In the digital age, online security and trustworthiness are important, especially for businesses that rely on accurate fraud detection. One key metric used to measure an IP address’s reputation is the IPQuality Score (IPQS). This score determines whether an IP is flagged for suspicious activities like fraud, bot usage, or proxy detection. A poor IP score can result in restricted access to websites, failed transactions, or blocked accounts.
This guide will explain how IPQuality Score works, why it matters, and actionable steps to improve your IP score for better online credibility and access.
What is IPQuality score?
IPQuality Score (IPQS) is a risk assessment tool that evaluates an IP address based on its history, activity, and likelihood of being associated with fraudulent behavior. It uses a mix of machine learning, historical data, and real-time analysis to assess risks.
How IPQS Works
IPQS assigns a score to an IP address on a scale (typically 0-100), where:
- 0-30 = Low risk (legitimate user)
- 31-70 = Medium risk (suspicious activity possible)
- 71-100 = High risk (likely fraud, proxy, or bot activity)
Factors That Affect IPQuality Score
Several elements influence your IP score, including:
- Proxy or VPN Usage – If the IP is associated with a known proxy, VPN, or Tor network.
- Bot & Automated Traffic – Frequent automated requests can raise suspicion.
- Fraudulent Behavior – Past misuse for scams, fake accounts, or spamming.
- Geolocation & ISP Trustworthiness – Some ISPs and locations have higher fraud risks.
- Blacklist & Abuse Reports – If an IP is reported multiple times, it gets flagged.
- IP Age & Reputation – Older IPs with a clean history tend to have better scores than newly assigned or frequently changing IPs.
Why Does IPQuality Score Matter?
A poor IP score can impact businesses and individuals in multiple ways:
- Account Restrictions – Platforms like e-commerce sites, payment processors, and social media block high-risk IPs.
- Failed Transactions – Payment gateways reject transactions from flagged IPs.
- Ad Fraud Detection – Advertising networks use IPQS to filter fraudulent clicks and impressions.
- SEO & Scraping Limitations – Search engines may throttle or block traffic from suspicious IPs.
- Affiliate & Marketing Compliance – Partner networks and CPA platforms monitor IP reputation to prevent fraud.
- Reduced Access to Services – Some online platforms limit or deny access to users with flagged IPs, affecting usability.
How to Check Your IPQuality Score
There are several tools available to check your IP reputation and risk score, including:
- Pixelscan.net – A comprehensive fingerprinting tool to detect proxies, VPNs, and tracking risks.
- Multilogin – Ideal for managing multiple identities while maintaining a clean IP reputation.
- Nodemaven – A reliable proxy provider that ensures high-trust IPs for various online operations.
- IPQualityScore.com – The official platform for checking IP risk assessment.
- Blacklist Checkers – Websites like Spamhaus or MXToolbox allow users to verify if their IP is on any blocklists.
How to Improve Your IP Score
If your IP is flagged as high risk, you can take these steps to improve your score and maintain a good reputation:
1. Avoid Public & Free Proxies
Public proxies and free VPNs are commonly abused and appear in fraud databases. Use a trusted proxy provider like Nodemaven to ensure clean IPs.
2. Use Residential IPs
Residential IPs are more trustworthy than data center proxies. If you rely on proxies for work, opt for residential networks.
3. Maintain a Consistent Browsing Pattern
Frequent IP changes, bot-like behavior, or sudden location shifts can raise red flags. Using Multilogin helps maintain a stable digital identity without getting detected.
4. Keep Your IP Off Blacklists
Check your IP against blacklist databases and avoid engaging in activities that could lead to being reported (e.g., spamming, excessive requests, scraping without precautions).
5. Use a Reputable ISP
Some ISPs are known for harboring bad traffic. If your IP comes from a low-trust ISP, consider switching to a better provider.
6. Implement CAPTCHA & Authentication Measures
If you’re running a website, implement CAPTCHA and user authentication to prevent bad bots from using your IP range for fraudulent activities.
7. Monitor & Rotate Your IPs
For businesses handling multiple accounts, rotating trusted proxies or using dynamic IPs can help avoid detection while maintaining credibility.
8. Avoid Suspicious Online Behavior
Excessive logins, mass registrations, or rapid-fire API requests can make an IP look suspicious. Ensure normal user behavior to prevent unnecessary flagging.
9. Regularly Update Your Security Measures
Ensure your firewalls, VPNs, and browsers are up to date to minimize vulnerabilities and reduce the risk of association with compromised networks.