Enable/disable VPN extension per browser instance

VPN
1

I use the NordVPN extension in Firefox and it works well. However I only want it enabled for certain sites. In the absence of this being possible, is there an option to enable/disable the VPN per browser instance? It appears that new browser windows just inherit the VPN status of existing ones, and disabling it in one window does it in all the others.

2

I’m suspecting no, with the browser plugin. With the desktop app, which supports split tunneling, maybe… split tunneling is on a per-app basis, and so all of the threads/processes of an app are going to have the same setting there, too, but you might be able to play around with one of two options that you might not like…

  1. Using two different browsers and having one inside and one outside the VPN

  2. You may also be able to make two installations of Firefox (depending on your OS, maybe either two copies of the same Firefox, with different names or in different places, or maybe you can install two different development branches) and then likewise you might be able to put one inside the tunnel and one outside the tunnel, because Nord identifies the app (like most programs do) by its binary install location.

3

Thanks that’s v helpful. I may just try copying the Firefox binary in Applications with a new name and see what happens. Gives me something to work with.

4

Well that’s just crap lol.

5

OK, I guess I should have said I’m on macOS … doesn’t look like split tunnelling is a thing.

6

Actually you can, but i’ve never used it didn’t notice they added it. Go to settings - connection - split tunnelling- add domains.

7

OK, so I just copied the Firefox App and called it “Firefox VPN”. When I start this it seems to be treated as a completely different instance/app. I can then add the NordVPN extension to this and remove it from my original Firefox, and it works! I can use the “Firefox VPN” app for all my VPN stuff and the “Firefox” app for everything else. Does what I need.

8

Yeah I did look at that before posting. Unfortunately I want the opposite; only push specified domains over VPN. That’s why I want to completely disconnect the VPN in another browser window.