VPN for Dummies

[Manassas]

I keep reading about the advantage of using a VPN for connecting to various services. But I'm not a techie. Can somebody give me a simple step-by-step of how to set up a VPN? Do I need a device or just download something etc?

[Eclipse]

You need to subscribe to a VPN provider and download their software.

I use Nord

Here are some more. http://www.top10bestvpn.com/?kw=top%20vpn&c=87075330251&t=search&p=&m=e&adpos=1t1&dev=c&devmod=&mobval=0&network=g&campaignid=279658571&adgroupid=22413006251&targetid=aud-122585770331:kwd-2538694574&interest=&physical=1012733&feedid=&ts=&a=1034&gclid=CLLeipfjkcsCFdaIaAods_MEvw

[worgeordie]

The most simple one maybe Zenmate, you can use the free one,or 15 day

trial of the Premium, just google Zenmate and download ,scan,and install,

With the free one you can connect to U.S.A. and other countries but not

the UK, that needs the paid Premium version. its all set up for you.

Another one is Browsec also free,has UK, use with Chrome.works well,

click on, off, easy.

regards Worgeordie

[PT4]

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​Manassas -

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​1) Worthwhile topic. I think many will appreciate you starting it here. I've been using VPNs for over 10 years. Hardly an expert, but have some experience.

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​2) In general, you don't need a device. A VPN is just software plus a monthly subscription. Download the software, set it up, and you'll have VPN. But...

3) It is possible to run a VPN on a WiFi router. So if there are several computers at your house, then setting up the VPN on one WiFi router will give all computers access to the VPN.

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​4) The setup can be very frustrating. Not always, but often. If you run into that, it's not you. It's the nature of VPNs.

​

​5) There are free VPNs and paid ones. Since the goal of a VPN is privacy, I do not trust any free ones.

6) VPNs are paid for by a monthly fee. You can use a credit card or PayPal. Now a few VPNs are starting to use DELETED. I like that because it adds another dimension of privacy.

I hope this is helpful to you.

​

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Edited March 31, 2016 by seedy
illegal activity

[Chicog]

Install Google Chrome.

From the Menu, select More Tools -> Extensions.

Search for "Browsec"

Install.

Click it to turn it on and select from US/NL/UK.

Turn it off when you don't need it.

Free.

[Aachen]

Do not mix VPN with VPN providers. A is a piece of software in your router and/or computer. I myself use a VPN at my home router. I installed the VPN on my phone, my tablet and laptop. So I use my home network from everywhere in the world.

[xen]

Install Google Chrome.

From the Menu, select More Tools -> Extensions.

Search for "Browsec"

Install.

Click it to turn it on and select from US/NL/UK.

Turn it off when you don't need it.

Free.

I have been using Browsec since you recommended it on another post - no problems with it at all (so far). Better than Zenmate in my opinion .

[Chicog]

I forgot that it also offers Singapore as an option.

And it works on Apple paraphernalia as well apparently.

Great for Netflix geolocation.

[DaveBKK]

Install Google Chrome.

From the Menu, select More Tools -> Extensions.

Search for "Browsec"

Install.

Click it to turn it on and select from US/NL/UK.

Turn it off when you don't need it.

Free.

Be aware there are some caveats with Browsec.

1) It actually doesn't seem to be a true VPN but rather a proxy service that's main goal is simply hiding your IP address. Is everything encrypted between you and Browsec?

2) They can see *everything* you're doing online when you use their service. There's very little information on the "company" or people behind Browsec? Do you trust them too everywhere you're surfing too? Do they proxy MITM SSL connections (in other words do they see all your logins and passwords?) I don't know...

3) They state in their terms they ARE collecting information on you and using it and will share it with 3rd parties.

[dddave]

Like the OP, I'm not particularly adept at setting up anything new. I'd been considering a VPN for a long time. A friend who is a professional IT guy steered me to PureVPN. It's not free ($10/month or $49/year) but it got really good reviews on some credible websites.

Sign up was multi-step but straightforward and well explained. I was able to open the account using Paypal. I elected to pay one month to try it out...there is a 7 day grace period where you can cancell and get 100% refund.

