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A virtual private network, known as VPN, is a type of network that, through the Internet, allows two or more computers to communicate in a totally private way, encrypting all traffic, and as if they were doing it within a local network so that users can share files and resources in a simple and totally secure and private way.
Most of the users who connect to a VPN do so in order to hide their identity by encrypting their connections or to evade the different geographical restrictions that we may encounter. In theory, VPN servers protect our identity so that a bad configuration or the incorrect use of certain protocols can lead to a data leak that, finally, can allow us to find out our identity.
How to find out if our VPN server compromises our identity
Next, we are going to see the main points where our security can be compromised and how to protect them.
IP visibility
The first thing that a VPN server can filter on our public IP address, so, once the connection is established, we must visit a web page that allows us to know our IP and the Internet provider to which we are connected in order to find out if the information is real or it is well hidden and protected.
After all, one of the main goals of using a VPN is to hide the real IP address. So we can, for example, access services that may be geographically restricted as if we were in a certain place. We can also hide the address in order to always maintain privacy when entering the Internet. In the event that our IP leaks it means that obviously the service we are using is not working correctly.
Check that neither Wert nor DNS servers leave a trace
The Wert protocol is very useful for real-time connections and communications, however, on several occasions it has been shown that it is also a very insecure protocol in terms of the large amount of data it filters.
If we visit the Ileac web we can easily see all the information that our VPN server filters about us, from the IP to the DNS servers, the Tor node to which we are connected (if we are) and a large amount of information about it. Browser, our internet provider and even our location.
It is also very likely that the DNS server is leaking information about the last visited web pages, being able to trace a trace from the destination to us.
Finally, the IPv6 protocol can also continue to filter personal information about our identity, so it is advisable to deactivate it from the operating system to prevent this from happening and guarantee our security and privacy 100%.
How to properly protect a VPN connection
The first thing to keep in mind is that we must use a trusted VPN server that uses updated tools and protocols to guarantee security and, furthermore, that its laws allow it to guarantee complete anonymity.
Besides that, it is also advisable to carry out the following simple configurations on our computer:
Block all Wert connections
Unless we specifically need to use this protocol, it is best to block it to prevent data leakage. To do this, depending on the web browser we use, we can do it in two ways:
- Mozilla Firefox: We can install the Disable Wert extension.
- Google Chrome: We can install the Script Safe extension which, in addition to Wert, blocks all potentially malicious Flash, Java and JavaScript content.
Change DNS for trusted ones
The DNS servers keep a history with all the requests we make so that, even though we are connected to a VPN server, it is very easy for it to continue recording our activity and knowing that all the traffic is actually coming from us. To prevent this from happening, we must avoid using the DNS servers of our Internet Company and even some known for espionage such as Google.
In return, we can manually configure the Openness DNS in our computer, which is much more secure and guarantees our privacy:
- 67.222.222
- 67.220.220
Disable the use of the IPv6 protocol
The IPv6 protocol will be the one to replace the current IPv4 Internet protocol in the not too close future, however, although this protocol offers greater security against, for example, hackers, it is also quite susceptible to filtering our data if a website, a server or a hacker launch requests through it, so to guarantee maximum security we must avoid using it by deactivating it completely.
To disable the use of this protocol, we simply have to open the properties of our network card from the Windows Network and Sharing Center and disable the use of “Internet Protocol version 6”.
In this way, we will ensure that all connections are always made through IPv4, thus guaranteeing our privacy.
How to use a VPN safely
We have seen that it could happen that a VPN that we are using leaks personal data. For example, you could expose DNS or public IP address. However, we can avoid this if we take into account some tips to use this type of tool safely, without ever compromising the privacy of users and how to access HotStar in USA
Install reliable tools and from official sources
Something basic is to install only VPN tools that are reliable and from official sites. Avoid downloading programs from third-party sites that may not be secure and pose a significant security problem. When it comes to applications of this type, which serve to maintain privacy, there is a greater emphasis to be placed.
Keep the VPN up to date
It is also essential to have the VPN service properly updated. It is very important that we always keep our programs and systems correctly updated and also achieve higher performance.
Avoid those that are free or trial
In the case of VPNs, it is also essential to avoid those that are free or trial. In many cases they are not secure and could even trade with our data. Hence, it is vital to always know which one we are installing and have a better understanding of the possible problems they may cause.
