VPN is a great way to secure your online web activity from ISP, from the government, and practically anyone who is curious about what you are doing online. But, merely having a VPN service is not sufficient. There is so much to keep tabs on (and more so if you want to bank upon its amazing advantages). For instance, if there are several people using your VPN, you may want to keep a check on the bandwidth and if their web activities are appropriate.
Which VPN Do We Recommend?
Everything starts with having a decent VPN service and we have compiled a list of some of the best VPN services. Systweak VPN, for instance, is one of the best VPN services providers. We shall also be using it at various stages of the blog too. Here are some of its features which cement web security at its best –
| Systweak VPN – Features At A Glance |
|---|
| – A large Number Of Servers
Systweak VPN has over 4500 servers spread in more than 53 countries across 200+ locations – It Uses Open VPN
Which is an open-source protocol which prevents your connection from being detected by firewalls and filters – Stringent Encryption For Data Privacy And Online Anonymity Systweak VPN guards you via military-grade AES-256-bit encryption which is used to guard exclusive information – Strict No Logs Policy  None of your data is saved by the VPN on their servers, unlike some VPN services which save all your web details and sell it third parties. To add on it has a very crystal clear privacy policy as well – Kill Switch
Kill switch drops your session in case you have a failed connection. This way all your sensitive data and online identity are secured Download Systweak VPN Here’s why Systweak VPN is the best VPN for improved security and speed |
How To Monitor VPN
1. Using Command Prompt
This way to monitor VPN checks route between the remote server and PC. It not only checks the VPN connection on your Windows 10 laptop or PC but also checks for any packet loss as well. To monitor VPN connection via Command Prompt, here are the steps –
1. Open Command Prompt by typing Cmd in the Windows search bar and then choosing Run as administrator from the right-hand pane
2. When the Command Prompt window opens, type pathping and the remote PC’s hostname or IP address
2. Viewing Network Connection Properties
Here’s another very basic and simple way to monitor your VPN connection. This method tells if there are any errors you are facing while your VPN connection is active and the number of bytes received and sent.
1. Press Windows + X keys and choose Network Connections
2. Click on Change adapter options
3. Double-click on your VPN connection
3. Taking Help Of Third Party Software To Monitor VPN
Most of the below-mentioned tools are relevant if you have a workforce that uses VPN to connect to your network.
1. PRTG Network Monitor
PRTG Network Monitor from Paessler is a VPN traffic monitoring tool that is deft at measuring load, the number of users, and traffic. It is also capable of identifying any suspicious traffic or if there are any lags in the connection.
2. Plixer Scrutinizer
If how to monitor VPN traffic is what you want to know, then Plixer Scrutinizer is a tool you are looking for. Plixer Scrutinizer is an awesome way to check the number of users connecting to your network via VPN and it also tells you the heaviest users who are consuming the most amount of traffic. It also lets you monitor traffic as well.
3. Netbeez
Is a great tool to monitor VPN. It has an intimidating setup. With Netbeez you can measure network performance and uptime of tunnel. The network performance metrics are quite comprehensive.
While these were some ways to keep a track of VPN connection and activity.
Can VPN Monitor Your Activity?
Now that we have discussed how you can monitor your VPN connection. Let’s get to the other side of the spectrum can a VPN provider monitor your web activity? This introspection is quite legit because all your web traffic is routed through a VPN server, right? No doubt, your web activity is kept hidden from ISPs, the general public, hackers, and almost anyone but what about the VPN service provider itself.
At the outset, we’d like to mention that it is better to opt for a paid VPN not just because of the myriad of features it offers but most free VPN service providers log your internet traffic and web activity and even sell it to collectors, advertisers, and third parties. And, there are even some which might take complete control of your device as well. This means if they are able to hack into your phone, your private messages, chats, applications, and all the data stored is in grave danger.
With that out of the way, A reputed VPN service provider like Systweak VPN has a strict no data logging policy which means none of your data is sold to third parties. And, even if some data is collected, it is very general and doesn’t say much about your web activity. It includes your IP address, the amount of data that is transferred, and the connection time.
Conclusion
As a vigilant user if you have installed a VPN on your Windows 10 PC or laptop, kudos! But, now is the time to add an extra layer of security you must consider one of the above ways to monitor VPN. For more such content keep reading Tweak Library and you can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube as well.
Recommended Readings:
VPN Not Working? Best Methods To Fix VPN Problems
VPN Blocked! How Do I Bypass It?
Busting 5 Common Myths Surrounding VPN Services
How To Set Up VPN On Windows 10?
Jackie Elton
This is a very helpful article. Thanks for sharing.