Split tunneling with a VPN

What is VPN split tunneling and how does it work?

First things first: What is VPN tunneling?

Network tunneling is a fundamental security feature provided by Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to securely transmit data from a user’s device to the VPN’s server.

To reroute internet traffic, a VPN first encrypts data on the user’s device before moving it through the VPN tunnel, exclusive for each user, to its own server where the IP address is replaced with the VPN’s own. Encryption and tunneling prevent external surveillance and interference in transit: data is effectively unreadable to outside observers.

With a VPN activated, all online activity is routed through the same network tunnel and server by default – this is full tunneling.

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Nym’s verdict: Split tunneling done right

If the question is framed purely in terms of split tunneling mechanics, then no: it functions the same way between traditional and decentralized VPNs. Split tunneling configurations are selective modifications of full tunneling: a user voluntarily creates exceptions to bypass the VPN’s security features. Whatever doesn’t go through the VPN is potentially vulnerable to surveillance, traffic analysis, and activity being linked back to you.

Real privacy is determined by the underlying architecture of the VPN network. Centralized one-hop servers are faster than multi-hop, dVPNs, but at the cost of a network more vulnerable to data breaches, cyber attacks, and government pressure for user records.

Choose the degree of your own privacy

Split tunneling is about user preference and choosing what traffic goes through a VPN. NymVPN offers users the choice between its Fast mode and a novel Anonymous mode for enhanced security. With split tunneling, users can assign genuinely sensitive traffic to Anonymous mode, everyday traffic to Fast mode, and latency-critical activity directly to the ISP – without compromising anonymity for performance.

VPN split tunneling gives users control over what gets protected, but the quality of that protection depends on the underlying VPN architecture. For users who need both flexibility and genuine privacy, NymVPN’s gives you control of the privacy protections and speed.

Kaynaklar

1. The Guardian (2013): The NSA Files
2. CSIRO/ICSI, UC Berkeley: An analysis of the privacy and security exposure of Android VPN applications (2017)