VPN basics: connection, installation, configuration, and shutdown

Nowadays, more and more requests in the search engines are related to the possibility of accessing the Internet safely. The reasons for that could be different: to hide actual location, to hide Internet activity in general, to bypass online censorship, to download films and games through torrents, to get access to streaming platforms. Meanwhile, the user does not have to be and mostly does not want to be an expert in IT technologies. The solution should be simple and trustable – that is why VPN services have become very popular.

VPN is a Virtual Private Network that creates an additional layer of safety between the user and the Internet. Users’ actions, including IP-address, passwords, private information, and location, cannot be tracked with VPN usage. This information will be encrypted, and VPN will mask the IP address. To access VPN advantages, you need to correctly choose VPN and Search engine with the common question is duckduckgo legitimate ? to understand the rules and how everything works.

How to choose VPN

There are simple suggestions on how to choose an excellent VPN. For sure, not all suggestions can be followed; it depends on the level of security you want to obtain. The user should keep in mind that some VPNs (especially free ones) can collect the user’s information and use it for their own needs; it can be stored not safe there and could be hacked. Typically, the safer and more popular VPN is, the more expensive its connection will be.

• High-quality encryption and safety protocols (some IT companies have their own highly recommended ones).
• Trustable confidentiality politics (it is better than the user’s information being stored on different servers in pieces).
• Simple login information, mainly e-mail address and payment details (the possibility to pay by cryptocurrency is a significant plus, as it is anonymous).
• Possibility to change the location of the VPN server to access content from different countries.
• High download and connection speed.
• Technical support 24/7.
• Possibility to use on several devices at the same time.
• Good price.

After choosing a proper VPN, you need to understand how to use it properly.

How to install and connect to VPN

There are different devices where VPN can be used, and the connection will definitely be different. Let’s discuss the most common: a computer (Windows) and a mobile phone (Android and iOS).

For a computer with a Windows system, the connection includes the following steps:

1. Choose in the menu “Start” – “Settings”.
2. Choose “Network & Internet”.
3. Choose VPN in the left column.
4. Add VPN connection with the following data: VPN provider, Server name, and connection name.
5. Remember to insert sign-in information.
6. Activate the VPN in a menu of saved VPNs connection in “Network & Internet”.
7. Start to use VPN.

There are two possible ways to install a VPN on a mobile phone – directly in mobile settings or using a dedicated application of your chosen VPN. The connection via an application in most the cases is more accessible, but if you do not want to install it, you can use the following sequence for Android:

1. Choose “Settings” on your mobile.
2. Find VPN (you need to press more to find it).
3. The phone will ask you for a password or PIN code that you need to set for further use of the VPN.
4. The chosen security method will ask you to indicate a password or PIN code one more time.
5. Choose a type of notification that you would like.
6. Add a new VPN with a name, server address.
7. Save new VPN network.
8. Activate the VPN in the same settings folder “Settings “- VPN.
9. Start to use VPN.

And for users of iPhones the sequence is slightly different:

1. Choose “Settings”.
2. Choose “Main”.
3. Find “VPN and device management”.
4. Add a new VPN configuration.
5. Choose type “L2TP”, “IKEv2”, or IPSec (usually, it should be “L2TP” or “IPSec” specialized on iPhone users) and insert the description, server name, ID, username, and password.
6. Now in “Settings” after modem mode, there is a new line – VPN.
7. Activate new VPN.
8. Start to use VPN.

How to configure VPN

All VPN configurations are determined by the data you inserted, creating a new VPN connection. Before it was described as the mandatory data for a new VPN, you may need to add some particular fields to be filled or indicate the correct type of VPN. So, all additional data can be changed in existing VPN connection settings (type of VPN, encryption data method, parameters, general, and many more) both on a computer and a mobile device. Then, if something goes wrong, you can create another VPN connection.

How to shutdown VPN

The process of disabled of any VPN service is also executed in the same menu as the activation of a VPN. On a computer, you need to disable it in the network and internet connections folder; the complete shutdown will be executed. On iOS or Android, in the VPN settings, there is an option to shut it down.

Some users can forget or think it is not required to shut down a VPN, but there are several main reasons. First, some VPNs can slow down the Internet connection. Secondly, in not secure VPN networks, you can be the aim of hackers, and if it is always turned on, you have a possibility of losing your personal information. Thirdly, if you choose a VPN from a dedicated country, you can lose the possibility of getting access to resources from your location.

Conclusion

It seems that VPN is a good solution for getting access to restricted resources in some countries. Still, you should remember in highly censored countries (Turkey, China), you violate the law with a VPN, so please be careful. Also, choose only trustworthy resources with good reviews and proper encryption (AES-256 and safe protocols such as IKEv2 or OpenVPN). There are some limitations in countries of international intelligence alliances – five eyes, nine or fourteen eyes – VPN service providers from these countries are obliged to register and send data about your activity to the military resources. But knowing all limitations, suggestions for choosing a safe VPN, and advice for its installation, connection, and configuration, you can achieve any goal for Internet anonymity. Anyway, all steps of safe using VPN resources are simple to follow.