Recently setup my Asus router 's vpn server option tested it while I was out and about using my ...

[G+_Rud Dog]

Recently setup my Asus router's vpn server option tested it while I was out and about using my Ipad. But then I thought "chicken or egg?".

If the location my Ipad logged into to gain access comes before my VPN connection to my home router well does't that defeat the purpose of the VPN?

[G+_Ben Reese]

Not quite. The purpose of the VPN is to take every network packet from your iPad, encrypt it, and send it to the private network on your VPN server. On the VPN server, the network packets are decrypted and resent to their actual destination.

 

The only thing visible to the network where your physically at is encrypted traffic to your VPN server.

[G+_Rud Dog]

So even though my initial connection is in the open in this case the free hospital wifi after firing off my vpn connection all is safe?

[G+_Steve Martin]

Exactly, that's the point of VPN. It makes the connection securely and encrypts all data to and from your remote VPN network.

[G+_Rud Dog]

The only time the communication is vulnerable is during the log in  via browser, required at the location you are connecting. After VPN is launched the connection is encrypted.

Just had a mind bending understanding which came first you would think the VPN would need to be setup before logging into the free wifi hot spot hence the chicken and the egg. But you can't connect VPN with out wifi.

Now will try and put that into my own words for explanation to anyone that asks. Thank all.

[G+_Steve Martin]

Isn't the login done over an https connection? If so, that means the login should itself be encrypted, and you are still safe. If it is over an unencrypted http connection, I'd switch to a better VPN system. Password should never be passed "in the clear."

[G+_Rud Dog]

Pretty sure the VPN is encrypted its the initial free login for the hospital's webpage which welcomes you to the guest network, either way sure its HTTPS just making sure.

[G+_Eric Kolesnikovas]

Steve Martin? how would I set up my home routers VPN to be on a HTTPS? I am currently just using the open VPN I think on DDWRT and connecting through the standard windows connect to VPN. I also have network traffic turned off so web browsing goes through the WiFi I am connected to but Network traffic for say my file server or printer goes through the VPN. If I didn't do this than my web browsing would be a crawl having to go to my home network and back being that my home upload is slow.

[G+_Steve Martin]

Eric Kolesnikovas The issue is how do you access your home routers VPN. If you are using a standard OpenVPN client, then the login process is done over a secured connection because the server/router handles key passing before you send your password.

 

If your router uses a Web Browser to do the initial login, then the url should be https. If it is http, then the login isn't being done on a secure line and the password may be sent in the clear. It's possible that the login page encrypts the password before it is sent, but you have to research your specific router to find out if that is the case.