Do You Feel Your VPN Is Not Working? Here Is How You Can Run A Test!

Table of Contents:

• Conduct a VPN test check for IP or DNS leak
• What to do if the IP or DNS leaks?
• Checking for WebRTC leaks
• VPN malware tests
• I can’t make my VPN work!
• Final Thoughts

How to find out if the VPN you have subscribed to is doing its job or not? Often, you relax by thinking that the VPN is working fine all the while it’s leaking your identity and location. Here is how you can know for sure:

Conduct a VPN test check for IP or DNS leak

1. Firstly, you need to discover the original IP address assigned to you by your ISP. If you have turned ON the VPN, turn it off immediately, and here.
2. Note down your real IP address
3. Turn your VPN ON and go back visit the test website
4. A different IP address should be appearing now along with the location, and if you see your original IP address, unfortunate, it is an indication that your VPN is leaking.
5. In some instances, IPLeak tests are also unable to detect DNS leaks, revealing your identity as a result. Therefore, it’s recommended that you check it on DNSLeakTest.
6. If your VPN is functioning correctly, DNSLeakTest will show your chosen location along with the newly assigned IP address.

What to do if the IP or DNS leaks?

The best thing you can do is, change your VPN provider to one that offers DNS leak protection like Ivacy VPN. On the other hand, you can turn on the IPv6 on your device.

Checking for WebRTC leaks

1. Disconnect the VPN and open a new tab
2. Note down any new public IP addresses and then close the page
3. Open a new tab when you re-connect to the VPN
4. If you can still see any IP addresses that were appearing in step 2, it indicates that you have a privacy leak

Here is our detailed guide into WebRTC leaks!

VPN malware tests

When it comes to free VPN services, many of them contain malware infecting the consumers.

Various free VPN apps have been available in the Google Play and Apple Stores and their numbers just keep on increasing. They not only monetize their platforms by engaging in shady practices when it comes to consumer data but sometimes result in malware infection.

As per one study, 38% of Android VPN apps contain malware.

Malware testing– To test for malware, simply upload the software file to VirusTotal. It will be scanned with 60 different Antivirus tests and give you a report.

I can’t make my VPN work!

If your VPN still can’t seem to work despite the testing, there could be other reasons as to why it’s not working:

• Your browsing speed has dropped. This might happen for several reasons. For example, you’ve chosen a server on the other side of the world, the server is overloaded, or your ISP might be throttling bandwidth. However, you can check your VPN speed and improve it with a few simple tricks.

• The country where you live might be blocking the VPN service. In some states, especially with online censorship, VPN usage can be blocked or considered illegal. For example, China only allows government-approved VPNs to operate.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, we have covered everything you needed to know. If you are unable to find a long-lasting solution to the problem, we suggest you start considering other options to safeguard your online security instead of jeopardizing it!