VPN lies about being connected

[Nvidiaguy07]

So I use a VPN occasionally. I use privateinternetaccess. When it successfully connects, the icon turns from light green to dark green. Recently, I've been trying too connect, and then it turns dark green, and says connected, but isn't actually working at all. I can't get around the filter that I normally can, and if i type "where am I" into Google, it tells me where I'm at, and not the VPN location that I chose.

Any idea how to fix this?

 

[Kaido]

Are you using their app, or the built-in Windows client?

 

[SMOGZINN]

The PIA icon turns bright green when connected and dark green when attempting to connect. If it is dark green that means you do not have a PVN connection.

EDIT: You can hover over the icon to see what it is currently doing. If it is dark green it should say 'Connecting to XXX' where XXX is the server you are trying to connect.

 

[Fardringle]

I can't get around the filter that I normally can

Maybe the folks in charge of putting (and keeping) that filter in place at your work/school/etc have decided to block access to that VPN service you are using?

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Are you using their app, or the built-in Windows client?

their app

The PIA icon turns bright green when connected and dark green when attempting to connect. If it is dark green that means you do not have a PVN connection.

EDIT: You can hover over the icon to see what it is currently doing. If it is dark green it should say 'Connecting to XXX' where XXX is the server you are trying to connect.

For me, its red when not connected, greyish green when attempting, and glowing green when connected. It was saying "connected US East" when I hovered over it.

I was under the impression that once it says connected - it is. I guess not??

Maybe the folks in charge of putting (and keeping) that filter in place at your work/school/etc have decided to block access to that VPN service you are using?

I was considering this, but why would it say connected then in the client? I guess its possible, but as of right now i kinda doubt it. Is there any way I can check to see if they blocked it?

 

[BirdDad]

Try uninstalling your NIC in devman without removing the driver software than scan for hardware changes. It should reinstall your NIC automatically. Then in Pia go to settings and change from simple to advanced and take a check out of DNS leak then save and go back in and uncheck VPN kill switch. Save reboot. At this point your unprotected. Go back into settings and put a check in VPN kill switch. Save go back and put a check in DNS leak. Save. Reboot.
You should be protected then unless your network icon in the lower right of the screen shows connected when you first boot up before Pia starts(it should have the yellow ! in a triangle otherwise you are not connected). Just mess around with it, I sometimes have to reboot several times in order to get it to work right.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Try uninstalling your NIC in devman without removing the driver software than scan for hardware changes. It should reinstall your NIC automatically. Then in Pia go to settings and change from simple to advanced and take a check out of DNS leak then save and go back in and uncheck VPN kill switch. Save reboot. At this point your unprotected. Go back into settings and put a check in VPN kill switch. Save go back and put a check in DNS leak. Save. Reboot.
You should be protected then unless your network icon in the lower right of the screen shows connected when you first boot up before Pia starts(it should have the yellow ! in a triangle otherwise you are not connected). Just mess around with it, I sometimes have to reboot several times in order to get it to work right.

Tried all of that, no success.

Even tried the client on my nexus and I came across the same issues. It says connected, but doesn't actually do anything. Checked kill switch and it didn't make any difference, Internet still worked, filter still there and when I googled where am I, it showed my location instead of where the VPN is located.

Weird. I might contact private Internet access to see what they think. Maybe something is wrong with my account?

 

[Muadib]

Tried all of that, no success.

Even tried the client on my nexus and I came across the same issues. It says connected, but doesn't actually do anything. Checked kill switch and it didn't make any difference, Internet still worked, filter still there and when I googled where am I, it showed my location instead of where the VPN is located.

Weird. I might contact private Internet access to see what they think. Maybe something is wrong with my account?

I think your test methods are flawed. You need to go to: http://whatismyipaddress.com/ before you turn on your VPN, and then again after it's active. The kill switch will stop all internet traffic when the VPN drops. I bet you had your gps on when you checked with google. Am I right?