Once thou hast selected the finest VPN for thy dwelling, thou may seek to ascertain that it doth meet thy needs most aptly. ‘Tis prudent to verify if the VPN doth function in proper order. None desire to spend coin on that which doth not see use, and if it be found lacking, thy data and online perusals art not as secure as envisioned. Thankfully, there art sundry methods to accomplish this task. With diverse techniques at hand, I shall now guide thee through the process of determining if thy VPN doth operate efficiently and what signs to observe. Fret not — ’tis a fairly simple matter once thou art acquainted with the process.
Verily, what doth a VPN intend to achieve? ‘Tis always wise to commence with an understanding of the purpose for which a VPN is employed. In plain terms, thou art in great need of one to maintain thy online security, especially when thou art a frequent traveler who doth frequent public Wi-Fi establishments.
A VPN doth safeguard thy privacy by concealing thine IP address. The term IP stands for Internet Protocol, where websites do require an address to direct the web content thou dost seek to peruse. When thou dost utilize a VPN, the IP address of the server thou dost choose is furnished in lieu of thine own. The VPN service doth then encrypt and relay said content to thee, ensuring thine activities remain shrouded.
‘Tis of utmost importance to utilize a VPN whilst within thy abode and whilst abroad connecting to public Wi-Fi networks. The benefits are many, thus ’tis prudent to ensure it doth function properly.
How might one assess if one’s VPN doth perform as intended? Thou may be tempted to rely on the tests provided by thy VPN, yet the very act of testing doth imply some doubt regarding its efficacy. I do recommend employing the tests on BrowserLeaks, a free, open-source tool devoid of advertisements, which one may utilize online to identify vulnerabilities that thy VPN may overlook. There art divers tests, some valuable for assessing a VPN and others aimed at examining thy browser.
The simplest test is to verify thine IP address. Conduct the test sans the VPN and take note of the IP address and location. The city displayed may be near or far, depending on thy ISP. Then, connect the VPN and confirm that the IP address doth differ. The location ought to correspond to thy chosen VPN server region. Esteemed VPNs like Proton VPN and NordVPN boast myriad servers worldwide, permitting thee to browse as a resident.
Thy VPN should provide an IP address aligning with the selected country, granting access to international websites and streaming services as anticipated. Thy whereabouts art concealed from malevolent entities seeketh information to target thee with intrusive ads or malware.
If thy VPN hath passed the IP address test, proceed to BrowserLeak’s WebRTC leak test, ensuring the secure support of features like WebRTC, designed to aid web apps in video chat and file transfer. A WebRTC leak doth indicate thy VPN is not affording full protection.
In conclusion, scroll to the foot of BrowserLeaks and initiate the DNS Leak Test. Thy VPN application may be forwarding domain name lookup requests to thy ISP’s DNS, potentially revealing thy general location and browsing activity. The IP address and location of the VPN server thou didst select should be visible, not thine own.
Should BrowserLeaks be inaccessible or thou dost seek an alternative service, several ad-free options of equal efficacy exist. Herein lie our top recommendations:
IPadr.is offers a free online tool that discloses the public IP address perceived by websites thou dost visit.
VoidSec.com proffers a free IP address checker and WebRTC leak test upon loading the page. Any IP addresses matching thy actual location indicate a flaw in thy VPN.
DNS leak test is a complimentary online tool assessing leaks during domain name lookups, allowing for a brief or comprehensive examination.
If thy VPN hath failed any of the aforementioned tests, ensure it is connected. Should thy VPN lack a kill switch or should said feature be deactivated, the connection may have faltered unbeknownst to thee. If all be well, contact thy VPN’s support to report the issue and seek aid.
Should the response prove unsatisfactory, perchance a change is in order. A myriad of exceptional VPN services await thy choosing.
Should thy VPN encounter transitory woes, a complimentary VPN may safeguard thy privacy until the matter be resolved. The finest among them offer swift speeds devoid of advertisements and limitations.
