Understanding VPN Tunneling And Data Encryption

It's no secret that VPNs have become an essential tool for many people around the world to protect their online privacy and security. However, there are also situations where you might want to select which traffic should go through the VPN connection and which shouldn't. That's where split tunneling comes in. Split tunneling is a feature of VPN software that allows you to divide your internet traffic into two streams: one that goes through the VPN, and another that bypasses the VPN and uses your regular internet connection. This can be useful in many different scenarios, and in this post we'll explore some of the situations where split tunneling can be especially helpful. But first, let's take a closer look at how split tunneling works. When you connect to a VPN and enable split tunneling, your computer sends some traffic through the VPN and some directly to the internet. This is achieved by routing specific IP addresses or domains through the VPN connection, while leaving other traffic untouched. Now that we have a better idea of how split tunneling works, let's dive into some of the ways it can be used to enhance your online experience. 1. Saving Bandwidth One of the main benefits of split tunneling is that it can help you save bandwidth. By selecting which traffic should be sent through the VPN, you can prevent non-essential traffic from using up your limited data allowance on the VPN connection. For example, if you're using a VPN for security reasons but also need to stream high-quality video, split tunneling can be used to bypass the VPN for the video traffic, saving bandwidth and ensuring smoother streaming. 2. Improving Speed Another advantage of split tunneling is that it can improve internet speed, particularly when dealing with resources that are only accessible via your regular internet connection. By routing certain traffic directly to the internet, split tunneling can help reduce latency and improve download/upload speeds for those resources. This can be especially helpful for online gaming, where latency can make all the difference in terms of gameplay and performance. 3. Accessing Local Resources Split tunneling can also be useful for accessing local resources that are not accessible via the VPN connection. For example, if you need to access a local printer or network drive while using a VPN, split tunneling can allow you to do so by routing that traffic directly to the local network. This can save a lot of time and hassle compared to switching back and forth between the VPN and your regular internet connection. 4. Bypassing Geo-Restrictions Split tunneling can also be used to bypass geo-restrictions for websites and services that are only available in certain regions. By sending only the traffic that needs to be routed via the VPN through the VPN connection, you can still access geo-restricted content with a local IP address. This can be particularly useful for streaming services like Netflix, which have different libraries in different countries. 5. Enhancing Security While split tunneling is often used to bypass the VPN for certain traffic, it can also be used to enhance security by routing non-essential traffic through the VPN. For example, if you're using a public Wi-Fi network and want to be extra cautious, you can enable split tunneling to send all traffic through the VPN, even if it's not strictly necessary. This can help protect your sensitive information from prying eyes and ensure all your internet traffic is encrypted. Overall, split tunneling is a powerful feature that can enhance your online experience in many different ways. Whether you're looking to save bandwidth, improve speed, access local resources, bypass geo-restrictions, or enhance security, split tunneling can help you achieve your goals. So next time you're using a VPN, consider enabling split tunneling to maximize your internet experience. What is a VPN? Why could I really need it to protect myself? - HDroid