How to Use VPN: 9 Steps (with Pictures)

Table of contents:

How to Use VPN: 9 Steps (with Pictures)
How to Use VPN: 9 Steps (with Pictures)
Anonim

When using a VPN connection, all internet traffic is rerouted through a secure server which also encrypts all data, protecting it from prying eyes. This means that the manager of your internet connection (ISP), as well as all other users who are using the same Wi-Fi network, will not be able to know what you do when you are online. VPN connections are also used in business or school settings to allow users to have access to the internal network directly from home or anywhere else on the globe. If you don't need to use a VPN connection to connect to the network of the company you work for or the school you are attending, you can choose from a wide range of paid or free VPN services, many of which can be used directly from your computer, smartphone or tablet by installing a specific client. This article explains how to subscribe to a VPN service and how to use it.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Choosing a VPN Service

Use a VPN Step 1
Use a VPN Step 1

Step 1. Contact your employer, school or organization you are attending

If you need to use a VPN connection to access the network from the outside of the company you work for, the school you attend or the organization you work with, you will need to get hold of some information that will have to be provided to you. directly from those who manage the internal network. The data you will need may vary according to the type of connection, but normally you will need a client that you will need to install on your computer and a connection account consisting of a username and password. The IT department staff will be able to determine if your computer is compatible with the VPN client you will need to use and if not, they will guide you through the configuration modification process that you will need to perform and will help you make the first connection by explaining what you will need to do.

  • The IT department staff will give you a default password for the connection which you can then customize as you wish. Choose a password specific to this account, but one that is easy to remember. Avoid writing it down on paper or post-it notes and don't keep it with your computer. To create your password, do not use data that anyone can easily find, such as dates of birth, names of your family members, or other personal information in the public domain.
  • If you ever need to reinstall your operating system, perform major upgrades, or restore your computer to a previous configuration, notify your IT staff immediately. In these cases, you may no longer have access to the VPN client on your computer.
Use a VPN Step 2
Use a VPN Step 2

Step 2. Choose whether to use a free or paid VPN service

If you need to use the VPN connection for personal purposes, such as being able to browse the web anonymously or access websites in other countries, you will have a wide range of choices. In this case you can choose from a large number of offers both free and paid and in both scenarios you will have advantages:

  • Free VPN services usually have limits in terms of data traffic, connection speed, number of devices that can be used at the same time and time of use. They also often use banners and advertisements. However, they can be for you if you need to use them sporadically, for example when you need to use a public Wi-Fi network such as that of a library or club. In most cases, you won't have to provide a lot of personal information and you won't have to incur any costs. Below is a small list of free VPN services you can choose from: ProtonVPN, WindScribe, and Speedify.
  • If you are looking for a more complete solution that hides the activities you carry out on the web from prying eyes, has no limits in terms of speed, amount of data and is generally more secure and reliable, then you will have to opt for a paid service. However, this does not mean that you will have to bear enormous costs; some great VPN services cost a few dollars or euros per month. Inside the New York Times Wirecutter column, you'll find reviews of many VPN services. The best VPN services, according to the New York Times, are Mullvad VPN and IPVN. Other services that deserve a mention are TunnelBear, Encrypt.me, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN.
Use a VPN Step 3
Use a VPN Step 3

Step 3. Review the reviews and experiences of other users

If the goal is to protect your data while online and to browse the web safely, you will need to select a VPN service that you can trust 100%. Before choosing a VPN service, search the web using the name of the service and the keyword "reviews" to see what users who have already used it think. Reddit is a great site where you can find honest and unbiased reviews.

You need to find your way around VPN services that don't track your online activities. However, this is difficult information to come by because not all VPN service providers are telling the truth. ExpressVPN is a service whose honesty and transparency have been field tested, as Turkish authorities have found no information on the activity of users using the service when they raided its data center

Use a VPN Step 4
Use a VPN Step 4

Step 4. Create an account

After choosing the VPN service you want to use, you will normally need to register to create an account and make the first payment (if you have chosen to use a paid platform). After creating the account, you can download the VPN client to your computer, tablet or smartphone that you will need to use to connect to the service.

Use a VPN Step 5
Use a VPN Step 5

Step 5. Install the VPN client on your device

Visit the website of the VPN service you have chosen to use, then follow the instructions that will be given to you to follow the installation of the software. If the mobile app is also available, you can download it from the Play Store (for Android) or the App Store (for iPhone / iPad).

