Are you curious about how to change your IP and location with a VPN, and what is the VPN change location principle? Have no fear, Vlad is here, ready to explain how to change your location with a VPN and what are the best VPNs for changing location.

First things, first! Let’s start with the Transylvanian explanation of our topic of interest.

Change location with a VPN. The Transylvanian explanation.

You can never catch TomBat on the wrong foot. And when it comes to making PonyBat feel special, nothing can stop him.

Since he likes to make sure the gifts he buys for her arrive on time, he usually buys them a few days before a special event.

PonyBat does better research than the FBI and has an intuition that skyrockets. Therefore, TomBat always needs to find a new hiding location for each package that arrives.

Moreover, he used all the possible hiding spots in their cave, so for the latest gift he bought, he needed to come up with a solution that could trick PonyBat, and prevent her from finding the present he bought herself for Christmas.

Said and done! As soon as the courier delivered the parcel, he decided to glue a fake delivery document on the package, stating that the package comes from BATtlefront (the biggest gamers online store in Castlevania) and leave it in a visible place. In this way, he arose no suspicions since PonyBat thought it was just a new game TomBat purchased.

This is how my winged friend managed to keep a secret from his girlfriend, and this is how a VPN changes your location.

Your ISP may be just as curious as PonyBat, and it may stick its nose in your business. Thus, you may want to keep the spying eyes in the shadow while keeping all your data private. Using a VPN to change your location is like sticking different delivery information on a package. The package remains a package, is still there, visible, but it seems like it arrived from a completely different country. Translated into the VPN jargon, when you enable a VPN connection, your ISP cannot associate the traffic you are generating to your IP address, as you are assigned a brand-new IP corresponding to the VPN server you chose for your connection. In this way, you surf freely, without restrictions, and, most importantly, privately.

It’s as simple as that!

What is a VPN and how does a VPN change your location?

In Transylvania, VPN stands for Vampire Permanent Neutralizer. Since we are here to talk about the IT meaning of a VPN, then you must know that VPN stands for Virtual Private Network.

The VPN is a popular technology capable of creating a private network over a public network. So, everything you enable a VPN connection, the VPN redirects your traffic through a private and encrypted tunnel before sending it to its destination on the web.

To accomplish this, a VPN engages three main components – the VPN server, which is the key to your VPN tunnel. Without a VPN server, a VPN connection is impossible. Therefore, as soon as you click on your VPN app’s connect button, the VPN server takes over all your traffic, and it changes your location immediately (not your physical location, of course).  At this very moment, you are assigned a different IP address corresponding to the VPN server location you choose for your connection.

The VPN protocol is the VPN server’s best friend. This second component of your connection, helped by the VPN encryption, securely transports the traffic prepared by the VPN protocol to its destination on the web. As this whole process is reversible, when using a VPN, your connection is secured from an end to another, back and forth, meaning that you are granted private internet access.

Why would you use a VPN for changing location?

There is more than one reason why you would want to use a VPN to change your location. From security reasons to travel reasons. Does this sound strange? Then, let me enlighten you!

The main reasons why you would want to change your location with a VPN are:

• Surf anonymously and privately. There is no news that your ISP (internet service provider) may spy on you if it wants. And so may do the hackers. When you use a VPN, you are assigned a new IP address corresponding to your chosen server. If you are a folk located in Germany who connects to a server located in the US, the traffic generated will appear to be from the United States. With this workaround, none of your online actions will be assigned to you by your ISP. Plus, let’s not forget about the VPN’s other major advantage – encryption. With a brand-new IP at your disposal and an encrypted connection, no ISP or hacker can spy on your online activities. You will always surf freely, securely, and privately.
• Avoid internet censorship. The Internet should be a gateway to a different kind of world, where you find answers to all of your questions, communicate efficiently with your friends located in the other part of the world, or access many online resources. In reality, there are a lot of filtering and internet censorship techniques standing in front of you. Internet censorship is the control imposed by a government, affecting what can be viewed, accessed, or published on the internet. Usually, online censorship is applied on a country level, just how it happens in China, Egypt, or UAE. As a VPN assigns you a 100% new IP address, you can bypass censorship and enjoy the internet without restrictions. 
• Increase your work productivity. Workaholics all around the world, can you hear me? If you feel like taking your laptop with you on the beach while being on vacation to send an important e-mail, make sure you have VPN software on your laptop. Some companies may restrict access to online work tools. Therefore, your Bora Bora IP may not grant you access to your e-mail. That is when a VPN will help you send the e-mail on an endless loop in your mind. Still, my advice would be to sip cocktails and enjoy the sun. You have just one life. Enjoy every moment, especially if you’re on vacation.
• Access blocked websites. Netflix, the reason why we remained sane during the pandemic, offers an impressive library of content to watch, including an ever-growing collection of original movies and series. Yet, Netflix is not available in every country around the world. And so it happens with Youtube, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or Pandora. With a VPN tunnel, you can change your geolocation and unblock streaming services, games, VoIP services, or social media websites with just a click from the comfort of your sofa. 
• Get better prices while shopping. Yes, a VPN can help you save money while booking a flight, for example. Some companies may practice a different price policy for certain countries or regions. If you have an active VPN subscription, you may want to use it next time you look to book the vacation of your dreams! Yes, I know you’re now thinking about Bora Bora! 

How to use a VPN to change your location?

A while ago, only tech-savvy persons would use VPN since setting up a VPN connection would take time and advanced tech knowledge.

Nowadays, the manual VPN setup is performed only if the device does not support a VPN app. This thing may happen on routers, smart TVs, or gaming consoles.

The easiest way to use a VPN location changer is to install a VPN app on your device, create an account, log in, and enjoy an awesome online experience.

A VPN app is an automated software that creates a VPN connection with just a click or a tap. VPN clients include a selection of VPN protocols and VPN servers, and all you will have to do is decide what protocol to use and what location you’re interested in connecting to. As soon as you decided and clicked on the connect button, you’re good to go!

The cool part is that when you use a VPN app, you gain access not only to protocols that meet the most stringent criteria in terms of security (like OpenVPN, Wireguard, IKEv2, or SoftEther), but you are also able to use out of the box features (like split tunneling or Kill Switch) and special servers (like obfuscated VPN, Double VPN or the ones implemented to facilitate gaming, P2P activities, or maximizing your security while using Tor).

I will take NordVPN’s example to show you how easy it is to enable a connection, but there are many other VPN providers that make VPN change locations a pleasant activity (Surfshark, ExpressVPN, PrivateInternetAccess, CyberGhost).

Open the app. The default protocol used by NordVPN is NordLynx (Nord’s name for Wireguard). I would suggest using NordLynx, as it will provide fast and ultra-secure connections. The next step would be to connect to the server in the location of your choice. In a few seconds, you will be connected to the server.

The App will display your new IP address, but if you just want to be sure you are successfully connected, you can perform an additional IP check by using an alternative IP location checker service.

What are the best VPN location changers?

VPNs are gaining more and more popularity. If 10 years ago there were only a handful of VPN providers which a reliable service and a decent number of VPN locations, in 2021, there are more than enough options for internet users to choose between. Not all the VPN services available are worth buying. That is why you should always test your VPN in terms of speed and performance before deciding to subscribe. Some of these services provide a VPN trial, so anyone interested could get an inside of what they are about to buy.

If you don’t have the time to invest in testing a VPN, allow me to recommend three of my favorite VPNs.

NordVPN

NordVPN is not only a VPN location changer but also a VPN game changer. Besides ExpressVPN, NordVPN is one of the most popular VPN services in 2021. This VPN provider surely deserves its top position. Its VPN is highly performant, the VPN apps are working wonders, and the number of VPN locations is more than satisfying – over 5500 servers in 59 countries.

ExpressVPN

If we’re about to judge ExpressVPN based on the performance, you must know this provider beats every competitor. It is not as popular as NordVPN due to its price, which is a little bit spicier than Nord’s.

ExpressVPN provides 3,000+ VPN servers in 160 VPN server locations in 94 countries when it comes to servers. Not bad at all.

StrongVPN

StrongVPN is a good VPN provider. This VPN will prove to be a nice surprise for most people, as it is easy to use, comes with reliable connections, decent speed, and is the first commercial VPN service to offer WireGuard across all of its apps and platforms. In addition, it provides 950+ servers in 30+ countries. Therefore, there are plenty of options for everyone! Plus, it is one of the VPN providers that also offer access to Smart DNS.

Alternatives to a VPN changer location.

The alternative for an iPhone would be a smartphone running on Android, the alternative for Windows would be macOS, and the alternative for a car would be a bike. But what alternatives are there for a VPN location changer? Folks, there are some, and they are way different than the VPN. They may accomplish the same thing, but the principle behind these technologies is not the same. A great example would be the difference between a car and a bike. Both means of transportation accomplish the same thing, but a bike is not as comfortable as a car ride, while always driving to work won’t keep you in shape. 

The alternatives you may consider for a VPN are:

• Proxy. Proxy technology is one of the most facile options you could use to easily change your real IP address. Yet, compared to the VPN, the proxy does not offer military-grade encryption, meaning that it may be way faster than the VPN. Therefore, taking a virtual trip to Transylvania would happen in the blink of an eye.
• Tor. Tor is a free, open-source software meant to help users enable anonymous communication with the world-wide-web. Tor uses a series of Tor servers to mask your real online identity. Even so, the constant use of the Tor browser may mark you for surveillance, as Tor is mainly used for fishy online activities. If you’re interested in using Tor, the smart decision would be to use it combined with a VPN tunnel. There’s actually a solution called Tor over VPN that helps you maximize your online activities while using Tor.
• Smart DNS. Smart DNS technology is able to change your device’s DNS in order to access geo-blocked media content. Smart DNS won’t change your real IP but is able to trick websites into seeing your location as an eligible one and, in this way, you can get access to geo-blocked content. So, if you’re looking to change your location to get access to blocked websites, Smart DNS is definitely a good idea.

FAQ on VPN location changer.

Before changing the subject…

Before closing the book on this subject, keep in mind that using a VPN is the smart thing to do these days. VPNs put a lot on the table and are worth every penny. The online world is changing as we speak, so we should keep pace with its development. Changing your location with a VPN will help you get access to blocked online resources, militate for free speech, surf privately and securely while being connected to a public Wi-fi or hotspot.

Before getting back to what you were previously doing, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter. It’s a win-win situation. You will always be up to date with the latest VPN news, and the Transylvanian bats will be really happy.

So, see you in your inbox?

Mozilla Firefox is in the front row of the online privacy battle, and the Firefox browser is the company flagship. However, extra caution is always recommended: a VPN on Firefox helps you be anonymous and more secure while using the Firefox browser.

By their nature, web browsers share some information (your public IP address, information about your device, your browser, etc.) to the websites you visit. And, as you probably know already, many sites track you and expose you to various vulnerabilities.

In this article, I explain why you need to consider using a VPN on Firefox, what are the differences between VPN software and VPN add-ons, and what are, in my opinion, the best VPN services for Firefox.

The Transylvanian legend of the Fox Fur

It was icy-cold outside when GrandPaBat was sent to Vlad‘s castle with a travel mug full of cold chocolate. Flying in the freezing wind was not something GrandPaBat desired, but some times you have to do what you have to do (yes, you guessed right, GrandMaBat “asked” him to)!

Before leaving the cave, he disappeared in his room for a minute and, when he got back, he was wearing (you will never guess this one) a … fox fur neck warmer. And he was radiating (so to speak)!

As everybody was staring at him, GrandPaBat could not resist the temptation of telling the story of RagnarBat (his grand-grand-grandfather) who has captured the fox (or was it a red panda?) with his bare hands, kept it as his pet for years, and finally made himself a neck wrap. The fox fur was passed on from generation to generation, and it was now on GrandPaBat’s shoulders.

It was a moment to remember for all bat kids, but do you believe the story of RagnarBat and the fox?

Similarly, do you believe the reassuring statements made by web browsers’ manufactures when they say they do not track you and keep you safe? Can you rely on that?

Firefox seems to do a great job to secure and protect its users and appears to have less financial interests in users’ data, but wouldn’t it be better to add an extra defense?

As you are probably on the same page with me, let’s talk next about VPN and how it brings important benefits to Firefox users.

What is a VPN for Firefox?

Let’s start with a general explanation regarding the VPN technology.

A Virtual Private Network or VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a VPN server. The VPN server acts as an intermediate between your device and the Internet, and the communication follows a certain (VPN) protocol (OpenVPN, WireGuard, L2TP, etc.). Thus, your data travels to the VPN server, where it is decrypted and sent to the Internet. The response is encrypted by the server and sent back to you.

The important fact: the VPN acts at the level of the operating system, and it is not a function of a specific application (however, it is possible to select which applications utilize VPN and which are not, using VPN split tunneling).

The Firefox addons marketed as VPNs are not using the VPN technology because a browser extension has insufficient permissions to enable a VPN tunnel at the OS level.

Thus, the so-called Firefox VPN addons are not, in fact, VPNs. They are using the proxy technology to emulate a secure tunnel between the browser and the proxy server.

Important: It is essential to understand that a Firefox addon or extension can not connect to a VPN server or initiate a VPN connection.

However, if a VPN is enabled at the OS level, the Firefox browser (as well as other web browsers) will use an encrypted tunnel to connect to the Internet.

VPN addon vs. VPN app

If you Google search for “Firefox on VPN,” you will get many results referring to Firefox add-ons that promote themselves as VPNs but are, in fact, built as proxy services.

It is important to understand the differences between VPN extensions and VPN apps:

• Browser addons or extensions can not initiate VPN connections. Instead, they are using encrypted proxies, usually HTTPS or SSL proxies. 
• VPN apps encrypt all the traffic traveling from and to the device, and it is enabled for all applications (including web browsers like Firefox or Chrome).

However, by enabling a VPN addon on your browser (Firefox), you get around Internet censorship, unblocking websites, and protecting your privacy, similarly to using a VPN app.

But it would be best if you kept in mind that proxies and VPNs do not offer the same security and privacy level.

To sum up, if you need a genuine Firefox VPN, the best approach is to install a VPN application or configure one on your operating system, rather than using a browser add-on.

Why do you need a VPN on Firefox?

Using a VPN while browsing the Internet with Firefox (or another web browser, e.g., use a VPN with Google Chrome) is the best way to protect your online privacy and anonymity. VPNs encrypt the data sent to the Internet and mask your public IP address. Thus, you are protected against security threats and online vulnerabilities.

Moreover, you may use a VPN to access the Internet without boundaries from countries like China or access geo-blocked websites and streaming services like Netflix, the BBC iPlayer, or even Youtube.

To sum up, VPNs offer Firefox users many benefits:

• Web browser traffic encryption.
• Public IP address masking while browsing the Web with Firefox.
• Access to geo-restricted streaming channels, social media sites, or forums.
• Website tracking prevention.
• Data protection against your ISP or while using public Wi-Fi networks.

How to get a VPN for Firefox

There are several options to secure your browsing activities on Firefox:

• Install a VPN app on your device and enable it while using Firefox;
• Set up a manual VPN connection on your device;
• Install and enable a Firefox VPN addon;
• Subscribe and activate the Mozilla VPN service (Firefox Private Network).

