Question about MullVad VPN

Questions
1

Hi All - I started using Mullvad’s VPN recently. I noticed that when I am using the Safari browser, The traffic is sent in the clear (Despite the VPN being on, Closing out of the browser, Turning the VPN Off and then back on, and choosing a new location, and then re launching the browser). However, when I use Mullvads browser, the traffic is sent over the VPN. Split tunneling is not enabled in the VPN application. Why is this happening? Why is the VPN not applied to all browsers? How do I apply the VPN to all of my internet traffic?

Thanks,

HLP

3

I’m on MacOS Sequoia 15.6, not iOS

4

This should not happen. There must be some mistake somewhere. All VPN traffic does go through the encrypted tunnel.

Please clear your browser settings and check again. How are you checking any way? Did you try rebooting your system to double check?

Can you turn on Lockdown Mode in the VPN app and try using the browser and see if it works?

Are you sure there are no network extensions enabled or installed that may be interfering with your macOS connections?

I also recommend uninstalling the VPN per Mullvad’s instructions and installing it again if nothing else works.

Also, is there a reason you have not upgraded to macOS 26?

5

Hmm ok so I think I figured out what was going on with this - This is not Mullvad’s fault at all, sorry for the alarm on this. I was connected to Mullvad while checking some privacy settings on tumblr. Tumblr tells you the IP address that you logged in from. I guess at some point I logged in off the VPN and Tumblr kept the session active, despite multiple VPN Location changes. They must have some kind of tracker that captures the initial IP, and they don’t seem to update the IP address if it changes. Clearing website data and logging back in fixed the issue - my login location is now aligned with the VPN server location. I confirmed this is just a tumblr issue by using a “whats my IP” website, which confirmed that Safari traffic was routed through the VPN. sorry for the confusion. Thank you!!

1 Like