Help VPN on laptop via hotspot on Android phone DNS leak?

[MikMikAndThriceMik]

I am using vpn on my laptop connected through the Android hotspot to my 3G carrier.

After a while pages on the laptop start coming up with address not found, and I can see that the VPN DNS server is no longer pingable.

The VPN on the laptop is saying it is still connected.

I can ping the hotspot DNS address from the laptop?

Why am I able to ping the hotspot DNS address from the laptop if I am connected on VPN on the laptop?

Thanks.

 

[svim]

So your VPN bounces your connection through different servers so the assigned IP address from your ISP or carrier is actually different as far as what different web servers see as you're interacting with them. At the same time DNS servers are generally regional and your ISP/carrier assumes you're using the DNS server they're pushing out to you. The disconnect being your VPN-masked IP address, typically being tied to a locality in another state or different country, is not actually 'local'.

Go here and test your connection using the 'Extended Test' option:
https://www.dnsleaktest.com/
That site also has a better description on your problem:
https://www.dnsleaktest.com/what-is-a-dns-leak.html
https://www.dnsleaktest.com/what-is-transparent-dns-proxy.html
You might also want to read through this article for info on DNS leaks and prevention tips:
http://www.howtogeek.com/253475/how-to-see-if-your-vpn-is-leaking-your-personal-information/