You have probably heard about VPN technology, and you asked yourself how to use a VPN. After digging into the subject more, you might feel overwhelmed by all the new/technical information.
Have no fear, Vlad is here to help you rest assured that even if the VPN is a complex technology, is not rocket science to use it, as there are plenty of ways, suitable even for newbies.
We have prepared a (long) article that presents most of the things you should be aware of related to VPN usage. Start reading the short bat-related explanation and continue with our in-depth presentation of the available options.
How to use a VPN – The Transylvanian explanation
Romance is possible even in the World of vampire bats. At least, this is what we would like to believe.
Long story short: our TomBat has a crush on a she-bat who recently joined the colony. PonyBat, that is her name, is … well … bloody beautiful. Of course, she has a lot of pretenders. To make things worse: TomBat is a little bit shy.
TomBat’s strategy is to get to PonyBat’s heart by sending her some impressive love letters. But, TomBat does not want to disclose his identity before he is 100% sure of his success. And here it is what he did.
TomBat (the VPN client) established a coding convention (VPN protocol) with the AnonymousBat (the VPN server). TomBat sent encrypted messages to AnonymousBat that decoded them and passed them forward to PonyBat (the destination). Thus, PonyBat did not know the (real) sender of the message. Additionally, as the communication between TomBat and AnonymousBat was coded (encrypted), the messages remained a secret for all the other bats in the colony.
As PonyBat was truly impressed, she formulated an answer (or more, who knows?) and asked AnonymousBat to intermediate the communication again. Thus, AnonymousBat (the VPN server) encrypted the PonyBat’s message and sent it back to TomBat (the VPN client). As TomBat was aware of the encryption type (the VPN protocol), he could decipher the message and enjoy it.
The communication within a virtual private network works similarly. The data from the sender (the VPN client) is encrypted and passed to the middle man (the VPN server). Next, the data is forwarded, decrypted, and sent to the destination. Backward, the destination sends data to the VPN server, where data is encrypted and sent to the VPN client.
To use a VPN, you need access to the necessary components (client, server) and to set up the communication channel (using an encryption protocol).
What you need to get a VPN working – VPN components
As “bat-ifully” explained here, VPN technology relies on several components that work together to achieve secure communication and online anonymity. The usage of VPN involves access to VPN client applications and VPN servers, that utilize VPN protocols to exchange data.
As all operating systems (Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, Android) have built-in components that can act as VPN clients, the key component of accessing a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is the VPN server.
How to get a VPN
The first step in using a VPN is getting access to a Virtual Private Network. And, here are the available options.
Connect to a private VPN
The VPN is a legal and valuable technology, and many companies use it to restrict access to private resources (documents, intranet) and secure communication between remote team members. Similarly, schools and universities use VPN to implement content access policies.
Connecting to such private VPN networks requires permissions granted by the network administrators. You need to receive login credentials (server address, username, password) or certificate profiles. Additionally, VPN setup instructions are mandatory, and they should also specify the VPN protocol to be configured.
Subscribe to a VPN service (free or paid)
VPN services are very popular nowadays as they provide easy access to already configured VPN servers, available in hundreds of locations, 24 hours a day.
VPN providers enable smooth access to secure servers through easy to use VPN client apps (one-click connect) compatible with the most popular OSes like Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, Chrome OS.
All you need to do is install a VPN application (VPN software) and connect it to the desired server location. Sometimes, you may choose the level of encryption, the VPN protocol, the communication port.
Just like proxies, totally free VPN services exist, but we do not recommend them. They may be either selling your private data, be malware, or adware applications.
Freemium or premium services are the way to go when it comes to online privacy or security. Freemium VPN services are built to promote their paid versions, and they come with certain limitations. However, most of them can be trusted.
If you take your online privacy seriously, premium or paid VPN services are a must.
By subscribing to a VPN service, you receive all the information necessary to start using the VPN (login credentials, setup instructions, download links).
Set up your own VPN server (Advanced)
Setting up your own dedicated VPN server is not as difficult as it may sound. However, it requires some basic tech knowledge.
