VPNs are great for encrypting data and connecting to remote networks, but they aren’t without their flaws. They can be more complicated than they look and are prone to security breaches, and some ISPs and companies block them because of privacy concerns or bandwidth control issues. In some cases, VPNs can even be worse than useless if you don’t set them up correctly. Earlier this year, researchers found that 18 percent of VPN apps on Android didn’t do the one basic thing they are supposed to do: encrypt data.
How Can You Prevent VPNs?
A VPN sends your internet connection through a hosted server located anywhere in the world. It encrypts all of your data before it makes its way to the internet, making it more difficult for hackers to intercept your information or steal your data. It also helps keep you secure when using public Wi-Fi, such as at a coffee shop or the airport, by making it harder for someone to spy on your browsing activity.
Some ISPs and network admins also block VPNs to control the flow of data on their networks. This is because VPNs can bypass bandwidth caps and limit access to certain sites or services. Additionally, they make it more difficult for ISPs to sift through your internet traffic and sell that information to third parties.
Other reasons to prevent VPNs include content restrictions and legality issues. For example, Netflix and Hulu sometimes block VPNs because they don’t want people to circumvent their region-based licensing restrictions. This is illegal in some countries, including China and Russia.
Despite these reasons, VPNs are still widely used because of their privacy benefits. There are ways to get around VPN blocking, though. If a VPN is blocked, try using an obfuscated server or switching to another provider. You can also use mobile data instead of Wi-Fi if you want to avoid a VPN block.
To prevent VPNs from working, you can block ports that are commonly used by them. You can do this on a firewall in your company’s network or on individual devices, such as smartphones and tablets. You can also download a tool that scans for open VPN connections on a computer. The tool can show you if there is any open VPN activity on your device and help you take steps to close it. You can also try deleting your VPN history. However, this can also cause problems with some websites and services, so it’s best to only do this as a last resort.