Set up was also multi-step but also well explained and illustrated. After the sign-up, you have to wait an hour or so for a confirmation Email that contains a unique username and password needed to complete the set-up; not the same user/log-in you use signing up. Once you complete the download, a wizard takes you through set-up. Options are pretty well explained. I was able to complete it on my own without my usual agonized howls of frustration.

I have been using it for four days now and my download speed is actually faster and far more consistent than ever. No problem loading content from anywhere.

I Should have done it a long time ago.

BTW, I'm on True 10+MB ADSL, Bangkok

Edited February 29, 2016 by dddave

[Chicog]

Like the OP, I'm not particularly adept at setting up anything new. I'd been considering a VPN for a long time. A friend who is a professional IT guy steered me to PureVPN. It's not free ($10/month or $49/year) but it got really good reviews on some credible websites.

Sign up was multi-step but straightforward and well explained. I was able to open the account using Paypal. I elected to pay one month to try it out...there is a 7 day grace period where you can cancell and get 100% refund.

Set up was also multi-step but also well explained and illustrated. After the sign-up, you have to wait an hour or so for a confirmation Email that contains a unique username and password needed to complete the set-up; not the same user/log-in you use signing up. Once you complete the download, a wizard takes you through set-up. Options are pretty well explained. I was able to complete it on my own without my usual agonized howls of frustration.

I have been using it for four days now and my download speed is actually faster and far more consistent than ever. No problem loading content from anywhere.

I Should have done it a long time ago.

BTW, I'm on True 10+MB ADSL, Bangkok

I doubt your download speed is faster, but I'm guessing web pages open quicker. Is that what you mean?

[jphasia]

Same as the post above, I don't have much knowledge about VPN. But I have been considering long time to use one. I actually used one long time ago when I came first to Myanmar and found out that websites such as Google, Banking, PayPal were blocked. That time, I was advised by someone to use a VPN in order to access such sites. later on, all was unlocked in Myanmar then there was for me no more need of VPN. But, since, I read more and more about VPN and considered that as I am spending quite a lot of time on internet, either personally or professionally, using online banking, or payment on internet, PayPal, also most of the time on the go (public wifi...)... and even torrent downloading, I might be consider seriously to use it. I felt little bit like the insurance, until nothing happen to you, you don't focus on it and don't feel need but...

I discovered on this topic "Browsec", didn't know about that. So, I opened Chrome, followed the instructions and installed Browsec. Easy and work fine but I am not sure it is enough for my use.

So, this week, I checked about VPN's reviews from various websites, forums..., read, compared...should I just use the free ones or should I go for a pay version...

I ended up with a shortlist which includes some apparently very popular provides, such PureVPN, HDM (not sure if I can write the full name here), OpenVPN...ExpressVPN.

I finally selected ExpressVPN, a paid version (100USD for 15 months as special package) which money back period. I found it easy for install, support various platform (OS X, Android for my need but also windows, iOS, Playstation, Xbox...).

So far, it seems to work fine. I installed it on my Mac and my Android smartphone. But what I found is: Of course, once installed, I tried it... I used one location on my Mac and another one on my smartphone. Instantly, I started to get a lot of warning from Google (I have 3 accounts) and Windows Live with "someone is using your account" which I understand google or windows try to figure out how I login from Singapore and Japan at the same time... Well, after confirming to Google and Windows that it was me, then all is fine. The other small issue I found is that I am currently in Myanmar right now and internet is quite slow and always up and down. That's mean the VPN is always disconnecting and reconnecting and sometime might be difficult to connect. I will be back in Thailand in few days and will see how it goes there.

[manfredtillmann]

i am using 'hola', a free vpn.

install your dedicated browser just for that (i.e. opera or chrome)

it can save you a lot of money.!

last year i got a price from the australian flight centre for my gf business class ticket bkk - fra - bkk and i got it more than A$ 2000 cheaper from the thai airways website - with hola pretending i was in thailand

also buying itunes stuff from the us at +/- 30% than from the oz site.

[dddave]

Like the OP, I'm not particularly adept at setting up anything new. I'd been considering a VPN for a long time. A friend who is a professional IT guy steered me to PureVPN. It's not free ($10/month or $49/year) but it got really good reviews on some credible websites.

