have been found to have leaked the users IP address. <\/span><\/p>\nIf that\u2019s not disturbing enough, there are plenty more paid VPNs that are vulnerable to traffic leaks on almost every network. So, are VPNs bad?<\/span><\/p>\nWhat Is a VPN?<\/span><\/h2>\nNow that we\u2019ve given you a proper fright, let\u2019s look at some of the tests and checks you can do to ensure that your VPN provider is fully secured and offers a fully private network. By the time you\u2019re done reading this guide, you\u2019ll have enough information to help you stay out of trouble when surfing the Internet.<\/span><\/p>\nThe Internet is an inherently dangerous place to be. If it\u2019s not a bunch of scam artists hacking your accounts and stealing every bit of information you could think of, then it\u2019s someone trying to phish information out of you. As such, you need a VPN, especially if you want to keep things private or you are using public Wi-Fi.<\/span><\/p>\nSo, what exactly is a VPN? If you\u2019re new to Internet protection, all the mumbo-jumbo definitions can be a little overwhelming, not to mention confusing. So, we\u2019ll spare you the complicated jargon and give you a simplified definition. <\/span><\/p>\nA virtual private network is more like a Halloween costume \u2013 a mask that you could use to hide your true identity. Only unlike with a Halloween costume, a VPN client isn\u2019t hiding your identity for the fun of it, but to protect your identity and your online wanderings.<\/span><\/p>\nWhy Is a VPN Used?<\/span><\/h2>\nA VPN is a nifty solution for a private network when you\u2019re surfing the Internet. For practical purposes, we\u2019ve broken down some of the most common reasons why you\u2019d need to use a VPN connection.<\/span><\/p>\n\nSurf the Internet without revealing your IP address <\/span><\/li>\nEncrypt your Internet connection for an extra layer of security<\/span><\/li>\nPrevent prying eyes from peering into your Internet wanderings<\/span><\/li>\nUnblock websites that are restricted in certain places<\/span><\/li>\nProtect your servers and yourself from hackers<\/span><\/li>\nBypass censorship of online content like Netflix<\/span><\/li>\nProtect your private data, especially on public Wi-Fi<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nVPN Tests and Checks<\/span><\/h2>\nThe bottom line here is to find out whether the paid or free VPN service you are using is leaking your IP address. Obviously, if you do find out that the VPN service you are using is leaking, the best choice would be to find another VPN provider. <\/span><\/p>\nSo, how do you know if your VPN service is as secure as it should be to keep you safe? You need to test it for yourself!<\/span><\/p>\nHow to Test for VPN Leaks<\/span><\/h2>\nWell, in order to find out if there are any leaks with your VPN service, you\u2019ll need to connect to a VPN server and visit the test site. One of the most important things to remember, though, is that you are checking to see how the VPN performs when it is active. So, for instance, you\u2019ll:<\/span><\/p>\n\nConnect to a VPN server and load ipleak.net in your Internet browser<\/span><\/li>\nManually interrupt the Internet connection while the VPN is running<\/span><\/li>\nReconnect to the Internet and load a few more test websites<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIdentifying VPN Leaks<\/span><\/h3>\nAs you might guess, once you\u2019ve tested the site ipleak.net, especially if you are connected to a VPN server outside your country, the leak test will show local IP addresses on the left and your public IP address on the right.<\/span><\/p>\nBasic VPN Tests<\/span><\/h3>\nBasic tests are, in essence, simple tests that you can run without any help. However, since they are, in part, simple tests, they\u2019ll not exactly catch all the leaks during the connection with your Internet service provider. So, it\u2019s logical to seek more advanced tests even after you have performed the basic tests.<\/span><\/p>\nAdvanced VPN Tests<\/span><\/h3>\nAdvanced tests, as the name suggests, are a little more technical than basic tests. However, unlike basic tests, advanced tests require a little more effort to set up. You’ll basically need to create a testing suite for your operating system and then run a barrage of tests to analyze the traffic for any leakages. <\/span><\/p>\nWith this kind of testing, you should be able to effectively identify any leaks with Mac OS, Windows, and even Linux. It\u2019s also worth mentioning that with the advanced test you can also perform:<\/span><\/p>\n\nIP address leaks (IPv4 and IPv6)<\/span><\/li>\nWebRTC leaks<\/span><\/li>\nVPN speed test<\/span><\/li>\nVPN malware test<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe Bottom Line on VPN Tests and Checks<\/span><\/h2>\nWhile a VPN provides you with privacy and security as you drift from site to site on the Internet and even public Wi-Fi, make no mistake \u2013 some are definitely better than others. <\/span><\/p>\nIn this blog post, we\u2019ve included a few tests that you can do to find out how well your VPN stacks up as far as protecting your privacy goes. If you find out that your current VPN isn\u2019t performing at its peak, you might want to look into a VPN alternative.<\/span><\/p>\nWe\u2019ve done the research for you with our reviews of the best (and most secure) VPN services and highly recommend you check them out if you want to enjoy truly private online browsing.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We\u2019re going to let you in on a little secret. While a virtual private network (VPN) is no doubt a nifty solution for helping protect your … <\/p>\n
Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1090,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17,12],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nVPN Test and Checks: The Ultimate How-To Guide - BetterDefend<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n