Split Tunneling: VPN Users Can Now Choose Which Apps Get Protected
ProtonVPN and NordVPN on Windows let people pick which apps run through encrypted tunnels and which connect directly.
By Kenji Hassan ·
Virtual private networks shield browsing activity from internet providers, law enforcement agencies and others on the same Wi-Fi network, but that encrypted bridge can slow down connections. Split tunneling routes selected traffic around the bridge, so users do not have to toggle the VPN on and off.
The feature lets a user decide which apps travel through the VPN's protection and which connect directly to the internet. In ProtonVPN for Windows, a split tunneling link sits on the right side of the main console next to options such as a kill switch and port forwarding. Once enabled, users can pick apps to include, with everything else excluded, or apps to exclude, with everything else included. In NordVPN on Windows, users click the cog icon in the bottom left of the main interface, choose Split tunneling and flip the toggle, then select which apps receive VPN protection.
A player seeking the fastest possible connection might keep games outside the VPN. Someone checking local movie showtimes may want ticketing apps to bypass it so results reflect the real location rather than a spoofed one. A banking app can stay protected for maximum security while a weather app runs outside the VPN for local forecasts. Split tunneling also prevents a VPN from blocking access to other devices on a home network, such as smart home gadgets and printers.
The most common version is app-based, which routes traffic by application. Some services offer URL-based tunneling, setting rules by domain name, so a user can keep the VPN active for a search page while turning it off for a local news site. Route-based tunneling relies on specific IP addresses, and policy-based tunneling applies a set of rules; both are less common in consumer software and mostly relevant to people managing other users.
Mobile devices follow a similar process through the VPN app's settings, though iPhones give VPNs less freedom than Android devices and desktop platforms. On an iPhone, users are typically limited to excluding websites and IP addresses rather than apps.
Most VPN programs now include some form of split tunneling, particularly on paid tiers. For most people, the setup is a one-time task; users can revisit the settings to change which apps are covered, but the configuration generally does not require ongoing attention.
Source: Wired