Installing a VPN app or manually set up a VPN connection

VPN apps or VPN client applications are the way to go for most VPN users. They are simple to install, and you may connect to the VPN in a matter of minutes.

VPN apps are available for download on the VPN provider’s website, or you may find official app stores corresponding to your device. You may proceed as follows:

1. Create a free trial or subscribe to the VPN service.
2. After installing the VPN app on your device, open the app, select a location or server, and click on the Connect button. 
3. Once the VPN tunnel has been created, open Firefox to browse anonymously and safely.

All the Internet traffic that comes and goes to/from Firefox will be encrypted and passed through VPN servers. Your real IP address will be protected, and region-locked content would be accessible.

The manual setup consists of creating a VPN tunnel from the OS level directly, without the use of a VPN client app. The following tutorials help you get started with the manual VPN setup:

• How to set up a VPN on Windows
• How to set up a VPN on Android
• How to set up a VPN on Mac
• How to set up a VPN on iPhone or iPad
• How to set up a VPN on Chromebook

Similarly, you may set up a VPN on Linux OSes and use an encrypted tunnel while browsing the web with Firefox.

Adding a VPN addon to Firefox

Several VPN providers offer access to Firefox add-ons that, as explained above, are not actually using the VPN technology. However, they may be useful for browsing anonymously or unblocking restricted websites.

Most of the time, we do not recommend free VPN solutions (or lifetime VPN subscriptions), which is also true. Your privacy, anonymity, and online security are far more important to install free VPN add-ons that may intercept and use your browsing activity and, maybe, some sensitive private data.

Here it is how you can start using a VPN add-on on Firefox:

1. Go to the Firefox Add-on Store, select the add-on you want to install, and click the + Add to Firefox button.
2. The permissions required by the add-on will be listed, and you need to click the Add button. Make sure you read the required permissions!
3. After it has been downloaded and installed, an icon should appear at the top right side of the Firefox browser. 
4. Click on the icon, select a VPN location or server, and click on the Connect/Start/Turn on button.
5. Your real IP address will now be hidden, and you should be able to unblock region-locked content.

VPN add-ons typically work with the desktop version of Firefox. To protect yourself when browsing on mobile devices, you may use a VPN app.

Important: When installing a VPN Firefox add-on requires explicit permissions. It is a security measure to prevent unauthorized access to your data.

The permissions required by a proxy or VPN add-on to run are important. Basically, you grant access rights to your browsing data. Most of the VPN add-ons need the following permissions:

• Access your data for all websites – The addon redirects all the browser data traffic through third-party servers, and, theoretically, they may see your browsing activity.
• Read and modify privacy settings – The addon may modify some default browser privacy and security settings.
• Control browser proxy settings – To function, VPN and proxy add-ons need to modify the browser proxy settings.

The vital takeaway: only install VPN add-ons that you previously read or heard about. Take your time and do your research. Choose a trustful VPN or proxy provider.

Use the Mozilla VPN (Firefox Private Network)

Firefox has recently launched its own VPN service with servers in 30+ servers, no bandwidth restrictions, no logging, and 5 simultaneous connections for $4.99/month. The server network is powered by Mullvad, a top WireGuard VPN provider.

Mozilla VPN is available for users in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Test run your VPN for Firefox

After installing a VPN it is uber important to test the VPN solution throughly, especially if you have chosen to use a VPN app.

For VPN add-ons, the first test is to check your public IP address with an IP locator website (e.g., XMyIP). If the IP checker website still shows your real IP address, there is something wrong with the VPN browser add-on. Try to refresh the locator website. When your real IP is no longer shown, then you know the add-on does its job.

Additionally, you should test the Firefox VPN add-on for WebRTC leaks.

The best Firefox VPN services

Suppose you are looking for completely free VPN services you are not in the right place. As there are plenty of security and privacy risks involve while using free VPNs, we simply do not recommend them here at VladTalks.tech.

The following premium VPN providers that we endorse for Firefox offer access to both VPN apps and VPN add-ons.

NordVPN

NordVPN is the VPN service that we recommend with confidence as we use it ourselves daily, and it worths its value. It is user-friendly, fast, secure, and it provides advanced options like Kill Switch, Double VPN, Onion over VPN, or obfudscated VPN.

For Firefox, you may either install the VPN app that fits your device, or you may install the NordVPN Firefox add-on.

After creating a NordVPN account, you may log in to the macOS, Windows, Android, iOS app, or to the VPN add-on, and press the Quick Connect button. It selects the fastest server taking into account your location and creates a VPN (or proxy, in the case of the addon) connection. And you are good to go!

CyberGhostVPN

CyberGhost is an excellent VPN provider with simple and effective VPN apps for major operating systems.

The CyberGhost Firefox extension is free (with limited locations: United States, Germany, The Netherlands, Romania). As a trustworthy provider offers it, we have added it to the list, but we recommend using the premium plans.

Build safety habits – How to use a VPN on Firefox on a daily basis

The Internet is full of threats. You can not rely solely on your browser for protection. That is why you should do your part and use a VPN while accessing certain websites.

Do yourself a favour and:

• Have a VPN app installed on your devices and a VPN add-on on your Firefox browser.
• Subscribe to annual plans (or longer) such that your VPN account does not expire unexpectedly. Check this article to find great deals from trustworthy services.
• Do not use and install (completely) free VPNs or free VPN add-ons offered by shady providers. Your personal data may be monitored and sold.
• Turn on your VPN for Firefox when browsing shady content.

Summary

Firefox is a great web browser, and it provides a lot of privacy features. But, taking into account the plethora of Internet threats, you should use a VPN. As they say, better safe than sorry.

As explained in the article, you could use Firefox VPN add-ons, but they are not the safest approach. Instead, I recommend installing a VPN client app (a paid one, for the reasons explained above) and keeping your entire device secured and protected.

Please keep in mind that:

• A VPN addon is not using a VPN, but the proxy technology;
• Firefox VPN addons encrypt only the Internet traffic from the browser (Firefox in this case);
• VPN client apps are much safer;
• Most free VPN add-ons may log your activity and use your private data.

To conclude, consider using a Firefox VPN to protect your browsing activities, and install a VPN from a trustful provider for full privacy and anonymity.

Additionally, you may look at our Instagram account and make a Transylvanian baby-bat happy by subscribing to our newsletter. You will learn lots of useful tips on how to use VPNs better.

Although a VPN can run straight from a computer or a mobile device, it is also possible to set up a VPN on a router. This results in all devices (computers, mobiles, smart TVs, game consoles) connected to the router network going through an encrypted tunnel all the time.

This is a more comprehensive security solution, and although more work is required upfront, it means you don’t have to start up a VPN every time you want increased security for your devices. Additionally, bypassing restrictions or unblocking geo-blocked websites is reduced to connecting to the Internet via the router.

This article explains what is a VPN for a router, what are the pros and cons of this approach, how to get a VPN on router, and lists several VPN services that are suitable for setting them on routers.

How to use a VPN on a router – Safe deliveries in the bat World

As you probably know by now, TomBat and his soul mate, PonyBat, are running a chocolate business. And they are doing great! Lots of orders from all over Transylvania!

To optimize the distribution process TomBat had the idea of using RoboBat for delivering the bat-iful boxes full of yummy chocolates. And, it worked for a while … Until the Megabats found out and attacked RoboBat. Things started to get an unfortunate turn.

“Pony dear, what should we do? I really believed using RoboBat was a great idea …” hummed TomBat.

“Wait, wait! What about a safe box that can only be open by the client with a code that we communicate when the order is placed?“, proposed PonyBat.

And this is what they did: TomBat, helped by GrandPaBat, built a safe delivery box (one that Megabats could not open).

And it went like this: TomBat and PonyBat (the devices that connect to the router) asked RoboBat (the router) to transport the safe delivery box (the VPN) and to deliver the tasty chocolates to the clients (the Internet).

Now that you got the basic idea, let’s talk tech!

What is a VPN for a router and a VPN router

Simply put, a VPN for a router is a VPN that can be set up on certain routers. As there are two sides involved (the VPN and the router), the distinction is necessary: some VPNs can not be set up on routers, while some routers (by design, or lack of it) can not establish a VPN connection (e.g., most ISP routers).

On the other hand, a VPN router is a type of router built or configured to establish secure tunnels using VPN technology.

How does a VPN work on a router?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) installed on a router implements a layer of online privacy and security for all devices connected to the router. When a device connects to the Internet, it uses the router to handle the traffic data.

When a VPN is active on a router, all the Internet traffic is encrypted and sent to a VPN server. There the encryption is removed, and the data is sent to the Internet. The response is encrypted and sent back to the router (in this scenario, the VPN client), where data is decrypted and forwarded to the device.

However, it is important to understand that, even though the connection between the router and the VPN server is encrypted, the data that travels between the connected devices and the router is not protected.

Why do you need a VPN on your router?

If you require that all the devices on your network have the security of encrypted traffic or the convenience of having them all routed through a specific country to enable, for example, the use of Netflix, Youtube, Amazon Prime, or BBC iPlayer, the best way to achieve this is by setting up VPN access on your router.

Apart from allowing you to avoid snooping, bypass censorship, even the hardcore one like the censorship imposed in China, or a user in your home using websites or services that may draw the attention of authorities, this also means that even if a user on the home network forgets to use a secure connection, it won’t matter as their connection will still go through the VPN. 

It also means that any device, even those that don’t support VPN services or proxies (smart TVs, game consoles, Apple TV), will still be able to dodge geo-blocking.

Thus, while using a VPN, the communication between the router and the Internet is encrypted and protected. A router VPN also helps you unblock restricted websites by changing your virtual location and provides online anonymity by hiding your real IP address.

To sum up, a VPN on router offers many benefits:

• Online security and protection for all devices connected to the router.
• Data encryption from the router to the Internet.
• IP address hiding while browsing the Internet.
• Websites unblocking.

Advantages and disadvantages of using a VPN for router

Before setting up a VPN on your router, you should understand the pros and cons of using this approach. Pay extra attention to the possible disadvantages!

Advantages of using a VPN for router

• All-inclusive home security. You get a whole home VPN. With a VPN on router, all devices connected to a home network will be protected without having to configure new devices or those belonging to guests using your WiFi.
• Privacy and security are always on. When VPN is enabled on the router it allows devices to be connected to the VPN server all the time. Users don’t have to remember to secure their connection and a device that initiates an automatic connection will still be secured.
• More devices may be connected. Although many VPNs allow multiple devices to be connected, a VPN-compatible router counts as only one device, irrespective of how many devices are connected to the router. This allows for many devices to be protected by the VPN without incurring additional costs.
• Devices not supporting VPN are covered. There are many devices with WiFi that don’t support VPN coverage, for example, home media systems. These would normally not be able to access geo-blocked content, but with a VPN installed on a router, geo-blocked content becomes available.

Disadvantages of using a VPN for router

• Routers have different encryption power. Most routers can only run very basic tunneling or encryption protocols, and you may need better protection. 
• Managing VPN settings is difficult. Routers don’t have a proper user interface, making it tricky to adjust VPN settings. This often has to be done via a separate device connected to the router.
• Traffic between the router and devices is unsecured. As encryption is done on the router, traffic on the network itself is not encrypted. It is crucial to ensure the home Wi-Fi network setup is secure and can’t be accessed by random strangers.
• Some incoming connections are blocked. VPNs block unauthorized incoming connections. With a router, it becomes difficult to authorize incoming connections that you want to allow through.

How to get a VPN for router

The first thing you need to do is get access to a VPN-enabled router, meaning that it can establish VPN connections. There several options, and I am going to explain them below.

Purchase a VPN router (e.g., Vilfo)

An elegant and quick solution (but not cheap) is to purchase a VPN router, which is a router built for enhancing your network’s security and privacy with VPN protection. Such a VPN router offers plenty of options that regular, VPN-compatible routers don’t.

We have recently reviewed Vilfo, a great VPN router, and if you can afford it, we recommend purchasing it. It is simple to use, fast, and compatible with most VPN providers.

Use routers with VPN client support

There are several routers available on the market that have a VPN client package included with the hardware. But not all of them.

Most new ASUS routers, however, support VPN client mode. These include the more economical RT-AC52U right up to the premium RT-AC3200. Other routers, like TP-link, D-Link, or Netgear routers, also offer great VPN support.

The level of encryption (VPN protocol) on the different models varies widely. Some ASUS routers only accept Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), while others can set up OpenVPN or Shadowsocks connections. You might want to make sure you know what is included before buying one.

Install a VPN firmware on your router

If you already have a router and it is not VPN-enabled, you may flash it with VPN firmware, meaning that you may install an operating system that can deal with VPN connections. This is a DIY option, and it is slightly more difficult.

There most well-known and versatile types of VPN firmware available on the market are DD-WRT and Tomato.

DD-WRT is third-party firmware that has been around for years and it will work with numerous different types of routers.

The DD-WRT option is very appealing as it is free, robust, and adds a large amount of versatility to all types and sizes of routers, including a VPN client mode. DD-WRT has been installed and tested without a problem on routers ranging from newer flagship routers like the Netgear R8000 to the venerable old Linksys WRT54GL.

Tomato offers a more user-friendly interface and better bandwidth monitoring options. However, it is not supported on as many routers.

Buy a pre-flashed router

If you require the power DD-WRT or Tomato firmware give you, but are not comfortable doing the ROM flashing process yourself, you can purchase one from sites like Flashrouters or Sabai Technology. These routers actually have VPN-ready firmware installed on them right out of the box.

Either option you choose, the next step to get a VPN on your router is to know the VPN server address (IP address or name) and the authentication credentials (username, password, security certificate for OpenVPN).

Further, you may proceed with the setup.

How to set up a VPN for router

The set up of a VPN on router consists (most of the time) from the following steps:

• access the router configuration page;
• set the VPN parameters;
• test the VPN connection.

Log into your router and access the configuration page

Every router type is a little bit different and the access to the administration area depends on the IP address used by the router for network communication.

When you get a new router, the provided installation instruction contains the IP address that the router use.

However, if you forgot the router’s IP here is a tutorial that helps your find it.

Next, you should enter the default username and password (or the one that you set up during the installation).

Set the VPN parameters

A router acts like a VPN client that connects to a VPN server and encrypts all the communication between the router and the server.

Setting up a VPN on router consists of filling in the VPN server parameters.

Top VPN providers offer detailed setup tutorials on how to configure VPN tunnels for different types of routers. Basically, you need to enter the VPN server name (or IP address), the authentication credentials (username, password, or certificate) to the VPN configuration page from the router admin area.

Here is an example of how to set up a VPN connection on a router running the DD-WRT firmware:

• Enter the DD-WRT control panel.
• Click on Services > VPN.
  
• Choose the type of VPN tunnel: PPTP client or OpenVPN client.
• For PPTP client enter the Server IP or DNS Name, Username, Password and other parameters required by your VPN provider.
• For OpenVPN client enter the Server IP/Name, Port, Tunnel protocol (UDP or TCP), Tunnel device (TUN or TAP). Additionally, you need the CA certificate and public/private keys (more details here). All this information is provided by the VPN service.
  
• Save changes and check your setup.

If you purchased a pre-configured VPN router then your job on setting up the VPN parameters is even easier: you need to choose the desired VPN provider (you need to get an account first), enter the account username and password, select a location or server, and connect. The VPN router will make the necessary technical configurations for you. This is one of the advantages of a VPN router.

