Anonymity Split Tunnel VPN on Android.

[Fixxx]

Sometimes you open your banking app and it immediately says it detected a VPN. Similar checks appear on websites and in other apps: CAPTCHAs, repeated logins, confirmation prompts. You cannot completely hide tunneling: the network operator sees an encrypted channel between your phone and a remote endpoint - services can recognize data-center IPs and network signals. But you can configure the system to reduce false alarms while staying within rules.

Basic Principle: don’t hide, but separate​

The main idea is simple: split traffic by application. Sensitive apps (banking, government portals, corporate tools) should go direct, while everyday web, messengers and public-network traffic go through the VPN. This reduces anti-fraud and CAPTCHA triggers while preserving privacy on unsafe networks. On Android this is done via VPN client settings: enable the mode that excludes selected apps from the tunnel. The menu name varies, but the logic is the same: the exclusion list works per-app without manual routing tables.

VPN Client Settings: what to check first​

• Split traffic by app: Add banking and other critical apps to exclusions. This reduces the chance they see an unusual IP, DNS geography mismatch or local traffic-inspection artifacts. Their connections will go directly over the mobile carrier or home router.
• DNS consistency: Adopt a single DNS resolution approach. If the VPN client offers its own resolver, enable it so both traffic and DNS use the same route. If you enable system "Private DNS" (DNS-over-TLS), make sure it doesn't conflict: the priority should be clear and stable. The goal is to avoid situations where HTTP goes via the tunnel but DNS suddenly resolves via the local provider.
• IPv6: either tunnel it or disable it: A common leak vector is IPv6 bypassing the VPN. Ensure your profile covers both IPv4 and IPv6. If the tunnel doesn’t support IPv6, disable outbound IPv6 in the client so half your traffic doesn’t remain unencrypted and cause geographic mismatches.
• Keepalive packets: To prevent the tunnel from "sleeping" on mobile when switching cells, enable keepalive (if the client supports it). A short interval helps keep the connection stable and predictable.
• Always-on VPN and blocking traffic outside the tunnel: Android offers two system mechanisms: keep the tunnel always-on and a strict block of connections outside the VPN. The former tries to keep the tunnel active; the latter prevents any network traffic if the tunnel is unavailable. Note: if you want a bank to operate outside the VPN via an exclusion, you must not enable the strict system block - it defeats app-level exclusions.

Android and Network: careful system configuration​

Enable Private DNS in network settings and point it at a trusted resolver explicitly. Do this either at OS level or inside the VPN client - not both with different addresses. Consistent DNS reduces checks by sites and apps. Be careful with filters, cert interception and double VPNs. Local filters that intercept HTTPS by installing a user CA certificate often conflict with banking app protections. Disable such interception for sensitive apps. Also avoid running multiple "pseudo-VPN" layers simultaneously - Android is not designed for parallel tunnels and this can cause odd disconnects or broken exclusions.

Browsers: WebRTC, fingerprinting and a "natural" profile​

• WebRTC and local addresses: WebRTC is useful for calls and P2P, but misconfiguration can reveal local addresses and alternate interfaces. For a "quiet" browsing profile, limit WebRTC or use a separate browser/profile with it disabled. Where calls aren’t needed, this reduces leaked network information.
• Secure DNS inside the browser: Most modern browsers allow secure DNS. If you already configured a resolver at OS or VPN-client level, set the browser to the same resolver to avoid geographic inconsistencies between HTTP and DNS paths.
• Fingerprint: avoid exotic settings: Unusual fonts, dozens of extensions, experimental flags and nonstandard graphics parameters increase fingerprint uniqueness. For daily use keep a separate clean browser profile without experimental options, with UI language and timezone matching real usage. This is not masking but removing reasons for extra checks.

Preset Scenarios​

Scenario 1: Bank outside VPN, everything else via VPN

• Disable system block of traffic outside the tunnel.
• In the VPN client enable app-based split tunneling and add your bank to exclusions.
• Ensure web traffic and DNS use a single route (via tunnel) and IPv6 doesn't leak.
• Disable local HTTPS interception for banking apps.
• Verify: the bank should work stably both when the VPN is active and during short VPN interruptions.

Scenario 2: Public Wi‑Fi, privacy-first

• Enable VPN for all apps; if needed, enable strict system block of traffic outside the tunnel.
• Ensure DNS goes through the VPN and IPv6 doesn't bypass it.
• If you must quickly use the bank, briefly disconnect the tunnel, do the operation, then reconnect. Alternatively maintain two profiles: "Daily" with exclusions and "Strict" without exclusions for open networks.

Scenario 3: Minimize CAPTCHAs during normal browsing

• Use a stable exit region; avoid switching countries unnecessarily.
• Synchronize UI language, timezone and regional formats with actual usage.
• Keep a separate clean browser profile without extra extensions and experimental flags.

Diagnostics and Self-Checks​

• IP and DNS check: open a page that shows your IP and name resolver. Source IP and resolver should belong to the same region; IPv6 must not bypass the tunnel.
• WebRTC check: on a test page verify local addresses aren’t exposed. If needed, reduce WebRTC in the quiet profile.
• Profile testing: create two preconfigured profiles - "Everywhere except banks" and "Strict Wi‑Fi". Switching profiles is more reliable than frequent manual changes.

What not to do:

• Try to turn a data-center IP into a "home" IP. That’s not feasible with honest configuration and rules.
• Run multiple pseudo-VPN layers or intercept traffic with user certs for banking apps - high risk of failure.
• Mix routes (HTTP via tunnel, DNS outside). That almost guarantees extra checks.

Summary​

There’s no magic button. The practical approach is: app-based split tunneling, a single predictable DNS route, correct IPv6 handling, a clean browser profile without exotic quirks and mindful use of strict modes. These steps reduce false positives and make network behavior look more natural.