How to Block VPN If You’re Using Parallels on Mac:5 Proven Methods

Intro

Alright, so you’re using Parallels on your Mac, maybe to run a virtual Windows instance, and you’ve got a task at hand that might be a bit tricky. You need to block VPN usage. Whether it’s about keeping tighter control over a work environment, ensuring compliance, or preventing someone from bypassing content or network restrictions, blocking a VPN in this setup can be a little technical.

But don’t worry, I’ll walk you through how to block VPN if you are using parallels on Mac.

Before we jump in, though, let’s talk about why someone would want to stop VPN usage while using Parallels.

Why Block VPNs on Parallels?

VPNs are great at what they’re built for: adding an extra layer of privacy and masking where internet traffic comes from. But this can be a pain in specific contexts. Imagine you’re running a company where users need to stay on an internal network to access everything safely.

A VPN can sidestep that, potentially opening you up to security risks. Or maybe someone using Parallels in a shared home setup could use a VPN to access restricted material and burn through network bandwidth. It’s not just businesses that care; parents sometimes also try to limit VPNs for similar reasons.

But here’s the catch with your current setup. Using Parallels means you’re running a virtual environment. This can complicate things because each environment (your macOS and that virtual OS) can have separate network setups.

Blocking VPNs effectively requires a mix of controlling both systems, so it’s a little different than just dealing with a standalone computer. No sweat, though, because I’ve got your back. Here are some practical ways to tackle it.

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1. Configure the Firewall in Parallels Settings

One of the first places to start is within Parallels itself. Your virtual machine has its own network settings, and you can tweak these to limit unusual traffic like VPNs.

Here’s what you do:

• Step 1: Open Parallels on your Mac and head to the control center.
• Step 2: Find the virtual machine (VM) you’re running and hit the settings (gear) icon.
• Step 3: Under the Network tab, choose “Bridged Network” (or whatever your network config says) and check advanced settings for firewalls or network policies.
• Step 4: Create a rule in the firewall to block VPN-related protocols. Look for protocols or ports specific to OpenVPN (1194), PPTP, or others based on the VPN type you’re targeting.

Sure, this method isn’t foolproof because someone clever might try to use obscure VPN protocols or different ports, but it’s a solid starting point.

2. Limit VPN Access Using Your Router

This approach works on your whole network, so it’s broader and blocks VPN attempts across the board. Perfect if you want to stop someone in both the macOS and the Parallels setup from hopping onto a VPN.

How to do it:

• Step 1: Log in to your router’s admin dashboard. Usually, you type something like 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 in your browser, then use your router login details.
• Step 2: Once inside, look for options related to Firewall or Access Control.
• Step 3: Create rules to block VPN-related ports like 1194 (OpenVPN) and 1723 (PPTP), or block UDP ports commonly tied to VPN tunneling.
• Step 4: If your router supports DNS filtering, you can set up filtering for VPN-related domains many services use (like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, etc.).

This method is effective because it stops connections at the network level. The downside? Some crafty users might find ways to bypass the block with unlisted VPN ports.

3. Disable VPNs via macOS Parental Controls

If the macOS environment is your concern, parental controls can help. This might sound like something you’d do to watch over a kid’s internet usage, but mature systems like Apple’s make this practical in all sorts of settings, including server-level constraints.

Here’s how to set it up:

• Step 1: Go to System Settings on macOS, click Screen Time, and choose the user account.
• Step 2: Navigate to Content & Privacy and enable restrictions.
• Step 3: Set limits on modifying system network settings or apps, including the installation of new software. A lot of the time, VPNs get installed as apps, so restricting this can be a simple fix.
• Step 4 (optional): Use the built-in macOS Network tools under System Preferences > Network to disable app-related VPN configurations right at the source.

This works as a Mac-level block but won’t always tackle what’s happening inside Parallels itself. You’ll want to pair this method with some others if you’re dealing with an advanced user.

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4. Use DNS Filtering with a Service Like OpenDNS

DNS filtering is a sneaky-good way to block VPNs. It works by blocking access to VPN-associated servers. Bonus points because it doesn’t necessarily require messing with every computer individually. It catches both macOS and Parallels traffic.

Here’s what you do:

• Step 1: Sign up for a free or paid account with a DNS filtering platform like OpenDNS or Cloudflare Gateway.
• Step 2: Follow the steps to configure your router to use the chosen DNS settings. For OpenDNS, this might look like updating settings to 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220.
• Step 3: Create policies in the DNS management tool to outright block whitelisted traffic to websites or connections affiliated with VPNs.

This can feel a bit technical to set up, but it’s like putting a filter on the pipes instead of the faucet. Smarter users might pull out other tricks around DNS, though, which brings me to the next method.

5. Control Traffic with a Dedicated Proxy or Gateway

If the stakes are high and you’ve got some budget, installing a proxy server or gateway to manage traffic could be your best play. This is a more advanced solution and tends to show up in company networks, but it ensures ultimate control.

To get this rolling:

• Step 1: Set up a proxy or next-gen firewall tool like pfSense on your network.
• Step 2: Configure it to monitor all incoming and outgoing traffic between devices on your network.
• Step 3: Write rules to flag and block encrypted tunnel traffic that smells like a VPN. Most solutions have easy dropdowns or pre-built templates for known VPN methods.

This is as close to bulletproof as blocking VPNs gets, but it’s a higher investment and best for heavy-duty setups.

Challenges You Might Face

Now, before you go all in, there are some hurdles worth noting:

1. Tech-Savvy Users
   Blocking a VPN isn’t magic. Plenty of tools allow people to bypass restrictions, like switching to less-common VPN protocols. Expect a bit of a cat-and-mouse game if someone really knows what they’re doing.

2. Overblocking
   When you start messing with network-level configurations like DNS or firewalls, there’s always a risk of cutting off something legit. For example, blocking UDP ports might affect more than just VPN traffic.

3. Parallels Complexity
   The dual-environment setup means you’re juggling two systems, which requires keeping track of network settings both on the Mac side and inside the VM.

Wrapping It Up

Blocking VPNs while using Parallels on a Mac can feel complicated, but you’ve got options. Whether you’re tweaking Parallels settings, configuring your router, or even setting up advanced DNS filtering, there’s definitely a solution that’ll work for your scenario. The key is deciding how much control you need and balancing it with ease of setup.

At the end of the day, network restrictions are just one piece of the puzzle. The trick is watching how everything fits together and being ready to adapt when someone tries to outsmart your blocks. Good luck!

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