Can WebRTC be disabled ?

[jsheridan]

Is there a way to disable WebRTC to ensure that it does not leak my real IP address even when using a VPN ?

I've read that there is no known solution for this in Chromium-based browsers and that plug-ins that claim to prevent the leaks are easily circumvented.

In Firefox it can be disabled as follows:

Use these instructions if you wish to manually disable WebRTC:

Type "about:config" into the address bar and hit Enter.
Click the button "I accept the risk!".
Type "media.peerconnection.enabled" in the search bar. Only one entry should appear.
Right-click on the entry and choose "Toggle" to change the Value column to "false".
To enable WebRTC again, follow the instructions until the Value column changes back to "true".

[Pesala]

@jsheridan See Settings, Privacy.

[jsheridan]

I saw that setting. Does that take care of the problem ?

[jsheridan]

@Gwen-Dragon Thank you.

[Priest72]

@Gwen-Dragon said in Can WebRTC be disabled ?:

@jsheridan Yes, in Setting → Privacy → Untick the Broadacast of IP for Best WebRTC disables such privacy leak WebRTC could be.

I have unticked that setting but for some reason when vivaldi is restarted it is checked again..just a point of note.

[Priest72]

@Gwen-Dragon it is definately happening on my end..it is a consistent occurrance.

[rafiki]

@Gwen-Dragon I find similar. Uncheck becomes checked after restart, Latest stable Vivaldi, Windows 10 64 bit.

[Catweazle]

@Gwen-Dragon , same issue, WebRTC is marked in every newstart

[Priest72]

@Catweazle not entirely certain it can be stopped in chromium browsers.i have disabled everything WEBRTC related in the chromium flags.

[Blackbird]

@rafiki FWIW, it's NOT happening here, either with a Vivaldi restart or a Windows restart. Windows 10x64 Pro (1909); Vivaldi 3.1.1929.48 (Stable channel) (64-bit); extensions - CookieAutoDelete 3.4.0, NoScript 11.0.32, Ghostery 8.5.1.

[Catweazle]

@Gwen-Dragon , restart of Vivaldi.
i disable WebRTC in settings>close Vivaldi>open Vivaldi>WebRTC enabled again.
Enabled Block WebRTC in flags > restart > WebRTC enabled again.
Win10 64 1909, last Vivaldi stable.
I have to disable WebRTC every time when I open Vivaldi.

[rafiki]

How odd. I just went through the process yet again. I unticked the box, exited Vivaldi, restarted Vivaldi and the box is ticked once again. I wonder if there is a backroom setting that can be set instead?

[iAN CooG]

uBlock Origin has WebRTC setting that overrides the one in Vivaldi, maybe it's that checked?

[rafiki]

I only just came across this problem so I haven't tried any of the above yet, but I will.

[Catweazle]

@iAN-CooG , I disabled uBO and relaunched Vivaldi, WebRTC enabled again. nor is it caused by other extensions.

[rafiki]

I have just followed the same path as you and the problem persists.

[TbGbe]

@Catweazle said in Can WebRTC be disabled ?:

I disabled uBO and relaunched Vivaldi, WebRTC enabled again. nor is it caused by other extensions.

Please double check ALL extensions and their settings.

I had Ublock Origin (with option "Prevent WebRTC" activated).
I also had Privacy Badger (with option "Prevent WebRTC" activated).

As @iAN-CooG stated, I found that either of these (and both) caused the Vivaldi setting to be activated on restart.
Disabling that option for BOTH extensions was required before the Vivaldi setting was preserved.

[hlehyaric]

@TbGbe You & @iAN-CooG are right (according to me). I had to disable «Prevent WebRTC…» in uBlock Origin to avoid the V setting to be activated on restart.

[iAN CooG]

@hlehyaric I think this was reported multiple times in the past on other threads, that's why I remember it.

[TbGbe]

@Gwen-Dragon I don't believe it is a bug!
As users we have a choice, let the setting be controlled by the Browser OR by Extension(s).

If we want an extension to control the setting, then the browser handling should be turned off (in this case Enabled).

If we want the browser to control it, then the extension handling should be turned off.