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What is Split Tunneling in a VPN?
VPN split tunneling is a new handy feature that allows the user to decide what traffic across the internet is sent through the encrypted tunnel of VPN and what is sent through the network without encryption. That is, you can put sensitive data (such as work files or banking sessions) down the secure VPN tunnel, and non-sensitive or high-bandwidth traffic (such as video streaming, gaming, or accessing a local network) does not go through the VPN. A VPN is configured by default to send 100 percent of the traffic of a device through its servers, whereas split tunneling sends part of your data across an encrypted VPN tunnel and leaves other applications and data to the Internet unfiltered. This two-way solution provides a balance between security and performance: security to selected applications and direct speed to all other applications. In practice, split tunneling provides more control over your network: you can not only mask your IP, but also encrypt important sessions and yet be able to access local LAN devices (printers, NAS drives, etc.) or regional services using your real IP.
How is Different than a Full VPN: Full-tunnel VPN causes all the traffic to be sent through the VPN server that encrypts each packet before transmitting it to the destination. Split tunneling disrupts this straight line. Part of the data (usually determined by app, domain, ip or protocol rules) is directed to the secure tunnel of the VPN, and the rest to the internet. The direct traffic continues using your regular connection tothe ISP and IP, making it fast and retaining access tothe local network. Split tunneling is fundamentally a way of making two routes of your internet traffic: an encrypted route to selected traffic, and an open route to the other.
How Split Tunneling Works
Configuring split tunneling will usually require your VPN client/device to use pre-established rules to direct packets. The VPN software is similar to a traffic manager, as it examines every packet going out. In case a packet matches a rule to the secure tunnel (such as being destined for a corporate server or other sensitive application), the VPN client encrypts the payload with powerful hash functions such as AES-256 or ChaCha20 and wraps it in a new header. This encrypted packet is transmitted to the VPN server with a selected tunnel protocol (typical ones are OpenVPN, IPSec/IKEv2, WireGuard, or others). The distant VPN server then removes the tunnel head, encrypts the original packet, and sends it to the ultimate destination on the internet.
When such packets fail to satisfy the secure-tunnel rules, they are just transferred out via the default internet path, and they are not encrypted. These circumvented packets access services or sites at full speed and with your normal public IP. As an example, video streaming or browsing may pass without encryption so as not to slow down the VPN. Since the traffic does not actually pass through the tunnel, it is not processed by the VPN server or your own encrypted connection, and thus, it saves bandwidth and decreases latency.
In the meantime, any delicate traffic (such as distant working devices, personal file access, or banking applications) is safeguarded within the encrypted tunnel. Effectively, split tunneling will involve the privacy of a VPN (on the selected data) and the speed of a direct connection (on the rest)
Types of Split Tunneling
There are a variety of ways in which VPN split tunneling can be applied, depending on how you define which traffic is to be included or excluded:
Split tunneling with apps: You select certain applications whose traffic will either not go through (or will go through) the VPN. Or, say you may configure your web browser or video application to bypass the VPN, but demand that your mail and file applications use it. Android or Windows VPN apps provide many applications where one can set these rules in their list of installed programs.
URL/Domain-based split tunneling: Traffic to specific sites or domains is routed either via the VPN or directly. This is frequently employed in browser extensions of the VPN. You may also block out all addresses that end in .company.com, such as to have internal corporate websites continue to tunnel over the secure connection. Security guides indicate that the removal of domains provides control of PCs at a fine level.
IP/Network based split tunneling (destination based): You specify IP addresses or network ranges that must be on the VPN. The traffic to certain subnets (such as your corporate office network) is tunneled,d and the rest is direct. This is common as route-based splitting by Enterprise VPNs.
Split tunneling by protocol type: Split tunneling by protocol type. As an example, you can use the VPN to only pass on the traffic of the HTTP or DNS protocol, but leave the rest of the protocols (FTP, gaming ports, etc.) in the non-encrypted form.
Inverse split tunneling: The converse of this is also possible by default; all traffic passes through the VPN, except for a list of a few items that you specifically exclude. Inverse tunneling automatically gives you maximum privacy and even allows you to whitelist some low-risk apps to the open internet. It comes in handy when the majority of traffic is to be secure,d and certain exceptions are required.
Dynamic or policy-based split tunneling: More advanced systems can utilize dynamic policies (i.e., through DNS-based decisions) or organizational policies to automatically decide which traffic is sent where,e as in enterprise offerings.
