Author Topic: DNS Leak with Avast SecureLine VPN  (Read 4912 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline J2roc

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 45
DNS Leak with Avast SecureLine VPN
« on: May 15, 2022, 06:27:52 PM »
I have been using Avast Premium Security and SecureLine VPN for a few years now. However, I never tested it for DNS leaks till now. Time has come to renew my SecureLine subscription and I find that the cost is too much compared to other services. I decided to check out SurfShark.

It was SurfShark that alerted me that I have a DNS leak even when the Avast VPN was on.

Using DNSleaktest.com *without* SecureLine I find that my IP address is 104.229.30.96

and the "Extended Test" for my DNS gives, for IP, Hostname, ISP and Country

162.253.129.82    None    Amanah Tech    Toronto, Canada

which is a surprise as I use Time Warner (aka Spectrum) as my provider, but not really worrisome.

Now, I turn on Avast SecureLine, with the location set to New York, USA and test again.
DNStest.com gives my IP address as: 156.146.36.113, and the DNS test results say

162.253.129.82    None    Amanah Tech    Toronto, Canada

Well, that means that SecureLine is masking my IP address, but doing nothing about the DNS.

I am also not sure what exactly the Avast servers are doing in the process. Why do they not get listed by the test?

Turing off SecureLine and turning on SurfShark, with Avast Premium Security still on, I find that
DNStest.com gives my IP address as 43.225.189.107 and the test for DNS leaks gives

162.253.129.82    None    Amanah Tech    Toronto, Canada

Ahem! The same results as APS + SecureLine!! Finally, turning of Avast Premium Security shields, but with SurfShark on, and doing the test gives

IP address:  43.225.189.107
43.225.189.107    None    HostRoyale Technologies Pvt Ltd    Boston, United States

which, finally, says that there are no DNS leaks and the SurfShark works.

For fun, my final test was to run the DNS test with just SecureLine on (no APS, no
Surfshark).

IP address: 156.146.36.89
156.146.36.90    unn-156-146-36-90.cdn77.com.    Datacamp Limited    New York, United States

This is a total surprise! No idea where this comes from.

It appears that 1) SecureLine does not do anything to prevent DNS leaks, 2) running
Avast Premium Security interferes with SurfShark's ability to stop the leaks and 3)
possibly, APS has something that prevents DNS security from working.

The Surfshark tech who helped me guided me through all sorts of settings, including the
making on an exception to it in APS. In spite of mucking around for nearly an hour, we
could not make SurfShark work with APS was on.

Is there any trick that can fix this?

Given the SecureLine does not seem to work for the money it costs, I would not mind moving to another anti-virus suite all together, one that can provide the required VPN security.  In any case, SecureLine is out as it costs a packet and does no better than APS + SurfShark.

Any thoughts, suggestions and other help is greatly appreciated.





Offline J2roc

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 45
Re: DNS Leak with Avast SecureLine VPN
« Reply #1 on: May 15, 2022, 06:44:37 PM »
I forgot to add that I am using Windows 10 Pro, Ver 21H2, OS Build 19044.1706.

Sorry!

Offline Asyn

  • Avast Überevangelist
  • Certainly Bot
  • *****
  • Posts: 76037
    • >>>  Avast Forum - Deutschsprachiger Bereich  <<<
W8.1 [x64] - Avast Free AV 23.3.8047.BC [UI.757] - Firefox ESR 102.9 [NS/uBO/PB] - Thunderbird 102.9.1
Avast-Tools: Secure Browser 109.0 - Cleanup 23.1 - SecureLine 5.18 - DriverUpdater 23.1 - CCleaner 6.01
Avast Wissenswertes (Downloads, Anleitungen & Infos): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.0

Offline J2roc

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 45
Re: DNS Leak with Avast SecureLine VPN
« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2022, 05:22:02 PM »
Thanks. I did the update and it now seems to be better.

No SecureLine

104.229.30.96
162.253.129.82    None    Amanah Tech    Toronto, Canada


With SecureLine

212.102.33.221
212.102.33.145    unn-212-102-33-145.cdn77.com.    Datacamp Limited    New York, United States


Why did I have to manually update? I would have assumed that the periodic virus definitions updates would have done it.

I would also appreciate some information what exactly Avast Secure Site does. I found this:

https://www.ovpn.com/en/faq/troubleshooting/dns-leak-with-avast-antivirus

Turning off Secure Site resolves all problems. It appears that it protects from DNS hijacking and that Avast servers are used. It would explain why Avast still turns up when SurfShark is on.

Offline Asyn

  • Avast Überevangelist
  • Certainly Bot
  • *****
  • Posts: 76037
    • >>>  Avast Forum - Deutschsprachiger Bereich  <<<
Re: DNS Leak with Avast SecureLine VPN
« Reply #4 on: May 16, 2022, 05:50:35 PM »
I would also appreciate some information what exactly Avast Secure Site does.
Hi, I guess you mean Real Site..!?
https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/188/
W8.1 [x64] - Avast Free AV 23.3.8047.BC [UI.757] - Firefox ESR 102.9 [NS/uBO/PB] - Thunderbird 102.9.1
Avast-Tools: Secure Browser 109.0 - Cleanup 23.1 - SecureLine 5.18 - DriverUpdater 23.1 - CCleaner 6.01
Avast Wissenswertes (Downloads, Anleitungen & Infos): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.0

Offline Asyn

  • Avast Überevangelist
  • Certainly Bot
  • *****
  • Posts: 76037
    • >>>  Avast Forum - Deutschsprachiger Bereich  <<<
Re: DNS Leak with Avast SecureLine VPN
« Reply #5 on: May 16, 2022, 05:51:12 PM »
Thanks. I did the update and it now seems to be better.
You're welcome.
W8.1 [x64] - Avast Free AV 23.3.8047.BC [UI.757] - Firefox ESR 102.9 [NS/uBO/PB] - Thunderbird 102.9.1
Avast-Tools: Secure Browser 109.0 - Cleanup 23.1 - SecureLine 5.18 - DriverUpdater 23.1 - CCleaner 6.01
Avast Wissenswertes (Downloads, Anleitungen & Infos): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.0