A new free online tool lets users instantly check both their physical location and the virtual location visible to websites, helping them better understand how location data affects their privacy online
LONDON, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Location data can reveal much more than where a person is at a given moment. It can show patterns in behavior, including which places someone visits regularly, when they are usually at home, and where they travel. It can also be collected and sold through data brokers, increasing privacy risks as the information spreads further.
The My Location tool uses the browser’s geolocation API to determine real location and show it on a map while also displaying the IP-based location that online services can typically see by default. My Location operates at the browser level, and NordVPN does not log or store any location data revealed through its use.
“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.”
One of the main aims of the My Location tool is to help users understand the difference between real location and virtual location. Real location is determined through GPS or other device-based methods, while virtual location is based on the IP address attached to online traffic. That difference matters because apps asking for location access are usually trying to determine where a user physically is, while websites often rely on IP data to estimate where the connection is coming from.
The risks linked to location exposure range from targeted advertising and price discrimination to intrusive surveillance and stalking. A time-stamped location history can make it easier to infer where someone lives and how they move through daily life, while websites may show different prices based on a user’s region.
To reduce unnecessary exposure, Marijus Briedis recommends regularly reviewing app permissions, allowing location access only while using an app, disabling geotagging in camera settings, and choosing privacy-friendly tools where possible. A VPN can also help protect virtual location by changing the IP address visible to websites, although it does not affect GPS-based tracking.
SOURCE NordVPN