Test your VPN connection

Testing your VPN connection is crucially important as there are several manual settings when settings up a VPN for a router; there is room for mistake. Thus, you need to test your VPN setup (make sure you perform a leak test as well).

The quick test consists of the followings:

1. Get access to a device that is able to connect to the router using WiFi or cable.
2. Load an IP locator website to check your public IP address. If the VPN setup is completed successfully then: (1) the website should load without issues and (2) the IP address shown should be the one exposed by the VPN server, not your real IP address.

How to use a VPN for a router with your devices

After setting up the VPN on router all you have to do is to connect your device to the router (by WiFi or cable).

Hurray, you are now connected to the VPN!

How to choose the best VPN for your router

If you already have a VPN subscription and want to set it up on your router, simply contact the support with your router model and ask for guidance. Most premium VPN services can be configured on popular router models.

The services that we recommend are the ones that we have tested and used for years and proved to be reliable and trustworthy. All top VPN providers offer detailed instructions on how to set up their service on different types of routers.

An alternative approach is to purchase a VPN router from Flashrouters or Sabai Technology and then subscribe to a VPN service that is integrated within the router control panel.

What you need to consider when you choose a VPN for your router:

• make sure the connection is stable (in case of frequent disconnects, all devices connected to the router would get offline);
• get a VPN that is fast enough for all your day-to-day online activities: browsing, streaming, gaming, downloading;
• choose services that operate under the no-logging policy (all your online activity, from all devices, may get logged or monitored if you don’t);
• get a VPN that has in-depth setup guides for your type of router.

Here are several great VPN services that work great on routers.

NordVPN

NordVPN is recognized as one of the most complete and reliable VPN services on the market. It is fast, stable, and it has a strict no-logging policy.

NordVPN recommends several types of routers that work great with their VPN: DD-WRT routers, Tomato, Padavan, OpenWRT, Merlin. Additionally, NordVPN is smoothly integrated with Flashrouters devices. Thus, it is a great choice as your VPN on a router.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a fast and reliable VPN service. It offers its own firmware that you may install on your router and easily get connected to the VPN. Installing the ExpressVPN firmware it is an advanced approach but it can save you a lot of time in the future as you can easily change servers and locations.

CyberGhost

CyberGhost is nicely integrated with the Flashrouters privacy app and it can be configured easily. It is an exceptional VPN service with lots of locations and great VPN apps.

Tips to get the most from your VPN on router

As you have read this far, you are serious about using a VPN on one of your routers. Great! You deserve several more tips to make sure you get the most of your experience with VPN:

• Start with a monthly subscription for your VPN service. Test it for several months. As mentioned above, VPN speed and reliability are crucial. Only then proceed with the annual plan. If you are not happy with the speed or you get disconnected, often simply try another VPN service.
• Test the VPN on one of your devices to make sure it offers what you need. For example, if you need to access the BBC iPlayer on your iOS devices, make sure the service you choose can unblock the iPlayer.
• Follow the provided tutorials carefully and activate all the required options to prevent VPN leaks.
• Do not set up free VPN services on your router, and do not get lifetime VPN subscriptions from shady services. They may monitor your only activity.

VPN for router FAQ

Summary

Setting up a VPN on a router rather than on a single device has the advantage of securing and protecting your total home network without too much difficulty. Although there are some disadvantages to doing this, these are not major and can be overcome relatively easily.

Most of the modern routers can be configured for establishing a VPN connection. An alternative solution is to flash a VPN-capable firmware on your router and get started with the VPN setup.

If you don’t have a router or want to replace your existing one, my advice is to get a VPN router. They are fast and optimized for VPN usage. Great choice!

My last piece of advice for this article: make sure you choose a VPN service that is fast and stable.

Finally, don’t forget to Subscribe to our newsletter (below) and we will send you regular and funny updates. You will make a Transylvanian baby-bat very happy.

Nowadays, there are many VPNs available, and each of them claims excellent service. Privacy and security are the two most important elements you need to check when choosing a VPN, but VPN speed is also crucial.

VPNs generally slow down your Internet connection as they route your data through a secure server located in a different region and encrypt your traffic.

The best VPN service providers, however, affect your connection speed very little, enabling you to still enjoy consistent, fast connections.

This article explains what VPN speed is, what are the factors that influence performance while connected to VPN, shows how to test your VPN speed, and recommends several VPN services that are great in terms of VPN speed.

How to test your VPN speed – Is your VPN Flash?

“Knock! Knock!”

“Who’s there?”

“Me!”

“Me? Strange… How can I be in two places at the same time?”

“You are soooo funny, Vlad! It’s your friend, Flash!“

A half an hour later Vlad and Flash (you know Flash, right?) were sitting in the cinema room. They had just started to watch a movie when the well-known loading sign showed up.

“Vlad? What is going on? Is your Internet connection slow?“

“The Internet is really quick, but I’m using a VPN to get access to the extended Netflix library. I think my VPN is not fast enough. Any idea of what to do?“

“You are asking the right person! Who can give you a better piece of advice than the fastest superhero on Earth (me )? Let me explain how to properly test your VPN speed and how to get the most of your VPN.”

What is VPN speed?

A VPN works as an intermediate between your device (the VPN client) and the Internet. Thus, when browsing the Internet with a VPN, the data travels back and forth from a VPN server that is your interface to the World Wide Web.

Using a VPN has plenty of advantages. However, due to the fact that your Internet traffic is encrypted and passes the VPN server, the speed of your Internet connection is (most of the time) influenced negatively.

The VPN speed represents the speed of your Internet connection while connected to the VPN. There are several aspects that need to be considered when measuring the VPN speed (all explained below): latency (ping time), download speed, and upload speed.

Why do I need to test my VPN connection for speed?

The VPN speed is relevant as it influences all your Internet activities while using the devices connected to the VPN.

All your Internet traffic is redirected through a VPN server (unless you are using a VPN split tunneling solution). Thus, every page you load, every download you initiate, every streaming you watch passes that third-party server. And, most of the time, it slows it down.

For streaming, the speed is particularly important as you may need a certain level of performance to watch your favorite shows in good conditions.

Thus, it depends on how much the VPN slows down your Internet connection. You should know how fast your VPN connection is in order to know what to expect.

What do I need to test for VPN speed?

Several metrics need to be considered when testing VPN speeds:

Latency

Latency is also known as lag and a lower latency means better speed. This is the time taken for a device to send a ping (data packet) to a server and receive a response. 

Download speed

The download speed is the speed with which data is sent from the Internet to a device and it is the most important consideration. Your connection will be better the higher the download speed.

Upload speed

The upload speed is the speed with which data is sent from a device to the Internet. Upload speeds normally don’t present any problems unless you are using the VPN for torrenting.

Thus, when you measure your VPN speed you need to pay attention to all these metrics. However, the one that you are most interested in is the download speed. It is the one that affects your Internet-related activities: browsing, downloading, streaming, gaming.

How fast is your VPN? How to perform a VPN speed test

Are you already using a VPN? Give it a speed test. Also, don’t forget to test your VPN for leaks (DNS leak, WebRTC leak, IP leak).

There are several tools and applications that you may use to perform speed tests while using a VPN.

Speed test websites

The simplest way to examine the speed of your Internet connection is to load a speed test website:

• Fast.com, developed by Netflix.
• SpeedTest.net by Ookla.
• OpenSpeedTest.com.

And, here is how you may proceed:

1. Make sure you are not connected to a VPN. Most of the time it is useful to get your regular Internet connection as a reference when measuring the VPN speed. If your regular Internet connection is slow you should not expect to get higher performance while connected to VPN.
2. Load any speed test website.
3. Proceed with the test (get the ping, download, and upload speed).
4. Connect to the desired VPN location. The further away you are from where the VPN server is located, the slower the connection will get (at least theoretically).
5. Repeat the speed test.
   
6. Compare the speed test results. You may get up to 90% from your no VPN connection.

If you want to test your iOS VPN or Android VPN, you may install a testing app from SpeedTest.net.

Use PingPlotter [Advanced]

A more advanced speed test tool is PingPlotter.

The approach involves installing an application that traces the way your data travels from your device to the VPN server. The fastest and the shortest the route the higher your VPN speed, as the data travels faster.

Here is how to use PingPlotter to evaluate your VPN speed:

1. Download and install PingPlotter (it’s free).
2. Enter the IP address or the name of the VPN server (you may get them from the Client Area of your VPN provider; if not available, connect to the VPN, load an IP locator website, and get the IP address).
3. Evaluate the results:
   • If all “hops” are green (less than 200ms between hops) then you are all good. Your connection to the VPN server is solid.
   • If some “hops” are yellow it is a sign that the connection to the VPN server is not very good. You may need to change the VPN server or the location in order to get higher performance.
   • If several “hops” are red then the VPN connection is clearly underperforming. If you have a choice you should switch to other server options.
     

Most of the time, regular speed tests (on websites or from applications) are enough to get an overall feeling of how good is your VPN. However, using PingPlotter may be necessary if you want to debug your VPN connection or when you need to get the best possible connection.

Factors that affect the VPN speed

There are a number of factors that affect upload and download speeds while you are connected to a VPN server.

Although some of these like available locations, routing, server load, server speed, are dependent on the VPN provider, your connection choices and home network also have an impact on speed. These factors include router speed, protocol, server choice, available bandwidth.

These factors are listed below in the approximate order of importance:

1. Normal connection speed: Irrespective of how fast a VPN service is, the biggest thing limiting it is the speed with which you connect to the VPN server. If you use a 10mbps home connection, you will never be able to get 50mbps speeds. You may take a speed test to see how fast is your regular Internet connection.
2. Location of server: Servers that are close to your physical location will almost always be faster than ones that are further away. If you use a 100mbps internet connection, you should be able to get 95mbps or better on a VPN server that is close by, while you may only get between 5 and 10mbps on a server that is located in another country or continent. However, a VPN may increase the speed of your Internet for long-distance connections. Keep in mind that the special VPN servers like Tor over VPN ones can also affect your speed.
3. Crowding and bandwidth of servers: The number of users using a VPN server at the same time affects the speed of the server directly. If for example a 1000mbps server is being used by 100 people at the same time, each user will achieve an average of no more than 10mbps. Expensive VPN services are normally faster, as they have more server bandwidth per user.
4. Strength of encryption: To encrypt a data stream means adding extra data and this results in using up some of the available bandwidth. So stronger encryption = slower speed.
5. Protocols: Encryption strength is affected directly by the VPN protocol used, but it can also affect speed on its own. The TCP (OpenVPN) protocol is almost always slower than UDP (OpenVPN), as we proved here, because it forces the server to resend lost packets and verify all data packets’ receipts. The protocol also specifies which encryption algorithm is used, and this has a big impact on latency and speed.
6. Routing: Speed is affected by how data is routed to the VPN server and how the VPN provider routes a connection between multiple servers at the same location. Major established VPN service providers use routing algorithms that are extremely efficient, while less experienced VPN services may do this very inefficiently.
7. Network configuration: Although most users prefer the freedom of connecting to their router with WiFi, using a LAN cable will result in VPN speeds that are much faster. Using a cable connection can make a difference of up to 100%.

Tips to make your VPN faster

There are methods to speed up your VPN connection. As the performance of the connection depends on a lot of factors, you may improve your experience by tuning up the VPN settings and options.

Here are several tips:

• Choose servers that are not crowded.
• Choose servers that are as close as possible to your location.
• Use the OpenVPN UDP protocol, or WireGuard, where available.
• Use the PPTP protocol if maximum security is not required – the PPTP is very fast but not secure. However, PPTP is not available on macOS nor on the latest versions of iOS. But, you may set up PPTP on Windows.
• Connect to your router with a LAN cable rather than WiFi.
• Use a lower encryption strength (128-bit encryption vs. 256-bit).
• Improve your Internet connection – the faster your regular Internet connection, the faster the VPN connection.

The fastest VPNs – Flash’s collection

As mentioned above, the VPN speed depends on many factors and it is hard to evaluate the overall performance of a VPN service. However, based on reputation and some objective parameters (number of servers, available protocols, available app options) Flash recommends some VPNs that are (usually) fast.

NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the most popular VPN providers and for a good reason. It offers a great service, lots of locations, easy to use VPN software, and a fair price. The NordVPN speed is exceptional. You may use it for streaming with confidence.

In order to get the best performance while using NordVPN apps you may:

• Use the Quick Connect button. It chooses the optimum server for you taking into account your location.
• Use the Quick Connect button for a certain country. It chooses the server that is fastest (one that is not very busy at that moment) from the chosen country.
  
• Choose the OpenVPN UDP or NordLynx (WireGuard) protocol, probably the best one for getting a fast VPN connection.

ExpressVPN

The name of ExpressVPN talks itself about the features of this VPN service. The VPN speed while using ExpressVPN is top-notch and the ExpressVPN apps help you optimize your VPN connection:

• You may select the OpenVPN UDP protocol.
• You may use the Smart Location feature to get connected to the fastest VPN server for you.

CyberGhost

The CyberGhost applications are awesome. There are several ways to get the most from your VPN connection with CyberGhost VPN, in terms of speed:

• Select the Best location option and let the CyberGhost choose the fastest server.
• Choose a server optimized for specific activities: For downloading, or For streaming. You may, for example, use the BBC-optimized UK servers for watching iPlayer on your iPhone or iPad.

VPN speed FAQ

Summary

Although privacy and security are normally primary considerations when choosing a VPN, fast speed is also crucial. It would not be good to splurge on a high-speed internet package only to find that the VPN pulls it down dramatically.

Testing the VPN speed is easy and you should do it during the free VPN trial or in the moneyback guarantee time interval. If you find the VPN performance unsuitable for your needs you may ask for a refund.

While using VPNs, follow the tips listed above to ensure you get the best possible speed available.

Finally, I am sure that you will need more tips on how to use a VPN on your devices. Subscribe to our newsletter (below) and we will send you regular and funny updates. You will make a Transylvanian baby-bat happy.

May your Chromebook be a lightweight laptop, but that does not mean you have to be light on security and privacy. As your device is connected to the Internet and the Internet is no longer a safe place, you need to get a VPN for Chromebook.

The latest Chromebooks are able to run Android apps. Thus, solutions to get connected to a VPN are at hand. Simply, download a VPN app for Android, and you are ready to browse the Internet safely.

Additionally, the Chrome OS makes it easy to create a VPN connection using the built-in VPN client. This article explains how to get a VPN for Chromebook, to set up an Android VPN app, how to set up a manual VPN connection, and lists two remarkable Chromebook VPN services.

How to use a VPN on Chromebook – Is there a spell here?

When not checking our Instagram account, PonyBat is an avid reader. As she just finished a book on Internet censorship (sic!), she sent TomBat to get her an easy read from the library of Vlad’s castle.

And here is TomBat flying around for inspiration in a dark room full of books.

Suddenly, he felt some kind of attraction coming from the top shelf. He spotted THE book and read the title on the cover: “A Discovery of Witches“. For a moment, he thought it was a good pick for PonyBat, but, when he opened it, he had a huge surprise: there were no leaves between the covers. A device with a shield-like drawing on it was shining mysteriously.

