{"id":50213,"date":"2023-01-19T20:28:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-19T20:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/80afdba7-bf56-41e0-af47-b1e7b8a9380e"},"modified":"2023-01-19T20:28:00","modified_gmt":"2023-01-19T20:28:00","slug":"how-to-check-if-your-vpn-is-working-and-what-to-do-if-your-vpn-wont-connect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.threatshub.org\/blog\/how-to-check-if-your-vpn-is-working-and-what-to-do-if-your-vpn-wont-connect\/","title":{"rendered":"How to check if your VPN is working (and what to do if your VPN won’t connect)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Adopting a reliable Virtual Private Network (VPN)<\/a> is an excellent way to help protect your privacy online and disguise your activities from the companies collecting data on you over multiple websites. <\/p>\n

Also:<\/strong> How to convert your home’s old TV cable into powerful Ethernet lines<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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ZDNET<\/strong> Recommends<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

However, as with all forms of software, sometimes signing up for a new VPN service or transitioning to a new PC can cause issues and errors to flare up with your VPN.  <\/p>\n

If you’re unsure if a VPN is working correctly or experiencing connection failures, here are some tips on how to check and restart your VPN — as well as keep your connection secure.  <\/p>\n

How can I check if my VPN is working? <\/h2>\n
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Before you do anything else while you’re troubleshooting, you should always make sure that you have the latest version of your VPN available. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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When a VPN is working correctly, it will mask your IP address and create an encrypted tunnel to protect your data. <\/p>\n

Now, turn off your VPN and look up your IP address, which only requires typing, “What is my IP address” into Google. Your Internet Protocol (IP) address is your device identifier on a network, assigned by your Internet Service Provider<\/a> (ISP).<\/p>\n

Also:<\/strong> What is an IP address and how can you change it with a VPN?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

You can use Google’s search here<\/a> to find your IP address. Alternatively, use the privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you want more information, such as your rough geographic location, area code, or hostname, you can also use NordVPN’s free IP lookup service<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Now that you know your actual IP address, turn on your VPN. If your VPN is working (or, at the least, is able to disguise your IP address), you should see a different IP address appear. <\/p>\n

For example, I am based in London, and my preferred VPN providers are ExpressVPN and NordVPN<\/a>. As you can see below, my IP address and location are set to the US when my VPN works.<\/p>\n

Also:<\/strong> What is VPN split tunneling and should I be using it?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

If you get the same IP address with your VPN on or off, your VPN is not working correctly and is not disguising your location. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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IP address leaks: What you need to know <\/h2>\n
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A successful DNS leak test, showing only servers connected to my VPN service.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Even if you use a VPN, your IP address may leak, whether or not connections are based on IPv4 or IPv6<\/a>. Suppose a VPN service doesn’t provide adequate encryption or there are programming issues. In that case, DNS queries sent outside the typical VPN tunnel could reveal your true IP address rather than the IP assigned to your device by your VPN provider. <\/p>\n

Also:<\/strong> Cybersecurity 101: Protect your privacy<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

It is also possible that your IP address may accidentally leak via the WebRTC<\/a> protocol, used widely by technology firms to facilitate real-time communication services. However, reliable VPN services<\/a> with robust security in place shouldn’t permit WebRTC leaks.  <\/p>\n