How to detect a (VPN) network breach?

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are networks that enable the creation of a secure virtual tunnel over the internet to another network or device. If you access the internet through these methods, it becomes challenging for anyone, including the internet service provider, to spy on your browsing activities.

VPNs help conceal your location anywhere in the world and unblock geographically restricted services. Additionally, VPNs work to protect privacy (keeping data confidential) and data integrity (protecting information from any alterations) for messages transmitted over the public internet.
Setting up these secure connections is relatively easy. The user first connects to the internet through their internet service provider and then initiates the connection through a VPN using software installed on their devices. The VPN server encrypts and processes the requested web pages, returning them to the user through the secure tunnel, thus ensuring the security of user data over the internet.

Can someone hack VPN networks?

Although a VPN is considered a good security measure for browsing the internet and keeping your information away from the dangers of the open web, experiments and studies have shown that there are possibilities of it being hacked based on several factors. Regarding the computer you use to browse the internet, the nature of the VPN relies on encrypting the identity of the exchanged information, and the key to this encryption is stored on your device and on the servers of your VPN network. This means that hackers can steal information from you or your computer. Therefore, if your device is not sufficiently protected, for example, with a strong password to defend against various attacks, the VPN may not be able to protect you. If a hacker manages to infiltrate your device, they have effectively breached the VPN network it operates on. As for encryption standards, they feature a high level of security, making it very difficult to attempt hacking. Regarding VPN network servers, their security depends on the safety measures you adopt. If you prioritize the security of your information, the security level of these servers depends on your own security measures. However, in most cases, these servers have vulnerabilities and weaknesses, even when using supporting tools. It is better to rely on specialized VPN services, as they are highly capable of providing significant security features. The possibility of your network being hacked also depends on the websites you visit. The hacker may not be able to access your secured network while browsing regular sites. However, accessing unsafe and suspicious sites can introduce viruses, spyware, and malware to the user's device, leading back to the initial point of compromising your device and consequently, your network.

Detecting VPN Network Breaches:

In the event of a VPN network breach, there is a malfunction in its operation. Various online tools can help you examine the connections to the private network and ensure its proper functioning. However, not all of these tools are as useful and effective as claimed. Here, we will summarize the best ways to detect potential malfunctions or breaches in the network.

• Firstly, you should test the identity and location of your Internet Protocol (IP) address when connecting to the internet. Your real home address should not be visible; instead, a different location specified by the servers of the VPN network you are using should appear.
• You can then conduct a more accurate test by examining the Domain Name System (DNS) protocol, providing you with simple and quick information. This includes a direct query about whether you are using a proxy in the connection process, and it also checks Flash and Java data. Start by using this method to see your IP address through this tool, then copy the displayed IP address and search for it in search engines like DuckDuckGo. Note that most VPN service providers route the DNS protocol to Google, and Google's centers are located in Mountain View. However, if you notice different results such as "127.0.0.1.verizionfios.direct," there is a protocol leakage, indicating a high probability of being vulnerable to a breach.

• If you use torrent downloading software like BitTorrent, you should test the connection process through these programs. You can find specialized sites through Google search that require you to download a torrent file. After opening and initiating the download, the site will show you the details of your connection through torrent ports. Here, the IP address of the VPN network should appear instead of your original device's address. If this is not the case, there is a connection error, indicating that the private network is not protecting you, or it may have been breached.

• A specific examination of the Domain Name System (DNS) protocol within the VPN network should be conducted to detect any breaches or to fully ensure that there is no breach if you have followed all the previous tips. You can perform this check through direct tools like "dnsleaktest." These tools allow you to know if there is a protocol leak in its intended path. This leak can be identified if your real location appears in the results or if something like "127.0.0.1.verizionfios" appears.

These methods are sufficient to quickly and effectively detect whether there is any breach in the VPN network. Taking corrective actions to address any issues that arise helps avoid breaches. Communicate with the service provider and protect your device from any dangers of viruses or malicious software. Stopping leaks and malfunctions leads to preventing breaches, as you have closed all doors to hackers.