Author Topic: Running Network Inspector while VPN is on  (Read 1128 times)

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Offline Harry S.

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Running Network Inspector while VPN is on
« on: July 14, 2022, 07:47:53 AM »
Hi,

I am writing to present some findings of Network Inspector, Avast Free version. Basically, when I turn on my vpn (not Avast VPN), the results become very strange.

For example, yesterday Network Inspector found ‘my computer’ and ’16 other devices’. I scanned again at once and then it found ‘my computer’, ‘4 other devices’ and ‘1 unconnected device’. In both cases, Network Inspector showed ‘no vulnerabilities found’.

When I search through the forum, I find this post, reminding users need to disable VPN before running Network Inspector.

https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=319205.0

It may be helpful if users could have more understanding and interpret the scanning results correctly, therefore I would like to see those descriptions below is right or not.

1. Does it mean whenever scanning network with VPN on, the scanning result will become meaningless and cannot accurately indicate whether the network is safe or not?

2. Even it shows there are many other devices which are not known to original user, it may be only due to the nature of VPN, rather than indicating other people are connecting to the user’s network (or computer) without his consent. Is such understanding correct?

3. Or in another way round, once the scanning result shows ‘no vulnerabilities found’, users can still believe the network is safe, what they need to do is to simply ignore finding so many unknown devices?

Thank you for your help. Have a nice day.


Offline r@vast

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Re: Running Network Inspector while VPN is on
« Reply #1 on: July 14, 2022, 10:05:42 AM »
Hi,

In response to your questions:
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Our network inspector results are only relevant when disconnected from the VPN.

Offline Harry S.

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Re: Running Network Inspector while VPN is on
« Reply #2 on: July 25, 2022, 05:52:38 PM »
Prompt and clear. Thank you very much.