When you are connected to a VPN, it is normal that your Internet speed slows down. This is because your data must go through a secure VPN tunnel, and it takes a little longer. That does not mean you have to put up with slow speeds, like in the days of dial-up Internet.
Do you have the impression that your Internet connection is too slow? Do you sometimes ask yourself: “Am I being throttled?” If you need to bypass Internet throttling and before cursing your VPN, try the following tips!
CHANGE YOUR SERVER
By selecting a server closer to you, you can speed up the connection. Generally, this change leads to an increase in performance. Switching servers also help you avoid congestion problems on the connection in question. Browse the list of servers offered by your provider and try to find one closer to you. Some devices are not able to support a high-speed Internet connection.
VPNs use heavy encryption that requires many resources. Some routers, older Android devices, NAS, or older generation iOS devices may be the cause. When in doubt, test your VPN connection on another device. You may be surprised.
CHANGE YOUR DNS RESOLVER
It may happen that the servers used by your Internet Service Provider are slow or under maintenance, which means that the site you are trying to access is long or impossible to load. However, it is possible to opt for other DNS services such as 1.1.1.1, which is a fast DNS resolver but also more respectful of the privacy of its users since it does not keep the IP address of the machines using it.
To change the DNS resolver, the manipulation is rather simple, and it is possible to choose a custom DNS for different applications (1.1.1.1 for Firefox and Google DNS for Chrome, for example). However, if your ISP allows it, you can access the administration interface by directly putting 192.168.1.1 on your modem.
CHANGE THE VPN PORT/PROTOCOL
VPN software uses a specific port number to connect to servers (i.e., 443). They also use a particular protocol like TCP or UDP. Sometimes networks restrict the speeds of certain protocols or ports. You can change them until you find a fast combination for your software.
USE A VPN TO FIGHT AGAINST IP THROTTLING
IP Throttling is a practice that some ISPs have that consists of artificially throttling the connection of a user to share the available bandwidth with other users. However, you should know that it is possible to bypass these restrictions by using a VPN offering data encapsulation. To put it simply, your ISP checks the origin of the data sent and received by your machine. Depending on where the data is coming from, the ISP may decide to artificially slow down the data to give other users more access.
To solve this issue, you must use a VPN to get around these restrictions. A VPN is a service that offers to connect you in an encrypted way to a secure server somewhere in the world, which will serve as an intermediary between you and the rest of the Internet. Some VPN Providers such as Surfshark offer an encapsulation of your internet packets which makes the content of these packets opaque to your Internet Service Provider, who will therefore truly give you the maximum speed you are entitled to!
SWITCH TO A WIRED CONNECTION
It is possible that the slowdown is due to your wireless Internet connection. This happens because it uses a shared channel that transmits data between many devices, which increases latency and slows your speeds. If you do not need to be mobile, a wired connection is always better. These offer higher speeds and are the best option when using a VPN.
TURN OFF YOUR APPLICATIONS THAT MAY BE CONSUMING BANDWIDTH
Although it seems obvious, many users don’t think about turning off applications that are running in the background on their devices that may be consuming bandwidth. So be sure to look in the application manager on your computer or smartphone to see which applications are consuming bandwidth and/or RAM on your device. If you are on Windows, it may also be a good idea to look at the list of your applications that launch at system startup and see which ones are really needed.
CHANGE THE Wi-Fi CHANNEL OF YOUR MODEM
If you live in a city, there is a good chance that several Wi-Fi networks around you are transmitting on the same Wi-Fi channel, which may mean that it is congested. To find a less busy Wi-Fi channel, you can use an application like Wi-Fi Analyzer on Android, which will allow you to see which channel will give you the best connection quality.
To apply the changes, all you must do is go to your router’s settings and change the channel in the Wi-Fi section of the administration interface!
CONCLUSION: HOW TO BYPASS INTERNET THROTTLING?
If you wish to bypass Internet throttles and enjoy a full bandwidth connection, do not hesitate to follow the instructions outlined previously. After adopting these steps, you will surely be amazed by the improvement of your connectivity!