Solved.
Kudos0

Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 16-Apr-2021 | 5:21PM · 17 Replies ·

Running Norton 360 on windows 10. 

About 4 months ago I saw the same thing and posted a question asking why both networks showed internet access. Did not receive an answer that explained it. Then about 2 months ago when I accessed my private wifi network and turned on VPN it would show no internet access for the private wifi and internet access for my Norton SecureVPN which I thought should be correct.

Now I'm back to seeing Internet access on both my private wifi network and my NortonSecureVPN.

What's up?

Wanda

Labels: Norton 360, Norton Secure VPN, Windows 10
Accepted Solution
Kudos0

Re: Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 20-May-2021 | 7:51PM · Edited: 20-May-2021 | 8:04PM · Permalink

I wouldn't be questioning this but it use to show my private wifi network with no internet access and the VPN with network access. Now both are showing network access. 

This is Windows reporting this. Maybe you can ask this at the Microsoft Support forums.

You can see what connection is being used for the internet by opening an elevated command prompt and running  "ipconfig /all". Scroll through the entries and note ones not showing Media Disconnected. Then for the two connections you see active, check the IP addresses. Only the Norton VPN should show an external IP. The Wifi should show a 192.168.x.x. internal address from your own router.

I just used the whats my ip address link posted above and it says "my private information is exposed" ,"suspected network sharing device".

If you click on 'Suspected network sharing device', it explains what is being detected. It may be detecting that the IP address has been detected as being used by other users, which will be normal for an IP address given by a VPN server. 

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Replies

Kudos0

Re: Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 19-Apr-2021 | 1:04AM · Permalink

Any comments? Any ideas?

Kudos0

Re: Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 19-Apr-2021 | 5:43AM · Permalink

How are you detecting both networks being active? 

It would not be unusual for you to see this. Your Wifi connection obviously needs to be active to connect to your router. When the VPN is active, it creates a pseudo Ethernet connection in Windows so it can connect to the internet.

Kudos0

Re: Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 22-Apr-2021 | 6:02PM · Permalink

When I put the cursor over the connected WiFi icon in my tray it shows both networks. My private wifi name internet access and underneath that is NortonSecureVPN internet access. It has always displayed both networks when I hover over the icon. Sometimes with both networks showing internet access and sometimes only showing the VPN with internet access. What's up with that?

Kudos0

Re: Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 23-Apr-2021 | 6:22AM · Permalink

I see what you mean.

My explanation above still stands.

Kudos0

Re: Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 29-Apr-2021 | 4:27AM · Permalink

Was that your reply? Things happen?

Anyone else have any info as to why Im seeing 2 networks with internet access?

Kudos0

Re: Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 29-Apr-2021 | 3:32PM · Permalink

Was that your reply? Things happen?

No. That is my forum signature. 

My reply is showing the same message you are seeing from Windows. My explanation in this post above explains what you are seeing. 

Kudos0

Re: Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 04-May-2021 | 1:11PM · Edited: 04-May-2021 | 1:13PM · Permalink

I wonder if split tunneling is available on Norton VPN? If so, there should be a way to access and configure it. It definitely should not just willy nilly enable itself, though.

I noticed something trivial, but interesting: When I hover my mouse pointer over the network connection icon, my named network is on the bottom, with the NortonSecureVPN name listed above it. It's always been that way. Opposite of what y'all are showing. My named network shows "No internet access" with VPN connected, by the way, as one would think it should.

Kudos0

Re: Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 05-May-2021 | 7:37AM · Edited: 05-May-2021 | 7:38AM · Permalink

I wonder if split tunneling is available on Norton VPN? If so, there should be a way to access and configure it. It definitely should not just willy nilly enable itself, though.

The VPN feature in Norton 360 does not have split tunnelling at this time. It may come as a future feature, as the standalone Norton Secure VPN does have that feature.

When I hover my mouse pointer over the network connection icon, my named network is on the bottom, with the NortonSecureVPN name listed above it.