Unintended split tunneling (IPv6 problem): It is a special case that is encountered when the traffic of a device is not routed inside an IPv4 VPN tunnel, even though the traffic is IPv6. This is not divided by design; it is merely configuration oversight (dual-stack networks) that may be exposing IPv6 traffic on the clear. It shows the significance of verifying every protocol route.
The programs provide varying flexibility. App-based is simplest to use by end users, IP-, route-, or route-based is more typical with corporate VPNs, and inverse tunneling is best when security is paramount, but some exceptions are required. All in all, split tunneling allows you to customize what you want to secure or what you want to make fast.
Benefits of Split Tunneling
Split tunneling has several benefits, as it balances between security, performance, and convenience:
Faster performance and less bandwidth consumption: Traffic that is not sensitive does not go through the VPN and therefore does not clog the tunnel. This minimizes the VPN server and your connection congestion. Unencrypted traffic is sometimes observed to have faster browsing, streaming, and download speeds for users. A case in point, video streaming or file transfer of big files that is not done via the VPN no longer experiences encryption overhead or rerouting to remote servers. It is a bothersome system solution, this best-of-both-worlds arrangement, which speeds up simple internet use.
Reduced Latency on Important Applications: Applications that demand real-time response (such as online games or video calls) do not run as well when redirected to an ostensibly remote VPN server. Split tunneling has the ability to minimize latency on gaming and collaboration applications. Users have low ping times on direct traffic, besides ensuring that important work apps are safe.
Access to Local Network and Devices: Linked through VPN, it is common to lose access to local resources (printers, network drives, IoT devices). Split tunneling also allows you to remain connected to the VPN and allows you to continue accessing your home or office LAN. As an example, you can print to a local printer or stream to a local TV, but still have an encrypted channel to perform sensitive activities. This can be particularly helpful with remote employees who have to have access to the corporate VPN and home network at the same time.
Geo-Unblocking and Flexibility: Split tunneling allows selective access to the VPN to break the geographic limitations. As a VPN server in a different country will unblock streaming services, you can route streaming services through the VPN server and leave other services (such as local weather or banking) to use your real IP. As an illustration, the VPN can be used by travelers to stream home-region content as they browse the local sites. Such flexibility eliminates the on/off switching of VPN.
Reduced VPN Financials/Load: In the case of organizations, split tunneling diverts low- or high-volume traffic through the internet, which reduces the bandwidth or infrastructure that VPN servers need. This will not only save on bandwidth expenses but also ensure that there is no saturation of corporate links as employees stream video or download updates.
Role-based and need-based Split tunnels: Split tunnels can be configured by admins and users to meet their role or necessity. An example of this is that in a secure Wi-Fi network, you would be divided differently compared to a hotspot. The corporate policies may permit the use of trusted devices with split tunneling and full tunneling with risky devices. To be precise, you will be boring what should be guarded.
In a nutshell, split tunneling provides you the ability to prioritize and optimize traffic: secure first, and everything is faster. This would result in an improved user experience without necessarily compromising privacy on unwarranted tasks.
Risks and Drawbacks of Split Tunneling
Although split tunneling helps to increase convenience and speed, it also creates significant security and privacy threats that should not be ignored:
Security Vulnerabilities: No traffic passing outside of the VPN is encrypted and can be viewed on the local network and the internet. It implies that such an attacker within the same Wi-Fi or ISP may intercept or manipulate such data. Sensitive data that is transferred without the VPN (e.g., cookies, login credentials, proprietary files) can be compromised. Unlike a full-tunnel VPN, you no longer have the blanket protection of any split-out streams, and an eavesdropper or local attacker can use the open channel.
DNS and IP Address Leaks: Split tunneling is notorious for exposing DNS queries and IP information. When your browsing history is revealed to your ISP and any eavesdropper, split traffic DNS lookups to your ISP DNS server rather than your VPN DNS server. Similarly, failure to handle IPv6 traffic appropriately may result in IPv6 addresses leaking out of the tunnel (as in dual-stack split cases). These leakages not only betray your physical location but also your visiting sites, which circumvents the anonymity of VPN to a certain extent. In business applications, DNS or IP information leakage can enable the attacker to map the internal resources or circumvent corporate filters.
