Please Help: Unable to use Freedome VPN...

Hopeful_Future
Hopeful_Future Posts: 70 Contributor
in Privacy VPN

Hi,

I'm in need of some extreme help!

This has been an extreme problem for a long time now as it prevents me from using F-Secure VPN.

I just want the F-Secure VPN to alter the IP address of a particular web browser but not effect any other Apps on my Windows 10 PC.

How can I do this?

I'm unable to use the F-Secure VPN because I need to use my Windows 10 PC for other tasks which require my real IP address to be used. If the F-Secure VPN alters my IP address for tasks outside of a web browser then I'm in real trouble! 😭

Any help would be appreciated!

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Answers

  • JOnes
    JOnes Posts: 891 Forum Guru
    edited April 8

    Allowing application to bypass VPN (eg. certain browser)

    https://help.f-secure.com/product.html#home/total-windows/latest/en/task_CA989F29132A44D3854C8D516E16C4A5-latest-en

    https://www.f-secure.com/gb-en

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  • Hopeful_Future
    Hopeful_Future Posts: 70 Contributor
    https://community.f-secure.com/en/discussion/comment/140488#Comment_140488

    jONES, you're the man! But is there a more simple solution?

    An example might be like a Firefox F-Secure extension that only changes my IP address inside Firefox and not in the other Apps I have running like Skype, Dropbox and Steam??

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  • JOnes
    JOnes Posts: 891 Forum Guru

    Yes, your example perfectly illustrates the concept of an in-browser VPN or proxy extension.

    Here's why a Firefox F-Secure extension (or a similar extension from another provider) could potentially work this way:

    • Browser-Level Operation: Extensions operate within the context of the web browser they are installed in. They can intercept and modify network requests originating from that specific browser application.
    • Traffic Routing: An in-browser VPN or proxy extension would typically route only the web traffic generated by Firefox through its servers. This means that when Firefox tries to access a website, the extension would direct that connection through its network, making it appear as if the request is coming from a different IP address.
    • Application Isolation: Other applications like Skype, Dropbox, and Steam operate independently of Firefox. Their network traffic is managed by the operating system at a different level. Therefore, an extension running solely within Firefox would not have direct control over the network connections of these separate applications.

    Think of it like this:

    Imagine your computer has multiple "pipes" for internet traffic, one for each application. A browser extension can only control the traffic flowing through the "Firefox pipe." It can redirect that pipe through a special filter (the VPN/proxy server), but it doesn't affect the other pipes used by Skype, Dropbox, or Steam.

    Benefits of In-Browser VPN/Proxy Extensions:

    • Targeted IP Address Change: Useful if you only need to change your apparent location for specific web browsing activities, such as accessing region-restricted content in a browser.
    • Convenience: Easy to enable and disable directly within the browser.
    • Potentially Lighter Resource Usage: Might consume fewer system resources compared to a full system-wide VPN client.

    Limitations:

    • Limited Scope: Only protects browser traffic. Other applications remain unaffected.
    • Security Considerations: The security and privacy provided by a browser extension might vary depending on the provider and its implementation. It's crucial to choose reputable extensions.
    • Functionality: May offer fewer features compared to a dedicated VPN client (e.g., fewer server locations, no kill switch).

    In summary, a Firefox F-Secure extension (or a similar browser extension) could indeed function as you described, changing your IP address only within the Firefox browser and leaving the network traffic of other applications untouched. This is a common functionality offered by many browser-based proxy and VPN extensions.

    At the time being there's no such feature in F-Secure Consumer products as far as i know but you can allways suggest it by creating a feature request in this community

    https://community.f-secure.com/en/categories/Idea_Exchange

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  • Ukko
    Ukko Posts: 3,817 Superuser

    Hello,

    Sorry for the discussion.

    jONES, you're the man! But is there a more simple solution?

    An example might be like a Firefox F-Secure extension that only changes my IP address inside Firefox and not in the other Apps I have running like Skype, Dropbox and Steam??

    If to allow (bypass) all applications in system and leave only one browser for VPN via mentioned F-Secure VPN Settings option is not enough simple. I mean, it is not really simple indeed.

    And if your need is only one browser with VPN, then maybe browser's built-in VPN is an option. For example, Microsoft Edge has such feature in beta stage (as I think; and which is pinned to Microsoft account maybe). Perhaps, there are some strict limitations for its usage. Also, I think Firefox had something similar before or now as well.

    // with Microsoft Edge (at least) - you can install Microsoft Edge stable, Microsoft Edge Beta, Microsoft Edge Dev/Canary as unrelated to each other browsers too. So, as such - it is possible to be with dedicated browser for that purpose only.

    Thanks!

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