privacy intact. What to read next Surfshark launches HeyPolo, a privacy-first location sharing app to kill "always-on" tracking How to change your GPS location on Android devices with Surfshark Your smartphone is quietly sharing your data overnight, NordVPN warns here's how to limit it

Crucially, you don't need to worry about the provider keeping tabs on you. NordVPN confirmed that the tool operates purely at the browser level and it "does not log or store any location data revealed through its use." How to protect your location data Beyond simply checking what information is
visible, taking active steps to lock down your data is essential.

Briedis recommends a few simple hygiene habits for your devices. You should regularly review your app permissions, ensuring you only allow location
access while actively using an app. Additionally, it is highly recommended to disable geotagging in your device's camera settings and choose privacy-friendly tools wherever possible.

Finally, while a virtual private network (VPN) won't mask GPS-based tracking, it is the best way to protect your virtual footprint. By routing your
internet traffic through an encrypted server, a VPN changes the IP address visible to websites, ensuring your general browsing activity remains safely hidden. Today's best NordVPN deals NordVPN 2 Year 2.59 /mth View at NordVPN NordVPN 1 year 3.79 /mth View at NordVPN NordVPN 1 Month 9.69 /mth View at NordVPN Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-services/nordvpns-new-free-tool-reveals-exac tly-what-the-internet-knows-about-your-location


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)