It is beyond the scope of this article to explain how to set up a VPN server manually. But we recommend the following tutorials:
- How to set up your VPN server in Cloud
- How to deploy Algo VPN
- How to install a VPN server on Raspberry Pi
- How to set up a VPN server at home
How to set up a VPN connection
After you get access to a VPN, setting up the VPN connection is pretty straight forward.
Option 1 – Manually set up a VPN connection.
Major operating systems (Windows, Mac OS, iOS, Android) can act as VPN clients and establish VPN connections to VPN servers using various VPN protocols.
The manual setup involves several basic steps that can be performed even by users that are not tech gurus.
For example, to set up an L2TP VPN connection on a Mac (learn more on how to use a VPN on Mac here), you need to:
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Network.
- Click on the “+” sign to add a new connection.
- Select VPN as an interface type and L2TP over IPSec as VPN type.
- Click Create.
- Fill in the Server Address and the Account Name (username).
- Complete the Authentication Settings.
- The VPN connection is set up. Next, click Connect.
Option 2 – Install and run a VPN client application
Many VPN providers offer access to custom VPN clients that can be used to choose a VPN server or location, select a VPN protocol, and connect with one click.
Here are the steps to be performed when using a VPN client application:
- Download and install the VPN software.
- Run the client (on desktop computers) or the app (mobile devices). Note that a client and an app is actually the same thing.
- Sign in to the app or client with the login details provided when you subscribed to the VPN service.
- On most VPN applications, there is a big Connect button. Clicking on or tapping this button will connect your device to a VPN server nearby that has been selected by the VPN provider. This will likely give you the fastest VPN connection that is available.
To use a server located in a different country or region, some VPNs provide a map you can use to select the region you want to connect to by clicking on that region or country on the map. If the VPN does not have this functionality, clicking on the menu button will probably allow you to select from a list of VPN servers available.
Generally, VPN software is designed to be user-friendly, and you should be able to use it without having to do any configuration.
Major open-source VPN projects, like OpenVPN, Shadowsocks, SoftEther, and WireGuard, also expose VPN clients on various devices and operating systems. They are less user-friendly than commercial ones, but they do their job well.
How to use VPN on mobile devices
The options presented above are available for mobile devices as well.
There are normally two ways to configure VPN on mobile devices. The first is to manually configure VPN, and the second is to install a VPN app. Before you start, you should select the VPN service you would like to use on your mobile devices.
Configuring the mobile device VPN manually
For Android devices, go to Settings > More > VPN > +. Enter the required info, and you’ll be connected.
For iOS devices (iPhone, iPad), go to Settings > General > VPN > Add VPN configuration. Enter the required info like VPN connection name and VPN server address, and you’ll be connected.
Installing a VPN app
You may start with a search in the Apple App Store or Google Play. Try “vpn”, “unlimited vpn”, “unlimited bandwidth VPN”, or the name of the VPN service you subscribed to.
Install the VPN app, then run it and log in to your account. Select the preferred server you want to use, and you’ll be connected. It’s easy to use a VPN app.
In the case of WireGuard, you may install the WireGuard app for iOS, import a configuration file or create one from scratch, and activate the VPN tunnel.
How to install a VPN on a router
By installing a VPN on a router, you can make sure that everything connected to the router communicates safely through a VPN connection. By doing this, you will no longer have to install an individual app on anything that has web access, including your smart TVs, laptops, and mobile devices.
Before installing a VPN on a router, make sure that the router is, in fact, compatible with VPNs. This can be done by checking the website of the router’s manufacturer. Most Tomato-boosted and DD-WRT routers are VPN compatible.
Installation is easy and is done by logging into the router and then entering data in a few standard forms – you should handle this quite easily.
Here are several tutorials you can follow:
How to use VPN on a Smart TV or game consoles
Apple TVs, Smart TVs, Roku, devices like Chromecast, and several video gaming consoles (such as Xbox and PlayStation) often don’t have the option to be configured for VPNs.
