How to install VPN – Best practices

Downloading and installing VPN is easy but finding the best VPN would not be so easy without our guide. Read and find the necessary information you need, to get your VPN up and running.

Are you looking to increase your online privacy or do you want to use VPN for entertainment purposes?

We’ll take you through the necessary steps to get your own virtual private network up and running.

But first we need to understand what a VPN is and what VPN connection means.

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What is VPN?

We wrote a detailed guide about VPN and how it works. You can read that to understand more or continue with this article to understand the installation process.

But quickly. VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a third-party software that increases your online privacy and security, but you can use it also for streaming, torrenting and unblocking geographic content.

Simply VPN tunnels and encrypts your connection between your network and endpoint. This means that nobody even government or Internet service provider can see your real IP address or any personal information.

Many individuals and corporation use VPN on their daily tasks.

Before you are ready to install VPN you need to choose right VPN. Choosing the right VPN might be the hardest part. If you are a company or individual, fortunately we got you covered.

We wrote VPN reviews which contain the basic information about VPN company. But we’ll dig further into the case and roll every stone we see. We only give reviews for legitimate VPN companies that have been in business for a long time and are popular over the world.

We also ask our readers what they think about VPN and share the experience with you.

If you are new to VPNs and don’t know what to choose, we can suggest you two most popular VPNs NordVPN or ExpressVPN.

How to set up VPN on PC and mobiles?

The easiest way of installing and using VPN is: get VPN -> log in their website -> install software -> log in the software -> you are done.

Now you have registered with the VPN service of your choice. And it is time to download and install the software.

Follow these steps carefully and you are good to go.

PC

  1. Log in the VPN providers website you chose.
  2. In your own dashboard you have download link. Download it.
  3. Download and run the installer.
  4. Log in the software. Now you are good to go and can connect to any server you want.

 

Android

  1. Open settings on Android device
  2. Find Wireless and networks and click more
  3. Select VPN and tap the + sign
  4. Choose the protocol you want or automatic if you don’t know what they mean. Then fill required fields with information given by VPN provider
  5. Click save and you are ready to connect.

 

IOS

  1. Open settings -> General -> VPN
  2. Click add VPN configuration followed by type
  3. Choose the type you want or leave blank
  4. return to previous screen and enter VPN provider details in the fields
  5. Tap done and switch it on.

VPN server for Windows & Mac

If you want to get things simply and need VPN with one click activation but not on a server level, you can just follow the guide on the PC section.

Installing VPN server is a bit different and is a bit more complicated. Server means that all connection made through that network are secured.

Because different systems have different ways of installing VPN server. We give you a bullet list you can follow:

Windows 10

  1. Open search and search for Cortana
  2. Select VPN settings and click the + sign and find add VPN connection
  3. Select dropdown menu and choose Windows built in. If you know more about VPN protocols you can choose any (PPTP, L2TP/IPsec, SSTP or IKEv2) or simply “automatic”.
  4. Fill the rest of the fields with information provided in your VPN panel.
  5. Click Next. Now click on you Wi-Fi connection and select VPN connection. Connect to it and you are done.

Macintosh

  1. Open system preferences setting and click on Network
  2. Select + sign and choose VPN
  3. Fill required fields with information given by VPN provider.
  4. Click apply and then ok and you are ready to connect.

Quick information about VPN protocols

VPN protocols are not necessary to understand if you are an individual who just wants to use VPN here and there. For more advanced users, there are five different types of VPN protocols.

OpenVPN is open-source VPN protocol. It is easy to adapt with wide range of premade configurations, but it is not the fastest, but most versatile option out there.

L2TP/IPSec is most used VPN protocol and has been used long since. This protocol is ideal for classic VPN use and almost every router and computer in the world supports it. It is faster than OpenVPN.

PPTP is also very used protocol, but it was originally designed for dial-up networks. So unfortunately, this one comes with few weaknesses.

SSTP is also a popular way of securing connection. Mainly Windows systems are known to use this secure socket tunneling protocol. It is fast and reliable.

IKEv2 is mainly designed for mobile devices. It is not exactly a VPN, but it works the same way in mobile devices.