VPN and Web Protection

DaCheesehead

Do I need to use both VPN and Web Protection at the same time? and if so, Why?

Scott

Hi @DaCheesehead

Taken from this post by Alexandru.

https://community.bitdefender.com/en/discussion/comment/310139#Comment_310139

Web Protection automatically blocks malicious websites. When a URL points to a known phishing or fraudulent website, or to malicious content such as spyware or viruses, the webpage is blocked, and an alert is shown. The same thing happens when installed apps try to access malicious domains. With Web Protection, you are protected from accessing dangerous, phishing, and fraudulent pages.

On the other hand, VPN encrypts the data that leaves your device, giving you the benefit of a private network even while you’re on a public Wi-Fi from the airport, mall, café, or hotel. When connected to VPN, you can access websites that are restricted to certain countries and you hide your own IP address, offering your online search more anonymity. VPN only does so much to anonymize your online activities. It won’t protect you online.

Web Protection and VPN are two features designed for separate purposes: the first keeps you safe while browsing while the latter aims to provide internet anonymity.

I hope this helps to sort it out.

Scott

DM77

I opened a support case about getting a product enhancement so that you can have the functionality of both the VPN and Web Protection simlutaneously. I'm baffled by the logic that the end user has to choose between the two.

mrp192

I think this thread covers the question I need to ask, but don’t t understand the apparent contradiction.

If I turn my VPN on it turns web protect off and it has to be enabled again when I turn the VPN off.

The answer above seems to suggest that both are important to run when on the web. Is there a way of doing so, or can you only have one of them turned on at anytime?

Thanks.

Alexandru_BD

Hello @MrP and welcome to the Community!

By design, Web protection and VPN cannot be used at the same time and the product does not have a feature that allows them to function simultaneously. The two features are designed for separate purposes and can be enabled according to the usage: the first keeps you safe while browsing while the latter aims to provide internet anonymity.

Regards

SRJ

So, if I am in Starbucks which should I have turned on?? Seems like both should run at the same time….

If the answer is VPN then I don’t need Web Protection.

Alexandru_BD

Hi @SRJ,

It depends on the activity. If you wish to browse anonymously or encrypt your data, VPN is recommended. If you are browsing websites and you have doubts about their security, Web protection should be enabled. VPN is strongly recommended if you are connecting to public networks, such as the ones in coffee shops.

Regards

Donald628

This is a reason to look for some other web protection. On other platforms, you can have both. I can’t have both ExpressVPN on my iPad and web protection. However, is this a problem with iOS not BitDefender? In settings, there is only a tab for VPN. There is no separate tab for internet security.

Alexandru_BD

It's an iOS limitation, as far as I'm aware. Because both VPN and Web Protection use the VPN permissions from the device (Settings -> General -> VPN & Device Management) and this cannot be used by two VPN-based features at the same time.

Dan Smith

it is absolutely non sensical why VPN and web protection cannot be used simultaneously!! Poor design. Also so many web sites detect bitfinder VON and block access to website. This is also bad design by repeatedly presenting websites with same IP instead of randomly generated fake IP addresses for each session or person-session. Design is weak …Not thinking it through!

Dan Smith

Why Bitdefender VON randomly shut off? Sometimes Bitdefender Wireguard Protection is removed from iOS VPN list? It takes a password or Face ID to add it back but it can be removed without any such validation. Why?

Alexandru_BD

Hi @Dan Smith,

On iOS, the Web Protection feature uses a VPN profile to scan traffic actively and block malicious content in real-time. iOS restricts the use of multiple VPN apps simultaneously due to limitations in its network configuration, allowing only one VPN tunnel at a time. Consequently, Web Protection and VPN cannot work at the same time. Enabling Web Protection while the VPN is active will result in disconnection of the existing VPN session and vice versa.

While it might seem inconvenient that Bitdefender Mobile Security’s Web Protection and VPN cannot operate concurrently on iOS devices, this behavior is by design. The two features are engineered for different purposes – Web Protection prioritizes secure browsing by blocking harmful content, while VPN offers privacy and anonymity online. Mobile Security on iOS has a setting that can notify you that Web Protection can be enabled after finishing a VPN session.

Regarding your VPN randomly shutting off, and the Wireguard protocol behavior in this case, I would recommend to contact Bitdefender Support for further investigation, as this doesn't sound right. Should you require their assistance, you can use the link below to choose between the available contact channels, chat, phone and contact form/email:

https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/help/

State your contact reason / choose request category, then choose from the available contact channels, chat, phone and email/ticket. Chat would be the fastest way to reach them.

The 'Web Protection vs. VPN' topic has been debated on numerous occasions on this forum and it has been concluded that their separate functionality cannot be changed, and this doesn't happen because of 'poor design' as you stated, but it has to do with certain limitations of the operating system and specific areas where the developers of a third party application do not have access to change something in this regard.

Thank you for your understanding.

Regards,

Alex