There is however a number of different ways you can use to benefit from the advantages offered by a VPN connection.
Router configuration
Configuring a router is a bit more complicated, and not all routers can be configured to use VPN. It is, however, a very effective way of securing the whole household or business. Once this has been done, each device that uses the router will be secured, including TVs, game controllers, and other devices that don’t support VPN.
VPN Sharing from a Windows device
The alternative is to configure VPN sharing from a Windows device. After the connection to a VPN has been achieved on Windows, share the Internet from it. This will enable connections from other devices like you would connect to a router.
VPN apps on Smart TVs
Some Smart TVs can run VPN applications directly. For example, those using Android TVs may install VPN apps from Google Play and run them in the same manner as on an Android phone or tablet.
How to use a VPN on a daily basis [Useful tips]
VPN is the kind of technology that you should use regularly for your own online security and privacy.
Using a VPN daily involves less effort than checking your email. Here are a few tips you can apply right away:
- Use a trustworthy VPN provider. We recommend NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access, probably the best VPN services available on the market.
- Subscribe to the VPN service for a longer period. Ensure your access to VPN servers is not cut off when you need it the most due to the expired subscription. By subscribing to annual or biannual plans, you reduce this risk to a minimum.
- Alternatively, install a free VPN app that you can use in case you get out of money and don’t want to continue with your subscription.
- Install the VPN or VPN apps on all your devices. Even if you don’t need a VPN on all devices at a specific time, it is useful to set them all (or almost) once you subscribed to the service. You save yourself time.
- Choose the VPN protocol based on the online activity you are performing. For example, if you need high-speed connections for your daily VPN routine or for downloading torrents, use PPTP or IKEv2. If you need to bypass specific filtering systems, for example, imposed by your ISP (Internet Service Provider), or by the Great Firewall, use robust protocols like SSTP, Stealth VPN.
- If you’re deeply preoccupied with your online security, and you need to stay away from prying eyes, make sure to make the most of what your VPN provider has to offer. Look for advanced VPN features and make sure to use them. Such features might be the VPN Kill Switch (Internet Kill Switch or Application KillSwitch), of different options that keep you away from IP leaking or DNS leaks. Additionally, split tunneling is highly useful.
- Are you into multiplayer gaming? Use a gaming VPN to increase the connection speed or use an obfuscated VPN server to gain access to geo-blocked games.
- Turn on the “run at startup” and “VPN on-demand” options (if available). Again, you save time by not searching for the app. Click and connect should be your goal.
- Set the VPN apps on your mobile devices to automatically connect to the VPN when switching to unsecured Wi-Fi networks. You don’t need to check whether the public WiFi hotspot from the coffee shop you are trying to connect to is secured or not. The VPN app will check it for you and turn the VPN protection on if necessary. You will even be able to use your credit cards for online purchases confidently.
- If you’re into free VPNs, you probably are into Tor too. Yes, Tor is like a free VPN, but we need to be honest, and we have to admit that it’s known as “the dark web” for a few good reasons. Since you are/will be the proud owner of a VPN subscription, make sure to combine Tor with your VPN to be sure that you’re enjoying a 100% secured internet connection. Additionally, I highly recommend testing your free VPN connection every time you use it.
- Use browser extensions. If you’ve opted for a VPN provider that puts a lot on the table, check if you can use VPN browser extensions for Chrome and Opera, or VPN addons for Firefox. Even if these tools are not encrypting your traffic, they are great at bypassing geo-restrictions, changing your IP address, and hiding your virtual location, plus are perfect for streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer), like accessing blocked Youtube videos or P2P file-sharing activities.
Thus, every time you need to use a VPN, you can use it with one or two (ok, maybe three) clicks or taps.
Summary
There are plenty of options when it comes to VPN usage. You may set a VPN on various devices, including mobile phones, tablets, routers, or game consoles. You may even install your private VPN server.
Using a VPN will keep internet traffic secure and you will gain access to restricted content. As many different devices and computers are used to access the internet nowadays, it makes sense to secure all connections to the internet via a VPN.
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