VPN: Does all traffic get routed through the VPN when I am logged in?

Solution 1:

It depends on the vpn configuration. To check how it is in your case check your default gateway:

Windows (in command prompt):

route print

Linux (in console)

netstat -nr

Look for network destination 0.0.0.0 (win) or default (linux). If it set to your local subnet gateway - not entire traffic is going through vpn. Any other case - all traffic through vpn.

Solution 2:

On Windows, the default configuration is to send all traffic down the VPN connection (the tunnel), even if it is destined for sites external to the private network. Opening a VPN session without sending all traffic through the VPN tunnel is called "split tunneling" and while possible, carries security risks. With split tunneling, the remote machine is simultaneously connected directly to the Internet and to the private network, so any security breach in the remote machine is a security breach in the private network. IOW, a compromised remote machine provides a path into the private network that bypasses the private network's firewall. This doesn't happen when all traffic from the remote machine is sent via the VPN tunnel.

Solution 3:

If your using Windows Networking to connect to VPN, go to the connection properties, select the networking tab, select TCP/IP properties, click Advanced, un-check "Use default gateway on remote network" to stop all network trafic (that doesn't involve to remote network, i.e. web browsing) from going through the VPN.

Solution 4:

I use corporate Aventail VPN, with same "trouble".

All network traffic/control goes true several network Filter drivers, like in my case "Packet Scheduler Miniport", "Odyssey Network Agent Miniport", "McAfee NDIS Filter Miniport", etc. And to addition there is an "Aventail VPN Filter" driver under hidden devices in Non-Plug and Play drivers section, could be found in Device Manager.

Seems to me Aventail VPN Filter's aim is to sniff all network traffic and forward trough the VPN tunnel/connection/interface.

Just disable it, than you will get back the control on route table. At last you can add default gateway to your home network, and a persistant route to the corporate network.

Wikipedia about Filter Driver: Filter drivers are optional drivers that add value to or modify the behavior of a device and may be non-device drivers. A filter driver can also service one or more devices. Upper level filter drivers sit above the primary driver for the device (the function driver), while lower level filter drivers sit below the function driver and above the bus driver.