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I have just connected to a vpn server in my University using Cisco AnyConnect.

But when I check http://whatismyipaddress.com/, it still says that I'm in the same country as before I connected to the vpn server in some other country.

The IP address does not change in the visited page when I activate the VPN, and reload it.

I don't see any errors from my VPN client. The ip address doesn't change even though I connect to the VPN. The VPN I use is issued by my university. In Statistics, it says Tunnel Mode (IPv4): Split Include and Tunnel Mode (IPv6): Drop All Traffic

Should I do some additional steps to hide?

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  • 3
    Does your IP change when you enable the VPN? If not you probably have it misconfigured. – Neil Smithline Jan 20 '16 at 3:49
  • No it doesn't change – Jamgreen Jan 20 '16 at 4:19
  • Because it is a split configuration by design. Whoever is reading this, the question is very pertinent for this student, and for others in the same situation, this setting provides a false sense of security, please peruse my answer. As usual, it is not enough using the tools, but is crucial understanding what they are doing. – Rui F Ribeiro Jan 20 '16 at 4:25
  • @Jamgreen I expanded the post with a free solution for you. I also edited your post, waiting it to be approved. – Rui F Ribeiro Jan 20 '16 at 4:38
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You need to hide your GPS info. My browser asked me permission to use GPS location services in my Macbook Pro when I was entering the whatismyipaddress URL that you are visiting, and I denied it. So the site is asking for that.

So it believes I am in California, USA. Otherwise with GPS, the scripts/site would find out my true location.

It could be also that your VPN is configured for split tunnelling, and only used for accessing corporate resources; and hence all the Internet traffic going the usual route (outside the VPN). Not that usual, but it is a possibility.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_tunneling

To check it out wether you have split tunnelling or no, is fairly easy, the IP on whatismyipaddress has to change once you activate the VPN service and reload the page.

As @Neil points out, it could also be the VPN not working, however usually in that case the Cisco software normally throws a very visible error.

I actually went at the end of this conversation with @Neil to settings->security->privacy in my "El Capitan" and took out location services permission for good from Safari.

Conclusion: From the dialogue with the OP, it is indeed confirmed the VPN service is configured as Split mode only for providing services for specific services/networks in the University.

That configuration, confirmed by Tunnel Mode (IPv4): Split Include, while not frequent (or correctly forbidden) in corporate setups, is often done for students, for them to not abuse the VPN/academic infra-structure, namely using p2p services from home to avoid consequences.

In this case, the only route is to find an alternative VPN service, possibly a commercial one. I actually use VPN unlimited, there are others.

Or using Tor+onion browser. https://www.torproject.org

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  • This is one possibility but perhaps not the OP's actual problem. – Neil Smithline Jan 20 '16 at 3:48
  • Perhaps the VPN isn't properly configured and running? – Neil Smithline Jan 20 '16 at 3:51
  • it can be something else...I will add to the post. I am supposing the OP is wise enough to read the VPN throwing errors obviously. – Rui F Ribeiro Jan 20 '16 at 3:52
  • Do you know if whatismyipaddress.com uses scripts or other GPS-enabled functionality? I thought that site was a straight reverse IP lookup. – Neil Smithline Jan 20 '16 at 3:53
  • I have privacy settings here, and it asked me confirmation to use GPS...only happens when the site asks for it. – Rui F Ribeiro Jan 20 '16 at 3:53

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