Malware and Phishing Threats: Devices may receive malware-infested information over the internet, not within the VPN. Corporate platforms are based on centralized security (firewalls, antivirus, web filtering). Split tunneling circumvents such controls on the excluded traffic. This means that users may unwillingly download malware or become victims of phishing on their direct connection, which may, in turn, infect the same device connected to the corporate VPN, introducing malicious content into the secure network.
Ineffective Security Policies: When using split tunneling, it is more difficult to provide the same security to all users and devices. Internal systems might be exposed by the misconfiguration of one user (e.g., not including the wrong app). If not all traffic goes through corporate proxies and monitoring, then it cannot be scanned against threats, and it cannot be logged in a way that is compatible. The split-out traffic might be hard to audit or control by the organizations, resulting in loopholes in compliance (this is critical in regulated industries).
Going Around Corporate Controls: A split tunnel may compromise security policies such as VPN-based intrusion detection, proxy content filtering, and endpoint monitoring in an enterprise. As an illustration, a user may accidentally (or with malicious intent) use split tunneling to access disapproved sites, circumventing the firewall. This creates a vulnerability that would be prevented by corporate security teams.
Complexity and Human Error: It is not easy to properly set up split tunneling rules. Users or administrators could make errors in the choices of apps or IPs to be tunneled. One misplaced rule may transmit vital information insecurely. Each additional rule is a probability of misrouting. As an example, neglecting one of the business applications in the VPN may result in confidential information being transmitted across the open internet without knowledge. The less simple the rule set is, the more difficult it is to check whether it is correct.
No Security on Unsecured Networks: In case you are using split tunneling in an insecure network (such as in open Wi-Fi), non-tunneled traffic is at the mercy of all. The encryption provides protection against potential snoopers or attackers on the network without the use of a VPN. This is why instructors suggest that split tunneling should be avoided on networks that are not trusted.
Concisely, split tunneling automatically undermines the coverage of security by a VPN. Anything that you direct outside the tunnel is unprotected by VPN. These disadvantages should be balanced with the advantages and alleviated.
Use Cases and Examples
Split tunneling works well in cases where there is mixed traffic that requires differences in sensitivity or performance requirements. Common use cases include:
Streaming and Geo-Unblocking: VPN IPs are usually identified and blocked by video streaming services to implement region restrictions. Under split tunneling, you have the opportunity to run your streaming application or service over the VPN server in the location of your choice and still have all the rest of your internet (i.e., browsing news or local websites) use your real IP. In this manner, you will be able to enjoy geo-locked content (such as a foreign Netflix library) through VPN, but receive local notifications and higher bandwidth in other applications[28][9]. As an example, a traveler may employ split tunneling, which looks like viewing the TV apps related to their home country safely, without all the apps (such as weather or home security) believing that the traveler is not at home.
Corporate and Remote Work: This employee at home will require access to securely utilize corporate servers and email over VPN, but also require access to a high-speed internet connection in order to access collaboration applications or cloud environments that are not confidential to the company. Split tunneling will allow the business traffic (e.g. VPN-based intranet, databases) to remain encrypted, whereas applications such as Teams, Slack, or Google Drive do not use the VPN due to its speed and bandwidth considerations, On the same note, it allows the remote workers to access their local printer or networked storage at home that would otherwise be inaccessible by the VPN. This proves very helpful in BYOD situations or in a contracting setting where complete tunnels are not feasible.
Gaming: Low latency is usually needed in online gaming. Split tunneling allows gamers to pass the gaming data (voice or gameplay) outside the VPN, keeping the ping low, but logins and payment transactions to the account through the VPN to be secured. This helps to avoid the lag caused by VPNs in the process of playing the game. It is one of the examples mentioned by which split tunneling can be used in practice.
Big Downloads or P2P: Large non-sensitive files are downloaded by users or torrented by them, which could exclude these apps under the VPN in order to conserve VPN bandwidth. For example, by sending a BitTorrent client when out of the V you can keep it fast and only leave the torrent tracker/login in the VPN. (Other VPN service providers suggest full-tunneling of torrents, which is more privacy-safe; split-tunneling here is only permissible when the content is not sensitive or in the public domain.) This application case was cited in elaborate scenarios.
Using Local Services: VPN will block access to some applications (such as online banking or some government websites). Split tunneling is capable of allowing such apps to bypass the VPN to expose your actual IP. As an example, banking applications that refuse VPN IPs can be used with split off; you authenticate the content of the transaction using TLS on the local connection. Devices of the smart home (cameras, thermostats) and local servers may also be left in the LA, N as other traffic will be tunneled.
