I'm required to use a VPN on my personal PC for work while I'm at home. The issue is that when I connect to the VPN, my personal device gets completely cut off from everything else. The work is slow right now, and I'd love to use platforms like YouTube, Reddit, or Discord without my employer seeing what I'm doing. I've heard that there's a way to connect to the VPN while still being able to use my regular internet connection. However, I don't have another computer or console to work around this with. After six months of just staring at a blank screen for 8 hours a day, I'm starting to get really frustrated! Am I in the wrong forum for this? Let me know if so!
4 Answers
Many VPN clients come with a feature called 'split tunneling' that lets you choose which applications or websites go through the VPN and which use your regular internet connection. This allows you to access personal browsing while still connected to your work network. However, if your company’s required VPN doesn't support this, it's best to check with your IT department before trying to work around it. They might have disabled that option for security reasons.
If your company allows remote work, they should really provide you with a dedicated work device. It would make this whole situation much easier for everyone involved!
Have you considered just focusing on your work and avoiding TOS/TOA violations? It might be tough dealing with long hours of little to do, but at least it keeps you compliant. Better than getting in trouble for a simple distraction!
I get that, but spending 8 hours just staring at my screen feels pretty rough. Would it really be better for me just to sit there or check my phone?
Unfortunately, what you're trying to do isn't feasible. When you connect to a VPN, all your traffic is routed through their server, meaning that you can't use your personal Internet while connected. If you're comfortable with it, consider creating a virtual machine on your PC to keep work and personal use separate. That might help you out!
I'll definitely look into virtual machines! Are there any risks I should be aware of if I decide to try that?
I don't think my VPN offers that option. It seems like the IT department purposely set it up this way. I'm hesitant to try anything that could compromise our network. Thanks for the insight!