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FIX: ESET Blocked VPN on Windows Computers [10 Easy Methods]
Configure your VPN correctly so it’ll work well alongside ESET
9 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
ESETis very strong security software, in fact, one of the best for Windows 10, with its comprehensive protection for your everyday home or business online activities.
Among its advantages and benefits include multi-layered security against any online or offline threats, privacy protection, safer connection and browsing, password management, data, and folder encryption, all backed by three decades of innovation built and run by security enthusiasts.
With such strong security, you can imagine what would happen when you try using yourVPNwithESETand it gets blocked.
However, this doesn’t mean that it cannot be fixed. There are solutions to resolve the blockage and get back to enjoying theVPNservices as soon as possible. Check out some of the fixes listed below.
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Why is ESET blocking my VPN?
ESET antivirus blocks suspicious activity and connections. It can sometimes block certain DNS requests and connections, which can happen to be your VPN’s.
Another possible issue is that you mistakenly blocked the connection. When you access a new network, ESET asks you if you trust it, and if you picked No (by mistake) for your VPN, it will not let you connect.
This can be easily fixed by using a trusted VPN service. Additionally, you can remove all custom rules and manually add trusted addresses to ESET’s firewall.
How can I fix VPN blocked by ESET?
1. Allow VPN access
If this doesn’t help, run the Firewall troubleshooting wizard which shows a list of recently blocked communications and lets you create the appropriate allow rule with a few clicks.
2. Pause the ESET firewall
VPN blocked byESETcan be resolved by pausing theESETfirewall until a system restart is performed. With the firewall paused, you can try to reconnect theVPNthat is blocked.
While theESETfirewall is paused, the protection status will turn RED to indicate that the maximum protection isn’t ensured, and your PC is now vulnerable to threats.
If you are diagnosing potential firewall problems, connect theVPNthat is blocked. If successful, then the problem is related to the firewall. Re-enable the firewall and complete the steps below to resolve connection issues. To do this:
3. Use another VPN
If your current VPN client is being blocked by ESET, then the easiest solution is to switch to a different provider.
Private Internet Access is a reliable and ESET-compatible VPN service that works in conjunction with antivirus software to give you the maximum level of protection.
Whilst ESET will safeguard your PC from being infected with malware, PIA will create a secure tunnel between your machine and the target server.
This way, you reduce the likelihood of your PC being infected and you have the added benefit of having all your data encrypted and safe.
Signing up for PIA takes only a few minutes: just register an account, download the client, and select a server to connect to.
Moreover, once you start using Private Internet Access, you will benefit from all the other features offered:
Private Internet Access
4. Stop the ESET firewall from interrupting web browsing
You can do this without exposing your system to security risks. If an intrusion is detected, the system will still be protected using this method. You can create a rule to permanently allow all network traffic.
5. Disable the firewall until re-enabled by you
This can potentially expose your system to an attack and isn’t recommended unless advised by ESET’s technical support to entirely disable the firewall. To disable HTTP, POP3 and IMAP scanning, follow the steps above.
Once you’re done, re-enable the firewall. The protection status won’t change to RED, though your PC will be at risk when the firewall is disabled.
6. Add a firewall exception
The troubleshooting wizard helps resolve home network connectivity issues caused byESETfirewall with aVPN blockedbyESET. This fix will allow yourVPNto work on your home network.
Check if theVPNcan connect after doing the above.
7. Check temporary IP address blacklist and allow communication directly
The IP address of yourVPNmay have been added to the temporary IP address blacklist, and if it has, allow the communication directly from the list.
8. Use Firewall interactive mode
This mode helps you create personalized firewall rules to ensure your devices can connect to your home network. Network communication is handled based on predefined rules.
If there are no pre-existing rules applying to a detected communication, you will be prompted to allow or deny the connection. You can make this decision by saving it as a new rule for the firewall.
When the new rule is created, all future connections of this type will be allowed or blocked based on the rule.
Interactive mode will let you create a customized group of rules. This mode, however, isn’t intended for prolonged use. Disable it once you establish a set of rules for use in your environment.
Use it with caution especially in a corporate environment because inattentive users can create rules accidentally that may expose them to risks or hinder their ability to communicate over the network.
To create a firewall exclusion in Interactive mode, here’s what to do:
9. Create a Firewall rule to permit specific connections
10. Create a rule to allow/deny a connection from a remote IP address
These solutions should help you secure your traffic with the VPN whilst using ESET to protect against malware.
For those of you wondering wether ESET has a built-in VPN solution, they don’t, but it works great alongside most third-party VPNs if you configure it correctly.
Did any of these solutions help? Let us know in the comments section below.
More about the topics:antivirus,ESET,VPN
Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.
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Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.
