How to Determine Whether Your Virtual Private Network (VPN) Is Operational

You may enhance your internet privacy with an easily accessible tool called a virtual private network or VPN. By using a virtual private network (VPN), you can safeguard important information from hackers and criminal actors, including your search history, browsing habits, and other personal data.

VPNs not only improve internet security but also give users global access to region-locked content. Users can select a new IP address location for their device and hide their real IP address with a VPN server. This allows access to geo-blocked websites, including streaming apps and online banking services, by creating the impression that you are somewhere else.

VPNs undoubtedly have many benefits, but most of the action takes place in the background. Other than a Connected status, there isn’t much of a fuss when you switch it on.

How to determine whether your virtual private network is operational 

Some of the best techniques to check if your virtual private network is functioning are described below. As we go along, you’ll see that some of these techniques make use of something known as VPN leaks.

VPN leaks are incidents in which user data is disclosed to the public internet and the user’s ISP by a VPN service. Since VPNs largely disguise users’ IP addresses and other browsing data from the internet, this will mostly concern the leaking of user IP addresses. This data could be compromised if it malfunctions or fails to function as intended. 

We’ve included a number of practical techniques you may use to make sure your VPN is operating as intended! 

Look for leakage of IP addresses.

You should first make sure that your IP address has truly changed because VPNs enable users to conceal their IP address and select a new one with a different location. The following is a list of things to do:

1. Switch to a VPN server of your choosing by opening your virtual private network. We want your VPN up and operating as intended so we can check if it’s functioning. As we move on to the following phase, it would be a good idea to establish a VPN server connection and keep it open.
2. Write down the IP address of the virtual private network server you selected. Once you’ve decided on your favorite VPN server and region, check the IP address associated with that specific server. This is typically located in an app sidebar or beneath the name of the country or place.
3. After that, visit an online IP address checker. While there are several tools available online for verifying IP addresses, What is My IP Address? is one of the most popular. The location and IP address of your device will be displayed as soon as you access the website.
4. Your virtual private network is not operating properly if the IP address on the checker differs from the IP address on the VPN server. This typically indicates that someone is leaking your real IP address, exposing your confidential information.
5. Your VPN is operating correctly if the IP address on the checker matches the IP address on the VPN server. This indicates that you have effectively used the VPN to alter your IP address.

Do a DNS leak investigation.

Doing a DNS leak test is a recommended next step. When your device sends DNS requests to your ISP’s DNS servers while connected to a VPN, this is known as a DNS leak. This can make websites and the general public aware of what you are browsing, which negates the whole point of using a VPN to stay anonymous. Here’s how to check for DNS leaks: 

1. Switch on your virtual private network, join a server, and take note of the IP address that goes with it. Our primary indicator of a DNS leak, similar to the IP leak test, is the IP address of the VPN server you have selected.
2. Look for a DNS leak test program on the internet. Although several online DNS leak test services work just as well, my personal favorite is DNSleaktest.com.
3. Execute the DNS leak test and see the outcome. Your computer will receive a list of domain names to resolve as part of the DNS leak test. Next, the tool looks at the DNS servers that your computer resolves these names through.
4. Check to see if the DNS servers returned from the test correspond with the DNS servers of your VPN. The DNS servers connected to your VPN should be handling the DNS requests. This entails examining the IP address and origin country of your VPN server. There is a leak if the servers of your ISP are visible.

Watch out for leaks in WebRTC.

WebRTC leaks are the final kind of VPN leak. A browser-based technology called WebRTC facilitates data, audio, and video conversations. The main drawback is that WebRTC may allow your IP address to be inadvertently disclosed. 

Fortunately, it is possible to determine whether WebRTC leaks are occurring with your VPN. Perform the following tasks as instructed below: 

1. Launch a VPN and establish a connection to the server and location of your choice. Here, it’s important to remember the IP address of the VPN server.
2. Go to an online WebRTC leak test program. Although there are other tools available, including some from VPN providers themselves, Browser Leak’s WebRTC tool is a solid choice in this case.
3. Launch the tool and check to see if the IP address matches that of the VPN server. If they coincide, a WebRTC leak won’t affect you. Fortunately, the majority of reliable VPN services will actively work to stop WebRTC leakage.

Think about taking a speed test.

It’s time to do a short speed test. If you check and find that your VPN isn’t losing any data yet, you are having some issues right now. This will inform you of any problems that may be arising from your VPN service, your actual internet connection, or a particular server. A summary of what to do is as follows: 

1. Turn off or disconnect from your VPN. Using your ISP, we would first like to obtain a baseline reading of your connection.
2. While connected to your ISP, go to speedtest.net and perform a speed test with all settings at default.
3. Observe the download and upload speeds that resulted. You may easily write down both speeds, but I suggest snapping a quick screenshot of the results.
4. Start your VPN, establish a connection with a VPN server, and repeat the test. Verify that the VPN was able to successfully establish a connection with the server location of your choice prior to running the test.
5. Compare the two sets of numbers after you have the virtual private network speed results. Although there isn’t a set method for analyzing the results of speed tests, we can deduce several potential possibilities.
6. There can be a problem with your real internet connection if both your VPN and ISP are sluggish. To restart things, I advise you to turn on your computer or Wi-Fi router again. If your Wi-Fi isn’t performing up to par, you can also utilize an Ethernet cable to strengthen your connection.
7. You may be utilizing a server that is too far away from where you are if your ISP is faster than your VPN speed. Selecting a VPN server closer to your present location is advised because a VPN’s speed can be affected by distance.
8. Your VPN is probably operating as it should if your ISP is only marginally slower than it is. It is expected that using a virtual private network would result in a somewhat slower connection because it routes your internet traffic through an alternate path.
9. You’re in the ideal situation imaginable if the speed of your VPN is comparable to or faster than that of your ISP! 

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