IT Support & SecurityWritten By: Suman Kumar Paul

A VPN is used to protect your internet activities safe, encrypted, and confidential. A VPN can provide you with unrestricted access to data on the Web, especially those who live in a nation where some programs, streaming services, including websites are geo-restricted.

A VPN connection can shield you from risks posed by cybercriminals and other malicious 3rd parties, as well as intermediaries seeking to track your online activities.

VPNs are fantastic at preventing people from capturing network traffic and collecting your personal information.

With all the benefits that a VPN offers, you may be stunned to discover that there are situations when VPNs do not provide the privacy that they should. 
A privacy breach might occur if there is a failure in the VPN. Data breaches are more common among people who are inexperienced in implementing VPNs and are unsure of how to avoid them.

Here we explain why data leaks occur when people use VPNs and what precautions you may take to avoid them.

Does a VPN log our Activity?

The majority of VPN companies promise to collect no logs. They understand that their customers want to eliminate ISP-based tracking. But they are least bothered about VPN-based tracking.

It would be excellent if VPNs did not keep any logs at all. However, the truth is that many businesses do retain certain records. In the worst-case situation, your VPN will log the websites you access.

Most VPNs, on the other hand, keep track of how long customers are linked to the VPN and how much bandwidth they utilized.

Factors behind VPN Tracking and Data Collection

•    To track online activities and better encryption
•    For Precise bandwidth allocation for specific consumers
•    For a better marketing plan
•    For publishing advertisements on frequently browsed websites

Data Leaks Due To Dropping of Private Connection

Whenever you activate a VPN connection, you hide your original connection behind a secret IP address. This private IP address is displayed on websites whenever you access them.

There is next to no risk of your original IP address getting exposed as long as your encrypted connection is operational.

Unfortunately, if your VPN connection fails, your original IP address may be exposed accidentally. If this happens you will be automatically get redirected and linked with your original IP address.

For Data Leak Protection

You may prevent yourself from this by using a VPN that includes an automatic kill switch. The kill switch must be turned on at all times.
As a result, whenever your VPN connection fails, your communication link is instantly terminated, avoiding data leaks.

Risk of Mismatched VPN or Operating System Configuration

A privacy breach might occur if your VPN and your device's operating system are not effectively configured. Your VPN, for example, may not permit IPv6 connectivity. Your operating system, on the other hand, enables an IPv6 connection.

As a result, your DNS data may leak due to mismatched settings. This might potentially result in the revelation of your actual IP address as well as other confidential material that you are trying to keep hidden.

It is therefore important to understand the technology offered by your VPN. According to Privacy Canada's research, PPTP protocols are more secure than L2TP protocols. According to research observations, PPTP networks had a 65% edge over other networks in terms of overall cases of leaked data.

The above issues can be prevented by using authentic VPN software and services. A careful and precise VPN configuration makes the real difference.

Integrating Best Encryption Protocol for Your VPN

When it comes to securing sensitive data, multiple VPN protocols can be used. Different protocols interact with your data in multiple ways. Some protocols are focused on security, while others are performance-oriented.

PPTP, for example, is the forerunner of VPN protocols. The above protocol initially appeared in the late 1990s. It is simple to configure and is widely supported. As it does not employ any special authentication or encryption mechanism, which makes PPTP fast.

You might be tempted to deploy this protocol while streaming videos or playing online computer games. However, the concern is that PPTP's security controls have been compromised. It includes serious major vulnerabilities that might lead to data leakage.

It is strongly advised that you choose 256-bit encryption for your VPN. Use the Open VPN protocol when possible since it provides consistency and confidentiality for your VPN network.

Risk of Using Free or Cheap VPN Services

One of the most common reasons for data breaches is the deployment of low-cost or free VPN services. VPN services that are cheap or free will not safeguard your confidentiality.

In addition, they may intentionally spy on you before marketing your information to the potential buyer.

If they are not profiting from selling their services to you, they are most probably profiting by selling you and your details as a service. The majority of free VPNs have poor logging rules.

You unknowingly provide them the authority to track all of your internet activities and disclose your confidential data to whoever they want.

Conclusion

Everything above indicates that you are not receiving the privacy you expect. You may avoid this by using a VPN service with an excellent track record of enforcing a strict no-logging policy.

To achieve a protective solution you must look for a trustworthy VPN service. It will somehow increase your up-front cost but it will protect your confidential data, money, and privacy in long run.

VTPL recommends cross-checking the privacy policies of the VPN before integrating it with your existing connection.
 

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