How to Delete a Dell VPN Client?

The Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policy of your organization will determine what actions you can take to remove sensitive data from your computer system. You may be asked to delete a VPN client for security reasons or simply to free up disk space.

In this blog post, we will discuss how to delete a VPN client from a Dell Workstation.

Important Information About Running a VPN Client On a Dell Computer

When you run a VPN client on your Dell computer, you are asking for trouble. First of all, consider the fact that whenever you connect to the Internet, you are using a third party’s infrastructure to do so. If you are not comfortable with this, you should not run a VPN client on your computer. Besides, if you run a VPN client on a Dell computer, then all of your Internet traffic will flow through this single device, leaving it susceptible to attacks.

To prevent all of this, you will need to follow certain guidelines, which will help protect your system and also allow you to use the Internet as intended:

Only Install The Necessary Software

Make sure that you only install the software you need to perform your tasks. Never install a VPN client on your computer if you are not using one. If you do not need a VPN client, you should not install one. Besides, once you install it, you will realize that it is collecting tons of data about your online activity and storing it for later use. This is why it is called a VPN client, because it provides you with a Virtual Private Networking (VPN) connection that you can use to secure your Internet traffic and keep your personal data private. If you have a second computer that is older and does not have good enough hardware to run the latest operating systems, then consider installing VirtualBox or a similar product on it. This will let you run a full-featured operating system (OS) on it, thus rejuvenating it and giving it a new lease of life.

Use A VPN Client On A Separate Hard Drive

Whatever you do, always keep your VPN client on a separate hard drive from your operating system. This will protect you from any unforeseen issues that could arise from mixing these two components together. Separating them ensures that if anything goes wrong with your VPN client, you can still operate your computer. The same concept applies to storing any type of important data, especially financial or personal information that is not safe offline.

Use A Dedicated IP Address

Every time you connect to the Internet through a VPN client, you are giving your computer a new IP address. This is a set of numbers that identify your device on the network. Every organization that provides VPN services will give you a dedicated IP address when you sign up for a trial account. You should use this IP address exclusively for connecting to remote services like Google, Microsoft, or AWS. You should not use the same IP address for searching the web, sending email, or any other tasks that require network connectivity. Doing this could result in your IP address being banned by the service provider. Banning an IP address is a serious matter, and you will have to pay for the privilege of using a different one.

Use A Strong Password

Do not use the same password for multiple accounts, whether they belong to your organization or to services that you use daily. You should use a strong password and be mindful of what you are entering, especially when entering it manually. There are various techniques that you can use to make your passwords stronger, like adding numbers, symbols, or both. Choose a dedicated password manager like KeePass for storing your passwords. You can put a check mark next to the ones you use often, and they will be automatically filled in whenever you need them. You can also generate random passwords for every account that you set up, and keep them safe in a secure location like a dedicated folder or document. This will make resetting your passwords much easier in case you forget them.

Avoid Free VPN Services

There are many free VPN services out there, especially those offered by smaller companies and startups. While these services are perfectly functional, you should avoid them if your main goal is to keep your personal data private. Smaller companies have a much shorter lifespan than those that are established and reliable, so you have a better chance of being able to trust them. If you need a VPN service, then consider paying for one.

Only Connect To Sites That You Need

If you signed up for a trial account with a VPN provider, you will be presented with a list of “trusted” sites. These are the sites that you can connect to through your VPN connection. Only connect to these sites when you need to do so. If you do not work in an environment where you need to be keeping your personal data secure, avoiding untrusted sites is unnecessary. Disconnect from the VPN when you are not needed and reconnect when you need to use a trusted site, like Google, Amazon, or YouTube. Redundancy is also very important when considering a VPN. To keep yourself safe from data loss, make sure that you always have a redundant copy of your files stored somewhere offline. In case your Internet connection fails or is cut off, you will be able to access your data safely. A few cheap, yet highly reliable, cloud storage services like BackBlaze are easy to set up and can be accessed at any time from any location via an Internet connection.

Use A VPN With Additional Protections

Not all VPNs are created equal, and some are more secure than others. Some VPNs have better protocols, allow you to use different servers (geographical locations), or offer additional levels of encryption. If your main goal is to keep your personal data private and you have the budget for it, consider getting a VPN that has all of these extra security features.

Take Your Time

Do not rush into deleting your VPN client. Instead, go through the list of requirements above and take your time. See what you can do, and then do it. You will be much better off in the long run. There are many reasons that you would need a VPN, but you do not need to rush into deleting it. Give it the old college try before you get rid of it for good.