Are you connecting by wifi or Ethernet? Windows may display different connection types in different orders???? Or maybe alphabetically????

Kudos0

Re: Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 05-May-2021 | 10:04AM · Permalink

peterweb:

Are you connecting by wifi or Ethernet? WindowsI may display different connection typI es in different orders???? Or maybe alphabetically????

I just tested that, and it doesn't matter. Both WiFi and Ethernet display the same way with regard to Norton Secure VPN. "NortonSecureVPN Internet access" is still listed above my named networks when hovering over the network icon in the systray. I suppose it is possible it's alphabetical, but it would be reverse alphabetical per se in my case, since all my named networks would be alphabetically first compared to "NortonSecureVPN".

I agree that rogue split tunneling is a stretch at best. But that's how one might see the networks listed if it were enabled, since some specified traffic would be using the VPN tunnel and other traffic would not (often found with corporate VPN's). Perhaps this "access" anomaly is a driver issue with the particular wifi or Ethernet adapters? Maybe verify y'all are on the latest NIC drivers?

MT

Kudos0

Re: Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 08-May-2021 | 3:55AM · Permalink

I'm using my private home wifi. Always have. 

My concern is that it use to show both networks but only the NortonSecureVpn had Internet access. Now it shows both networks having Internet access.

How would I confirm which one my data is actually running on and why are both networks showing Internet access?

Just wondering,

Kudos0

Re: Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 08-May-2021 | 7:23AM · Edited: 08-May-2021 | 7:29AM · Permalink

That information is being displayed by Windows network functions. That is not a Norton notification. Maybe someone with more Windows networking knowledge can explain what is happening. If the display has changed, it sounds like there might have been some Window update that changed something.

If you check your IP address at   https://whatismyipaddress.com/ it will show whether your connection is through the  VPN or not.

EDIT

And you did read my explanation of what is probably happening in my post above here.   https://community.norton.com/en/comment/8503819#comment-8503819

Kudos0

Re: Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 20-May-2021 | 6:41PM · Permalink

I wouldn't be questioning this but it use to show my private wifi network with no internet access and the VPN with network access. Now both are showing network access. 

Kudos0

Re: Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 20-May-2021 | 6:46PM · Permalink

I just used the whats my ip address link posted above and it says "my private information is exposed" ,"suspected network sharing device".

WTF? Any ideas?

Wanda

Accepted Solution
Kudos0

Re: Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 20-May-2021 | 7:51PM · Edited: 20-May-2021 | 8:04PM · Permalink

I wouldn't be questioning this but it use to show my private wifi network with no internet access and the VPN with network access. Now both are showing network access. 

This is Windows reporting this. Maybe you can ask this at the Microsoft Support forums.

You can see what connection is being used for the internet by opening an elevated command prompt and running  "ipconfig /all". Scroll through the entries and note ones not showing Media Disconnected. Then for the two connections you see active, check the IP addresses. Only the Norton VPN should show an external IP. The Wifi should show a 192.168.x.x. internal address from your own router.

I just used the whats my ip address link posted above and it says "my private information is exposed" ,"suspected network sharing device".

If you click on 'Suspected network sharing device', it explains what is being detected. It may be detecting that the IP address has been detected as being used by other users, which will be normal for an IP address given by a VPN server. 

Kudos0

Re: Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 21-May-2021 | 10:50PM · Permalink

Thank You for the info. I'll check it out and see what I see.

Kudos0

Re: Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 13-Jun-2021 | 1:03AM · Permalink

Why would my ip address be used by other users?

Kudos0

Re: Internet access on both my private wifi network and NortonSecureVPN

Posted: 13-Jun-2021 | 6:22AM · Permalink

When you are using the VPN feature, the IP address detected by IP checking sites is the IP address of your VPN connection. You are not the only user accessing the VPN service, and that IP address is not reserved for you. So others use the same IP address. This is normal for VPN use.

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