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Checking your real location is hidden

AVG Secure VPN allows you to disguise your location by hiding your real IP address. This helps prevent websites and servers from tracking your real location. If you want to check that your real location is hidden when using AVG Secure VPN, follow the instructions in this article.

Ensure that you are connected to the internet via AVG Secure VPN servers before following the instructions below. For instructions, refer to the following article:

Check your IP address

After connecting to AVG Secure VPN, your virtual IP address is displayed on the main application screen. To verify if your IP address and location has changed, follow the instructions below.

  1. Click the Windows start icon and start typing cmd to open the search box, then select Command Prompt from the search results.
  2. In the Command Prompt window, type nslookup myip.opendns.com. resolver1.opendns.com and press the ↵ Enter key on your keyboard.
  3. The second IP address displayed in the Command Prompt window should match your virtual IP address as shown on the main AVG Secure VPN screen.
  1. In the Apple menu bar, select Go ▸ Utilities ▸ Terminal.
  2. In the Terminal window, type nslookup myip.opendns.com. resolver1.opendns.com and press the ↵ Enter key on your keyboard.
  3. The second IP address displayed in the Command Prompt window should match your virtual IP address as shown on the main AVG Secure VPN screen.

If you are connected to AVG Secure VPN but your real IP address is still visible, try connecting to a different server by clicking Change Location on the main application screen. If the issue persists, contact AVG Support.

Disable location services

Some websites and servers use geolocation tracking to discover your real location, even when you are using a VPN. To stop this from happening, you may need to disable location services on your device to ensure your real location remains hidden when using a VPN.

  1. Click the Windows start icon and select Settings.
  2. Click Privacy, then select Location in the left panel.
  3. Under Location for this device is on, click Change.
  4. Click the On slider so that it changes to Off in the Location access for this device box.
  1. Click the Apple icon in the Apple menu bar, then select System Preferences....
  2. Open Security & Privacy.
  3. Select the Privacy tab.
  4. If your settings are locked, click the lock icon. Then, enter the password that you use when you start your Mac, and click Unlock.
  5. Untick the box next to Enable Location Services.

If you are connected to AVG Secure VPN and you have disabled location services on your device, but you are still experiencing location tracking issues, we recommend using incognito/private browsing mode.

Use incognito/private browsing mode

Most web browsers have an incognito/private browsing mode that allows you to surf the web without leaving any traces on your device, such as cookies, temporary internet files (cache), or browsing history that can be used to track your real location. In most cases, using incognito/private browsing mode will resolve any remaining location tracking issues.

Open your preferred browser, then follow the relevant steps below:

  • Google Chrome: Go to ⋮ Menu (three dots) ▸ New Incognito window.
  • Mozilla Firefox: Go to ☰ Menu (three lines) ▸ New Private Window.
  • Microsoft Edge: Go to … Menu (three dots) ▸ New InPrivate window.
  • Opera: Go to Menu (the Opera icon) ▸ New private window.
  • Safari: Ensure that the Safari window is open and active, then click File ▸ New Private Window in the Apple menu bar.
  • AVG Secure Browser: Go to ⋮ Menu (three dots) ▸ New Private Mode Window.

If you continue to experience problems with specific webpages, try changing your browser location settings, cleaning your cache and cookies, or clearing your Java and Flash cache.

Change your browser location settings

  1. Open Google Chrome and go to ⋮ Menu (three dots) ▸ Settings.
  2. Scroll to the Privacy and security settings.
  3. Click Site Settings ▸ Location.
  4. Select Don't allow sites to see your location. This will automatically deny all site requests for your location.

Mozilla Firefox asks for your permission when a website attempts to access your location data. To disable this feature completely, follow the steps below:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox and type about:config into the address bar, then press the ↵ Enter key on your keyboard.
  2. A warning message will appear. Click Accept the Risk and Continue.
  3. In the Search bar below the address bar, enter geo.enabled.
  4. Double-click on the geo.enabled preference so that the value changes from true to false. Location-aware browsing is now disabled.

Microsoft Edge asks for your permission when a website attempts to access your location data. To disable this feature completely, follow the steps below:

  1. Open Microsoft Edge and go to … Menu (three dots) ▸ Settings.
  2. Click Cookies and site permissions in the left panel.
  3. Select Location under All permissions.
  4. Click the slider next to Ask before accessing so that it changes to white (OFF).

Opera asks for your permission when a website attempts to access your location data. To disable this feature completely, follow the steps below:

  1. Open Opera and go to Menu (the Opera icon) ▸ Settings.
  2. Click Advanced ▸ Privacy and security.
  3. Click Content settings ▸ Location.
  4. Click the slider next to Ask before accessing so that it changes to gray (OFF).
  1. Ensure that the Safari window is open and active, then click Safari ▸ Preferences... in the Apple menu bar.
  2. Select the Privacy tab.
  3. Ensure the box next to Prevent cross-site tracking is ticked.

AVG Secure Browser asks for your permission when a website attempts to access your location data. To disable this feature completely, follow the steps below:

  1. Open AVG Secure Browser and go to ⋮ Menu (three dots) ▸ Settings.
  2. Scroll to the Privacy and security settings.
  3. Click Site Settings ▸ Location.
  4. Click the slider next to Ask before accessing (recommended) so that it changes to gray (OFF).