TomBat rapidly flew to Vlad:

“Master Vlad, what is this?“

“Ooo, that is my travel book.“

“But, this is not a book!“

“Well, it is a Chromebook. And it is already prepared for traveling. As the manuscript from ‘A Discovery of Witches’ was protected by a powerful spell, my Chromebook is protected by a strong VPN. It is what I need to be safe while connecting to the Internet from random castles.”

“Very impressive, Master Vlad! Very impressive!“

Now, let’s find out how to get a VPN spell on your Chromebook.

How does a VPN work on Chromebook?

A Virtual Private Network or VPN serves as a buffer between a computer and the Internet. When browsing the Internet with a VPN, a computer (in this case, the Chromebook) firstly connects to the VPN server using an encrypted connection (the level of encryption depends on the VPN protocol).

Once the data reaches the VPN server, the encryption is stripped, and the data is sent on to the Internet. The response received by the VPN server is then encrypted and sent back to the VPN client (the Chromebook).

Why do you need a VPN on your Chromebook?

Chromebooks are more secure than devices using Windows. Viruses are mainly built to attack computers that use Windows. As a result, Chromebooks generally don’t need antivirus software.

Chromebooks have limited storage and specs and are best used for browsing the web and answering emails. The operating system is sound from a security viewpoint.

Network-based threats that are OS-agnostic, whether they be simple snooping or man-in-the-middle attacks, can be used to attack Chromebooks.

The advantage of connecting to the Internet using a VPN is that it masks the origin IP address and traffic. The encryption of the initial connection means the requests coming from a specific device, or who they are coming from, can not be tracked. The connection appears to come from the VPN server.

Thus, while using a VPN, the communication between the Chromebook and the Internet is encrypted and protected. A Chromebook VPN also provides online anonymity (it hides your IP address) and helps you unblock restricted websites by changing your virtual location (a valid workaround for China too), or it helps you secure your torrenting activities.

To sum up, a VPN for Chromebook offers many benefits:

• Data encryption.
• IP address hiding while browsing the Internet.
• Restricted websites unblocking.
• Protection while using public Wi-Fi connections.

How to get a VPN for Chromebook

Chrome OS is not Android, but it looks somehow similar and has a lot of functions you may be accustomed to from your Android devices.

Similar to Android, the Chrome OS offers access to its own built-in free VPN client. Thus, you may easily set up a VPN connection from your Chromebook by manually filling in the required parameters. However, this approach is not necessarily the best one. A more user-friendly solution is to install Android VPN software.

But, firstly, to be able to set up a VPN connection, you need access to a VPN server, which means that you need to know the server address (IP address or name) and the authentication credentials (username, password, security certificate).

On your Chromebook you may:

• Download and install an Android VPN app offered by a VPN service;
• Set a manual connection and access a VPN server managed by your company or school.

How to set up a VPN for Chromebook

As the Android apps can run on Chrome OS, the fastest and most straightforward way to set up a Chromebook VPN is to download a VPN app from Google Play. Easy to do. No technical knowledge is required.

If you need to connect to a VPN server administrated by your company or your school, you will need to set up the VPN connection manually or to install a third-party application (e.g., the OpenVPN client app).

There are three main ways to protect a Chromebook with a VPN: using Android VPN apps, using Chrome browser VPN extensions, or configuring Chrome OS’ VPN client manually.

Use an Android VPN app from a VPN provider

Using an Android VPN app on your Chromebook is the most reliable way to secure all your web traffic. Simply download the VPN app you want to use from the Play Store and activate it:

• Open the Play Store.
• Type “vpn” in the Search box.
• Choose a VPN client app, install it, open it.

Next, if required, create an account and subscribe. Further, select a location or server and connect to the VPN.

The first time the application tries to connect to the VPN, it requires explicit permissions. It is a security measure to protect your private data.

You should only click OK if you trust the VPN provider. If you don’t, you should better uninstall the app and take a look at the services I recommend below.

A problem with using an Android VPN app on your Chromebook is that older Chromebooks don’t support Android apps. The list of Chrome OS devices supporting the Google Play store is growing, but if you have a device that is not on the list, you won’t be able to set up a VPN on your Chromebook by using an Android app. 

If your device is supported, you will need to have Chrome OS’ latest version. You must also use the Settings menu to activate the Google Play store. Open Settings, search Google Play, and switch it on. Note that users with corporate Google accounts may not have the right to activate the Google Play store.

Use Chrome browser VPN extensions

The simplest way to secure web traffic is to use a Chrome browser extension. Several VPN services have Chrome browser extensions. Simply select one from the Chrome Extensions Webstore and install it.

It should be noted that a Chrome VPN extension will only secure traffic from your web browser and not network traffic from other apps. Make sure you understand the differences between VPN apps and VPN extensions.

Did you know that you may use Chrome VPN extensions on Microsoft Edge as well? Thus, if you have the Edge browser installed on your Chromebook you may install and use your preferred Chrome VPN browser extension with the Microsoft browser.

Manually configure a VPN connection on Chromebook

Although using an Android VPN app to set up a VPN on your Chromebook is the preferred solution, manual configuration is the next best. If your Chromebook can’t run Android apps, it may, in fact, be your only option. Doing so does, however, require some work. 

When you set up a Chromebook’s VPN connection manually, you have two options: L2TP/IPSec or OpenVPN. Both of these are VPN protocols, but they use different methods to create a VPN connection. Of the two, OpenVPN is probably better due to it being open-source. This means it’s been checked extensively for any potential vulnerabilities. It also has a reputation for being reliable and fast.

Before starting to configure a manual connection, make sure you have access to the VPN server credentials (server address, username, password):

1. From the Home screen, go to the Settings app.
2. Select Network.
3. Click on Add connection and Add OpenVPN / L2TP.
4. Enter the Server hostname (VPN server name or IP address) and the Service name (choose a name for your VPN connection).
5. Select Provider Type. Choose the VPN type or protocol (OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec + preshared key, L2TP/IPSec + user certificate). If you don’t know what to choose, you should ask the VPN administrator.
6. Type your authentication login, i.e., your Username and Password.
7. For L2TP/IPSec + preshared key, you also need to type in the Preshared key. For L2TP/IPSec + user certificate and OpenVPN, you may need to install and provide certificates. You may find more details here.
8. Tap Connect. If the server information and the credential are good, you will get connected.
9. To turn the VPN off, click on the bottom right of the screen, click on the VPN icon, and click on the Disconnect button next to the active connection.

Test run your VPN connection

Once you have successfully connected, don’t forget to test your VPN.

The quick test consists of the following:

1. At the bottom right, select the time. Check the VPN status. It should be ON.
   
2. Check your public IP address with an IP locator website.

If the VPN status is OFF and the IP checker website shows your real IP address, you should try to re-connect. If the issue persists, you need to contact the VPN provider or administrator.

How to use a VPN on Chromebook with a router

Connecting to a VPN router is a quick method to get access to a VPN. However, you should remember the connection between your Chromebook and the router is not encrypted.

The most important benefit of using a VPN router is that you don’t need to install any VPN app or set up anything on your Chromebook.

The setup of a VPN on a router is not difficult, but you may need some technical skills to understand the steps described in the tutorials. And here is how to do it:

• How to set up a VPN on a DD-WRT router
• How to set up OpenVPN on a TomatoUSB router

After the setup is completed, all you need to do is to connect your Chromebook to the router (Settings > Wi-Fi > select the network exposed by the router). Hurray, you are now connected to the VPN.

The Best Chromebook VPN services

As you may install Android VPN apps on your Chromebook, you have access to a plethora of free apps. However, here at VladTalks, we do not recommend free VPN apps and lifetime subscriptions due to security and privacy concerns.

When we enlisted the best Android VPN apps, we took into consideration the reputation, logging policy, performance/VPN speed, reliability, and support offered by the VPN providers. As one of the options to quickly change your IP address on Chromebooks is to use VPN extensions, we chose VPN services that also provide access to excellent browser extensions.

NordVPN

The NordVPN app for Android works smoothly on Chromebooks that are able to run Android apps. It is fast, secure, and it comes from a trustful provider.

Additionally, NordVPN exposes a great VPN extension that you may use for unblocking restricted websites or hiding your public IP address while browsing the Internet with Google Chrome.

The first step is to create a NordVPN account. Then you may log in to the app or to the Chrome extension, and press the Connect button. It selects the closest server to your location and creates a VPN or proxy connection.

CyberGhost

The CyberGhost Android app is smooth and fast, but the nicest feature of CyberGhost is that it offers the Chrome VPN extension for free. As it comes from a trustful provider you may use it with confidence.

Build safety habits – How to use a VPN on Chromebook on a daily basis

You probably use your Chromebook mostly to navigate the Internet, watch streaming channels and check your emails. You probably take it with you while traveling (as Vlad does). But, do you protect your data?

You need to take care of your private data and you need to do it every day, everywhere you go.

Using a VPN on your Chromebook is not a geeky approach to online security. It is a must-have and you should have a VPN at hand.

Make sure that you:

• Have a VPN app or VPN extension installed on your Chromebook.
• After you find a worthy VPN provider and you find out about a VPN deal subscribe to the annual plan. Thus, you make sure you have the account active when you need it.
• Enable the Always-On VPN feature (if available) to ensure that all Internet traffic on your Chromebook will go through the VPN tunnel.
• Do not install VPN apps from obscure VPN providers. Take your time and inform yourself or ask a friend.

Summary

Although Chromebooks generally don’t need antivirus software and are more secure than devices using Windows, they are still vulnerable to network-based threats that are OS-agnostic.

Protecting yourself against these is easy to do by using a VPN. It can be implemented by using a Chrome browser extension, using an Android app, or manually configuring the VPN client.

Of the three methods, using an Android app is probably the best, providing your Chromebook is supported and runs the latest version of Chrome OS.

Finally, I am sure that you will need more tips on how to use a VPN on your devices. Subscribe to our newsletter (below) and we will send you regular and funny updates. You will make a Transylvanian baby-bat happy.

While you may entrust Chrome for general browsing protection, you need to consider using a VPN for Chrome for extra security and privacy. Chrome VPN (VPN extension or VPN software) is a must-have for everyone using the popular web browser. But, are free VPN Chrome extensions the best solution? Let’s find out.

Whenever you navigate the Internet, web browsers share some information (for example, your public IP address) with every website you visit. Even though many websites are safe to visit, many pose security threats and expose you to online vulnerabilities.

In this article, we look at how you can protect yourself if you are using the Chrome web browser. You will find out what a Chrome VPN is (and what it is not), why you need one (in more detail), and the differences between VPN apps and VPN extensions. Also, I will present my favorites VPN for Chrome services.

The Transylvanian tourney: VPN extension vs. VPN app

Did you know that animals get bored too?

There was a boring day in Castelvania … Imagine how bored was TomBat when he decided to visit Vlad’s castle’s armory room.

While wandering around the room, he noticed a shiny, colorful shield. Suddenly the day did not look so dull anymore:

“Master Vlad! Master Vlad!“, TomBat politely yield. “Vladutz? Come quickly!”

“What do you want, child? I don’t have time to waste! Winter is coming!“

“Master Vlad, please save me! I am so bored. Let’s fight in a lightsaber duel, but with shields! I will be Rey, and you will be Kylo Ren. Kinky, don’t you think? … I will not harm you. I promise! Please, pretty please …“

And here they were: TomBat (for the sake of our article, the Chrome VPN extension), a light flyweight fighter with the colorful shield, and Vlad (the full options VPN app), a middleweight knight with his old shield.

And the game began: TomBat rapidly flew over Vlad’s head and tried to surprise Vlad with a strike to his back. But Vlad was fully-protected (as VPN apps usually are). He was not only defended by the shield, but he was also wearing a strong (encrypted) armor.

They both had their advantages, but who do you think won? Please don’t be shy, and let us know in the comments at the end of the article.

What is a VPN for Chrome (and what is not)

Let’s start with some clarifications: firstly, “VPN for Chrome” or “Chrome VPN” is not a special type of VPN. Secondly, the so-called “VPN extensions” are not using VPN technology.

Important: It is essential to understand that a Chrome extension may not connect to a VPN server or initiate a VPN connection.

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts (using a certain VPN protocol) the Internet traffic that gets out of your devices and sends it through a secure channel to the VPN server (there are regular VPN servers, P2P servers, obfuscated servers, Double VPN servers, Tor over VPN servers, or gaming VPN servers). Next, the VPN server decrypts the data and sends it to the destination Web server.

A VPN is enabled to the operating system level, not for a specific application (however, split tunneling is possible). Thus, when a VPN is turned on, all the Internet traffic from the device is encrypted. Of course, if the user is browsing the Web using Google Chrome, the data exchanged between Chrome and the Web servers is encrypted as well.

Thus, a VPN for Chrome is an improper name when the VPN is activated at the OS level, and the Chrome browser uses the same encrypted tunnel as the other applications.

VPN extension vs. VPN app

The term Chrome VPN is sometimes correlated with the one of VPN extension. This is not accurate as browser extensions can only enable proxy settings, and they can not initiate a VPN tunnel.

Chrome extensions and browser plugins are not VPNs but are simply encrypted proxies, usually HTTPS or SSL proxies. 

However, Chrome extensions work similarly to VPNs in that they encrypt traffic and sent it via an intermediary server. This helps to get around censorship, unblocking websites, and protecting your privacy. However, keep in mind that a VPN extension will not help you unblock websites if you’re located in a country like China.

However, these extensions only encrypt traffic going via the Chrome browser, while a true VPN encrypts all the traffic traveling from and to the device. Chrome extensions are also open to several security issues as they don’t use OpenVPN, or an IPSec-encrypted VPN protocol (IKE, SSTP, or L2TP), both of which need you to install a VPN client on your device. Chrome extensions also don’t extend the network to access remote machines, a key defining functionality of a proper VPN.

Thus, next time you search for “free VPNs for Chrome,” be aware that most of the search results you get are actually not true VPNs.

If you need a proper VPN, the best way to go about it is to install a VPN application or configure one in your operating system, rather than using a browser extension.

Why do you need a VPN on Chrome?

Google Chrome is a very popular web browser with millions of loyal users. It is, however, not invincible as far as security is concerned.

As Chrome is used as the gateway between you and the internet, it will expose you to security threats and online vulnerabilities. Browsers are also always collecting information about you that it shares with every website that is visited.

Using a VPN is the best way to protect users while using Chrome to browse the Internet. A VPN encrypts the user’s activity and masks their IP address, changes the virtual location, helping them stay anonymous and protected online.

Additionally, geo-blocked websites or streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime) can be accessed using Chrome while the device is connected to a VPN. You may even use Chrome to watch BBC iPlayer on iPhone or iPad or get access to your favorite Youtube videos.

To conclude, VPNs offer Chrome users many benefits:

• Browser traffic encryption and online activity protection.
• Public IP address hiding while browsing the Web with Chrome.
• Bypassing streaming channels, forums, or social media sites.
• Website tracking prevention (including from ISP) and protection while accessing public Wi-Fi.

How to get a VPN for Chrome

There are a number of options for Google Chrome users to get a VPN:

• Install a VPN app on the device you are using Google Chrome;
• Manually set up a VPN connection on the device;
• Download and install a Chrome VPN extension.

Installing a VPN app or manually set up a VPN connection

VPN apps are the simplest, the one-click way to get a VPN running on your device. VPN providers offer access to powerful VPN apps for all major operating systems.

