Apple’s iCloud Private Relay is leaking the IP addresses it’s supposed to hide

Apple markets iCloud Private Relay(new window) as a way to browse the web without exposing your IP address. That request skips Private Relay’s proxy entirely(new window), so the site sees your real IP address while everything on screen looks normal and protected. Private Relay isn’t a VPN substitutePrivate Relay only protects Safari, not your whole device. A dedicated VPN encrypts all device traffic, so your real IP never reaches the sites you visit, which is why a VPN you trust still matters even with Private Relay on. If you want to sign up for something without giving out your real address, Proton Mail’s hide-my-email aliases let you do just that.