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Decrease the size of your network’s MTU to fix problems with loading sitesSwitch the port number in your VPN to stop
your ISP slowing your connectionRoute traffic through
a different port
Your VPN connects to servers around the
world using a specific networking port on
your computer. Some ISPs deliberately
restrict the speed of certain ports, to
prevent bandwidth-hogging activities
such as torrenting, so if your VPN feels
frustratingly slow, it’s worth switching to
a different port – even if only temporarily.
Additionally, if your ISP is completely
blocking VPN traffic, switching the port
may help you beat the restriction, though
this is unlikely to happen in the UK.
You can usually change the default
port via your VPN’s settings – look for the
Port box in the Connection or Advanced
section. The most commonly used option
is TCP port 443, which is used by
encrypted HTTPS traffic, or UDP port
1194 (see screenshot above), which is
used by protocols including OpenVPN.Prevent VPN data from
fragmenting
One common VPN problem occurs
when you can connect to a server but
can’t load any websites, resulting in an
“unable to connect” message in your
browser. One potential fix is to adjust
your home network’s MTU (maximum
transmission unit), which determines
how much data can be sent over your
internet connection. If your MTU is set
too high, data packets can become
fragmented, which causes connection
problems. Some VPNs let you optimise
the MTU via their advanced settings,
but you can also use the Windows
Command Prompt.
Type cmd into the Windows search
box, then right-click Command Promptand choose ‘Run as administrator’.
When the command window opens, type
netsh interface ipv4 show subinterfaces
and press Enter to view your network
connections and their MTU size - this is
usually 1500 (octets). To reduce the size
of your MTU, type netsh interface ipv4 set
subinterface "WiFi" mtu=1480
store=persistent (see screenshot above)
Replace WiFi with Ethernet if you’re
using a wired connection or type the
alternative name of your network. You
can copy and paste these commands
from our Pastebin account at http://www.
snipca.com/41741.
Press Enter, restart your PC and try the
VPN again. If you still can’t load sites, set
the mtu= number to 1450 or 1430, or else
revert to the default of 1500.Tor Browser (www.snipca.
com/41693, pictured) is
undoubtedly the best alternative to using
a VPN, but though it similarly hides your
location, encrypts your data and lets you
unblock restricted content, it works in a
different way – with its own pros and cons.
Rather than offer you a choice of
servers, Tor redirects your internet
connection through a series of randomly
selected relays around the world. Its
network is run by volunteers, which
means that – unlike a VPN – there’s no
central service to trust and no risk of yourdata being logged or sold. The browser
also disables unsafe plug-ins and scripts,
and deletes cookies and browsingdata automatically.
On the downside, Tor slows your
connection even more than a VPN and
it only encrypts what happens in the
browser, rather than across your
whole device. There’s also a risk
that a Tor relay could be hacked or
compromised, and your data exposed.
A VPN is more secure and reliable,
but if you want the privacy and
security benefits of both, you can use
NordVPN’s ‘Onion Over VPN’ option (see
page 52) or ProtonVPN’s ‘Tor over VPN’
(www.snipca.com/41737).11 – 24 May 2022 • Issue 631Should you use Tor Browser instead?