Clean your cache and cookies

  1. Open Google Chrome and go to ⋮ Menu (three dots) ▸ Settings.
  2. Scroll to the Privacy and security settings.
  3. Click Clear browsing data.
  4. Select the Advanced tab, then select All time using the Time range drop-down menu.
  5. Ensure the following items are ticked:
    • Browsing history
    • Download history
    • Cookies and other site data
    • Cached images and files
  6. Click Clear data.
  1. Open Mozilla Firefox and go to ☰ Menu (three lines) ▸ Options.
  2. Select Privacy & Security in the left panel.
  3. In the Cookies and Site Data section, click Clear Data....
  4. Ensure the boxes next to Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content are ticked, then click Clear.
  5. Scroll to the History section, and click Clear History.
  6. Use the Time range to clear drop-down menu to select your preferred option.
  7. Ensure the following options are ticked:
    • Browsing & Download History
    • Cookies
    • Cache
    • Offline Website Data
    • Site Preferences
  8. Click OK.
  1. Open Microsoft Edge and go to … Menu (three dots) ▸ Settings.
  2. Click Privacy, search, and services.
  3. Next to Clear browsing data now, select Choose what to clear.
  4. Use the Time range drop-down menu to select All time.
  5. Ensure the following options are ticked:
    • Browsing history
    • Download history
    • Cached data and files
    • Download history
  6. Click Clear.
  1. Open Opera and go to Menu (the Opera icon) ▸ Settings.
  2. Click Advanced ▸ Privacy and security.
  3. Click Clear browsing data.
  4. Select the Advanced tab, then select All time using the Time range drop-down menu.
  5. Ensure the following items are ticked:
    • Browsing history
    • Download history
    • Cookies and other site data
    • Cached images and files
  6. Click Clear data.
  1. Ensure that the Safari window is open and active, then click Safari ▸ Clear History... in the Apple menu bar.
  2. Next to Clear, select all history.
  3. Click Clear History.
If you use iCloud to synchronize browser data, the steps above will also remove your history data from iCloud and all Safari browsers on other computers and devices.
  1. Open AVG Secure Browser and go to ⋮ Menu (three dots) ▸ Settings.
  2. Scroll to the Privacy and security settings.
  3. Click Privacy Cleaner - clear browsing data.
  4. Select the Advanced tab, then select All time using the Time range drop-down menu.
  5. Ensure the following items are ticked:
    • Browsing history
    • Download history
    • Cookies and other site data
    • Cached images and files
  6. Click Clear data.

Clear Java & Flash cache

Java & Flash cache are stored separately. Clearing the Java Plug-in cache and the Adobe Flash cache forces your browser to load the latest versions of webpages and programs, which ensures that all traces of your real location are removed.

Clear Java Cache

  1. Click the Windows start icon, start typing control panel to open the search box, and select Control Panel from the search results.
  2. Click Programs.
  3. Double-click the Java icon to open the Java Control Panel.
  4. Click Settings under Temporary Internet Files, then click Delete Files.
  5. Ensure the boxes next to Trace and Log Files and Cached Applications and Applets are ticked, then click OK.
  6. Click OK on the Temporary Files Settings window.
  7. In the Java Control Panel window, click Apply to save all the changes.

For detailed instructions, refer to the following article:


Clear Adobe Flash Cache

  1. Click the link below to open the Flash Player Settings Manager:
  2. Ensure you are on the Website Storage Settings panel, then click Delete all sites.
  3. Click Confirm.

Clear Java Cache

  1. Click the Apple icon in the Apple menu bar, then select System Preferences....
  2. Click the Java icon to open the Java Control Panel.
  3. Click Settings under Temporary Internet Files, then click Delete Files.
  4. Ensure the boxes next to Trace and Log Files and Cached Applications and Applets are ticked, then click OK.
  5. Click OK on the Temporary Files Settings window.
  6. In the Java Control Panel window, click Apply to save all the changes.

Clear Adobe Flash Cache

  1. Click the Apple icon in the Apple menu bar, then select System Preferences....
  2. Click the Flash Player icon to open the Flash Player Control Panel.
  3. Select the Advanced tab, then click Delete All... under Browsing Data and Settings.
  4. Ensure that only Delete All Site Data and Settings is ticked, then click Delete Data.
  5. Close the Flash Player and System Preferences windows, then restart your browser.
  • AVG Secure VPN 1.x for Windows
  • AVG Secure VPN 1.x for Mac
  • Microsoft Windows 11 Home / Pro / Enterprise / Education
  • Microsoft Windows 10 Home / Pro / Enterprise / Education - 32 / 64-bit
  • Microsoft Windows 8.1 / Pro / Enterprise - 32 / 64-bit
  • Microsoft Windows 8 / Pro / Enterprise - 32 / 64-bit
  • Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic / Home Premium / Professional / Enterprise / Ultimate - Service Pack 1 with Convenient Rollup Update, 32 / 64-bit

  • Apple macOS 11.x (Big Sur)
  • Apple macOS 10.15.x (Catalina)
  • Apple macOS 10.14.x (Mojave)
  • Apple macOS 10.13.x (High Sierra)
  • Apple macOS 10.12.x (Sierra)
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