VPN with USB Tethering

albin16

I connect to the internet on my desktop (Windows 10) using USB tethering from my Android phone. Does PIA VPN work if the internet is connected via USB tethering? Is there any specific apps that would need to be used on PC or phone?

PiaVipper

If it helps, here is my experience:

I've used my Android phone as a hotspot running the official PIA Android App and my laptop traffic DID NOT route through the VPN.

The work around is to connect to the phone and run the PIA app on your laptop or desktop (instead of the phone) - this is far from ideal as the phone traffic itself is left unprotected.

albin16

Thank you for the response PiaVipper
That is what i am planning to do. Run PIA on my desktop. So thanks for letting me know that this should work.

PiaVipper said:

this is far from ideal as the phone traffic itself is left unprotected.

Does it make a difference? I would not be doing any browsing on phone. Shouldn't the data be already protected by the VPN of desktop. As the phone is basically just acting as a modem in this case. Shouldn't the case be same as when your desktop is connected to an actual modem/router?

PiaVipper

It's not a problem as such, but I don't like the idea of my phone reporting into Google with my IP address and whatever else it collects.
For that reson, it would be better if the PIA Android app actually did what it's supposed to do and route all traffic through the VPN.

Vipper

albin16

Oh ok. Thanks for explaining that.

NoSyt

It doesn't work when you run the app on your PC. At least that's the experience I've had.

I emailed support about the issue and Jeremy C. was horrendously unhelpful about the whole issue:
Firstly he stated that the device would need to be rooted in order to have the VPN work through tethering. I stated that my device was indeed rooted. He then said that "We do not have a guide as rooting a device would be outside of our scope. Sorry for the inconvenience."

Genuinely considering not renewing my subscription at the end of 12-months, as I've never had someone fix any of the issues I've had with PIA. When it works, it's great; but when you need help then you're on your own, sucker.

miurahr

This is a limitation on Android itself not PIA. Support scope is reasonable and they cannot guarantee rooted device. If you want to protect your phone and PC connection concurrently, I'd like to suggest to use another mobile router for your PC connection, not tethering a phone. Here is an option to use 'Internet kill switch'. When tethering and VPN on your PC, you need to switch PIA off on your android phone. Then a 'Internet kill switch' stop all the traffic on your phone apps. Now your phone become just a mobile router. So it is not usable for messaging or other apps on the phone, but you are still protected.

bkdroid13

Thanks for sharing this information , It's Helped to us.