Via Header

Via records HTTP intermediaries and protocol information for diagnostics and loop detection. HTTP proxies are required to add appropriate Via information when forwarding messages. It need not contain the client's IP, and its presence alone does not establish a fraud score. See RFC 9110.

Unlike X-Forwarded-For, Via describes intermediaries rather than specifically carrying the original client IP. Its absence does not prove a direct connection or anonymity: tunnels and forwarding configurations differ. An IP tool shows an observed exit address; it does not certify the absence of forwarding headers.

The tools report your exit IP; checking Via and X-Forwarded-For requires inspecting headers received through your actual request path. A label in the free list, proxy service or VPN offering does not certify undetectability. HTTP forwarding and carrying encrypted traffic inside a tunnel are different operations.