VPN Basics & Conflicts

VPNs can be extremely useful — for privacy on public Wi-Fi, secure access to work resources, or bypassing network restrictions — but they also introduce some of the most confusing connectivity problems. This subcategory explains VPN basics in a practical, non-technical way and helps you troubleshoot VPN conflicts that affect browsing, DNS, local devices, speed, and app access. You’ll learn what a VPN actually changes: it creates a secure tunnel, routes your traffic through a VPN server, often replaces your DNS settings, and may block local network access by design. This is why a VPN can cause “internet works but printer is gone,” “some websites don’t load,” or “Zoom works but file syncing doesn’t.” The guides help you recognize these patterns and choose the right fix, without guessing. A key concept is split tunneling vs full tunneling. Full tunneling sends everything through the VPN, which is simpler but can break local network discovery and reduce performance. Split tunneling keeps local traffic local and routes only specific apps or destinations through the VPN — which can solve many conflicts. The guides explain how to decide which mode you need depending on the use case: work VPN requirements, public Wi-Fi safety, streaming, or gaming. You’ll also learn why corporate VPNs can be strict and what you can safely change (and what you should not). Troubleshooting in this section is organized by symptom. Examples include: VPN connects but there is no internet; VPN works on one device but not another; VPN causes slow speeds; VPN breaks DNS; VPN blocks certain apps; VPN disconnects frequently; or VPN conflicts with other security software. The guides focus on safe steps like checking DNS, disabling conflicting network adapters, removing old VPN profiles, and understanding which “kill switch” settings might be blocking traffic. There’s also coverage of how VPNs interact with routers and why using a router-level VPN can be useful but also tricky. Security and privacy are handled realistically. VPNs don’t magically make everything safe; they shift trust to a provider and can still leak data if misconfigured. You’ll learn practical rules: use HTTPS, keep software updated, avoid unknown VPN apps, and understand what VPNs do and do not protect against. Public Wi-Fi use is covered as well: when a VPN is helpful, when it’s optional, and what other steps matter more (device updates, strong passwords, turning off auto-join, and avoiding risky login behavior). If you want VPNs to be useful rather than disruptive, this subcategory gives you a clean foundation and a conflict-resolution playbook that works across common setups.