Windows 7: Is "use default gateway on remote network" (vpn) still secure?

Hi there, I have a VPN set up on my laptop purely for privacy purposes, the problem here is that the VPN can often be quite slow.

It's my understanding that unticking the option: Use Default Gateway on a remote network, would allow my traffic to tunnel through my current internet connection rather than through my VPN's endpoint. I hope this makes sense so far. My question is, if I'm routing through my current internet connection is this still secure? It strikes me as though it wouldn't be, since I'm using my current internet connection tunnel as opposed to going to a remote network, and then out at the endpoint.

Would appreciate any help :)

Thanks very much.

Miles

The VPN is going to create a secure tunnel between you and your provider, and your exit point will appear to come from them for whatever you are doing. If you uncheck that box your traffic is not being forced over the VPN. So leave the box checked if your goal is to achieve privacy through this VPN.