Sign up was multi-step but straightforward and well explained. I was able to open the account using Paypal. I elected to pay one month to try it out...there is a 7 day grace period where you can cancell and get 100% refund.

Set up was also multi-step but also well explained and illustrated. After the sign-up, you have to wait an hour or so for a confirmation Email that contains a unique username and password needed to complete the set-up; not the same user/log-in you use signing up. Once you complete the download, a wizard takes you through set-up. Options are pretty well explained. I was able to complete it on my own without my usual agonized howls of frustration.

I have been using it for four days now and my download speed is actually faster and far more consistent than ever. No problem loading content from anywhere.

I Should have done it a long time ago.

BTW, I'm on True 10+MB ADSL, Bangkok

I doubt your download speed is faster, but I'm guessing web pages open quicker. Is that what you mean?

Yes.

[Chicog]

i am using 'hola', a free vpn.

install your dedicated browser just for that (i.e. opera or chrome)

it can save you a lot of money.!

last year i got a price from the australian flight centre for my gf business class ticket bkk - fra - bkk and i got it more than A$ 2000 cheaper from the thai airways website - with hola pretending i was in thailand

also buying itunes stuff from the us at +/- 30% than from the oz site.

Dump that crap, everyone else has.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/5/29/8685251/hola-vpn-botnet-selling-users-bandwidth

[manfredtillmann]

i am using 'hola', a free vpn.

install your dedicated browser just for that (i.e. opera or chrome)

it can save you a lot of money.!

last year i got a price from the australian flight centre for my gf business class ticket bkk - fra - bkk and i got it more than A$ 2000 cheaper from the thai airways website - with hola pretending i was in thailand

also buying itunes stuff from the us at +/- 30% than from the oz site.

Dump that crap, everyone else has.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/5/29/8685251/hola-vpn-botnet-selling-users-bandwidth

thank you for the link, i suppose they do tell you at least some of this when you sign up with them. nothing 'free' is really 'free'.

as i wrote, it has saved me a lot of money to date.

[Chicog]

i am using 'hola', a free vpn.

install your dedicated browser just for that (i.e. opera or chrome)

it can save you a lot of money.!

last year i got a price from the australian flight centre for my gf business class ticket bkk - fra - bkk and i got it more than A$ 2000 cheaper from the thai airways website - with hola pretending i was in thailand

also buying itunes stuff from the us at +/- 30% than from the oz site.

Dump that crap, everyone else has.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/5/29/8685251/hola-vpn-botnet-selling-users-bandwidth

thank you for the link, i suppose they do tell you at least some of this when you sign up with them. nothing 'free' is really 'free'.

as i wrote, it has saved me a lot of money to date.

I think the bit about other people being able to use your internet connection would be of greater concern, but that's just me.

[manfredtillmann]

i am using 'hola', a free vpn.

install your dedicated browser just for that (i.e. opera or chrome)

it can save you a lot of money.!

last year i got a price from the australian flight centre for my gf business class ticket bkk - fra - bkk and i got it more than A$ 2000 cheaper from the thai airways website - with hola pretending i was in thailand

also buying itunes stuff from the us at +/- 30% than from the oz site.

Dump that crap, everyone else has.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/5/29/8685251/hola-vpn-botnet-selling-users-bandwidth

thank you for the link, i suppose they do tell you at least some of this when you sign up with them. nothing 'free' is really 'free'.

as i wrote, it has saved me a lot of money to date.

I think the bit about other people being able to use your internet connection would be of greater concern, but that's just me.

i fully agree with you, honestly. you know from my previous posts that i am very much concerned with privacy in computing.

however, i do not have a 'always on' internet connection, due to my living location i have to use a very expensive (A$ 180 / 12 gig) usb wireless stick. it is only in when i actually want to send or receive, i even write all my emails off - line and than send them as a bundle.

also, i do have a little window with a data counter on my desktop, i can see when my computer down / uploads.

and i did write that i use a dedicated browser, the one i am using right now does not have 'hola' installed.

[seedy]

One Post hidden

Forum Rule -

3) You will not post about activities or links to websites containing such material that are illegal in Thailand. This includes but is not limited to: gambling, betting, pornography, illegal drugs, fake goods/clothing, file sharing of pirated material, pyramid schemes, etc. Discussion of the above is permitted only as news items, but never as a "how to" topic.

