{"article":{"id":10833098544276,"url":"https://ultravpn.zendesk.com/api/v2/help_center/en-us/articles/10833098544276.json","html_url":"https://support.ultravpn.com/hc/en-us/articles/10833098544276-UltraVPN-Settings-and-Features","author_id":360862675246,"comments_disabled":true,"draft":false,"promoted":false,"position":0,"vote_sum":25,"vote_count":295,"section_id":360010066892,"created_at":"2022-11-14T20:43:32Z","updated_at":"2026-08-25T12:46:31Z","name":"UltraVPN Settings and Features","title":"UltraVPN Settings and Features","source_locale":"en-us","locale":"en-us","outdated":false,"outdated_locales":[],"edited_at":"2025-03-17T23:45:36Z","user_segment_id":null,"permission_group_id":513286,"content_tag_ids":[],"label_names":["UltraVPN settings","Settings","split-tunneling","Features","splittunneling","bypass","route"],"body":"
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iOS

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Once you are signed into UltraVPN on iOS, you can easily navigate to the settings menu by tapping on the gear icon.

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Here is a list of the settings you will have available. We will go through each one. 

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VPN Settings

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In this section, you can find various settings that modify the behavior of the VPN itself.

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General

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Connect on app launch

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When you launch the UltraVPN app, UltraVPN will automatically connect to the VPN if this option is enabled.

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Disconnect on sleep

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If this is toggled, the VPN will automatically disconnect when you put your device into sleep mode. This can help to increase your battery life.

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Always-on VPN

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This feature cannot be disabled for your security. This setting will help reestablish the VPN connection automatically if the VPN somehow gets disconnected. 

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Kill Switch

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This setting will help make everything more secure as it will automatically block your internet connection if the VPN connection unexpectedly drops.

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Split tunneling

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UltraVPN on iOS has a Bypass feature that can bypass specific websites. Once you manually add a site to this feature, the selected website will not go over the VPN connection--even while connected to the VPN. (Note: This only works with Hydra Protocol enabled.)

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You can also use Route via VPN to bypass the VPN for all websites, except for the ones you select add here. (Note: This only works with Hydra Protocol enabled.)

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VPN Protocol

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Automatic (Recommended)

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This is automatically turned on when you connect to a virtual location. When this protocol is selected, we will pick the fastest and most secure protocol to connect to for your network or area.

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Hydra

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This is our company-developed protocol. It only can be found with us. This unique protocol is the fastest in the VPN industry and faster than our other protocols. It is the most secure of our protocols, so whenever you have a technical problem, try changing to Hydra. 

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IKEv2 (IPSec)

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While being less secure than the other protocols, this is one of our fastest protocols. While not on par with Hydra, this is still a reliable protocol that may help with certain technical issues. 

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WireGuard

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WireGuard is our newest protocol. It has a strong balance between speed and security.

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Device Integration

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In this section you can configure various ways the app should integrate with your device.

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App shortcuts

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This nifty feature gives you a quick way to launch apps after a VPN connection directly from inside the UltraVPN app. As an example, adding the Netflix app here will display the Netflix icon at the bottom of the UltraVPN app after connecting to the VPN, giving you a quick way to get into Netflix to watch your favorite shows.

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iOS widget

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The iOS widget is a great way to quickly connect or disconnect from the VPN. Simply add it to your screen of choice and you'll have a fast way to get see the status of the VPN connection.

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Add to Siri

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If you add the app to Siri, you'll be able to tell Siri to connect or disconnect from the VPN, without ever having to go into the app. It's great way to use the app if you need extra accessibility assistance.

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Other

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This section handles things that don't fit anywhere else.

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App appearance

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This section handles what the UltravPN app should look like. You can choose between Auto, which adjusts it depending on your phone settings, Dark, which gives the app a dark look, also known as Dark mode or Night mode. The last option here is Light, which makes the app a lot brighter.

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Reinstall VPN configuration

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If you ever encounter issues connecting to the VPN, it's possible the VPN profile has disappeared. Clicking on Reinstall VPN configuration is a good first step to see if that fixes any connection-related issues for you.

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Delete account

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If you no longer wish to use UltraVPN, you can delete your UltraVPN account by clicking on Delete account. Do note that this can not be undone.

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Dark Web Scan

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Let's talk about the fantastic Dark Web Scan and Passwatch options located in the 4 square icon next to settings next.

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Dark Web scan is a handy little feature that can scan the dark web to check if any of your login information (such as username, email or password) has been exposed. If they are exposed, we can provide suggestions on how to prevent this. 

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Passwatch/Password Management

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PassWatch is a password manager which can store and secure all your login information for your various accounts. This way, you don't have to use the same password for everything, or write them down on post-it notes in your home for everyone to see. PassWatch can remember all of them for you and automatically fill them in whenever you try to log in to a service.

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This not only makes your online life easier--it makes it more secure by encrypting all of your login information and makes it easier to have unique, more secure passwords for all your digital services.

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Mac

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Please review this brief summary explaining each feature and where it can be located. 

