What is WebRTC and how to disable it?

Quick transition to setting up browsers

WebRTC (from Web real-time communications) is a technology that allows you to transfer audio and video streaming data between browsers and mobile applications.

Logo of WebRTC


The development of this technology is competing with Skype. WebRTC can be used to organize video conferences directly in the browser. The project has open source code and is actively promoted by Google and in particular the development team of Google Chrome browser.


How WebRTC works

Browsers of users thanks to WebRTC technology can transmit data directly to each other. WebRTC does not need a separate server that would store and process the data. All data is processed directly by browsers and mobile applications of users.

How WebRTC works


WebRTC technology is supported by all popular browsers Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome (and all browsers based on Google Chrome), as well as mobile applications based on Android and iOS.


The Danger of WebRTC

The danger of WebRTC technology is to determine your real IP address. Since the connection goes directly to another user, browser, website or mobile application, the network settings are ignored. To create audio and video communication, browsers must exchange external and local IP addresses.

Anonymous VPN service solves this problem and hides the real IP address. The maximum that can be detected is the local IP address assigned to the user by the VPN network. This is not dangerous, since the same local IP addresses will be shown if you use a router to distribute the Internet.

WebRTC does not determine the real IP address when using VPN


If you use a proxy, then WebRTC will be able to determine your real IP address for the proxy or IP address of the VPN server if you use the VPN + proxy chain.

WebRTC determines the real IP address when using a proxy


WebRTC also determines your real IP address using Tor network.

WebRTC determines the real IP address when using the Tor network


The best solution is to disable WebRTC technology if you do not use it.



How to disable WebRTC in browsers

Quick navigation on this page.

Mozilla Firefox

Opera

Google Chrome

Yandex Browser

SRWare Iron and others based on Google Chrome

Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge

Safari on macOS

Safari on iOS

Google Chrome on Android




How to disable WebRTC in Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox browser is the only browser that allows to disable WebRTC without installing additional plugins.


Manual setting

If you do not use WebRTC technology, you can completely disable it. In the case where it is necessary to use WebRTC it is sometimes more convenient to install the plugin for Firefox.

To disable WebRTC technology in Mozilla Firefox, enter the following text in the browser's address bar and press Enter.

about:config

Settings for disabling WebRTC in Firefox


Click to I accept the risk.

Accept the risk to disable WebRTC in Firefox


Do the following:

  1. Enter text in the search box and press Enter..
  2. media.peerconnection.enabled
  3. Right-click on the line and select Toggle. Or double click on the line.

Disabling WebRTC in Firefox


After these actions, WebRTC will be disabled.

WebRTC technology is disabled in Mozilla Firefox




Configuration via the plugin WebRTC Control

If you use WebRTC technology, turning off and turning on the settings will take a long time. Install a plugin that will help turn WebRTC on and off in 1 mouse click.

Open Add-ons.

Extensions to disable WebRTC in Firefox


Choose:

  1. Search section
  2. Enter the name of the plugin in the search box: WebRTC Control
  3. Click to Install

Install plugin WebRTC Control in Firefox


Activate the plugin. The plugin icon should turn blue to block the WebRTC.

WebRTC is disabled through a plugin in Firefox




How to disable WebRTC in Opera browser

To disable WebRTC in the Opera browser, go to the Extensions Gallery.

Extension Gallery for disabling WebRTC in Opera


Follow these steps:

  1. Enter the name of the plugin in the search box: WebRTC Control
  2. Click to plugin

Search for the WebRTC Control plugin to disable WebRTC in Opera


Click Add to Opera.

Install plugin to disable WebRTC in Opera


Activate the plugin. The plugin icon should turn blue to block the WebRTC.

WebRTC is disabled in Opera




How to disable WebRTC in Google Chrome

To disable WebRTC in the Google Chrome browser, go to the Extensions section.

Extensions to disable WebRTC in Chrome


Scroll down and click Get more extensions.

View extensions to disable WebRTC in Chrome


Follow these steps:

  1. Enter the name of the plugin in the search box: WebRTC Control
  2. Click Add to Chrome.

Install plugin WebRTC Control in Chrome


Click Add extension.

Allow to install plugin in Chrome


Activate the plugin. The plugin icon should turn blue to block the WebRTC.

WebRTC is disabled in Google Chrome




How to disable WebRTC in Yandex Browser

To disable WebRTC in Yandex Browser, go to the Extensions section.

Extensions to disable WebRTC in Yandex Browser


Scroll down and click Yandex Browser exntesions catalog.

Extensions catalog to disable WebRTC in Яндекс Браузере


Do the following:

  1. Enter the name of the plugin in the search box: WebRTC Control
  2. Click on the plugin to install.

WebRTC Control plugin in Yandex Browser


Click Add to Yandex Browser.

Install plugin to disable WebRTC in Yandex Browser


Click Add extension.

Allow to install plugin


Activate the plugin. The plugin icon should turn blue to block the WebRTC.

WebRTC is disabled in Yandex Browser




How to disable WebRTC in the browser SRWare Iron

The SRWare Iron browser is based on Google Chrome.

Install the WebRTC Control plugin according to the instruction for Google Chrome.




How to disable WebRTC in Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge

Browser Internet Explorer does not support WebRTC technology.

Microsoft Edge uses WebRTC technology. To partially disable WebRTC in the Microsoft Edge browser, follow these steps:

  1. Enter about:flags in browser address bar
  2. Mark checkbox
  3. Restart browser

Partial disabling of WebRTC in Microsoft Edge





How to disable WebRTC in Safari on macOS

To disable WebRTC, go to the Safari browser Preferences.

Preferences for disabling WebRTC in Safari on macOS


On the Advanced tab, mark checkbox to show the Develop menu in menu bar.

Show section Develop menu in Safari on macOS


Check the Remove Legacy WebRTC API to disable WebRTC technology in Safari on macOS.

Disabling WebRTC in Safari on macOS





How to disable WebRTC in Safari on iOS

WebRTC can only be disabled in iOS 11 and below. Starting with iOS 12, Apple has removed the ability to disable this feature from Settings.

Go to Settings in iOS 11 and below.

Settings to disable WebRTC in Safari on iOS


Scroll down and look for Safari.

Settings Safari on iOS


Click Advanced.

Advanced settings in Safari on iOS


Click Experimental Features.

Experimental Features Safari on iOS


Click Remove Legacy WebRTC API to disable WebRTC technology on iOS.

Disabling WebRTC in Safari on iOS





How to disable WebRTC in Chrome on Android

To disable WebRTC in Google Chrome on Android, you need enter the next text in the address bar in browser.

chrome://flags/#disable-webrtc

Set the parameter to enable. Restart Google Chrome and after that WebRTC will be disabled.




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