Most VPNs are usually less secure. Find out how to check if VPN works and how harmless it is to your computer. Thanks to powerful tools, you will know if the service you choose is masking your IP address, leaking DNS data, or revealing other important information. Once you learn how to test a VPN connection, evaluating which extension you are using will be as easy as possible.
Choosing the right VPN is also essential. Take your time to identify the different VPN providers available to choose one that will offer quality service.
How to know if a VPN is working?
When VPN is functioning correctly, it is guaranteed to hide user information even from the provider. True, not all VPNs are reliable enough – some services inadvertently reveal personal data that can later be used to identify the user’s identity or location. If you’re trying to use a VPN to unblock websites, leaks like this won’t let you do the right thing.
It’s especially important to prevent leaks if you’re setting up your own network because you can’t rely on your ISP for security. A reliable PC VPN should already be hack-proof, but it pays to know how to test your VPN connection to be sure. Let’s take a look at common types of leaks and show you how to ensure your privacy.
Remember that the best way to avoid risks is to choose a secure and reliable VPN app from a provider you trust. This is the only way to keep your data safe.
Features of leaking IP addresses
The device, when connected to the Internet, receives a unique IP address that allows you to perform joint operations online. IP is tied to a geographic location, so if someone can see the IP address, they will know where you are. Also, this information can be used to track activity on the Internet.
One of the main tasks of a good VPN service is to completely mask the IP with other data. In this case, the location of the PC will be hidden and it will not be available to view while online.
How to recognize an insecure IP address?
Any VPN issued on a paid basis should hide the IP address in a quality manner. Free resources are not able to provide users with guarantees of safe networking. You can easily check if there is a basic level of protection, or if the purchased VPN package is not reliable enough.
So, how to check the VPN in this case? First, find out the real IP address. Be sure to check if the VPN is turned off. In order to get this information, it is enough to use the Internet: enter the query: “what is my IP address” into the search and find a number of sites that will display the result.
If you google the topic: “what is my IP”, you will see the necessary data in IPv6 or IPv4 format. Avast SecureLine VPN usually displays an IPv4 address, while other search websites provide both addresses at once.
Make a note of your IP address as you will need to refer to it later during the test.
How to eliminate detected leaks?
If during testing you have determined that the real address is not secure, first, switch to another suggested VPN server to evaluate its performance again. In the event that this action does not relieve you of this problem, choose another provider that offers the highest level of network security. IP address tracking is one of the ways browsers like Google collect and use customer data. While a VPN won’t be able to protect against all types of web tracking, it will still prevent tracking by IP address.
Some of the proposed services do not support IPv6 connections. In other words, when IPv6 is enabled on your computer and you connect to an IPv6-enabled website, activating the VPN will help secure the IPv4 address while allowing IPv6 traffic through. In this case, you should either disable IPv6 on your device or choose a VPN that protects it. Any VPN service that supports IPv6 will also automatically support IPv4.
Hiding your actual location is one of the key reasons why people choose to use VPNs. If you’re not getting this basic level of service from a VPN, it’s worth considering looking for a more reliable tool for your business or just everyday PC use.
DNS leaks
The next step, if you want to know how to check your VPN connection, is DNS check. This is an equally important factor for every user, regardless of their goals on the Internet.
DNS (Domain Name System) is like the phone book of the Internet. All websites have IP addresses, but it’s not practical to memorize a unique string of numbers for every website you visit. DNS matches a website’s IP address with its URL, such as avast.com. You can view and edit the DNS settings of your router in its admin menu.
When you’re not using a VPN, your local ISP handles the received DNS entries, and the websites you visit can keep track of where each request comes from.
Good VPN applications should be able to handle DNS, but in reality, this is not always the case. With an unreliable connection, the website you visit will somehow recognize where the DNS request came from. This also means that your ISP will know what websites you visit because it will handle DNS requests instead of the VPN system.
How to check for a DNS leak?
You can check for possible DNS leaks from your computer by analogy with checking a VPN service for IP address protection. Here is an algorithm to learn how to check VPN for DNS leaks:
1. After turning off the VPN, go to DNS LeakTest – this will display your personal IP address and general location. 
2. Now enable the VPN and reload the page. Instead of the data recorded earlier, you should see the IP address of the connected server displayed in the corresponding field.