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Once you are signed in to the application on your Mac device, please left click on the top left side of your Mac screen under \"UltraVPN\" and click on Preferences.

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You will then see the settings screen. Let's go over the general settings first. \"Screen_Shot_2022-10-14_at_4.13.14_PM.png\"

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Start on Launch: Enable this in case your device shuts off entirely, and you need to reboot using the options displayed on the screen, or if you need to turn on the device, this option allows the VPN to connect immediately upon that. 

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Auto-connect on app launch: Enable this for that once you start up the app, the VPN will automatically connect to the most recent Virtual location. 

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Public WiFi alert: Enable to notify you when the VPN is connected to a public Wi-Fi that is not as secure as private Wi-Fi.

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Appearance: Choose how you would like UltraVPN to appear. Through the dock or even through both the menu and dock. You have the ability to customize. 

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Restore Purchase: You can restore your most recent purchase to activate your Premium status if the app believes you are not premium. 

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Advanced
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Split-Tunneling

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Like Windows, Mac also has a Bypass feature, which can bypass specific sites and apps. Once you manually add an app or site to this feature, the VPN will automatically connect to that app once it has been opened. To add an app or site, click the check mark next to bypass and click the add option. (Note: This only works with Hydra Protocol enabled.)

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You can also Route VPN access which will exclusively connect to the VPN always when the VPN is on. You can add apps to this feature by toggling it on via the check box and clicking add next to it. (Note: This only works with Hydra Protocol enabled.)

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To disconnect the VPN once you have closed that app or site, you will need to go back into the UltraVPN application and disconnect it manually for both Bypass VPN and Route VPN. 

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Now let's talk about the Dark web scan and Password management option found in Mac UltraVPN. 

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Dark Web Scan

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Dark Web scan is a handy little feature that can scan the dark web to check if any of your login information (such as username, email or password) has been exposed. If they are exposed, we can provide suggestions on how to prevent this. 

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Passwatch/Password Management

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PassWatch is a password manager which can store and secure all your login information for your various accounts. This way, you don't have to use the same password for everything, or write them down on post-it notes in your home for everyone to see. PassWatch can remember all of them for you and automatically fill them in whenever you try to log in to a service.

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This not only makes your online life easier--it makes it more secure by encrypting all of your login information and makes it easier to have unique, more secure passwords for all your digital services.

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Android

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Please review this brief summary explaining each feature and where it is located. 

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Clicking on the gear icon in the top-right will take you to the app settings screen.

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We have a few categories to go over so please read the following for each for a brief explanation of what these settings mean and how they can protect your privacy.

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VPN Settings

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In this section, you can find various settings that modify the behavior of the VPN itself.

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Always-on VPN

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This feature cannot be disabled for your security. This setting will help reestablish the VPN connection automatically if the VPN somehow gets disconnected. 

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Internet Kill Switch

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This setting will help make everything more secure as it will automatically block your internet connection if the VPN disconnects. Do note that this also means you will not have an internet connection even if you manually disconnect.

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General

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This category contains various settings which dictate how and when the VPN connects.

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Connect on device startup

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With this option enabled, UltraVPN will automatically connect whenever your device boots up.

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Connect on app launch

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When you launch the UltraVPN app, UltraVPN will automatically connect to the VPN if this option is enabled.

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Disconnect on sleep

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If this is toggled, the VPN will automatically disconnect when you put your device into sleep mode. This can help to increase your battery life.

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Split Tunneling

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Similar to Windows, Android also has a Bypass feature which can bypass certain apps. Once you manually add an app to this feature, that app will not go through the VPN connection. Instead, it will bypass the VPN and use your normal internet connection.

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The other option available is Route via VPN. When this option is enabled, only select apps will go through the VPN. Everything else will use your normal internet connection.

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Network

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You have three options to choose from here. Each one changes when UltraVPN should automatically connect to the VPN.

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Unsecure WiFi: With this option enabled, you will automatically connect to UltraVPN whenever you connect to an unsecure WiFi. Unsecure WiFi includes public networks such as those found in airports and hotels or various coffee shops like Starbucks.

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Secure WiFi: With Secure WiFi enabled, you will automatically connect to the VPN whenever you connect to a secure WiFi. Secure WiFis are any WiFi which requires a password to connect to. Examples of a secure WiFi are networks located in private homes and most business networks set up for employees rather than guests.

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Cellular networks:  Enable the cellular network option to auto-connect the VPN once your device is connected to LTE or 4G. This is usually the case if you are roaming and not connected to any WiFi hotspot.

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Trusted WiFi networks

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With this option, you can whitelist specific networks you don't want the VPN to automatically connect to. Do note that you can still manually connect to the VPN even if a network is listed here, it just won't automatically connect when you switch over to the selected network(s).

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VPN Protocols

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If you are experiencing connection issues or in some rare cases access issues that cannot be fixed, we recommend trying different protocols to identify what protocol works best for your network. In this section, you can choose which protocol you want to connect with. Let's go through each one.

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Automatic (Recommended)

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This is the default option. When this protocol is selected, we will select the fastest and most secure protocol to connect to for your network or area.

