A Guide to VPN Tunnels and How To Fix Them

A virtual private network (VPN) tunnel is a secure, encrypted connection between your device and the internet. It ensures your data remains private and protected from hackers, your internet service provider (ISP), or any third parties.

However, the quality of your VPN directly affects the stability and security of the VPN tunnel. Using the best VPNs ensures your data remains encrypted and secure while browsing, working, or streaming online.

This article will cover what a VPN tunnel is and how it works, and what you can do to troubleshoot a non-working tunnel. We'll also go over how to set up split tunneling for extra customization.

What is a VPN tunnel?

A VPN tunnel is a secure path between your device and a VPN server. This tunnel ensures that all the data sent and received by your device is protected by encryption, making it unreadable to anyone who might intercept it.

A VPN tunnel prevents sensitive information such as passwords, financial details, and personal communications from being compromised. Moreover, it masks your IP address, provides anonymity, and blocks ISPs from spying on your online activities, like your browsing history.

You should make sure your VPN tunnel is working correctly to keep your data safe. A malfunctioning tunnel can expose your data to potential threats, undermining the primary purpose of using a VPN.

How do I know my VPN tunnel is working?

Signs that your VPN tunnel isn’t working include seeing your real IP address instead of the VPN's, or having trouble accessing certain websites.

Here's a simple way to test if your VPN tunnel is working:

1. Go to a reliable IP checker website and write your current IP address.
2. Close the IP checker site and connect to your VPN.
3. Go back to the IP checker website.
4. Check your IP address again.

If the IP address on the screen differs from the one you noted down, your VPN tunnel is working correctly.

How does VPN tunneling work?

Here's how a VPN tunnel works:

1. Your device connects to a VPN server.
2. A secure tunnel is created between your device and the VPN server.
3. Your data is wrapped in a layer of encryption, the strength of which is determined by the tunneling protocol.
4. When your data reaches its destination, it is decrypted by the VPN server.
5. The response data is re-encrypted and sent back through the secure tunnel to your device.

What are VPN tunneling protocols?

VPN tunnels use various protocols to establish and maintain a secure connection. These protocols, such as OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2/IPsec, determine how data packets are encrypted and transmitted. The choice of VPN protocol can impact the speed and security of your connection.

For example, some protocols offer stronger encryption but may slow down your connection, while others provide faster speeds with slightly less security. Selecting the right protocol depends on your specific needs for security and performance.

Is tunneling safe?

Yes, VPN tunnels are safe, thanks to the strong encryption methods they use to protect your data. The level of security, however, varies depending on the VPN protocol you use. For instance, a protocol like OpenVPN is known for strong security and reliable performance.

However, it's important to remember that a VPN tunnel is only as safe as your online behavior. No matter how secure a VPN tunnel is, it cannot protect you from malicious websites and infected files, so be sure not to visit or download anything from a site that seems suspicious.

Types of VPN tunnel protocols

Here's a table of the main types of VPN tunnel protocols, including their security, speed, and what they’re best for:

• OpenVPN: Highly secure and versatile, suitable for most users.
• WireGuard: Fast and modern with strong security, it is ideal for those needing high-speed connections.
  
• L2TP/IPsec: Good for security but can be slower; it is useful when strong encryption is needed.
  
• IKEv2/IPsec: Fast and secure, which is good for mobile users because it allows them to switch between networks without dropping the connection.
  
• PPTP: Fast but not very secure. It is suitable for streaming where high speed is needed, and security is less of a concern.
  
• SSTP:  Best for Windows users, but it offers average speed, security, and encryption.

You can learn more in our full guide to VPN protocols.

Best VPNs with secure tunneling protocols

Here are three top VPN providers known for their reliable tunneling protocols:

• ExpressVPN: has several protocols, including OpenVPN, L2TP, IKEv2, and its proprietary Lightway protocol, ensuring stability and speed. It also supports split tunneling and allows for easy switching between protocols.

  Get ExpressVPN | Read ExpressVPN Review

• NordVPN: offers secure and fast connections using three protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and WireGuard (NordLynx). It also includes split tunneling, double VPN for extra security, and smooth protocol switching.

  Get NordVPN | Read NordVPN Review

• Surfshark: supports three protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard, to ensure stable and secure tunneling. It also offers split tunneling, easy protocol switching, and a strong focus on user privacy.

  Get Surfshark | Read Surfshark Review

What is split tunneling?

Split tunneling is a feature that allows you to route some of your internet traffic through the VPN while letting the rest access the internet directly. You should set it up if you want to access local and foreign content simultaneously.

Some of its benefits include:

• Saving bandwidth and data usage by reducing the amount of data passing through the VPN.
• Improving speed since only the necessary traffic is encrypted, reducing the load on the VPN.
• Allowing access to local services and websites that might be blocked when using a VPN.
• Offering flexibility by letting you customize which apps or websites use the VPN.

However, some disadvantages include:

• Posing security risks because part of your internet traffic is not encrypted.
• Finding that the feature is not available on all VPN services, like PrivateVPN.

FAQs

Bottom line

A VPN tunnel establishes a secure, encrypted connection between your device and the internet, ensuring your data remains private and shielded from potential threats. Verifying the VPN tunnel's functionality is important to maintaining data protection.

To safeguard your online activity you should pick one of the best VPN services that offers several secure and reliable protocols, such as OpenVPN and WireGuard. Make sure you’re regularly testing your VPN connection to ensure your IP address and data are not exposed.

To customize what goes through the VPN tunnel, set up split tunneling if your VPN supports it.

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Author Details

Dennis Otieno

About the Author

Dennis Otieno is a technology writer who is passionate about teaching others how to keep their online data safe and private. More specifically, he enjoys breaking down complex VPN concepts so that readers can understand how to protect their personal information and browsing activities from third parties.