VPN client apps can be downloaded from the VPN provider’s website or the official app store for your device. And here is what you need to do:

1. Open an account with a VPN service.
2. After downloading and installing the app on your device, open the app, select a VPN location or server, and click on the Connect button. 
3. Once the VPN has connected, open Chrome to browse safely and anonymously.

All the Internet traffic from your device, including via Chrome, will now be encrypted as it passes through VPN servers. Your IP address will be hidden, and region-locked content can be accessed.

The manual setup consists of creating a VPN connection from the OS level directly, without using a VPN app. The following tutorials help you get started if you are interested in this approach:

• How to set up a VPN on Windows
• How to set up a VPN on macOS
• How to set up a VPN on iPhone or iPad
• How to set up a VPN on Android
• How to set up a VPN on Chrome OS

Adding a VPN browser extension 

Nowadays, many VPN providers build browser extensions for Chrome, Opera, and VPN addons for Firefox. The Chrome VPN extensions can be found on the Chrome Web Store, but some free offers are sketchy, so like it happens with the lifetime subscriptions, so be careful.

1. Go to the Chrome Web Store, select the browser extension you want and click Add to Chrome.
2. After it has been downloaded and installed, an icon should appear at the top right side of Chrome. 
3. Click on the icon, select a VPN location or server and click on the Connect/Start/Turn on button.
4. Your browser will now be protected, and you should be able to unblock region-locked content.

Extensions typically only work with the desktop version of Chrome and not with Android. To protect yourself when browsing on Android, use a VPN app. Additionally, you may install Chrome VPN extensions on Microsoft Edge.

Important: When installing a VPN extension, Chrome asks for explicit permissions. It is a security measure to prevent unauthorized access to your data.

The permissions required by a VPN extension to run are important, as you grant access rights to your browsing data. Most of the VPN extensions need the following permissions:

• Read and change all your data on the websites you visit – The extension configures a proxy connection and redirects your Internet traffic through third-party servers.
• Change your privacy-related settings – The extension may modify some default browser security settings.

The vital takeaway is not installing random VPN or proxy extensions as your private data may get exposed. Always (ALWAYS) take your time and do your research. Choose a trustful VPN or proxy provider.

Test run your VPN for Chrome

Now that you have installed a VPN app or a VPN extension it’s time to test your connection.

If you have opted for the safest method (VPN client app), I recommend testing your VPN connection thoroughly.

For VPN extensions, the quickest test is to check your public IP address with an IP locator website (e.g., XMyIP). If the IP checker site does not show your real IP address (after you connected to the desired location), then the extension does its primary job: it hides your public IP while browsing the web with the Chrome browser.

Additionally, you may want to test the browser extension for WebRTC leaks.

The best VPN for Chrome

You probably know by now that I (we) do not recommend free VPN or proxy services. There are too many security and privacy risks involved while using such services. That is why I prefer focusing on premium, generally trusted providers.

The premium VPN services I endorse for Chrome are those that offer both VPN apps and VPN extensions. They are also suitable as a VPN for Chromebooks.

NordVPN

NordVPN is a premium VPN provider and one of the most trustful names in the privacy and security market. It offers plenty of server locations, unlimited bandwidth, leak protection, and a clear no-logs policy.

The NordVPN apps and the NordVPN Chrome extension are smooth, fast, secure. The NordVPN extension adds more value to its users: when activated, the CyberSec feature avoids ads and protects you from accessing malware and phishing websites.

After creating a NordVPN account, you may log in to the Windows, macOS, iOS, Android app, or VPN extension and press the Quick Connect button. It selects the closest server to your location and creates a VPN (or proxy, in the case of the extension) connection. That is it!

CyberGhostVPN

CyberGhost is a top VPN provider with simple and effective VPN apps for major operating systems. The CyberGhost Chrome extension is completely free (a free version of the premium apps), but you may use it with confidence as a trustworthy service offers it.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has an interesting approach when it comes to securing Chrome traffic data. The ExpressVPN browser extension is simply a “remote controller” for the VPN desktop app. Thus, ExpressVPN does not use proxies, and it protects your entire device, not only the browser.

Build safety habits – How to use a VPN for Chrome on a daily basis

Browsing the web is no longer a benign activity. The Chrome browser is on your side and tries to protect you from hackers (like the shield used by TomBat), but you need the extra protection provided by a VPN app or extension.

Keep yourself safe and:

• Have a VPN app installed on your devices and a VPN extension on your Chrome browser.
• Do not install free VPNs or free Chrome VPN extensions offered by shady providers. Your data may be monitored and sold. Even though some services, like Hotspot Shield, are popular that does not mean that they are protecting your privacy. There is evidence that they are doing the opposite.
• Subscribe to annual plans such that your VPN account does not get suspended unexpectedly. Check this post to find great deals from trustworthy services.
• Turn on your VPN for Chrome when browsing x-rated or similar content.

Summary

You probably know already that the Internet is not a safe place. And you probably use the Chrome browser as the main tool to get to the Internet.

You could use Chrome VPN extensions to protect your privacy while browsing, but they are not the safest method. You should rather use a full, paid-for VPN client and install it on your operating system so that all traffic from your device is protected, and not only from the Chrome browser.

Takeaways:

• A VPN extension is using the browser’s proxy settings, not the VPN technology.
• Chrome VPN extensions encrypt only the Internet traffic from the browser.
• VPN client apps are the ones offering full protection.
• Most free VPN extensions are dangerous, and they may log your activity.

To sum up, be smart, use a Chrome VPN to protect your browsing activities, and be smarter and get a trustful VPN service for full privacy and anonymity.

Additionally, don’t forget to make a Transylvanian baby-bat happy by subscribing to our newsletter. You will learn lots of useful things about VPNs.

Your Android device needs the protection of a VPN. RoboBat, our Android specialist, is here to show you how to use a VPN on Android and to present his picks for the best Android VPN app.

VPNs are often used when working remotely and using a laptop to connect to a company’s private network, thereby protecting sensitive data. Nowadays, many Android or iOS smartphones or tablets also contain sensitive data that needs to be safeguarded from hackers and snoops.

Enabling a VPN on your Android phone while connected to the Internet is necessary to keep your data safe and secure.

Android makes it easy to create a VPN connection using either the built-in VPN features or by installing third-party VPN software. Learn how to set up a VPN on Android, how to use a VPN regularly on Android, and what we consider to be the best Android VPN apps.

BTW, did you know that robotic bats exist?

How to use a VPN on Android – RoboBot is alive! Kind of …

“Eureka!” yelled TomBat when he saw RoboBat flying for the first time. A quick bat-five with AnonymousBat and GrandPaBat followed. They have pulled an all-nighter trying to build their own robotic bat. And they did it!

Two days before, GrandPaBat was reading the newspaper hanged from his favorite spot on the cave ceiling when he discovered an article describing the first robotic bat.

You can image what followed: GrandPaBat told TomBat. TomBat was so excited to have a safe way to spy on their aggressive neighbors (the Megabats) that immediately flew to Vlad’s castle. He asked Vlad permission to use his garage and the 3D-printer.

And, that is how RoboBat (or R2B for friends) was (kind of) born.

The final touch was to install a camera, the Android OS and to turn on the Google Assistant for communication.

To protect the transmission TomBat set up a … you guessed, a VPN. Thus, R2B (I can call him that because I am his friend ) was able to fly to the Megabats and stream live through a secure channel.

And that is how our Transylvanian bats have stepped into the robotic age. Hurray!

How does a VPN work on Android?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) uses encryption to secure the Internet traffic that gets out of your Android device, sends it through an encrypted channel to a VPN server (using a certain VPN communication protocol) that decrypts the data and passes it to the destination Web server. The response from the Web server is sent back to the VPN server that encrypts it and sents it back to the Android device.

Finally, the VPN client (app or built-in) decrypts the data and forwards it to the application that may consume it (e.g., the web browser).

Thus, an Android VPN provides secure online browsing, online anonymity by hiding your public IP address, and access to geo-restricted websites by changing your virtual location. I know this sounds too be good to be true, but VPN technology is legal and safe to use. Still, there are a few countries where VPNs are banned due to a series of serious reasons.

Why do you need a VPN on your Android device?

Smartphones are constantly connected to the Internet and exchange data while syncing social media accounts, emails, and other profiles. 

It is highly probable that that traffic can be intercepted, allowing someone to obtain credit card numbers, Facebook passwords, confidential messages and emails, and browsing history. This is especially true when you use unsecured public WiFi networks.

Mobile phone ransomware attacks are on the rise. These lock a device and demand payment, normally in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, to restore it to its original state.

It is often easier to reply to an email from an Android smartphone or iPhone. If confidential documents such as presentations or worksheets need to be attached, these are typically fetched from the company’s servers, which can only be done via a secure connection (provided by a VPN).

Some content on Netflix, BBC, Hulu, YouTube is geo-restricted. This content can only be accessed from abroad by using a VPN service for streaming or for unblocking Youtube that allows you to connect to a server within the area where the content can be accessed.

To conclude, VPNs offer Android users many benefits:

• Full data encryption and even double encryption provided by a Double VPN.
• Enhanced security.
• Public IP address hiding while browsing the Web.
• Geolocation-based restrictions bypass and Internet censorship bypass via advanced features like obfuscated VPN.
• Website tracking prevention.
• Protection against hackers while using public Wi-Fi connections.

How to get a VPN for Android

Android has a free VPN client built-in. This feature is, however, just a client module, and not the entire service. Although it can be used to connect to a VPN server that your company sets up, or that an external VPN service provider sets up for you, it does not actually protect your traffic on its own.

Some users prefer using their own server or connecting to a VPN service through this Android VPN client. However, VPN service providers provide servers in many different countries and often include special servers optimized for additional security, streaming, or P2P file sharing.

Thus, the first step when setting up a VPN connection is to get access to a VPN server. More precisely, you need to know the server address (IP address or name) and the authentication credentials (username, password, security certificate).

Several options are available for getting access to a VPN. On your Android devices, you may:

• Download and install an Android VPN app offered by a VPN service;
• Access a VPN server managed by your company or school;
• Set up your own VPN server.

How to set up a VPN for Android

The fastest and simplest way to set up an Android VPN is to download a VPN app from Google Play. This approach does not require any technical knowledge or deep understanding of how a VPN works.

If your goal is to connect to a private Virtual Private Network, like the one provided by your company or the one built by you, you need to manually set up the VPN connection on your Android phone or tablet.

Use an Android VPN app from a VPN provider

Top VPN providers (NordVPN, ExpressVPN) have their VPN apps listed in Google Play and allow one-click installation. Additionally, some apps can be downloaded directly as VPN apk files.

An Android VPN app, as well as an iOS VPN app, has the following advantages:

• It automatically configures the device for establishing the VPN connection from the phone or tablet to the VPN server.
• It provides easy access to various VPN protocols.
• Implements a one-click switch between servers and locations.
• Offers access to advanced VPN settings.

The easiest way to get started and use an Android VPN is by searching a VPN app in the Google Play Store:

• Open the Play Store.
• Type “vpn” in the Search box.
• Select a VPN client app, install it, open it;

Further, create an account and subscribe (if necessary). Lastly, select a location or server and connect to the VPN.

Important: To create a VPN connection the VPN app needs explicit permissions. It is a security measure to prevent unauthorized access to your data.

Thus, you will be required to Allow the VPN connection setup. Tap OK if you trust the VPN provider (if you don’t you should better uninstall the app and check the best Android VPN apps that I recommend below), the VPN will be configured automatically on your Android device.

Manually set up a VPN connection on your Android phone

Should you have the VPN server credentials (server address, username, password) you may manually set up a VPN connection on Android:

1. From the Home screen, go to the Settings app.
2. Select Network & Internet. Next, tap Advanced.
3. Tap on VPN.
4. Tap on “+” sign to the left of VPN.
5. Select Type. Choose the VPN type or protocol (PPTP – here is a detailed tutorial on how to set up PPTP on Android 10 -, L2TP/IPSec PSK, L2TP/IPSec RSA, IPSec Xauth PSK, IPSec Xauth RSA, IPSec Hybrid RSA). If you don’t know what to choose you should ask the VPN administrator.
6. Enter the required VPN settings information (you should get them from the administrator of the VPN).
7. Type your authentication login, i.e., your username and password.
8. Tap Save. You will see the newly created VPN profile in the VPN list.
9. To connect tap the key icon and, then, Connect.
10. To turn the VPN off, go to Home > Settings > Network & Internet > VPN > tap on the connected VPN > tap on the Disconnect button.

Use a third-party VPN app [Advanced]

An alternative option to the ones presented above is installing the OpenVPN app, an open-source VPN client, or the WireGuard VPN client (here is a tutorial on how to use WireGuard on Android).

The important advantage of using the OpenVPN client application is that you can access a lite VPN client with no tracking libraries, no adware, or spyware. As you probably know, many apps in Google Play monitor user behavior, serve personalized ads, or share the users’ bandwidth.

To start using the OpenVPN Android app, you need access to OpenVPN config files (.ovpn) that describe the VPN connection properties. If you have installed your own VPN server, you may create such a file yourself. Otherwise, you need to get them from your VPN provider.

To connect to a VPN server using the OpenVPN Android VPN client follow the steps below:

1. Open the Play Store and search for “openvpn” or “openvpn connect”.
   
2. Install and open the OpenVPN app.
   
3. If you have access to an OpenVPN Access Server, you may import the VPN profiles from there (the Access Server).
4. If you already have access to an ovpn file, you may download it to your device or to mail it to yourself.
   Important! The ovpn file needs to be built for Android. Different OpenVPN settings may be available for iOS, Windows, macOS, or Linux.
5. Tap on the file.
6. Choose Open with OpenVPN Profile > Just once or Always.
7. In the OpenVPN app, you will be asked to confirm if you want to import the .ovpn profile. Tap OK.
8. Enter your VPN username and password.
9. Tap OK to the warning OpenVPN attempts to create a VPN connection.
10. You are now connected to the VPN using the OpenVPN app.
11. To disconnect tap the ON/OFF button.

Test run your VPN connection

Hurray! You are almost done. It’s time to test the VPN connection and make sure you are properly connected to the VPN.

The quick test consists of the followings:

1. Check the VPN ‘key’ icon on the top of your Android phone or tablet.
2. Check your public IP address with an IP locator website (e.g., XMyIP).

If the key icon is not visible and the IP checker website shows your real IP address you should try to re-connect. If the issue persists you need to contact the VPN provider or administrator.

How to use a VPN on Android with a router

Using a VPN at home or at your office may be easier if you first set up the VPN on the router and then use the router to connect to the Internet.

The important advantage of this approach is that you don’t need to install any VPN app or set up anything on your device.

The downside is that you need to set up the VPN on your router and that may involve some advanced settings. Additionally, it is critical to acknowledge that the connection between the Android device and the router is not encrypted.

Here are several tutorials you may follow to set up a VPN connection on your router:

• How to set up a VPN on a DD-WRT router
• How to set up OpenVPN on a TomatoUSB router

A simpler approach is to get a VPN router (e.g., Vilfo) that is easier to set up and comes with a lot of useful features (split tunneling, kill switch, usage stats).

Once your router is connected to the VPN and your Android tablet or phone gets connected to the router (Settings > Wi-Fi > select the network exposed by the router), you are using the VPN.

