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[Question] VPN and Mobile Data (lemmy.ml)
submitted 10 months ago by to c/privacy@lemmy.ml
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I recently found out that my mobile provider "leaks" (if you can say that) while I've using a VPN. On wifi it is completely fine.

On my phone when I go to the Speedtest app, my Mobile ISP will show up like full name while connected to a VPN. However, if I'm on wifi it will show the VPN's server provider name instead.

Also instead of the wave wifi icon it shows "LTE". Is my mobile data actually leaking even though I'm connected to a VPN? How can I fix this?

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[–] 3 points 10 months ago (6 children)

Interesting. Not for me.

I have an iPhone with a WireGuard tunnel back to my house. When connected just on cellular, SpeedTest says my mobile provider for the connection.

When I connect to VPN and try again, it says my home ISP provider and doesn’t mention the mobile part at all.

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  • [–] 2 points 10 months ago

    Doesn’t prevent them to grab more via the application from the os exposed data besides what they get from the network test they run. From the Apple Store page they siphon a fair bit of data including location / usage data / « other data » and more… Which is likely why those services have a tendency to redirect users to apps: they get more details about them.

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  • [–] 1 point 10 months ago (4 children)

    Yes.. Same principle

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  • [–] 1 point 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (3 children)

    In your original reply, you cite the app as smart enough to know the mobile ISP even with VPN on, and it shows this to you in the app, yet that is not my experience. If it were as you say, shouldn’t my app still say my mobile ISP even with the VPN active?

    Maybe you are running a split tunnel or something? When I’m on VPN over mobile, it’s the same as running the test on my home wifi.

    EDIT: we could also be talking about different parts of the app. As I dug further into this, the main page that just shows your speed, connection, and test server work/look the same for me on VPN on mobile or WiFi, showing my home ISP. However, I did discover that if I go into the detailed results page, it shows that I was using a mobile connection and doesn’t show my home ISP name at all. Very curious.

    EDIT2: last edit — tests over mobile on VPN in detailed results show my home ISP IP as the egress point, so one should be able to determine if their VPN is effective that way.

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  • [–] 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

    Interesting.. Which VPN are u using? If you don't mind telling! I am using Mullvad.

    I am not saying app is smart. There is an app called "Where is my train" in my country, which works on the same principle i mentioned earlier. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whereismytrain.android No need to have internet access or gps enabled. Just need to be on the train and based on your signal strength to the tower you are connected, it will determine location of the train.

    I am not running split tunneling. Split tunnel isn't going to work as i have enabled "block connection without vpn". In order for split tunneling to wo, this setting need to be turned off.

    Edit: It is possible that, as i am running a regular android, some traffic are getting bypassed, which has proven in past that android leaks traffic when vpn is connected https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/google/android-leaks-some-traffic-even-when-always-on-vpn-is-enabled/

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  • [–] 1 point 10 months ago* (1 child)

    I have a UniFi system at home, and then use a custom WireGuard config it generates on my iPhone to connect. It leverages the iOS VPN switch, just like turning WiFi or Bluetooth on and off. Works amazingly well. Should support Android, too, but I don’t have an Android anymore so no firsthand experience there.

    They also have a proprietary thing called Teleport, but I don’t use that because it relies on using another app they publish instead of just the main OS user functionality.

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