What Is a Split Tunnel VPN and How Does it Work?

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, provides users with secure and untraceable access to the internet.

A key feature of these services is the option to separate the traffic between different networks.

Below, we’ll discuss: 

• what split tunnel VPN is 
• how it works 
• its benefits and disadvantages

Let’s take a look! 

What Is a VPN Tunnel and How It Works

Simply put, a VPN tunnel is a connection between your device and a remote server.

You can use these intermediary servers to get secure and private internet access even when using public Wi-Fi networks.

All data that passes through the tunnel is encrypted. This makes it very difficult for anyone, including the internet provider, to intercept it.

Furthermore, when you use a VPN your device can appear to be in a country of your choice. This is useful for a number of reasons we’ll elaborate on further below.

Most importantly, VPNs prevent the tracking of your online activity by third parties by encrypting your data and hiding your IP address.

You can take your pick of VPN providers depending on your device — Android, Mac, or Windows — or on your needs — business, gaming, streaming, etc.

So, What Is a Split Tunnel VPN?

A split tunnel allows the user to route some of their traffic through the VPN while the rest of it uses the local internet connection.

That comes in handy if, for example, the user wants to be able to connect to a local network resource, like a printer or file server, while also having secure access to the internet.

By routing only the traffic that needs to be encrypted, you can enjoy the benefits of an untraceable connection without significantly reducing your bandwidth.

Typically, you can choose among three possible methods of split tunneling:

• URL-based — With the help of a browser extension, you can determine which URLs will be encrypted and which will remain on the open network.

• App-based — This type of network tunneling works similarly, only this time you pick the applications that will use the VPN.

• Inverse — In most cases, the default would be for the traffic to go through your open network unless otherwise specified. The inverse option lets you use the VPN connection for everything. And then determine which apps or URLs will remain on your regular network.

While split tunneling can be complicated as it requires the configuration of multiple connections, let’s not forget all its advantages.

What Are the Benefits of a Split Tunnel VPN?

Split tunneling has a few important advantages. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Prevents Tracking of Your Online Activity

Just like with a regular VPN connection, all your traffic routed through the encrypted tunnel is difficult for anyone to monitor and intercept. This makes it great if you want to avoid being tracked by third parties. 

Using Local Resources without Reducing Bandwidth 

With a split tunnel, you still have fast internet and access to local resources, such as printers or file servers. You don’t need to turn your VPN on and off whenever you need to download something quickly or get localized search results.

Circumvents Geo-Restrictions 

Split tunneling also allows access to different geographical regions. For example, if you want to access a website only available in Europe, a VPN can route your traffic. This way you get access to geo-blocked content and circumvent censorship.

Does Split Tunneling Pose a Security Risk?

This feature can compromise security if not configured correctly, as it may allow unencrypted traffic to bypass the VPN.

When you use split tunneling, you create two different networks your devices can connect to. One is private and secure, and the other is public.

It's possible for data to leak from the private network to the public one. This can happen if a split tunneling setup misconfiguration or a malicious actor exploits a vulnerability.

That’s why it's important to be very careful when setting up split tunneling. Also, regularly monitor your devices and networks for signs of data leakage.

Split Tunneling vs Full Tunneling

When connecting to a VPN, there are two different tunneling options you can choose from — split and full. Both have their own advantages and shortcomings, but speed vs. security is the main factor.

Split tunneling’s advantages are: 

• allows you to have a quick connection
• get access to local network resources without switching the VPN on and off every time

Its disadvantages are:

• it leaves some of your traffic unprotected; not as secure as a full tunnel VPN

Full tunneling’s pros are: 

• it’s a good option if security is your top priority; in business settings, where data protection is vital, users rarely rely on split tunneling

Cons include:

• loss of speed

The option that is right for you depends on your needs and security requirements. Also, make sure that your preferred VPN provider offers split tunneling, as not all of them do.

Wrap Up

Split routing the traffic through your VPN is a good way to balance security and speed, but you should be aware of the risks involved.

It gives you the benefits of an encrypted connection — like limited traceability and access to geo-blocked content — while being able to use your fast local network as well.

So, if you're looking for a fast and secure option, make sure to choose a provider that offers this feature. Then take the time to set up the configuration correctly.

Always keep an eye out for signs of data leakage to make sure your connection is uncompromised.