If these IP addresses match, it means that the VPN securely protects your location information. Try clicking on the “Standard Test” or “Advanced Test” links below the DNS LeakTest information for more detailed results.
If these tests show DNS addresses belonging to the local ISP, then the VPN service skips DNS information. Thus, a simple VPN test will help you get reliable information and prevent leaks.
How to prevent a DNS leak?
Figured out how to test a VPN over DNS, but don’t know how to fix a negative test result? First of all, use the support services of your VPN provider. They may be able to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
Otherwise, switch to the best offer from another company with its own encrypted DNS servers. As a result, you will get confidence that your VPN will not violate the principle of anonymity and eliminate even the slightest possibility of fraudsters getting confidential data.
WebRTC leaks
WebRTC (Real Time Internet Communication) is a free and open-source solution that allows websites and applications to conduct real-time audio and video communication, live streaming, and file sharing without the use of third-party software, such as extensions or plugins.
A WebRTC leak occurs when a user’s browser is unable to hide the real IP address while sending WebRTC requests when connected to a VPN. Good expansion prevents dangerous leakage. To eliminate possible risks, we recommend that you buy a VPN and safely bypass any restrictions.
How to test a WebRTC leak?
If you need to find out if the VPN works, follow the algorithm.
With VPN disabled, visit a website that can check the device for WebRTC protection. For example, you can use Browser Leaks. To see the current address, go to the “Public IP address” section.
Connect to VPN and refresh the page. If the browser is capable of protecting against WebRTC leaks, then the line will contain a third-party IP address provided by the extension.
If the IP address in the WebRTC test matches our VPN connection, then you are protected while you are online.
But if you’re still seeing your real IP address after testing, then the VPN is leaking the address when the web browser sends WebRTC requests.
How to fix a WebRTC leak?
If the browser passes user data through WebRTC, there are several options to solve the problem. The safest and most effective solution is to use a reliable service that protects against the disclosure of data of Internet communication participants.
Estimating VPN connection speed
IP address leaks aren’t the only thing to worry about when testing a VPN. No matter how secure a downloaded app is, you won’t want to use it if it slows down your internet connection. This figure can be affected by a number of factors.
- Internet connection. A VPN cannot function faster than an actual network connection. The optimal format is the same download speed.
- The physical distance between the user and the VPN server. The closer you are to the VPN server, the faster the connection will be.
- The number of people using one server. If the nearest server handles many concurrent connections, it is worth connecting to a server further away for faster service.
- The computing power of the computer being used. The personal computer encrypts and decrypts data as it passes through the VPN tunnels. A weak device will not be able to support the ultra-fast speeds of the program.
- Local bandwidth limits. If the user lives in a region with interruptions or bandwidth limitations, the internet speed may suffer. The same can happen if you share traffic with other people.
A quick VPN connection speed test can show you how well the selected app is performing. If you google: “internet test”, you will find a suitable service. Run a speed test to start testing.
Why is the VPN not working?
- Faulty Wi-Fi network or Ethernet connection. Try reconnecting to a different network, especially if you’re on a public Wi-Fi network or private hotspot.
- Standalone server. The server you are connecting to may be down or unavailable for a variety of reasons, try connecting to any other.
- Invalid login credentials. Every user has to go through the frustrating process of entering passwords. The login credentials may be incorrect, so you should reset your password and try again.
- There is a problem with the port or the corresponding protocol.
- Inconsistency with firewalls or antivirus software. Sometimes they do not mix well with the operation of a VPN. Try disabling them and see if that helps.
- Other complications. The problem may be related to the device itself, the applications and browsers you are trying to use, or the operating system itself.
- Difficulty with VPN software. You can contact the support service to check the functionality of the application.
Now you know how to check if VPN is enabled on your computer. Next, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the troubleshooting methods.
How to fix VPN speed issues?
Is your Virtual Private Network too slow? Here are some ways to speed up your connection:
- disconnecting and reconnecting – sometimes everything is solved thanks to a reboot;
- changing servers – sometimes not the fastest connection is automatically selected;
- choice of connection option – in most cases, wired Internet is better than Wi-Fi;
- shutdown of other applications – simultaneous execution of many processes slows down the functioning of the device;
- performing a PC scan for malware – viruses can consume computer resources and slow it down.
