With the sudden upsurge in cyber-attacks, not only a large number of entrepreneurs have switched to virtual private networks, but also, the employees who are involved in remote work culture have changed their home network to VPN for security enhancement. Moreover, for safeguarding the users from data breaching incidents, the contribution of VPN is highly-noted.
But, you might be surprised to know that, even after using a VPN for Windows, the stored sensitive information, on your device, can be accessed. Yes! You absolutely read that right!
According to recently conducted research, it was analyzed that, even from the Android VPN apps, there is a high probability of data loss through the user’s IP address. And, if you have opted for availing VPN services from unreliable sources, instances of data vulnerabilities will definitely take place.
In addition to that, it’s worth mentioning that even many VPN connections come with default features which can cause disruption. Features such as “kill switches” are mainly designed to prevent anyone from accessing the user’s IP address.
But, unfortunately, it turned out to be a faulty feature which at times is incapable of blocking the unexpected site traffic. So, to avoid further inconvenience, it’s better to check the VPN security in the first place.
What Does VPN Secure and How to verify whether the VPN Connection is Secured Enough?
Before proceeding to the VPN evaluation process, it’s important to know what mainly VPN secures. To be specific, VPN contains an IP address, a DNS, and the essential information associated with the provided IP and DNS.
This simply indicates that, when you open a website, VPN tends to secure all the necessary credentials linked with the site. For example, when you will open a renowned platform such as YouTube, with the help of a VPN for Windows, you can secure the entire connection without any potential hurdles.
Not only this, while playing online games, the majority of the users worry, as the user location can be identified. But, with the help of a VPN, you can even prevent anyone from accessing your current location. Along with safeguarding the pre-installed applications, VPN also effectively protects the DNS queries.
However, due to misconfiguration or lack of experience, most of the VPN providers failed to provide adequate protection for the potential DNS leakages. This is where the problem begins, as DNS leaks are the prime cause for security breaches. It doesn’t only disrupt the VPN functionalities, but also shares the user ISP and the websites they are looking for.
So, here we are compiling some of the best measures that will provide the evidence, whether the VPN connection is secured or not.
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Opt for DNS Leak Test
Well, this is one of the most easy-to-access methods to check the security of the VPN connection. In most instances, when the cybercriminals fail to access the valuable information from your device through an IP address, they simply try to obtain the user’s DNS address. This helps them in tracking the user location. Basically, the purpose of DNS is to transform the plain text URLs into a numerical IP address.
Without a secured VPN connection, you can come across DNS leak-related instances. And, the majority of the VPN providers failed to provide adequate DNS leakage protection to the users. Simply, opt for a DNS leak test and prevent unauthorized users from accessing your internet-driven activities. And, there are plenty of DNS leak test websites available for the convenience of the users. Choose one of them and prevent unwanted downtimes.
Did you find a DNS leak via these DNS leak identification sites? Simply, resolve the problem by installing a compatible antivirus program; that will be helpful. DNS leak is considered to be one of the most common VPN leaks which assuredly stated, the VPN is not secured enough. Thus, you should provide your prior attention to protecting the secured VPN network.
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Lookout for IP address Leakages
If you have already come across an IP address leak, then it’s high time to opt for an authorized VPN service provider. However, IP address leaks seem to appear in both free and paid VPN services. There are a few trusted sources from which you can simply check if there are any IP leaks in the VPN.
In most instances, due to iPv4 and IPv6 incompatibly, the VPN failed to provide adequate protection to the users. So, simply consider using a firewall to prevent access from the non-VPN traffic. That will be enough to secure the VPN connection.
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Go for WebRTC Leakage Test
This is another method to know if the VPN connection is secured or not. And, every web browser user should opt for this WebRTC leak identification. This includes Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Chromium-based, or any other easy-to-access browsers. An unwanted WebRTC issue can cause severe vulnerabilities, with the most accessed web browser.
This sort of leak mainly takes place when the VPN’s IP address leaks for WebRTC APIs misconfiguration. And, there are a few tools that will provide you with detailed information about the WebRTC leak, but only if there is a leak.
However, for resolving this issue, changing the VPN connection won’t help. So, simply switch to a web browser that doesn’t include WebRTC. Additionally, consider disabling this system to avoid VPN security issues.
Haven’t You Yet Considered Performing VPN Malware Tests?
If not, then by now, you should definitely opt for an immediate VPN malware test. When it comes to VPN security and privacy, a malware embedded VPN mobile application can cause problems. Based on the recent data record, it was found that almost 385 Android VPN apps are malicious.
You must find a number of VPN applications in the PlayStore or App Store. Simply opt for the most rated ones to avoid malware-related instances. These days, potential cyber-attackers cause data vulnerabilities, with the help of malware attacks. Simply, install a reliable malware detection software and check if the VPN app is safe-to-use or not.