The best Android VPN services recommended by RoboBat

Although there are many free VPN services available, most of the paid apps are priced reasonably. We do not recommend free VPN apps or lifetime VPN subscriptions due to security and privacy concerns.

Important: According to an academic study most of the free VPN apps track their users’ behavior.

Thus, you must be very careful when you select your Android VPN provider. You should look for one that has a good reputation, does not keep data logs, provides strong security. Additionally, the service should be reliable, it should offer fast connection speed, and good customer support.

It is not easy to find VPN providers that have all these characteristics. That is why RoboBat comes to the rescue and recommends three strong Android apps.

NordVPN

The most important thing about the NordVPN Android app is that it comes from a trustful provider. NordVPN, as well as the other two providers recommended by RoboBat, are well-known in the VPN market. Thus, you are (almost) sure that no malware or spyware is installed on your device.

Additionally, the NordVPN Android client is smooth, fast, secure.

After creating a NordVPN account, you may log in to the app, and press the Connect button. It selects the closest VPN server to your location and creates a VPN connection. That is it!

A nice feature of the NordVPN Android VPN client is the CyberSec option. When activated, CyberSec blocks ads and suspicious websites automatically.

As recent Chromebook are able to run Android apps, NordVPN is also a good choice as a VPN for Chromebook.

ExpressVPN

The ExpressVPN Android app is great. One tap and you are connected to the VPN on your Android device. Easy to use, fast connections, unlimited bandwidth. Create an ExpressVPN account, open the app, and connect. Nice and simple!

The ExpressVPN Android client implements two VPN protocols: OpenVPN UDP, and OpenVPN TCP. The Automatic option that picks the most appropriate protocol for your network.

Another feature that you may find useful is the Split tunneling that allows you to select apps that use the VPN or apps that do not use the VPN while the app is connected to VPN.

ibVPN

The ibVPN Android app has some attractive features for those interested in unblocking websites, even from countries like China. Besides the VPN connection, the ibVPN app allows you to use the proxy (including tutorials on how to set up Shadowsocks on your Android device) or SmartDNS technologies. Both have several advantages compared to VPN, like better speed and reliability when it comes to accessing streaming channels.

To get started with ibVPN, you may create a 24-h free VPN trial and test the Android app extensively. Log in, select the location, and connect.

Risks of using free Android VPN apps

If you are a regular reader of our site (if you are not I recommend that you subscribe to our newsletter), you probably know that I (we) do not recommend free VPN apps. It is simply too risky to have your private data passed through obscure VPN servers.

Here are a few more reasons not to use free VPN apps on Android:

Browsing sessions may be monitored

When using a VPN on a mobile device, a private network is used to access the Internet from the device. When a good private network is used, there won’t be any monitoring of the online activity. Many free VPN apps have however been found to monitor browsing activity while their app is used. 

Your data may be sold to advertisers

Many VPN service providers that provide free apps make their money from advertisers displaying their ads on the mobile device. Many of the apps in the Play Store are in fact integrated with Google’s advertising. There are, however, still app providers that want to make even more money than this. These providers record the online behavior of users and sell this data to advertisers to increase their profit. 

Connections may not be private

Although VPNs supposedly keep connections private, it has been found that free VPN apps on mobile devices often have IP address leaks or DNS leaks. This results in the supposed private connection not being private at all. 

Spyware may be installed on mobile devices

Even apps scanned by Play Protect may still contain types of malicious code. This code is then used to monitor online activity and to install spyware on the mobile device. Private data is then sent to third parties and may be used for nefarious purposes.

Hacker attacks

Free mobile VPNs often use very weak encryption systems, making them vulnerable to hacker attacks.

Build safety habits – How to use a VPN on the Android on a daily basis

I know: you take your phone everywhere and use it for online shopping, sending photos to your friends, storing passwords for various accounts. How would you feel if all this data gets accessed by some else (that obviously does not have the best intentions)?

You need to take care of your private data and you need to do it every day.

VPNs are no longer nice-to-have applications that you have heard your friends use. You need to have a VPN app at hand on your Android device.

Keep yourself safe and:

• Have a VPN app installed on your Android device.
• Subscribe to annual plans to make sure your VPN account does not get suspended for billing reasons. BTW, annual subscriptions are better VPN deals when it comes to monthly costs.
• Enable the Always-On VPN feature to ensure that all Internet traffic on your Android device will go through the VPN tunnel.
• Make sure to enable the VPN Kill Switch feature which helps you keep your privacy under control.
• Do not install VPN apps from VPN providers you have never heard about. Take your time and inform yourself (by reading a blog like ours, search Reddit, or any other blog/forum/website you trust) or ask a friend.
• Do not download apk files from obscure websites. Better: never download apk files for VPN applications.

Summary

With mobile devices increasingly being connected to the Internet and used to transmit sensitive and private data, it is crucial to protect your data and privacy by using a VPN on your Android device.

While many free VPN services are available for mobile devices, the security of these are often not up to scratch and using them could open you up to more problems than what they solve. Paid-for VPN apps for mobile devices are reasonably priced and these will prevent your private data from being leaked or hacked.

As presented above, a VPN can easily be installed on your Android device. It does not take you more than 5 minutes. You should use it every day and keep your data protected.

RoboBat is pleased that you have taken your time to inform yourself on how to use an Android VPN. Now, make a Transylvanian baby-bat happy and subscribe to our newsletter. You will have the chance to learn a lot of useful things about online privacy and anonymity.

1991 was an epic year, as two legends were born that year – the Internet and me as we know it today.

So, here’s how things changed…

Growing up, there was a constant bat-tlefield between my mother and me. She’s overly-protective, so she came up with all sorts of restrictions daily. Of course, these “restrictions” affected me in a very positive way, a thing that I was able to realize only a while ago.

However, I think that the odds are not in my favor, as today I face different types of restrictions.

These
restrictions are none other than the ones that exist online, on the Internet – the
mighty online restrictions and internet censorship.

So, it seems that my brother from another mother, aka the Internet, ended up experiencing limitations that take many forms, even if it was born free.

“Information superhighway” is a popular term used to describe the Internet in the early 90s. However, things changed ridiculously much, as geo-restrictions are transforming the Internet from a highway to a dirt road filled with potholes (just like the roads of the beautiful Viscri village, from the heart of Transylvania).

Geo-restrictions, online filtering, firewalls, DPI, online blocking, or throttling blend all into a giant called Internet Censorship.

By the way, if internet censorship would have been developed in Transylvania, it would look like an old and powerful vampire, lurking at the internet’s corners, always blocking requests.

In 2021 more and more internet users face such restrictions. If you’re having the same problem, have no fear, Vlad is here to explain how a VPN can help you circumvent internet censorship.

Internet censorship – the
Transylvanian explanation.

The things
work pretty great between PonyBat and TomBat. Since they’re in such a promising
relationship, the situation may end-up with a sumptuous wedding, with figs at
the main course, chocolate for dessert, and apple juice to quench guests’
thirst.

But, before
the big moment happens, you must know that not only TomBat is full of care and
attention, but PonyBat too.

As her job as a part-time marketer in the chocolate traffic network business takes up only half of her day, she waits for TomBat, each day, with fresh and yummy food.

Since TomBat was never preoccupied with his body shape, he eats a lot.

She is not
only happy to watch over TomBat while he eats, but she may end up tasting quite
a lot from the food she cooks with love and passion.

Guess what happened! She gained some weight, and TomBat is not happy about it. That’s why he insisted that she should stop watching The Vampire Diaries series every night, and instead, she should work out (aka fly 10000 m every day).

Working out is something that PonyBat hates. In the past, instead of working out, she chose to go to the bat salon (called Upgrade me Battifully) and get her mani and pedi done.

Do you
know what this story brings to my mind? The way things work on the Internet.

So, if
you’re living in a highly restricted country, you may face internet censorship
or different kind of online restrictions.

So, if you’re PonyBat (the Internet user) who wants to watch a movie on Netflix and live in a country where Netflix is unavailable, you will face a restriction (like the one applied by TomBat).

What
happens next? Instead
of enjoying Vampire Diaries online, you end up looking at a black screen with a
disappointing error.

Luckily,
there’s a solution for you and PonyBat.

So,
here’s how we do things in Transylvania.

PonyBat found a way to soften TomBat’s heart. So, anytime he brought the working out subject in the discussion, she would soften his heart using the most powerful thing that could hypnotize TomBat – a bowl of freshly picked cherries. The cherries drive TomBat crazy, and he would completely ignore the “you need to lose weight subject.”

Just like the cherries, when you put a strong VPN in front of online restrictions, you will be able to break through any firewall.

No, really! What is
Internet censorship?

Is it just me or the Internet is less free today?

If you live in a country that (still) grants you access to all the general resources you need to stay happy online, I must inform you that the situation is not as bright anywhere.

Not anyone can frolic like a lamb on the online field. The things are pretty dark on the other side, and no, there are no cookies (just angry bats and thirsty vampires).

Even if certain researches prove wrong, internet censorship is shadowing more and more online space.

As previously mentioned, internet censorship may take many forms, from governments regulating people’s right to freedom of speech to geo-restrictions applied to social media websites or media/VoIP services.

Even if this giant may seem unbeatable, we shouldn’t ignore it or its negative aspects.

The way internet censorship is applied around the world varies from a country or a region to another. And speaking of that, I don’t know if you’re aware that in North Korea, citizens use a different kind of internet, which is infinitely-limited and 100% government-controlled.

Thus, if you’re in search of truth, let’s dig deeper.

How does Internet
Censorship work?

Internet censorship isn’t just a tool that helps governments regulate the way we search or get results. Nowadays, several types of software can block or limit someone’s access to certain online content. Such tools are known as Web Filters or Censorware.

So, in most cases, web filters can be used to analyze and block incoming traffic based on internet censorship types.

To better understand how internet censorship can take such many forms, stay with me and have no fear, as I am still here…

Types of internet
censorship.

Are you a newbie when it comes to online censorship? Grab your popcorn, and prepare for an interesting read!

Internet censorship divides into technical censorship and non-technical censorship.

Examples of the most popular technical censorship types

• IP address blocking. Internet protocol address blocking is one of the most popular technical censorship methods. The main idea behind this method consists of blocking access for IP addresses to certain online content. This affects IP-based protocols such as POP, FTP, and even HTTPS.
• DNS filtering and redirection. Domain Name System filtering consists of not resolving blocked domain names. Like in the previous case, this technique affects all IP-based protocols (HTTPS, POP, FTP).
• Packet filtering. When a certain number of conversational keywords are detected, this type of censorship will terminate TCP packets transmission. Even if all TCP-based protocols are affected, the Internet filtering may apply to the Search engine results too.
• URL filtering. Another mighty type of censorship is Uniform Resource Locator filtering, which refers to scanning URL strings to discover certain keywords, regardless of the domain name specified in the URL. Logically, this kind of censorship affects the HTTPS protocol.
• Connection reset. This type of censorship can be either local or applied on a large scale. If a previous TCP connection is restricted or blocked by a certain filter, all future attempts may be blocked for a variable amount of time.
• Network disconnections. Its name says everything about it. Network disconnection is, probably, the easiest method of censorship that implies exactly what its name suggests – cutting off all routers, leaving users without internet access.

Examples of the most popular non-technical censorship types

• Publishers, ISPs, or authors may receive requests to block access to certain content. They can also be subject to civil lawsuits and can also receive threats or have their equipment destroyed or confiscated.
• Due to certain types of censorship, specific online publications may guide and influence online opinion.
• Internet access may be blocked or limited due to copyright-licenses or high costs.
• If the governments are involved in the whole censorship process, the search results in different search engines may vary, as web browsers must comply with a set of rules and online standards before operating in a new territory.

Reasons why censorship is applied around the world

From a
country to another, the reasons why internet censorship is performed may range
from:

• Internet censorship applied to maintain national security – a technique performed in countries like Saudi Arabia, North Korea, China, Tunisia, or Iran.
• Internet censorship applied to force people into respecting traditional social values – techniques performed in countries like Oman and Sudan.
• Internet censorship and traffic filtering for political stability – techniques performed in countries like Libya and Jordan;

Does Internet censorship
have any positive aspects?

The Internet used to be like a huge library, and any user had all the information at his fingertips within seconds.

We should all have the right to be informed and to be able to express our feelings and thoughts freely. Censorship changed the way people use the Internet around the world. Even if on a large scale censorship has many negative aspects applied to domestic environments, censorship may assure parents with the much-deserved peace of mind regarding children’s access to some resources.

What I try to say is that there is specific software that helps individuals block certain websites. In this way, if we speak about domestic censorship, children won’t be able to access the blacklisted websites picked by the parents.

P.S.: I hope that TomBat won’t learn about such software, as he will definitely use it to block PonyBat’s access to online media websites, so she won’t be able to watch The Vampire Diaries anymore.

How can I circumvent
internet censorship?

Diamond-cut-diamond, right? The great news is that you can fight back anytime you feel smitten by internet censorship.

Here are
a few easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy ways you can fight against censorship:

1. Support the organizations fighting for your freedom of speech. More and more organizations fight together with their supporters for a free and open internet for everyone. Their mission is to raise awareness and educate people about their rights regarding the online world or about the concept of Net Neutrality by organizing dedicated events and campaigns for this purpose. Supporting them is as easy as supporting Vlad Talks – by subscribing to the newsletter, or sharing their websites or social profiles, and donating money.
2. Know your rights. In the US, freedom of speech is protected by the First Amendment. Of course, different countries comply with different rules. That’s the very reason why you need to stay informed and curious in regards to your rights as a citizen.
3. Use encryption and anonymity tools. Such circumvention tools are assuring your online anonymity and, in some cases, online freedom. For guaranteed success, you need to start from the basis with things like:

• Use encrypted chatting apps like Signal or Telegram.
• Set up an encrypted e-mail.
• Use Tor Network. Tor is a network consisting of thousands of relays (also known as volunteer nodes). Directing the traffic through these nodes helps users hide their real IP address. Probably the easiest way to use the Tor network is via a Tor browser.
• Use Smart DNS to replace your DNS’s default servers. Smart DNS (Smart Domain Name Server) is the smart solution that helps you access geo-blocked websites (or even gaming websites) like BBC iPlayer, Youtube, or Netflix. Even if the Smart DNS server does not change your real IP and virtual location, it can bypass restrictions by tricking websites into seeing your location as a legitimate one.
• Get a proxy browser extension and change your IP like a boss. A proxy web browser (sometimes called a VPN extension) works like a charm for bypassing geo-restrictions and accessing blocked sites. Like in any other plugin, all you need to do is install it on your browser of choice (Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Microsoft Edge) and connect it to a proxy server. From this point on, you’re able to surf the web as free as a bat flying over the Transylvanian fields.
• Subscribe to a VPN service. The VPN service is the best way to fight for your online freedom, just like the garlic clove is the perfect weapon against vampires. Most online freedom advocates recommend the VPN as perfect not only to bypass online restrictions and access streaming websites but to encrypt your traffic and enjoy a secure Internet connection.

What is a VPN for internet censorship?

Most online freedom advocates recommend the VPN as perfect not only to bypass online restrictions but to encrypt your traffic, secure your P2P file-sharing activities, and enjoy a secure online connection.