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Hydra

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This is our company-developed protocol. It only can be found with us. This unique protocol is the fastest in the VPN industry and faster than our other protocols. It is the most secure of our protocols, so whenever you have a technical problem, try changing to Hydra. 

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WireGuard

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WireGuard is our newest protocol. It has a strong balance between speed and security.

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Other

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This category is for things that don't fit anywhere else

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App appearance

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Here you can select whether the HotspotShield pp should use a light appearance or dark appearance. This setting only affects the appearance of the app, it does not affect other features of the app. You can aso choose Automatic, which will make the app adjust to whichever mode the phone OS is set to use for other apps.

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Remove account

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This feature will completely delete your account from our system, including any email/chat interaction with customer service. NOTE: Do not perform this action if what you need is to cancel the service since this won't cancel the subscription.

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Now lets talk about these handy Dark Web Scan and Password Management features. You can find these by clicking on the four squares on the main screen of the app.

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\"Screenshot_20230210-105325.png\"

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Dark Web Scan

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Dark Web scan is a handy little feature that can scan the dark web to check if any of your login information (such as username, email or password) has been exposed. If they are exposed, we can provide suggestions on how to prevent this. 

\n

Passwatch/Password Management

\n

PassWatch is a password manager which can store and secure all your login information for your various accounts. This way, you don't have to use the same password for everything, or write them down on post-it notes in your home for everyone to see. PassWatch can remember all of them for you and automatically fill them in whenever you try to log in to a service.

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This not only makes your online life easier--it makes it more secure by encrypting all of your login information and makes it easier to have unique, more secure passwords for all your digital services.

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Windows

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Please review this brief summary explaining each feature and where it can be located. 

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To open the settings, click on the gear icon to the left.

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You'll be presented with a number of options. If you're unsure what each option does, don't worry. We'll go through each one.

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Start on launch

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With this option enabled, UltraVPN will start automatically when Windows boots up.

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Prevent IP leak

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Allowing this will prevent your IP from being detected while you are connected to the VPN. While your IP address is changed when you connect to UltraVPN, this feature offers extra protection as it can prevent sites, cache, or cookies from leaking your IP. 

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Killswitch

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If UltraVPN disconnects unexpectedly, this feature will stop the flow of data, protecting you by not allowing your internet traffic to run in the background.

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Local network protection

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This feature protects you from various local network vulnerabilities by blocking local network access. This is useful when on unsecured public networks, such as airports, hotels, and coffee shops. Do note that you will not be able to access local network resources like printers, media servers, and chromecast while this is enabled.

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Always-on VPN

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If enabled, always-on VPN will automatically connect you to the VPN whenever UltraVPN is launched. It will also continuously attempt to reconnect you if the VPN fails to connect.

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Connection quality feedback

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If this option is enabled, you will be presented with a pop-up asking you to rate your connection. This will present us with feedback about your connection, and will allow us to work towards improving our service.

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VPN protocol

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If you are experiencing connection issues, or in rare cases access issues that cannot be fixed, you may find can try switching to a different protocol.

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Automatic (Recommended): This is automatically turned on when you connect to a virtual location. When this protocol is selected, we will pick the fastest and most secure protocol to connect to for your network or area.

\n

Hydra: This is our company-developed protocol. It only can be found with us. This unique protocol is the fastest in the VPN industry and faster than our other protocols. It is the most secure of our protocols, so whenever you have a technical problem, try changing to Hydra. 

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IKEv2 (IPSec): While being less secure than the other protocols, this is one of our fastest protocols. While not on par with Hydra, this is still a reliable protocol that may help with certain technical issues. 

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WireGuard: WireGuard is our newest protocol. It has a strong balance between speed and security.

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Split tunneling

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Split tunneling, or smartVPN as it's also called, is a feature which enables you to exclude certain apps and websites from the VPN tunnel. It has two different versions.

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Bypass VPN

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With BypassVPN, any apps or websites you add will bypass the VPN. This means that the apps or websites you add will use your normal internet connection, while everything else still goes through the VPN. This is useful in situations where you may not want something to go through the VPN for one reason or another.

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Route via VPN

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Route via VPN is essenually the exacct opposite of BypassVPN. With Route via VPN, only select apps or websites will go through the VPN, while everything else uses your normal internet connection.

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There's also two additional features offered by UltraVPN, which you can find by clicking on the four dots next to the Settings icon.

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Dark Web Scan

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Dark Web scan is a handy little feature that can scan the dark web to check if any of your login information (such as username, email or password) has been exposed. If they are exposed, we can provide suggestions on how to prevent this. 

\n

Passwatch/Password Management

\n

PassWatch is a password manager which can store and secure all your login information for your various accounts. This way, you don't have to use the same password for everything, or write them down on post-it notes in your home for everyone to see. PassWatch can remember all of them for you and automatically fill them in whenever you try to log in to a service.

\n

This not only makes your online life easier--it makes it more secure by encrypting all of your login information and makes it easier to have unique, more secure passwords for all your digital services.

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Please feel free to contact us via Chat or email if you have any more questions or concerns. 

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