Split tunneling Use across multiple countries simultaneously: Split tunneling may technically permit one segment of your traffic to be viewed as originating in one country and another segment as originating in a different country. As an example, one of the apps can be connected to a U.S. VPN server and another to your local network. This is handy in testing the regional content or services. According to Polimetro, split tunneling enables one to surf a variety of virtual places simultaneously.
Testing and Troubleshooting: Sometimes, IT professionals test and troubleshoot network problems in split tunneling, isolating a set of paths. As an illustration, testing the behavior of a site with a VPN on and off at the same time.
The above illustrations explain why split tunneling is commonly referred to as a VPN superpower. It is best when there are special requirements among particular apps or destinations (speed, local IP session, and incompatibility with VPN), and others need to remain secure.
Best Practice and Technical Considerations
Split tunneling harms VPN security on certain traffic, which is why it is important to implement it safely and understand the specifics of the technology:
VPN Protocols and Encryption: The transition traffic is encrypted using tough ciphers. Most VPN protocols (OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, WireGuard, etc.) build the secure tunnel based on symmetric encryption (AES-256 or ChaCha20) algorithms, as well as strong key exchange (RSA, DH) and hashing (SHA-2)[17]. Make sure that your VPN is based on the latest encryption standards. AES-256 and ChaCha20 are suggested. Other VPNs can offer the option of using TCP/UDP or newer protocols (WireGuard).
The point is: split tunneling does not change the encryption of the tunneled packets; it only removes some packets before being encrypted.
DNS and IPv6 Leak Protection: Split tunneling also leads to DNS leaks in which DNS queries of split-out traffic are directed through the DNS of the ISP. To avoid this, either a VPN or a system configuration that causes DNS queries to be tunneled, or use a secure DNS service. There are VPN clients that have a DNS leak protection button. Furthermore, when the VPN client you are using is not IPv6-capable, then you should switch off IPv6 on your computer or switch to a VPN that encapsulates IPv6 to prevent leaks. Enabling split tunneling: always test for DNS leaks (e.g., using online test tools).
Kill Switch and VPN Reliability: A VPN “kill switch” option is to be considered with split tunneling. Normal is that a kill switchto blocks all internet traffic in case the VPN is disconnected? However, with split tunneling, you have to determine whether the switch is to block even traffic that is ordinarily excluded. (Other VPNs can use a combination of split tunneling and kill switch (so that they completely block when the VPN stops) or only encrypted applications are blocked.) In a public Wi-Fi, it can usually be safest to use a kill switch, where there is no traffic data leakage in the event of a tunnel failure.
OS Support: Split tunneling depends on the OS. Interestingly, iOS and iPadOS do not usually permit a user to set split tunneling, because system limitations forbid it in most cases. Most VPN applications have a low level of MacOS support. By contrast, Windows and Android VPN applications are typically provided with total split-tunnel options. Policy routing can be configured by Linux users, but it is usually manually configured. Always make sure that your device has a VPN client that has the option of split tuneling, and read the instructions of your provider.
Router-Based Split Tunneling: At the network level, split tunneling is implemented on routers by some advanced users. As an example, a home router with a firmware such as DD-WRT or pfSense can be set up to direct some device traffic over the VPN and other external devices or services. It is intricate, yet it takes split tunneling to the entire network of devices. With a router in place supporting VPN, it is common to be able to configure routes or utilize VLANs to support split-tunnel effects (e., a subnet via VPN, a subnet unencrypted). Such an arrangement is in need of networking skills to prevent any leakage.
Logging and Monitoring: Be aware of traffic that is split. To audit accidental leakage, logging the apps or IPs you block may be of use. Enterprise admins ought to trace VPN as well as split traffic, fic which may be deliberately tracked with network analysis t,ools to identify any data that was not supposeescapeaping encryption. Periodic vulnerability audits and traffic scans assist in making sure that policies are implemented.
Integrate with Other Security: Use a powerful endpoint security, even in the split-tunneling case. Install antivirus/anti-malware, use personal firewalls, and update systems. As an example, when you don’t put the web browsing under VPN, ensure a browser does not leave your machine vulnerable through uncovered exploits. Install browser extensions or OS controls to implement HTTPS and block trackers. And another idea, a Zero Trust strategy: authenticate user and device identity and access even over the VPN can be considered by 42Gears, but it should be combined with split tunneling and Mobile Device Management (MDM) to only tunnel authorized apps/data.
