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, 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. We recommend the BrowserLeaks test.
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.

You can also test whether the VPN works by conducting a DNS leak test. A DNS leak means that your browsing activity is exposed (to your ISP or anyone looking) because the DNS request sent by your computer is outside of the encrypted VPN tunnel. Here's how to check:

1. Go to BrowserLeaks, which automatically runs the IP test. 
2. Click the Run DNS Leak Test button.

The DNS test should populate a list of IP addresses. These should match the VPN provider. But if you see your real IP, then the VPN tunnel isn't 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.

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 can't protect you from malicious websites and infected files, so be sure not to visit or download anything from a suspicious site. That's why the best VPNs typically include some kind of threat protection against unwanted ads, pop-ups, trackers, malicious websites and files, and more. 

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.

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. 

• OpenVPN is an open-source protocol that provides enhanced security. Most top-notch VPN providers offer OpenVPN due to its updated, secure source code. However, this protocol is not the fastest.
• WireGuard is a faster protocol that's more lightweight than OpenVPN. Premium VPN providers typically include a WireGuard protocol as well, and NordVPN even built the protocol into its proprietary NordLynx. 
• IKEv2/IPsec is a protocol combo that's used for tunneling. This newer protocol can remain stable even when the internet connection switches, which is part of the reason it's used for split tunneling. 

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 proper protocol depends on your specific needs for security and performance.

6 popular protocols

Protocol	Protocol overview
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.
IKEv2/IPsec	Fast and secure, which is good for mobile users because it allows them to switch between networks without dropping the connection.
L2TP/IPsec	Good for security, but can be slower; it is useful when strong encryption is needed.
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.

Best VPNs with secure tunneling protocols

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

• NordVPN: offers secure and fast connections using three protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and WireGuard (NordLynx). NordWhisper is the latest protocol addition designed to bypass local networks that typically block VPNs. This top-rated VPN also includes split tunneling, double VPN for extra security, and smooth protocol switching.
  
  
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• 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.
  
  
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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 essential 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.