Install VPN on your computer quickly, easily and simply

Want to get unlimited opportunities when working on the network? Ready to ensure complete anonymity and security on the Internet? Regional locks – is this not for you? Then connect a virtual private network to your work, VPN. This is a reliable solution that will save you from all kinds of risks and provide a lot of opportunities for stable and functional work.

Now let's take a closer look at what programs can be used to install VPN on a computer, consider their features. We will also show you how to set up a virtual private network on a PC running on Windows, Mac OS and Ubuntu operating networks (GNU / Linux distribution).

Getting acquainted with programs for installing VPN on a computer

If you plan to use VPN on your computer, we recommend that you pay attention to two programs:

1. OpenVPN.
2. WireGuard.

Both options will show themselves perfectly in practice, please with stable work and functionality. So that you can choose the right option easily and simply, let's get acquainted in more detail with each option.

OpenVPN: A popular VPN protocol for computers

OpenVPN — it is a well-known and widely used virtual private network protocol. It uses VPN methods to create reliable point-to-point connections. and «site-site». Developed by James Yonan back in 2001, but over the years of work on the market, it has not lost its functionality and relevance. Moreover, the protocol itself has gained its own open source application, which has made it even more popular.

Destination OpenVPN – provides connections between the client and the server. It is usually used to create a secure "tunnel" between VPN client and VPN server. It uses the OPENSSL library to encrypt and validate the service. Also, OpenVPN can use UDP (User Datagram Protocol) and TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) to transfer data. Both of these protocols, both UDP and TCP – These are transport layer protocols designed to transfer data over a network. TCP is considered more secure because it is able to compensate for errors (when it delays sending a packet until it receives a delivery confirmation before resending or sending a new packet). UDP is more error prone, but much faster.

OpenVPN mostly runs on the UDP protocol. Therefore, the access server first tries to establish a UDP connection. And only if the attempt fails, then a TCP connection will be attempted. Thanks to its encoding (a specialized security protocol), the OpenVPN protocol can easily traverse HTTP and NAT.

Among other distinctive features of this application, we highlight:

• Open source. OpenVPN is not owned by any one organization, anyone can review the code or make improvements to it. It mainly uses 256-bit OpenSSL encryption to improve the security of its connections. You can also use Aes, Camellia, 3des, Cast-128, Blowfish ciphers for even more security.
• Alternate protocol. Openvpn does not support L2TP, IPSec and PPTP. However, it provides an alternative protocol based on TLS and SSL. You can improve the authentication and authorization process using third-party plugins and scripts. Users can connect to servers that will not be part of the OpenVPN server, as it allows you to create an individual subnet.
• Secure user access. OpenVPN is equipped with tls-auth to protect users from buffer overflows in TLS/SSL implementations, DOS attacks, port scans and port overflows. The framework allows you to reset the authorization if necessary, and also offers "jail"; Chroot for CRL.
• Runs in user space, not in the kernel. OpenVPN is considered one of the most secure virtual private network protocols today.

A huge number of service providers, security experts recommend installing such a VPN on a computer to maintain confidentiality without the danger of being closely monitored by intruders or subjected to hacker attacks. If you decide to install OpenVPN VPN on your computer, you can download the program via a direct link from the official website https://openvpn.net/community-downloads/.

WireGuard: young but strong opponent

VPN Protocol WireGuard — it is an efficient way to organize communication between two – local and remote. It is provided by creating encryption and user authentication protocols. While OpenVPN has been a leader in the protocol market for two decades now, WireGuard is gaining acceptance as a reliable and competent alternative.

WireGuard strengths:

• Wire Guard — it is a protocol with different versions. This means that it is updated frequently and each version uses its own encryption. By the way, OpenVPN changes its encryption algorithm only at the request of the administrator.
• Increased connection speed. The WireGuard protocol is really notable for its amazing speed when sending data packets through a tunnel. This is made possible by its operation in the kernel space, which allows maximum use of the processor's capabilities. It provides faster speed than OpenVPN for the same CPU consumption. The test results proved that WireGuard outperforms its rival in processing speed and ping by more than 3 times! In addition, when connecting to an OpenVPN server, you must go through a lengthy process of verifying encryption and communication standards, which slows down the connection.
• Fewer lines of code. WireGuard's small codebase (4k lines compared to OpenVPN's 70k lines) allows the server to instantly recognize the necessary encryption and communication standards. This reduces the possibility of errors and security threats, simplifies maintenance and auditing, which ultimately leads to a more secure and reliable connection.
• Increased security. OpenVPN uses certificates for authentication and encryption, which contain additional information such as organization affiliation and expiration date. WireGuard, on the other hand, uses public key encryption, and the keys contain only the information needed to decrypt. As a result, encryption is simpler and less vulnerable to demodernization (downgrade attacks). In addition, the code is significantly shorter, which adds an extra layer of protection.

