I want to configure Proton VPN to be active only in browser and download manager, but I am not sure how to achieve that. Yes, there is an option in split tunneling to add exe files, but how can I make sure that everything is going through VPN?
My reason is, even though I added all the files used by streaming apps and MMORPG games to the split tunneling, they are still using VPN, and that is causing lots of issues. So, I want to use VPN only for the browser (Edge and Firefox), installed browser extensions and my download manager (IDM). Rest of the traffic should use direct connection.
Why don’t you use the proton vpn browser extensions and use those? Won’t that achieve what you are looking for?
Check https://ipleak.net/ once you’ve configured split tunneling on your browser, to check if it’s routed through the VPN. For your download manager, you could probably use a magnet link to check this.
Maybe a VM or a some sort of container for those programs
With browser extension I can’t tunnel my download manager, also I can’t use my DoH. I also don’t know if any of the extensions are communicating using their own executables.
Depending on the PC, I usually have both the browser extension and the Windows app active. I just keep whitelists for each. I have the browser extension tunneling with sites I don’t want VPNed, and the Windows app I only include apps I DO want VPNed.
I tried to exclude Amazon Prime video app for example. I added executables which I see in the Task Manager but still Amazon recognized my VPN.
As a workaround I added everything within browser installation folders, my IDM folder, browser related folder under Program Data, Program Files and Program Files (x86), and all the exes shown in the Task Manager to split tunneling and left the rest for direct connection.
I hope that would be enough. I need to use my 3rd party DNS (using Control D) too, because I can’t control anything with Proton’s own DNS.