  • If you have chosen to use a PC, double click on the installation file you just downloaded (normally it is an executable file in EXE format), then follow the instructions that will appear on the screen. Once the installation is complete, you will be able to launch the VPN client directly from the menu Start Windows.
  • If you are using a Mac, you will need to open the DMG file and drag the client app to the folder Applications. The first time you start the program, you will be asked to provide your computer login password, if any.
  • If you are using a mobile device, you will simply have to launch the client app that you find on the Home. You will be asked to log in with your account or create one now if you haven't already.

Part 2 of 2: Using the VPN Connection

Use a VPN Step 6
Use a VPN Step 6

Step 1. Launch the VPN client

Once you've downloaded and installed it on your device, it's time to use it. If you are using a Windows computer, you will need to go to the "Start" menu. If you are using a Mac, you will need to go to the "Applications" folder. If you are using a mobile device, you will find the client icon within the list of installed apps.

Use a VPN Step 7
Use a VPN Step 7

Step 2. Log in with your account

In most cases, when you subscribe to a VPN service, you will be provided with a username and password. Often you will only need to provide this information the first time you log into the VPN network. However, for VPN services that require a higher level of security, you will need to log in each time you log in.

  • If you are using the VPN network in a corporate environment or if you have chosen to use a personal client, you will be able to access the network in total safety. In this case, a new window will appear in which you will find the desktop of the computer that you normally use at work and that you can use to access all the resources of the corporate network. In other cases, you will be able to access company resources by connecting to a secure website via your browser and logging in with your account.
  • If you are using a VPN service that has a traffic or time limit, remember to use the VPN connection only when you need to surf the web in total anonymity.
Use a VPN Step 8
Use a VPN Step 8

Step 3. Read the terms and conditions of the contract that regulates the rules of use of the service

If you need to use the VPN connection for personal purposes, carefully read the terms and conditions of the contract you signed by subscribing to the service. Some VPN network operators, especially those that offer a free service, may involve installing third-party software or using banner ads. Make sure you are perfectly aware of all the services that are offered to you, of what the VPN network operator you are contacting expects from you and what information is collected and stored relating to what you do on the web when you are using it. service.

Advice

  • Most VPN services offer enough guarantees in terms of data security and privacy to be able to connect to a secure server when not at home.
  • The VPN connection does not make it safer to access sites that use the HTTPS protocol. The main purpose of VPN service is to increase the user's privacy when browsing the web.

Warnings

  • Using a VPN connection to change the location from which you access the internet so that you can have access to content reserved for specific countries could violate the terms of the agreement that governs the use of the service and in some cases the laws in force.
  • If you commit a crime or perform illegal activities on the web, you may still be discovered by the relevant bodies and face the legal consequences of your actions, even if you are using a VPN connection.

Recommended:

How to Use a Bidet: 10 Steps (with Pictures)

How to Use a Bidet: 10 Steps (with Pictures)

The bidet is widespread in many parts of the world, but not in Anglo-Saxon countries. Even in China, the Middle East, Latin America or the Far East it is not uncommon to find one in the bathroom. It is a tool that guarantees your personal hygiene and that uses the flow of water to do the same job as toilet paper.

How to Use a Washing Machine: 10 Steps (with Pictures)

How to Use a Washing Machine: 10 Steps (with Pictures)

Washing machines are incredibly comfortable and simple to use appliances, but sometimes it is necessary to adapt to the characteristics of the various models. If you have just bought your first washing machine or are looking to do your first laundry, don't worry:

How To Use The Oscilloscope: 12 Steps (with Pictures)

How To Use The Oscilloscope: 12 Steps (with Pictures)

Scared of all the controls and numbers of a cathode ray oscillator? Do not be afraid! It is not that difficult to use after learning the basic functions. Steps Step 1. Make sure the intensity is low before turning on the oscilloscope Step 2.

How to Use an Oven: 6 Steps (with Pictures)

How to Use an Oven: 6 Steps (with Pictures)

This article is not about how to light an oven; that type of information can be found in the user manual and is closely linked to the model purchased. Rather, this article focuses on how to best use it by knowing some of the basics that help you get great cooking results.

How to Use a Blender: 12 Steps (with Pictures)

How to Use a Blender: 12 Steps (with Pictures)

This little appliance will soon become your best friend. A few experiments are enough to make you understand that you will no longer be able to do without it. And all you have to do is press a button. Follow the steps below to start doing pretty much everything.