But, you need to understand that at the time of its launch (2020), this protocol was presented to the world community as an experimental technology. And this means that it will still take a lot of time to bring it to perfection and remove all kinds of inaccuracies and shortcomings. Often, WireGuard also ran into criticism due to the fact that it does not support such an operating system as popular today as Windows. But today this problem has already been fixed.

A number of shortcomings that this application has today have not become a stumbling block in its distribution on the market. And if you decide to install VPN on a computer with WireGuard support, you will get a reliable and stable solution. The privacy policy is strictly enforced and – are not saved. Download VPN WireGuard to your computer from the official website of the developer https://www.wireguard.com.

Setting up VPN on the computer

Now that you know which programs to use when working with virtual private networks, it's time to learn how to properly install and configure VPN on your computer. The upcoming process has its own nuances depending on which operating system is installed on your device. Consider the three most popular solutions today:

1. Mac OS.
2. Windows
3. Ubuntu.

I want to draw your attention to the terms that will be found in each of the settings. So, L2TP — it is an extension of PPTP that providers use to set up virtual private networks. IPsec — it's a suite of security protocols, and IKEV2 — this is the protocol that creates a secure map in IPsec.

Setting up a VPN on a computer with Mac OS

Connecting to a virtual private network requires certain configuration options to be entered in the Network settings. They may include the address of the VPN server, the account name, as well as any necessary authentication data, such as a password or login. If you are not sure what you need to do to set up a connection, you can get information from your organization's network administrator or VPN provider.

Next, we perform a series of actions in the following sequence:

1. Setting up a VPN connection. If you have already received a VPN settings file for your computer from your network administrator or service provider, simply double-click on it to establish a connection. If not, you can enter the parameters manually.
2. Manual entry of VPN parameters. To enter settings manually, go to the Apple System Preferences menu. on your Mac and click on the "VPN" option in the sidebar. (you may have to scroll down the window).
3. Click on the "Add VPN configuration" button located on the right and select the type of VPN connection you want to establish. Then enter a name for the new virtual private network in the "Display Name" field. When configuring L2tp over IPsec VPN, select a configuration from the pop-up menu. If you are not trying to configure many settings, the "Standard" configuration option will suit you.
4. Enter the parameters for the new VPN. To install a new VPN service, you must enter certain data that depends directly on the type of network. These parameters may include server IP, account login, password, authentication technology. Enter additional options if required.
5. L2TP over IPsec. In some cases, it may be necessary to specify the parameters "Options", "TCP / IP", "DNS" and "Proxy". If you are using Cisco IPSec or IKEv2, then you will need to specify "DNS" and "Proxy". This completes the basic settings. It remains to click on the "Create" button.

To view or change your VPN settings on your computer, select the Apple System Preferences menu, then click VPN in the sidebar (remember, you may have to scroll down the window). On the right, click the "Information" button next to the VPN service you want to change. Make the necessary changes if necessary. Click the "OK" button or "Cancel" (if no changes are required).

If you want to get rid of the VPN configuration on your Mac, open System Preferences in the Apple menu. Scroll down the window and find VPN in the sidebar. Click on the "Info" button next to the VPN service you want to delete and select "Delete configuration" to confirm its deletion.

To connect to the network and switch between VPN services, you can use the "Status Icon" VPN icon located on the Menu bar.