A Vampire Permanent Neutralizer Virtual Private Network is a legal and valuable technology that creates waves among internet users these days. For many, VPN technology represents a real challenge, and they simply avoid it. In reality, even if the whole principle is complex, you can use it as simple as you use any other application.

Developed as a solution to help employees securely access a company’s network (which is now available as a VPN concentrator solution too), the VPN switched into being a Swiss Army knife, suitable for many online activities.

Combining a military-grade encryption standard with a VPN protocol and a VPN server, the VPN creates a private scope of communication between your device and the internet.

As your whole internet traffic is encrypted, your ISP (Internet Service Provider) is not able to track your online activities. Also, the destination server you try to access has no idea of the traffic source. Cool, isn’t it?

How does a VPN service
work?

The whole secret that stands behind this controversial technology consists in how the elements are combined.

So, as soon as a user enables VPN tunneling, all its data is sent to the VPN server, which is helped by the encryption standard and the protocol to encrypt your data. As soon as this mission is completed, the server sends your request to the destination server. The process is reversible; that’s why the VPN grants you complete anonymity and security concerning your ISP, the government, or other curious eyes spying on your data.

How to use a VPN service
like a real Transylvanian to bypass restrictions?

Transylvanians are smart, fun, and brave. We’re not afraid of vampires, so we’re not afraid of internet censorship, as we use the VPN.

Because we like to work smart, not hard, our favorite way to enable a VPN connection is to use a VPN app.

Enabling a VPN connection
with a VPN software.

Have you ever counted the number of apps you have installed on your devices? We use an app to access Facebook, another one to order food online, a special one to monitor our heart rate, and so on.

Just like any of these applications, VPN software is a special software developed to help you automatically enable VPN tunneling.

Usually, such applications feature a list of servers, a list of special protocols, and a huge Connect button. To enable the VPN app that helps you bypass internet censorship, you will need just a click on the connect button, and the connection is established within seconds.

Just check the example of Express VPN‘s Windows VPN client. Also, you may give a try to VPN Gate, an academic project built for helping those in need of unblocking censored Internet resources.

Setting up a VPN
connection manually.

If you’re stubborn, you can take the hard and advanced way, as no one can stop you. Actually, you can start from the very beginning and configure even a VPN server all by yourself.

The most popular OSes like Mac OS, Windows, iOS, and Android can work as VPN clients, allowing you to connect to a server using different types of protocols.

Even if you don’t have to be a tech God to set up a VPN connection manually, technical knowledge is required. If you’re thirsty to find out more about this, check this article.

Tips for guaranteed success.

I am a connoisseur… I like drinking wine and eating grapes and fine cheese while speaking about VPN technology? Why? Because it’s exquisite, modern, and surprisingly effective.

Allow me to
provide you a few insides which will definitely help you bypass restrictions
like a pro.

• Constantly switch between servers. As some VPN server IPs may be shared, they can be blacklisted, and firewalls or the filtering software can easily detect them. That’s why it is recommended to switch between servers as soon as you cannot unblock a specific website. Or, you can even try servers like Double VPN and Tor over VPN.
• Swing between protocols. There are old and rusty VPN protocols like PPTP, which are not that effective for online freedom. Actually, they are not effective when it comes to online privacy either. The great solution to bypass internet censorship and even the Great Firewall of China is to use open-source protocols like OpenVPN, SoftEther, WireGuard, Shadowsocks VPN, or Stealth VPN (an obfuscated VPN protocol), which are specially developed for circumventing restrictions.
• Clear your browser caches. Anytime you decide to use a new VPN server or protocol, it is recommended to clear your web browser caches to erase your unsuccessful previous attempts. Then, before surfing the web, test your VPN to make sure you are successfully connected to the VPN server.

Do bats jump or fly to conclusions?

If you don’t know if bats fly or jump to conclusions, just contact us, and TomBat will enlighten you.

Meanwhile, let’s trap internet censorship in a nutshell and draw some valuable conclusions.

I know that
you may feel overwhelmed by all the online challenges. I feel the same.

We need to keep pace with all the news always to be informed and ready to take action.

Should you feel that internet censorship is too much for you to handle, relax, as there are a few good options out there.

You can pick a proxy or a Smart DNS service, or you can play it smart and safe and choose a VPN provider.

The VPN works like a charm for bypassing online restrictions or assuring internet security and privacy. That’s why we recommend it as being the top pick that can save you from troubles.

Now, your duty is to find the perfect VPN that meets all your needs and give it a proper try (no, a free VPN is not the way to go). Should you have questions or need guidance in finding a trustworthy VPN, drop me a line, as I am delighted to help you pass through this journey.

Stay
thirsty for tech!

Enabling an iPhone VPN or iOS VPN while connected to the Internet is necessary to keep your data safe and secure. Learn how to properly set a VPN on your iPhone.

Do you own a mobile phone? Of course, you do. Who hasn’t one? Is it connected to the Internet 24/7? Most phones are. However, do you know that most of your personal data is traveling the Internet unprotected?

The iOS operating system makes it easy to create a VPN connection, either by using built-in VPN features or by allowing third-party applications to encrypt your Internet traffic. Learn how to set up a VPN on iOS, what are the iOS VPN apps that we recommend, and how to use a VPN regularly.

Let’s get started with our traditional Transylvanian story.

How to use a VPN on iOS – To BatOS or not to BatOS

Bats are smart. Bats from Castlevania (the imaginary place in the middle of Transylvania) are even smarter. Smarter than the smartphones they received as a gift from Vlad.

One day, TomBat and AnonymousBat were sitting under an apple tree, and they were arguing about what they should do with their new phones.

“I don’t think they are safe enough,” AnonymousBat prompted. “What if one of us stumbles upon another exceptional tree, calls for help, but the call gets intercepted by the Megabats, our aggressive neighbors?“

“We should build our own bat-encrypted, bat-safe operating system for these phones! We have the bat-how,” TomBat pleaded earnestly.

“Yes, yes, YES! You are a genius, my dear “almost dragon”-bat! Also, we should call it BatOS!”

Suddenly, a small apple felt off the tree exactly on TomBat’s head. You may have expected an angry reaction from TomBat. However, he picked up the apple, took a bite, and, in a meditative mood, he whispered:

“Maybe we should keep the iOS on our phones and use a VPN to secure the communication! I really love small apples!“

Thus, the question “To BatOS or not to BatOS?” had a simple answer: “iOS with VPN.”

What does a VPN do on an iPhone or iPad?

VPNs provide an extra layer of security for internet users. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a legal technology that provides secure traffic through an encrypted tunnel between the device (iPhone, iPad) and the VPN server before gaining access to the Internet by using the VPN server’s IP address.

A VPN encrypts the Internet traffic that gets out of your iPhone or iPad, sends it to a VPN server (using a certain VPN communication protocol) that decrypts the data and passes it to the destination Web server. The response the VPN server gets from the Web server is encrypted and sent back to the iOS device.

Next, the VPN client (app or built-in) decrypts and forwards the information to the application that may consume it (e.g., the web browser).

Thus, VPNs or virtual private networks can provide anonymous online browsing to iOS users, bypass geolocation-based restrictions, the Great Firewall of China, and can be used to access blocked content. VPNs also protect you from prying eyes, notably from government surveillance agencies, hackers, and your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Why do you need a VPN on your iOS device?

Whether you are using an iOS or Android device, online threats are omnipresent (like guano in bat caves). VPNs prevent data leaks and obscure all your browsing information. VPNs also allow you to do torrenting, gaming, accessing Youtube, streaming content securely from anywhere around the globe (for example, watch BBC iPlayer outside the UK on your iPhone or iPad) or maximize your security while using Tor.

People often assume that iOS security is unbreakable, but this is not the case.

Although iOS is definitely more secure than Android, iOS users are still susceptible to cyber-attacks.

iOS is more secure because iOS is a closed system, and only Apple has access to the source code. This also means that iPhone and iPad users have very limited access to make any device modification. This belief that Apple devices can’t be hacked has, however, been disproven many times with many iPhones out there that have been jailbroken to allow the use of third-party apps.

VPNs offer iOS users many benefits, including the following:

• Full data encryption.
• IP address masking or hiding while browsing the Web.
• Geolocation-based restrictions bypass.
• Website tracking prevention.
• Protection against hackers while using public Wi-Fi connections.

How to get a VPN for iPhone

Apple has made it very easy to set up VPN clients that support various VPN protocols like IKEv2, IPSec, and L2TP. If you need to access your company’s private intranet while on the road, or if you travel around the world and still want your iPhone to think it is in your home country, a VPN will enable you to do that.

Before you may connect to a Virtual Private Network (VPN), you need access to a VPN server. More precisely, you need to know the server address (name or IP address) and the authentication credentials (username, password, security certificate).

There are plenty of options to get access to a VPN on your devices. On your iPhone or iPad, you may:

• Install VPN software built by a commercial VPN service;
• Get access to the private VPN managed by your company or school;
• Connect to your own VPN server.

How to set up a VPN for iPhone or iPad

If you don’t know what a VPN server is and you don’t care about technical stuff, then installing an iPad or iPhone VPN app from the App Store is the right path for you.

In case you have received the VPN server credentials, or you have built your own VPN server, you need to proceed with manually setting up the VPN connection on your iPhone or iPad, or install a third-party app, like the OpenVPN app.

Use an iOS VPN app from a VPN provider

Most (I would say “all”) of the top VPN providers (NordVPN, ExpressVPN) have dedicated VPN apps for iOS. Some of them even provide different app flavors for the iPhone and iPad.

An iOS VPN app has the following advantages:

• It automatically configures iOS VPN profiles needed for establishing the VPN connection from the iPhone to the VPN server.
• Makes it easy to switch between servers and locations.
• Allows you to switch VPN protocols.
• Offers access to advanced VPN settings (e.g., automatically turn on the VPN when the device connects to untrusted Wi-Fi networks).

The easiest way to get started and use an iPad or iPhone VPN is by searching a VPN app in the App Store:

• Open the App Store.
• Type “vpn” in the Search box.
• Select a VPN client app, install it, open it;

Next, create an account and subscribe (if necessary). Finally, select a server (location) and connect to the VPN. The whole process should not take more than 5 minutes.

Important: The first time you open the VPN or when you try to connect for the first time, you will be asked if you want to give permission to add a VPN to your iPhone.

If you allow this (and you should if you want to connect), the VPN will be configured automatically on your iPhone. To change the VPN settings, you’ll be asked to enter your Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode.

Manually set up a VPN connection on your iPhone

As mentioned above, if you have the VPN server credentials and you know the type of VPN protocol the server implements you may need to set up a manual VPN connection:

1. From the Home screen, go to the Settings app.
2. Select VPN.
   
3. Tap on Add VPN Configuration.
4. Select Type.
5. Choose the VPN type or protocol (IKEv2, IPSec, L2TP). By the way, PPTP is no longer available starting from iOS 10.
   
6. Go back to the previous screen by selecting Back in the top left corner.
7. Enter the required VPN settings information (you should get them from the administrator of the VPN).
   
8. Type your authentication login, i.e., your username and password.
9. If required, enable your proxy by selecting Manual or Auto.
10. Select Done.
11. Under VPN Configurations, flick the Status switch to the ON position.
    
12. To turn the VPN off, go to Home > Settings > VPN > Status > OFF.
13. To remove the VPN profile from your iPhone or iPad you need to select the VPN configuration and tap the Delete button.

Use a third-party VPN app [Advanced]

Alternatively, to the manual setup or to the iOS VPN clients built by different VPN providers, you may install the OpenVPN app – an open-source VPN client.

The main advantage of using the OpenVPN app instead of VPN apps is that you get a lite VPN client with no additional tracking, adware, or spyware (many VPN apps in the App Store track user behavior, serve ads, or even share the users’ bandwidth with other clients).

In order to start using the OpenVPN iOS app, you need to have access to a VPN server that exposes OpenVPN config files (.ovpn). If you have installed your own VPN server, you may create such a file yourself. Otherwise, you need to get them from your VPN provider.

Here are the required steps to connect to a VPN server using the OpenVPN iOS VPN client:

1. Open the App Store and search for “openvpn” or “openvpn connect”.
   
2. Install and open the OpenVPN app.
   
3. If you have access to an OpenVPN Access Server, you may import the VPN profiles from there (the Access Server).
4. If you already have an ovpn file, the simplest method to get it installed is to mail it to yourself.
   Important! The ovpn file needs to be built for iOS. Different OpenVPN settings are used for Android, Windows, macOS, or Linux.
5. From the email, tap on the file.
   
6. Choose Copy to OpenVPN.
7. In the OpenVPN app, tap Add.
8. Enter your VPN username and password.
9. A warning shows up. Tap Allow.
   
10. Tap Yes to the question Allow OpenVPN to enable VPN connection?
11. You are now connected to the VPN using the OpenVPN app.
    
12. To disconnect tap the ON/OFF button.

Another option is to install and use WireGuard on your iOS devices.

Test run your VPN connection

Once your iPhone VPN is enabled, you need to test your VPN connection:

1. Check the VPN icon on the top of your iPhone or iPad.
2. Check your public IP address with an IP locator website (e.g., XMyIP).

If the VPN icon is not visible and the public IP address is your real IP address you should try to re-connect. Further, if the VPN is still not connected you may need to contact the VPN provider.

How to use a VPN on iOS with a router

Another way to get your iPhone or iPad connected to a VPN is to access the Internet via a router that has an active connection to a VPN server.

The main advantage of this approach is that you don’t need to install or set up anything on your device.

The drawback is that you need to set up the VPN on your router and that may involve some advanced settings.

The most common routers are VPN-ready and are able to establish various types of VPN connections. Here are several tutorials that we recommend:

• How to set up a VPN on a DD-WRT router
• How to set up OpenVPN on a TomatoUSB router

Once your router is connected to the VPN and your iOS device is connected to the router (Settings > Wi-Fi > select the network exposed by the router), you are using the VPN.

The best iPhone VPN services

To benefit from using one of the many top-ranked iOS VPNs available in the App Store, you will need an iTunes account to make payment, auto-renew, and secure your iOS device.

When selecting an iPad or iPhone VPN provider, always choose one that provides strong security, no logs of session data, and a strong Privacy Policy. Also look out for features including reliability, fast connection speeds, and excellent customer support.

This is easier to say than done. How could you check all that only from looking to the apps listed in the App Store? Here are some tips you should consider:

• Check the app rating and reviews. Top applications have at least 4.5 stars.
• Take a look at the Privacy Policy. Yes, this is important. Your private data will be managed by the provider of the app. Does the privacy policy page look trustworthy?
  
• Look for a free VPN trial. If the VPN app offers a free trial, you may install and use it without subscribing, and you may get a feel of the service quality. Perform some VPN speed tests.
• Avoid totally free VPN apps. They are either serving annoying ads or track and sell users’ data.

To make things easier, I have picked three iOS apps that I consider that you may trust, that are fast and reliable.

If you search the App Store for iPhone VPN, you may not see the recommended apps on the first screen. Not because they are not good. The battle for the top places on the App Store search is fierce. Even great apps with strong ratings and reviews get outranked. That is the case for all my three suggestions.

NordVPN

Smooth, fast, secure. All you need to know about the NordVPN iOS app.

