You’re connected to a VPN, thinking you're set to be digitally invisible. But what if the cloak you got on is full of holes?
Today, where privacy threats are in full glory of their persistence and sophistication, the Virtual Private Network, the very tool meant to secure your data, could be leaking critical information without your knowledge. And that could be catastrophic for your business. From DNS leaks to IPv6 vulnerabilities, poor VPN hygiene is a slow-building problem. Even enterprise-level VPN setups falter when not properly hardened.
Let’s break it down and help you lock things up the right way. Dive in to know more.
Why VPNs Leak: A Quick Primer
VPNs are designed to scramble your internet traffic and send it through secure servers, hiding your real IP address and keeping your data safe while it travels online. However, not all VPNs are built the same way. Many, wrongly assume that any VPN ensures complete anonymity and airtight security. That assumption opens the door for leaks.
Common Types of VPN Leaks DNS Leaks:
- DNS Leaks: When your device routes DNS requests through your ISP’s servers instead of the VPN’s encrypted tunnel, it exposes your browsing activity to third parties, undermining the privacy the VPN is supposed to give.
- IPv6 Leaks: Not all VPNs support IPv6. If your ISP uses IPv6 and your VPN doesn’t handle it properly, data can bypass the VPN and expose your IP.
- WebRTC Leaks: WebRTC, a browser-based communication protocol, can inadvertently expose your actual IP address even when a VPN is active, particularly in browsers such as Chrome and Firefox.
- Kill Switch Failures: If the VPN connection unexpectedly disconnects and no effective kill switch is in place, your network traffic is immediately and silently routed through the unsecured public internet.
- Misconfigured VPN Clients: A single configuration error can compromise the core security benefits of a VPN, a common issue observed in enterprises, particularly within hybrid or remote infrastructure setups.
How to Detect VPN Leaks (Before the Damage Is Done)
Consider regularly auditing your VPN connection, not just during initial setup, but as part of continuous cybersecurity hygiene.
Reach out to Bluella, where our team integrates continuous monitoring solutions within your network architecture, ensuring that VPN traffic is being routed and encrypted correctly across the board.
How to Lock Down Your VPN and Stop the Leaks
Here are proven methods to secure your VPN connection from leaking data:
Choose the Right VPN Protocol
Always opt for modern and secure protocols. Obsolete ones like PPTP are not only outdated, but they’re also actively dangerous.
Enable a Kill Switch
This prevents your device from reverting to the public internet when the VPN disconnects. It is non-negotiable.
Disable IPv6 (If Not Supported by Your VPN)
Until your VPN provider fully supports IPv6 traffic routing, disable it at the OS level to avoid leaks.
Use Trusted DNS Servers
Ideally, DNS queries should be routed through your VPN provider’s designated servers or configured to use secure alternatives such as Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google DNS (8.8.8.8). Bluella's VPN configurations are built to enforce encrypted DNS resolution by default, effectively mitigating the risk of data leaks.
Harden Your Browser
WebRTC should be disabled through browser settings or with the help of privacy-enhancing extensions to prevent IP leakage. For enhanced protection, consider using privacy-centric browsers, and configure them with strict security and privacy settings.
Audit Your Configuration Regularly
In organizations with distributed teams, even a single misconfigured endpoint can introduce critical vulnerabilities. We conduct comprehensive infrastructure security audits specifically designed for hybrid and remote-first environments, ensuring your VPN deployment remains secure and free from hidden data leaks.
As digital infrastructures grow increasingly complex with cloud workloads, edge deployments, and globally dispersed workforces, VPNs alone are no longer enough. They're a piece of the puzzle, not the whole picture.
Go beyond traditional VPN setups with Bluella’s:
- Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) models
- Layered encryption policies
- Granular access control
- Automated network traffic monitoring
We ensure that your VPN solution integrates seamlessly with your broader cybersecurity strategy, without slowing your business down.
Don’t wait for a breach to realize your VPN wasn’t doing its job. Proactively test, configure, and monitor.
And if you need help implementing enterprise-grade VPN security that just works, Bluella is always one step ahead, so you don’t fall behind.
