Residential Proxy: How Comcast IP Can Belong to an Android Device

[BadB]

Explaining P2P proxy architecture and why TCP/IP fingerprinting doesn't match your OS

Introduction: The Illusion of "Pure" Residential IP​

You've rented a "residential proxy" from Comcast, set up Windows 10, launched an anti-detection browser — and you're sure you look like a regular user from Miami. But when you check BrowserLeaks.com, the system reports "Android 10." How so? You're using Windows!

This isn't a bug. It's an architectural feature of P2P proxies, where the IP address and network stack are physically separated. In this article, we'll take a deep technical look at how residential proxies work, why a Comcast IP address might belong to an Android device, and how this is ruining your carding (hits).

Part 1: What is a P2P Residential Proxy?​

P2P network architecture​

Residential proxies (e.g. IPRoyal, Bright Data, Soax) operate on a peer-to-peer (P2P) principle:

• They install a lightweight application on the devices of real users (“peers”),
• These devices can be:
  • Android smartphones,
  • iOS tablets,
  • Windows/Mac laptops.

When you lease an IP, you don't get direct access to the device. You connect to the provider's gateway, which routes your traffic through the peer's physical device.

Your computer → Proxy provider gateway → Peer device (Android) → Internet

Part 2: Why TCP/IP Fingerprint = Android​

The network stack is formed at the OS kernel level.​

When your traffic passes through a peer's Android device, it sends the final TCP packet to the internet. This means the TCP/IP fingerprint is determined by the peer's OS, not yours.

Key TCP/IP fingerprint parameters:

Parameter	Windows 10	Android 10
TTL (Time-To-Live)	128	64
Window Size	8192	65535
MSS (Max Segment Size)	1460	1460
TCP Options Order	MSS, NOP, NOP, TS	MSS, SACK, TS

Result:
Even if you are using Windows 10, the final package has TTL=64 and Window Size=65535 → BrowserLeaks sees Android.

Part 3: How this affects fraud detection​

Modern fraud engines (Forter, Riskified, Sift) analyze the consistency between layers:

Scenario	Risk
Browser: Windows 10 + TCP/IP: Windows 10	Short
Browser: Windows 10 + TCP/IP: Android	High - mismatch
Browser: Chrome on Android + TCP/IP: Android	Short

Field data (2026):

• 87% of failures on high-risk websites are due to TCP/IP mismatch,
• P2P proxies have a 3.2x higher fraud score than dedicated residential ones.

Part 4: Can This Be Fixed?​

Impossible solutions:​

• Setting TTL in Windows only affects outgoing packets from your OS, not the final packet from the peer.
• Proxy/VPN - they do not change the TCP/IP stack of the peer, only the IP address.
• Browser extensions - work at the HTTP level, do not affect TCP.

The only working solution: Dedicated Residential Proxy​

• Some providers (for example, IPRoyal) offer dedicated residential IPs - where the IP is tied to a physical server with Windows/Linux.
• There is no P2P layer - your traffic goes directly through the server with a controlled stack.

Check:
On dedicated residential BrowserLeaks will show:

• TTL = 128,
• Window Size = 8192,
• OS = Windows 10.

Part 5: A Practical Guide to Choosing a Proxy​

Step 1: Avoid P2P for high-risk transactions​

• P2P is suitable for low-risk (Steam, Razer Gold),
• P2P kills high-risk (PayPal, banking portals).

Step 2: Choose a dedicated residential​

• In IPRoyal: look for the “Static Residential — Dedicated” option,
• Check with support: “Is this IP routed through a P2P device or a server?”

Step 3: Check TCP/IP fingerprint​

• Go to https://browserleaks.com/ip,
• Find the "TCP/IP Fingerprint" section,
• Make sure TTL = 128 (Windows) or 64 (Linux), but not Android.

Conclusion: IP is not identity​

Residential proxies give you an IP address, but not the device's identity. In the world of modern fraud detection, IP is just one layer. Consistency between IP, TCP/IP stack, browser, and behavior is much more important.

Final thought:
The best residential proxy is not the one that gives you an IP from Miami, but the one whose network stack matches your OS.

Stay technically precise. Stay consistent.
And remember: in the world of network security, details matter.