Secure VPN stays enabled

Was at the premises today and noticed that the Secure VPN (part of the Norton 360 Mobile subscription) had automatically activated due to the unsecured Wi-Fi. Up until this point it was fine and expected behavior. However, when I left the premises and connected to the mobile data, the VPN remained enabled (I checked this in the Norton GUI and also in the iOS settings where the VPN was enabled). OK, I thought maybe it was a glitch. But when I got to the secure Wi-Fi, the VPN was still enabled, even though Norton confirmed that the Wi-Fi was secure. There was no way Norton could have automatically turned off its VPN. In the end, I had to do it manually in the Norton 360 GUI.

Why wasn't the VPN automatically turned off when I went back to data and/or secure Wi-fi? The Secure VPN feature says that the VPN will automatically turn on, but it also turns off when it's not needed.

A bug?

iPhone 13 Pro Max with always the latest iOS.

Norton VPN disconnects the Wifi when the device is idle. Background programs continue running on cellular data and not over VPN. This security oversight is dangerous for the research and writing I do. How could I keep VPN from disconnecting? I need the protocol to keep the connection open the entire time I ask the application to use a VPN. I am still waiting for customer service to contact me and it’s been 3 days.

Updated to 2.50 and went again the next-door mall to test VPN. VPN turned on automatically, left the mall and got on cellular data where VPN turned off. Moved to the railstation where is an unsecure network and VPN started up, left on the street and VPN disabled. Reached the office where I have a secure network and VPN turned off.

So after time consuming testing I can believe the new Norton version has resolved the malfunctioning VPN on my iPhone.

Well, the VPN is behaving inconsistently. I went to the same mall again today and even though Norton claimed for an unsecured network the VPN didn't automatically turn on. I had to do it manually. When I left and got on cellular data the VPN was still on. It continued even when I got on a secure network. However there the VPN automatically turned off after several minutes. So while today the VPN didn't start but later turned itself off yesterday it behaved right the opposite. Any suggestions?

Btw, how long it should take for the VPN to turn on and off automatically?

I should be going shopping tomorrow where I can test an unsecured network with the VPN. I'll post back on this.

 

Tried it also in the mall today afternoon. VPN automatically connected fine but VPN didn't turn off when I left. I checked the VPN status on the street, being on the cellular data and VPN was still turned on. Got at home, being on the secured Wi-Fi but VPN was still on. So I had to turn off VPN manually.

No problem with my network. I claim that the Secure VPN didn’t turn off once I moved from the unsecured Wi-Fi to either cellular data or the secured Wi-Fi. It simply stays all the time turned on. But that’s wrong because in the VPN description is stated that the VPN shall automatically turn off when it’s not needed, i.e. when you get out of the unsecured Wi-Fi.

Are you saying your home network is suddenly being detected as unsecured? Did you have any changes to your home network modem or router? 

Last time I had the VPN turn on because of connecting to an unsecured network, I had no issue with the VPN turning off after I left that network. I'll test again next time I connect to that network.