After creating a NordVPN account, you may log in in the app, and press the Quick Connect button. It selects the closest VPN server to your location and creates a VPN connection. That is it!

The NordVPN iOS app provides easy access to various locations and VPN servers (even special servers like P2P, Obfuscated, Onion over VPN, or Double VPN servers).

An interesting feature of the NordVPN iOS VPN client is the CyberSec option. When activated, CyberSec blocks ads and suspicious websites automatically.

NordVPN is a WireGuard VPN provider. Additionally, you may use OpenVPN (TCP or UDP) or IKEv2 protocols.

ExpressVPN

As well as the above-recommended apps, the ExpressVPN iOS app is great. Easy to use, plenty of servers available, fast connections, unlimited bandwidth. Create an ExpressVPN account, open the app, and create a VPN connection.

The ExpressVPN iOS client implements four VPN protocols: OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, IPSec, and IKEv2. However, what I like the most is the Automatic option that picks the most appropriate protocol for your network. Thus, you get the best performance and protection while connected to various Wi-Fi networks.

Additionally, the Smart Location selects a server close to your location and provides maximum speed for the VPN connection.

iOS VPN FAQs

Build safety habits – How to use a VPN on the iPhone on a daily basis

You take your phone everywhere. It keeps your photos, your chats, your passwords, your credit card info. Don’t you think you need to keep all these data secure? It would be unusual not to.

A VPN is a must when it comes to protecting your private data. You should have a VPN app at hand on your iPhone or iPad. Here are a few tips on how to be prepared to keep you safe and how to build safety habits:

• Have a VPN app installed on your iPhone or iPad.
• Keep your VPN subscription updated. Subscribe to annual plans to reduce the risks of getting your VPN account suspended.
• Alternatively, install a free iPhone VPN app that you can use in case you get out of money, and you don’t want to continue with your subscription. However, free VPN clients are not secure, and they should not be your permanent solution.
• Enable the auto-connect to VPN when switching to an unsecured Wi-Fi. This is very useful when traveling, and your iOS devices automatically connect to various Wi-Fi networks.

Summary

The security provided with iOS devices is much better than that of Android devices. However, there is still a risk that you could get hacked or your security compromised.

Although the App Store is generally much safer than the Google Play Store, there are still many security concerns. Security breaches and cyber-attacks still happen often, especially regarding privacy issues. An iPhone VPN enables you to put an effective barrier in place against prying eyes.

A VPN for iOS, as well as Android VPN, helps you improve your online security by providing data encryption and IP address masking. There are many great VPNs available from the App Store, and they are easy to install and use.

Using a VPN on your smartphone is a smart choice. Our bats came to the same conclusion. TomBat does no longer rely on AnonymousBat for sending his super-secret love letters to PonyBat. Instead, he turns on the VPN on his phone and securely uses WhatsBatApp.

Bat-er safe than sorry is an old and very popular saying in our Transylvanian bat community.

The uncomfortable truth is that many VPN services do not do what they are supposed to and leak users’ data. Even if VPN technology is legal, such things may happen. That is why the question “Should I test my VPN?” has only one reasonable answer: “Yes, you should.” It is better to be cautious and spend some time double-checking your VPN than be a victim of hackers while relying on VPN protection.

This article explains what can go wrong with a VPN, how to test your VPN, and what to do if your data is not protected. Additionally, you find out how anonymous the AnonymousBat really is.

How to test my VPN – Can a bat keep a secret?

Life in Transylvania can be quite boring sometimes. There is too much beauty all around, birds are singing, flowers are blooming, people are calm and polite. Well, you get the picture.

As a young man in his mid-thirties, Vlad decided that it was time to break the monotony and organize a surprise party to his dear friends from the bat colony. Thus, he blew his bat-whistle and, in a matter of minutes, he got his partner in crime: the AnonymousBat.

Vlad (the VPN client) explicitly told AnonymousBat (our VPN server) that the party had to be a surprise and the other bats should not learn about it until later (no leak was expected). Then Vlad sent him to TomBat (the destination) with precise instructions (renting costumes, getting apples, bringing the best bat-chocolate).

After an hour or two, AnonymousBat was not back yet when Vlad decided to pay a visit to the bats’ cave.

What do you think he found there? Well, bats were trying costumes, laughing and having a great time, earlier than Vlad expected. Vlad was not happy with the outcome, but he threw the party anyway, and they had an even better time together.

What do you think? Did AnonymousBat leak the information or not?

The same thing may happen to you. Even when using a VPN, your data may be disclosed and logged by websites, ISPs, or hackers. Learn how to test your VPN connection and how to make sure your online privacy is secured.

Why do I need to test my VPN connection?

Before getting on your bike, you check the brakes. At least, I hope that’s what you do.

Once you clicked the Connect button of a VPN app, you need to make sure that it works as expected, meaning that it guarantees online security and anonymity. Don’t forget that the security of a VPN connection is powered by the VPN protocol. So, make sure you choose a strong protocol like OpenVPN, WireGuard, or SSTP, before enabling the VPN connection. Keep in mind that testing your connection is mandatory when we talk about proxies too.

The first reason for testing your VPN connection is to ensure that the VPN is actually working. Sometimes VPN clients show inaccurate information related to the connection status. Even if they seem to be connected to the VPN server, either the connection is broken, or the VPN server is not able to forward your web requests to the Internet.

You should also test your VPN connections to make sure you are actually safe while browsing on the Internet. It has been found that some VPN providers leak user information through various bugs or improper VPN protocols implementations.

Data leaks should always be taken seriously! An IP address can give hackers info about your location, and skilled hackers can ping your IP, trying to map open ports and then use those ports to gain access to your device.

What do I need to test?

Testing your VPN is not a difficult task. Many websites are able to check your VPN connection and show meaningful results. However, here are the things you should pay attention to:

1. Is the VPN connection established? Does the VPN work at all? Is the VPN client (your OS or VPN software) connected to the VPN server?
2. Is the VPN working properly? Does it completely hide your IP address information and your location? Does it properly encrypt the data that it transports?
3. What happens in the case of a VPN connection drop? Are your data exposed? Many VPNs have features that are, in fact, broken. This often happens with so-called kill switches that do not block traffic effectively or IPv6 leak protection that does not work. 

So here is what you need to test:

1. When you connect to VPN, check your public IP address.
2. Check the VPN for leaks.
3. Check what happens in the case of VPN connection drops.

Are you ready for more info on how to do every one of these steps? Keep reading!

How do I know if my VPN is working?

You are probably aware of how a Virtual Private Network works. Basically, when connected to a VPN, all your Internet traffic is redirected to a VPN server that acts as an intermediate between your computer or device and the Internet.

If you are properly connected to the VPN, then your public IP address is hidden and ‘replaced’ by the one exposed by the VPN server.

What to do:

1. Before connecting to the VPN, check your public IP address using an IP locator web site, like XMyIP. You should see your regular IP address, the name of your ISP (Internet Service Provider), and your approximate location (country, city).
2. Connect to VPN.
3. Recheck your public IP address. This time, if the VPN is working, you see the IP address and the location info of the VPN server and not yours.
4. If your IP address is still visible, then you are not connected to VPN, and you should try to connect again, look for connection errors, check your Internet connection.

What is a VPN leak & how to test for data leaks

Further, it is time to check for VPN leaks.

A VPN leak is when a website can still detect your real IP address, even though you are using a VPN. It means the VPN is not working the way it is supposed to, resulting in cybercriminals potentially seeing your real IP and using it to find out personal details like your country, city and the ISP you are using.

To prevent these leaks, you first have to identify them. This is fortunately easy to do, and there are several tools available to help you. 

There are three main reasons why your VPN may not be providing proper security and is, therefore, exposing your private information. These are:

IP leak – How to test for IP leaks

Your IP address can be used to determine your location or the websites you visit. IP leaks defeat the purpose of using a VPN, and it usually happens due to the IPv4 and IPv6 internet protocols and their incompatibilities.

What to do:

1. Load a check IP site that shows both IPv4 and IPv6 IP addresses (if you are using one), like Whatismyip. Check your public IP addresses. Make a note of your IPv4 and IPv6 IP addresses.
2. Connect to VPN (turn on your VPN).
3. Recheck the public IP addresses – both of them. If the VPN is working properly, you should not see any of the IP addresses (IPv4 and IPv6) that you have seen before connecting to a VPN. Sometimes, even the IPv4 is changed, the IPv6 remains visible, thus resulting in a VPN IP leak.
4. If you detected an IP leak you should contact your VPN provider and let them know about the problem. Also, it is a good idea to disable IPv6 altogether (here is how to disable IPv6 on Mac). Additionally, you may change the VPN protocol and test it again.

DNS leak – How to test for DNS leaks

It could happen that although an IP stays hidden, your DNS address reveals your location. A DNS server converts plain text URLs into IP addresses. This is normally done by your ISP’s servers, and they can see who visited which websites.

If the DNS leaks, anyone watching your traffic is able to access that information, and it can lead to a DNS hijacking attack.

What to do:

1. Load an IP leak test site, like IPleak.net. Check the DNS addresses section. You see the IP addresses of the DNS servers you are using.
2. Connect to VPN.
3. Test your connection for IP leaks again. This time, in the DNS addresses section, you should see other IP addresses than before connecting to VPN.
4. If you see the same IP addresses before and after connecting the VPN, then you have detected a DNS leak. You should check the VPN client settings and contact your VPN provider for support.

WebRTC leak – How to test for WebRTC leaks

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is part of the most popular browsers and is used to enable real-time communications like voice and video chats. It does, however, also present another vulnerability for VPNs.

Some websites can use WebRTC by adding lines of code to look past a VPN and discover the original IP. This is often used by websites providing or blocking content based on geo-locations. 

What to do:

1. Connect to VPN.
2. Load a website that is capable of detecting WebRTC leaks, like XMyIP. It performs several tests and tries to get your real IP address by using the WebRTC functions.
3. If the test shows your local address or your real IP address, then you should either disable WebRTC for your browser or contact your VPN provider for instructions.

   Important! Your browser may leak WebRTC requests and still be safe (as in the screenshot below) if the VPN you are using is appropriately setup.

What does it happen when the VPN connection drops?

There are several scenarios when the VPN connection may drop. For example, if the VPN server stops working, or the connection between the VPN client and the VPN server gets broken, or even due to a temporary Internet connection failure.

In the case of VPN connection drops, the VPN client must do the followings:

• It prevents all types of VPN leaks.
• It recovers the VPN connection as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, the OS built-in VPN clients are not able to perform these tasks; that is why I recommend using third-party VPN clients like the ones offered by VPN providers.

VPN connection drop due to Internet connection failure

You may get disconnected from the Internet for various reasons. Your ISP may have some connectivity issues, your router gets reset, your device is changing the Wi-Fi network. Most of the time, these are temporary issues.

Is your VPN able to reconnect as soon as the Internet connection is restored? A simple test to verify the behavior of your VPN client in case of connection drops:

1. Connect to VPN.
2. Disconnect from the Internet by turning off the Wi-Fi.
3. After a minute or two, reconnect to the Internet (turn on the Wi-Fi).
4. Check your IP address.
5. Are you still connected to the VPN? If not, then your VPN client is not able to handle the case of the Internet drop, and you should contact the VPN service support.

Kill Switch protection for unexpected disconnects

Commercial VPN services offer the so-called kill switch that terminates your Internet connection in case of VPN connection drops. The Internet kill switch makes sure that your device does not access the Internet without VPN protection.

Some VPNs expose the application-level kill switch that only terminates selected applications (e.g., torrent clients, browsers).

It is complicated for the VPN end-user to test the effectiveness of the kill switch feature as it involves the failure of the VPN server. However, here is what you can do:

1. In case of an unexpected VPN disconnect, observe the behavior of the VPN client.
2. Does it cut off your Internet connection?
3. Does it reconnect to another server?
4. Is your IP address visible (use an IP locator website to check for IP leaks or DNS leaks) while the VPN is disconnected?
5. If you notice any issues, you need to contact your VPN provider.

Advanced VPN tests

One way to identify VPN leaks is to build a testing suite for your OS and then run a host of tests to check your traffic for leaked packets.

This can, however, be fairly complex, depending on the OS used. ExpressVPN has however released an advanced VPN testing suite. They, in fact, use this tool internally to make sure all their VPN apps are leak proof.

This advanced level of testing should identify all leaks under various conditions.

What to do when my VPN is not working

You have detected that your current VPN does not work as expected. What should you do?

If you are not able to connect to the VPN, you should firstly verify the login credentials, and double-check the setup instructions.

Next, if the problem is not solved, you need to contact your VPN provider. Commercial VPNs have dedicated support teams that are capable of guide you in different situations (that is another reason for which we prefer paid VPNs to the free ones). Also, in the case of VPN leaks, there may be settings that you missed, and that may change the behavior of the VPN clients. Support may help you with these.

Thirdly, if your provider is not able to solve your issue, you need to consider an alternative. I have listed several providers that we have tested and that we consider safe when it comes to VPN leaks.

VPN services with excellent leak protection. Are free VPNs safe?

We do not recommend free VPN services. Period. They are not safe!

Most of the free VPNs do not have the technical capacity to provide protection against VPN leaks. Why take the risks of using a VPN that does not provide full anonymity?

NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the leading VPN providers, and it was tested for leaks multiple times by third-party researchers. The conclusion was that you might use NordVPN with confidence. It is safe, secure, and fast!

The NordVPN leak protection features are turned on by default, and they can not be disabled, which is great for the average VPN user.

ExpressVPN

We also recommend ExpressVPN as it provides excellent VPN leak protection. The ExpressVPN team has even created their own testing tools to make sure their VPN does not leak. Friendly interface and excellent speed (we recommend ExpressVPN as one of the fastest VPNs)!

ibVPN

Yes, we like ibVPN. It is not as beautiful as PonyBat, but it does the job better than AnonymousBat.

ibVPN has several effective features to prevent IP and DNS leaks. Additionally, the ibVPN browser VPN extensions are able to disable the WebRTC functions completely while connected to ibVPN servers. You can test these options for free, during the 24 hours free VPN trial.

How to check my VPN daily

Verifying your VPN connection should be something you do every time you connect to VPN.

However, the simple IP check is most of the time enough. If the IP locator website shows a different IP address than the one provided by your ISP, then you are properly connected to the VPN.

VPN leak checks are necessary when you change your VPN provider. Disregard what the service claims on their website and check for yourself. You will be safer and more comfortable using the VPN service.

Conclusion

Caution is the good parent of safety.

VPN providers are making a lot of fuss on their websites about the level of security their service provides.

Our advice is not to believe these statements blindly.

The purpose of using a VPN is to provide security, privacy, and the power to overcome internet censorship, even in countries like China or even unblock streaming websites and Youtube videos or gaming websites. Unfortunately, many VPNs, free or premium, do not work as advertised, resulting in you not being protected as well as you may think you are.

In Transylvania we like to keep it safe, so we won’t feel sorry for ourselves in the end.

Keep in mind that is relatively easy to test your VPN for any leaks. This allows you to make sure that you are getting the protection you want, and you pay for.

So, don’t make your decisions on nice words and pompous statements. Take 1 minute from your time and test the performance of a VPN all by yourself!

And, finally, if you throw a party make sure nobody leaks the information and spoils the surprise!