VPN (Virtual Private Network) has been one of the most useful tools in protecting online activity as digital privacy becomes a growing concern. VPN encrypts your internet connection, hides your IP, and makes you anonymous on the internet. While VPNs can greatly help protect privacy, plenty of people still use them incorrectly` In this article let us delve into the most common VPN mistakes users make that put their privacy at risk like the cons of OTPP (Time Password)free VPN service, pitfalls of using VPN, also several common problems like VPN misconfiguration, etc. By knowing about these mistakes, users can be sure they are making the most of their VPN service and protecting their online privacy in 2025 and beyond.
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Disadvantages of Using Free VPNs
With VPNs, users are drawn to free services — they can't believe they can have privacy without this question in their mind Is free VPN safe for iPhone or Android? But free VPNs can cause big problems that can defeat the point of your privacy and security.
1. Data Logging and Selling
Free VPN problems: they may log your data. Most free VPN services make money by collecting and selling user information. Now, free VPNs for them to pay rent, and servers must log data
2. Weak Encryption and Security Flaws
Free VPNs usually provide lesser encryption, making your web connection susceptible to hackers and trespassers.
3. Slower Speeds and Reliability Issues
In theory, free VPNs should be slower than paid-for services because they will go to lengths to keep pricing low by limiting the number of servers they have and/or the number of users sharing them. This can result in significant slowdowns, buffering while streaming, and interruptions while browsing.
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What Is the Risk of Using a VPN?
Although a VPN is a great tool for privacy and security, you can still use one wrong with some risks. Some of the potential problems that VPN users should look out for include:
VPN Leaks
Even with a VPN, there’s a risk that your actual IP address and other confidential information may leak. The two main types of leaks are DNS leaks and WebRTC leaks. This happens when your device makes DNS queries out of the VPN tunnel (unencrypted) and exposes your real IP to your ISP or any other third party. WebRTC leaks can still reveal your true IP address even when you are behind a VPN, especially so if you are using browsers like Chrome or Firefox that have WebRTC enabled by default.
2. Inadequate VPN Configuration
If you’re using a VPN without properly setting it up, it can compromise your privacy instead. Not enabling the kill switch feature (which disconnects you from the internet in the event of a VPN connection failure) can allow your real IP address to leak in the event of VPN connection failure. VPNs can also be ineffective if weak encryption protocols are used or if the best security settings are not chosen.
3. VPN Provider Issues
Not all VPN providers you can trust. Some may not live up to their claim of a “no-logs” policy. If the infrastructure provider sits in a jurisdiction requiring them to gather user data, your details could be in danger. And there’s the risk that VPN companies themselves could be hacked or have vulnerabilities, putting your data at risk.
Common Privacy Protection Mistakes VPN Users Make in 2025
Even though VPNs are made to protect your private data, people continue to make mistakes that make them vulnerable. Some, however, are more relevant than ever, as VPN services change and new privacy problems emerge in 2025.
Using a VPN on a single device
One common mistake is that many users think that they can use a VPN on only one device and that everything is well protected. For example, a user may have enabled a VPN on his or her laptop, but not on their smartphone or tablet. While the other devices mentioned are certainly protected by a VPN, they can leak sensitive details, for example, your real IP address or location, if these are not being tackled by the VPN.
Enable the Kill Switch Feature
If you have not enabled the kill switch, when the VPN connection drops suddenly, your actual IP address may be leaked. Most VPN services offer this feature to help ensure that if the VPN does ever fail, your internet connection will be immediately cut off and no data will be sent without being encrypted. Without the kill switch enabled, if a VPN connection drops out for a few minutes, you may leak sensitive data without your knowledge.
Ignoring DNS and WebRTC Leaks
While VPNs are great at hiding your online activities from third parties, that doesn’t mean leaks can’t still happen if you don’t test your VPN, or if your VPN isn’t set up correctly. DNS and WebRTC leaks are especially problematic because they can reveal your actual IP address even when you're connected to a VPN. One common miscalculation that can jeopardize your privacy is neglecting to check for leaks regularly.
Selecting the Incorrect VPN Server Location
Some VPN users connect through servers in nations with weak privacy laws or in nations aligned with surveillance pacts such as the Five Eyes (U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand). Server choices in these jurisdictions can leave you vulnerable to government surveillance, no matter how rock-solid the VPN provider’s no-logs claim. To protect your anonymity, selecting a server location in a jurisdiction that is privacy-oriented is critical.
VPN Misconfiguration
Misconfiguration is one of the main reasons why VPNs do not protect privacy. Even with a trusted VPN provider, your settings could be leaving you vulnerable. These are some common VPN misconfigurations:
Incorrect Protocol Settings
All VPNs use different protocols (OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, etc.), some provide better security and performance than others. You want to be using the latest and greatest protocol possible; if you choose one that's too outdated or not robust enough (PPTP, for example), for instance, your connection might not be secure enough, making you vulnerable to a cyberattack. However, choosing a protocol that isn’t supported by your device might result in slower speeds or connectivity problems. Therefore, you must select a protocol that is suitable for your machine as well as your requirements.
Not Turning on Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
You may have to use multi-factor authentication (MFA) with some VPN services for extra protection. It’s especially important to use this if you’re on a shared or public device. Not enabling MFA would make your VPN account more vulnerable to unauthorized access. Always use MFA to further secure your VPN.
Not Setting Up Split Tunneling Correctly
Split tunneling lets users select any apps or websites they want to use through the VPN and those they do not want to. Although this is convenient, misconfigured split tunneling can leak some activities or applications to the web without the VPN’s protection. For example, if you split-tunnel a sensitive banking app, it will not go through the VPN, which could expose your financial details. If you are setting up split tunneling to prevent leaks of your privacy, you need to be careful.
Conclusion
VPNs will add to your privacy online, but they aren’t a cure-all. Users must stay cognizant of common privacy protections going awry — free VPNs being untrustworthy and insecure, drawbacks of a poorly configured VPN, and the absence of important tools, like a kill switch or leak protections. With the state of online privacy constantly changing, as we move through the 2025 landscape, users must be on top of configuring their VPN of choice properly and ensuring the provider they use is one that can be trusted with their data privacy.
Knowing these mistakes helps you a lot to create an excellent prevention plan in your web journey, thus ensuring greater privacy and security. RUNTIME ERROR
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