[meltingpot2015]

Careful signing-up to nord. I checked them out. Yes they seem attractive. Especially with the special offer of 3 USD per month and 24/7 support.

On reviews, some users have reported speed issues and bad support.

I online chatted with support staff just now to ask if they will honour the 30-day money back guarantee if I experience speed issues. They said they will offer a full refund within 7-days of opening the account. That's not what their website says. It says 30-days.

I told him this. Then he said "we do not offer this service". Huh?..Frankly, support seems a bit clueless.

Nord?..No Thanks.

edit: the e-mail chat transcript feature on their website does not work. Small things...yes...but says a lot.

Edited March 3, 2016 by meltingpot2015

[Chicog]

however, i do not have a 'always on' internet connection, due to my living location i have to use a very expensive (A$ 180 / 12 gig) usb wireless stick. it is only in when i actually want to send or receive, i even write all my emails

That's almost Bt5000! Where are you that you can't get a 3G signal?

[manfredtillmann]

however, i do not have a 'always on' internet connection, due to my living location i have to use a very expensive (A$ 180 / 12 gig) usb wireless stick. it is only in when i actually want to send or receive, i even write all my emails

That's almost Bt5000! Where are you that you can't get a 3G signal?

i am in a caravan park approx 130km south of sydney. not worth while getting a telephone cable so i am using a 4g telstra usb stick. their tower is right next to the park, very good signal. vodaphone or optus would be a fair bit cheaper but their signal here is weak or non - existent. so i am stuck with this while i am here.

[Manassas]

Thanks for all the detailed set up advice. All that gives me a VPN on my computer. But I'm most interested in entertainment on the TV, such as Netflix. I can run an HDMI cable to the TV ok, but then I have both the computer and the TV running. Is there a way to download a VPN to a smart TV? I'd really like the simplicity of cable, but the content choice you can get with a VPN.

[Chicog]

Thanks for all the detailed set up advice. All that gives me a VPN on my computer. But I'm most interested in entertainment on the TV, such as Netflix. I can run an HDMI cable to the TV ok, but then I have both the computer and the TV running. Is there a way to download a VPN to a smart TV? I'd really like the simplicity of cable, but the content choice you can get with a VPN.

You can configure many VPNs in the Router itself, so anything attached to it is always routed/encrypted.

But Netflix are susyematically blocking the remote IPs of those, so you're probably restricted to local (Thai) content.

Kodi doesn't have these restrictions.

(Or I should say, most Kodi addons don't have these restrictions).

You can only run Kodi on an Android TV though.

So how about a Chromecast?

Edited March 6, 2016 by Chicog

[Chicog]

i am in a caravan park approx 130km south of sydney. not worth while getting a telephone cable so i am using a 4g telstra usb stick. their tower is right next to the park, very good signal. vodaphone or optus would be a fair bit cheaper but their signal here is weak or non - existent. so i am stuck with this while i am here.

That is still a huge amount of money for 12 Gb.

Jaysus, even AIS only charge about 900Bt for that. What a rip off.

[manfredtillmann]

i am in a caravan park approx 130km south of sydney. not worth while getting a telephone cable so i am using a 4g telstra usb stick. their tower is right next to the park, very good signal. vodaphone or optus would be a fair bit cheaper but their signal here is weak or non - existent. so i am stuck with this while i am here.

That is still a huge amount of money for 12 Gb.

Jaysus, even AIS only charge about 900Bt for that. What a rip off.

it is. a large nation with a small population...

2 more weeks and i'll be 'back home' in isan.

and than you and i can slug it out again over w vs l 555555555555555555

be good

[Chicog]

i am in a caravan park approx 130km south of sydney. not worth while getting a telephone cable so i am using a 4g telstra usb stick. their tower is right next to the park, very good signal. vodaphone or optus would be a fair bit cheaper but their signal here is weak or non - existent. so i am stuck with this while i am here.

That is still a huge amount of money for 12 Gb.

Jaysus, even AIS only charge about 900Bt for that. What a rip off.

it is. a large nation with a small population...

2 more weeks and i'll be 'back home' in isan.

and than you and i can slug it out again over w vs l 555555555555555555

be good

I'm not wasting my time arguing with trailer trash.