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[Question] VPN and Mobile Data (lemmy.ml)
submitted 1 day ago by newcool1230@lemmy.ml to c/privacy@lemmy.ml
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I recently found out that my mobile provider "leaks" (if you can say that) while I've using a VPN. On wifi it is completely fine.

On my phone when I go to the Speedtest app, my Mobile ISP will show up like full name while connected to a VPN. However, if I'm on wifi it will show the VPN's server provider name instead.

Also instead of the wave wifi icon it shows "LTE". Is my mobile data actually leaking even though I'm connected to a VPN? How can I fix this?

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[-] fossuser@lemmy.ml 24 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Your VPN isn't leaking. It's same with me. When we do speedtest via app, the speedtest app looks for connections details (mobile data or wifi). And in the speedtest(ookla) database they have records of all the tower locations and every tower has an unique id. So, when we do the speedtest with the app (not from website), the app detects user is using mobile data or wifi, if former is true, then based on the signal strength to the tower from that device, the app searches in the database about the tower info (belongs to which telecom operator) which the user is connected, then it shows the name of the operator.

This is a very interesting way of tracking users.

Even if you haven't enabled GPS, or mobile data or internet and your are using degoogled phone like GrapheneOS, if you have sim card there, you will still be tracked because the app (non open sourced apps) we use, as most(if not all) of them has this functionality built in, to detect users location based on signal strength to the tower.

So, stick with open sourced apps, and web apps if you can. And install the closed source apps on a different user profile and then turned that profile off when not in use.

[-] hydrashok@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago

Interesting. Not for me.

I have an iPhone with a WireGuard tunnel back to my house. When connected just on cellular, SpeedTest says my mobile provider for the connection.

When I connect to VPN and try again, it says my home ISP provider and doesn’t mention the mobile part at all.

[-] a4ng3l@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Doesn’t prevent them to grab more via the application from the os exposed data besides what they get from the network test they run. From the Apple Store page they siphon a fair bit of data including location / usage data / « other data » and more… Which is likely why those services have a tendency to redirect users to apps: they get more details about them.

[-] fossuser@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago

Yes.. Same principle

[-] hydrashok@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

In your original reply, you cite the app as smart enough to know the mobile ISP even with VPN on, and it shows this to you in the app, yet that is not my experience. If it were as you say, shouldn’t my app still say my mobile ISP even with the VPN active?

Maybe you are running a split tunnel or something? When I’m on VPN over mobile, it’s the same as running the test on my home wifi.

EDIT: we could also be talking about different parts of the app. As I dug further into this, the main page that just shows your speed, connection, and test server work/look the same for me on VPN on mobile or WiFi, showing my home ISP. However, I did discover that if I go into the detailed results page, it shows that I was using a mobile connection and doesn’t show my home ISP name at all. Very curious.

EDIT2: last edit — tests over mobile on VPN in detailed results show my home ISP as the egress point, so one should be able to determine if their VPN is effective that way.

[-] fossuser@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Interesting.. Which VPN are u using? If you don't mind telling! I am using Mullvad.

I am not saying app is smart. There is an app called "Where is my train" in my country, which works on the same principle i mentioned earlier. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whereismytrain.android No need to have internet access or gps enabled. Just need to be on the train and based on your signal strength to the tower you are connected, it will determine location of the train.

I am not running split tunneling. Split tunnel isn't going to work as i have enabled "block connection without vpn". In order for split tunneling to wo, this setting need to be turned off.

Edit: It is possible that, as i am running a regular android, some traffic are getting bypassed, which has proven in past that android leaks traffic when vpn is connected https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/google/android-leaks-some-traffic-even-when-always-on-vpn-is-enabled/

[-] hydrashok@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I have a UniFi system at home, and then use a custom WireGuard config it generates on my iPhone to connect. It leverages the iOS VPN switch, just like turning WiFi or Bluetooth on and off. Works amazingly well. Should support Android, too, but I don’t have an Android anymore so no firsthand experience there.

They also have a proprietary thing called Teleport, but I don’t use that because it relies on using another app they publish instead of just the main OS user functionality.

[-] fossuser@lemmy.ml 1 points 20 hours ago

Thank for sharing

[-] emotional_soup_88@programming.dev 3 points 1 day ago

+1

Also, WiFi can also be used to track users: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poaqwozBqHY

[-] fossuser@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago

Yes.. Switching to firmware like OpenWrt and doing the stuff mentioned by Naomi, can help mitigate

[-] ScoffingLizard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago

Wouldn't that not work outside of the user's home, or does openWRT have a mobile client or something? I saw there is now a router with preinstalled openwrt on the market and was interested to try one of those IP antenna things with it.

[-] fossuser@lemmy.ml 1 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

They don't have mobile client. There is OpenWrt One router by OpenWrt and another is Gl.inet that uses OpenWrt.

[-] emotional_soup_88@programming.dev 5 points 1 day ago

If your VPN app/settings provide an option to turn off IPv6, try that.

[-] newcool1230@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago

I'm able to set IPv4 only but it still shows LTE Mobile provider's name

[-] emotional_soup_88@programming.dev 1 points 1 day ago

Try resetting your access point settings. Connections -> Mobile Networks -> Access Point Names -> reset to default

[-] emotional_soup_88@programming.dev 1 points 1 day ago

Forget it. Check out fossuser 's response!

[-] Valarie@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 1 day ago

Idk if this will work but I know on android you can set it to block connections that don't pass through a vpn in your settings

[-] newcool1230@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago

I do have that option enabled

this post was submitted on 01 Jan 2026
21 points (100.0% liked)

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