Setting up a VPN on a Windows computer

1. In this block, we will describe how to connect to a VPN server on a computer using an L2TP / IPsec client integrated into Windows OS, including 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and 11, Vista, XP, RT, Server 2003, 2008, 2012 , 2016, 2019. Perform actions in the following sequence:
2. We set the preliminary settings. Press Windows + R to open the Network and Sharing Center. You can also find this option in the Network and Internet Control Panel. Enter the following command in the run window: "Control.exe /name Microsoft.NetworkandSharingCenter" and click on the "OK" button. After that, on the main page of the Network and Sharing Center, select the item "Create and configure a new connection or network".
3. Connecting to the workplace. Select the "Connect to a workplace" option. Then select "Use my internet connection" (VPN). Select the VPN server for the computer you want to connect to. Important information: l2TP/IPsec column (Windows, MAC, iPhone, Android) does not need a client; just make sure there is a checkbox in the list of servers indicating support for custom l2TP/IPsec protocol.
4. Connect to the server. To connect to the server, you must apply a search filter by leaving the l2TP/IPsec checkbox selected and clicking the Refresh Server List button. Then take the DDNS Hostname (ending in ".opengw.net") or IP-address and write it in the "Internet Address" field. It is better to use the DDNS name as it will not be affected when the IP-address changes. However, this may not be possible in some countries, so the IP address should be used in this case.
5. Enter the VPN credentials on the computer. When the username and password window appears, enter the appropriate data in both fields. It would be useful to check the "Remember password" box. After that go to "Network and Sharing Center" and click the "Change adapter settings" link or just press the keyboard shortcut "Windows + R" and enter "ncpa.cpl" in the launch window. This will show you a list of active connections. Right-click on the icon of the newly created VPN connection and select the "Properties" tab.
6. Setting up security. Go to the "Security" tab and in the field "Type of VPN" select the l2TP/IPsec protocol from the drop-down list. For "Data Encryption" select "Required" (disable if no encryption). Then click the "Advanced Settings" button. A new window will appear in which you need to select the option "Use a shared key for authentication" and enter the VPN parameters in the "Key" field.
7. Connecting to the VPN server. After completing the settings, click the "OK" button twice to close the VPN connection settings. To connect to a VPN server on your computer, click on the network (Internet) icon in the taskbar notification area (system tray) and select "Configured VPN Connection". Click the "Connect" button. If the login or password is not loaded automatically, enter your VPN login information in both fields and click "OK".
8. Checking the connection. When you try to connect, the message "Connecting to [selected vpn server]" will appear. If there is a problem, make sure you set the VPN type — " l2TP/IPsec» and the authentication key is configured correctly. When the VPN connection is established without errors, a new item "VPN connection" will appear in the list of networks, which will be marked as "Connected".

That's it, this completes the basic settings. Then you will be able to adjust the operation of VPN on your computer by yourself simply by clicking the VPN connection icon in the list of networks. It gives you unlimited internet access. Once the connection is established, all your network traffic will be routed through the VPN server. To check if packets are passing through the server, you can use the "tracert 8.8.8.8" command; at the Windows command line.

Setting up a VPN on an Ubuntu machine

By connecting to a VPN on a computer with a GNU/Linux Ubuntu distribution, you will be able to browse sites that have been blocked and participate in blocked games. To run a virtual private network on your device, you need to install the necessary packages. Follow our instructions:

1. Run the following commands to update the package version information and install the NetworkManager l2TP plugin: "Sudo apt update" followed by "Sudo apt install -y network-manager-l2tp network-manager-l2tp-gnome".
2. Setting up a new VPN connection. Click on the network connection icon in the upper right corner of the desktop. Then click on the "Settings" button in the shortcut menu. Here go to the "Network" tab and press the "+" symbol next to "VPN" to create a new VPN connection.
3. Select l2TP tunneling protocol.
4. Enter the VPN server settings, username and password that were provided to you earlier. Click on the "User" icon in the password field and select the "Store password for this user only" option.
5. Configure IPsec settings. Click the "IPsec Settings" button. In the window that opens, check the box "Enable IPsec tunnel to l2TP host". Pass the "Pre-shared key" obtained from the user's access data in the "Pre-shared key" field. Select the "Advanced" option. Set "Phase1 algorithms" to value "3des-sha1-modp1024".
6. Set "phase 2 algorithms" to the value "3des-sha1". Click on the "OK" button.
7. Add a route to the IPV4 tab. Scroll to the "Routes" segment "IPV4" tabs. Enter the route and then press the "ADD" button to save the settings.

Everything. This completes the settings. It remains only to check the activity of the VPN connection.

Summing up

Now you know how to connect a VPN to a computer with a particular operating system and you can do this work yourself. The last point that is important to consider – correct choice of virtual private network server. The functionality, stability and reliability of your subsequent work depends on this. Therefore, initially we recommend that you turn the withdrawal to VPN from the "Individual VPN" service. So you get the best solution in terms of price, features, ease of use. And no risk! We also invite you to explore what our «Affiliate Program» offers you.

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