Thinking about a VPN but clueless about how it would work

I already have that setting enabled but it wasn't stopping my ISPs DNS server.

 

In this case, you have a problem with your VPN service provider.

 

Using AirVPN default


first test my IP shows in last one not VPN IP. HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR

Second test DNS leak test Three IP's showing. Two are my service provider and one is my VPN IP

Must be doing something wrong.

 

At https://www.perfect-privacy.com/check-ip/ I see "- empty -" for all of the HTTP metadata addresses.

But then, there are five levels of NAT between this VM and my uplink.

 

I rebooted and checked things again. this time passed DNC leak test. and the first test that showed an IP in last one and not empty turns out to be my Adguard assigned IP, not my ISP.

 

Ref:
VecchioScarpone said: ↑
I use DNS.WATCH protocol instead of my provider DNS when online. Safe practices too obviously.
I just pinged their servers and found it would be quite slow for me on the East Coast. Well over 300 ms at its fastest.

OpenDNS (while it does keep logs) pings at or less than 35 ms. My ISPs DNS servers ping at 25 ms.

@Krusty
Better keep this on its topic thread.

The reason I use DNS.WATCH is: it does give me top privacy protections (I'm allergic to snooping)
BTW It pings at 26ms on my machine here in Melbourne.

 

@Krusty

I was using OpenDNS too but I found that when using the VPN it tended to leaks my provider DNS. I guess this is due to the VPN using OpenDNS Australian server for speed, hence using my IP provider too.
Hope it make sense.

 

I just checked by using Telstra's DNS and flushing DNS cache, starting my VPN and testing at both sites showed Telstra's DNS and the second one also showed OpenDNS so PureVPN must use OpenDNS.

https://www.dnsleaktest.com/

https://ipleak.net/

 

Yes it uses OpenDNS Australian servers. What I found is that with OpenDNS protocol in my network adapter, at time, during VPN sessions, when running IPLEAK my provider DNS was detected amongst others. It could be that it may be a different DNS than the one my provider assigned to me.
Since I changed to a non Aussie DNS protocol I do not have that issue anymore.

 

@Krusty

BTW I had the same issue by selecting PureVPN Switch to secure DNS.

 

HTTP metadata does not contain any suspicious information
HTTP_VIA - empty -
HTTP_CLIENT_IP - empty -
HTTP_CLIENT_IP (DNS)- empty -
HTTP_FROM - empty -
HTTP_X_REAL_IP - empty -
HTTP_X_FORWARDED - empty -
HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR- empty -

With or wthout using my VPN.

 

I'm getting the feeling that Internet Kill Switch and Secure DNS only work if you run the VPN client as Administrator.

 

Correct it is not a feeling it is the rule for most of the settings.
Right click on VPN icon select properties/compatibility/ select run as administrator. From there on PureVPN should always start as administrator and keep the changes you make thereof.
Edit:
I double check after starting the VPN just in case... better safe than sorry.

 

Most VPN clients recommend UDP but the issue with this is that your ISP can spot the encrypted traffic easier and legally throttle your speeds when ever they so chose. TCP has more traffic making it harder for them to spot and throttle.

 

I cannot check mark the Internet Kill Switch and Secure DNS if I'm not starting it as Admin.

 

I don't mean just making the changes, I mean the features don't work unless you run as Admin. Surely once the change has been made you should not need to run as Admin for the settings to work.

 

VPN throttling is disabled.

 

What mode is that? I generally only use Security and Privacy.

 

PureVPN does not run as administrator by default.
Not an expert here. My findings come as the result of errors and trials.
I did run as administrator by right click on Icon, did all the changes I wanted. Exit.
Restarting the VPN will not start as administrator as per default settings.
I got around that by the way described on previous post.

 

It seems to be a default mode. You could inquire with support via the chat feature on support webpage.

 

@zmechys
#138
Right click on VPN icon select properties/compatibility/ select run as administrator. From there on PureVPN should always start as administrator and keep the changes you make thereof.

 

A little experimenting it appears to be Stream.

 

Yeah, that might work.

 

I personally do not find much difference in speed between Stream/File Sharing etc. It maybe a matter of default privacy setting, but that is taken care of by configurations like IKV etc. I suspect those features is only windows dressing.

 

It is working for me. I suggest you double check anyway when starting the VPN. I know it an hassle but gives me peace of mind.