Smart DNS vs. VPN Split Tunneling: Smart DNS is another tool that can be used to stream and unblock. In contrast to VPN, Smart DNS merely forwards DNS requests via the server in a target country without encrypting traffic. This is quicker and does not provide privacy. Split tunneling can obtain the same advantages of content access: you might not want your streaming app in the VPN (and so you use Smart DNS on your ISP DNS), or you might want to transform IP. Another alternative to be mentioned is Smart DN; however, not encrypted.
Conformance to Policy: Do not break any organizational policy. In certain workplaces, split tunneling is specifically prohibited because it does not follow the company controls. Provided that it is permitted, keep records of reasoning and have effective communication.
How to Turn on Split Tunneling
Depending on the VPN service, the process is as follows: install a VPN client with a split tunneling option enabled, then go to its settings panel and choose applications, IPs,s or destinations. To illustrate, most VPN applications have an Exclusions list on which you check applications to be bypassed by VPN. Other ones allow specifying the domains or IP ranges to be tunneled or bypassed. Anytime split-tunneling settings are changed, disconnection and reconnection of the VPNares necessary to implement rules.
In the case of the router-based VPN, it is more technical: you would write routing policies on the router (or VPN server, so that some subnets or addresses would bypass the WAN gateway and go directly to the VPN interface. When you run a VPN on a home router, refer to its documentation (e.g, OpenWrt or pfSense split-tunnel documentation) to write policy-based routing rules.
Example (Norton VPN): Clicking on Split Tunneling in the Settings of a Norton VPN app on Android, enabling it, then selecting which apps should not be covered by the VPN. A similar toggle is very often present on a Windows VPN client, in Preferences or Options,s and is able to be checked off against particular applications. We will not enumerate all the products here, but the important point to keep in min thatis, in the VPN software,e there should be a split-tunneling or bypass option, and then configure your desired exceptions.
Split Tunneling vs. Alternatives
Full-Tunnel VPN: It is the default mode of VPN in which 100 percent of traffic is tunneled. It has the best security and privacy as it does not leak anything and has compromised speed and local access. Full-tunnel should be used when it is necessary to protect yourself to the maximum (e.,g. when on untrusted networks) or when you are forced to follow strict IT policies.
Smart DNS: Smart DNS is able to bypass geo-blocking without encryption, as it is noted. It provides streaming benefits in speed, yet does not win any traffic. It does not provide a per-application control, like split tunneling – it is a DNS trick of all or nothing. When you do not care about privacy and the only thing that you want is to stream global content faster, then Smart DNS is one solution. Split tunneling is, however, more liberal in that you can still encrypt some of the traffic.
Proxy vs. Split tunnel Proxy (SOCKS or HTTP): may be configured on a per-application (as in a browser) basis, to switch IP addresses, like routing that application outside/inside the VPN. Nevertheless, proxies normally do not encrypt the traffic as a VP doesN. Split tunneling is different since it is typically synonymous with IPsec/OpenVPN tunneling and exceptions.
None VPN (Direct Connection): VPN off all the way gives the safest performance,e but, of course, you lose protection of the encryption of all the traffic. Split tunneling is a compromise that is not ideal. In case you are sure that all your apps are secure and not sensitive, you may not use VPN; you mayuse selective tunneling.
Application Level Routing: There are some advanced users who will have many network interfaces or containers (e.g, one VPN-linked browser and one standard browser). This provides split-tunnel-like functionality without a single VPN client – and it is complicated to configure.
Each approach has trade-offs. Split tunneling will work best when you require the VPN for some traffic and not all traffic. In case complete privacy is mandatory at all times, a full tunnel is better. This can be best achieved by combining a split tunnel on content that is not sensitive and a partial version of VPN on sensitive applications; this way, you will still have increased speed, and the content of these applications will not be sensitive.
Split tunneling is a powerful VPN feature that, when used wisely, optimizes your connection for both security and performance. Consider whether your usage scenario calls for it: for example, if you want fast streaming or local LAN access while keeping other data protected, split tunneling can be very helpful. Always follow best practices: test your split-tunnel setup, keep sensitive traffic encrypted, and use strong security tools alongside it. By balancing convenience with caution, you can have both speed and privacy. Evaluate your VPN service’s split-tunneling options, and enable this feature if it fits your needs and threat model.
