Split Tunneling

The Tip of the Night for September 30, 2019, discussed using a VPN application to encrypt internet traffic while on public wifi networks. When considering which virtual private network service to subscribe to, check to see if split tunneling is an option. Split tunneling will allow a user to connect to a work server securely, while simultaneously connecting directly on a public network for web searches or video streaming for which the user has no confidentiality concerns. You don't want to slow down traffic by sending it through a VPN server for no reason.

VPN apps like Private Internet Access will allow you specify which applications should use the virtual private network.

Split tunneling can also direct that any traffic to a specific location or from a specific location be done through the VPN.

wifi troubles

If you have difficulty connecting to a wifi network you are sure that you should have no trouble logging on to, consider folllowng these steps to the remedy the problem. This worked for me tonight when a laptop running Windows 8 didn't connect to a wireless network - I wasn't even prompted for a password.

1. Open device manager - you can find it with a simple Windows search.

2. Locate the wireless network card in the Network adapters section. Right click on it and select uninstall.

3. Restart your PC. Windows should detect the card and automatically reinstall it.

This trick got me back online and working tonight.

Glasswire vs. MyLanViewer

If you need a utility to help detect which devices are on a wifi network avoid the free download Glasswire, and instead try MyLanViewer.

I tested them both out tonight. Glasswire was unable to detect iPhones and an iPad on my home wifi network and did not show the name of these devices and a laptop on the network - plus it simply has a very generic look.

MyLanViewer found and named the smartphones and tablet, as well as Google Home - but not Alexa for some reason.