VPN - what is it and why is it needed? Description of connection and setting up a free VPN server

This instruction demonstrates how to connect to a VPN Gate relay server using the L2TP/IPsec VPN client built into the Android mobile operating system.

• Go to the application Settings.
• In section network settings Click "More" and select the "VPN" option.
• Click the button.
• The screen for setting up a new VPN connection opens. Enter a custom name in the name field, for example, "vpn" and select the connection type L2TP/IPSec PSK.
• On this screen you need to enter either the host name or the IP addresses of the server from the pool open servers VPN Gate http://www.vpngate.net/en/.
• Open the list public servers relay and select the VPN server you want to connect to.

Important information

• Copy the DDNS host name (an ID that ends with ".opengw.net") or IP address (the numeric value xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx) and enter it in the “Server Address” field on the configuration screen.

  Note

• Scroll down and check the “Advanced” checkbox if available.
• Introduction vpn in field " Shared key IPSec".
• In the Forwarding Routes field, enter 0.0.0.0/0 . Make sure you entered the value for this field correctly. Otherwise, you will not be able to establish a connection to the VPN server.
• After that, click the “Save” button.

2. Starting a VPN connection

• You can establish a new connection to the VPN server at any time. Open your VPN settings and you will see the following list.
• Enter vpn in the “Username” and “Password” fields upon first use. Check the “Save credentials” checkbox. Click the button to establish a VPN connection
• After establishing a VPN connection, the corresponding entry from VPN list status will appear Connected. On Android device A VPN activation notification may appear. Click on the message to view the status of the current connection.

3. Internet without restrictions

ip8.com

This instruction demonstrates how to connect to the VPN Gate relay server on iPhone/iPad using the L2TP/IPsec VPN client built into iOS.

1. Pre-configuration

• On the main iPhone screen/iPad select app Settings.
• Select an option VPN(or go to General > VPN), then click Add VPN configuration.
• On the Settings page, select Type > L2TP and add the connection name in the field Description, for example "VPN Gate".
• Next on this screen you need to enter either the host name or the IP addresses of the server from the pool of open VPN Gate servers http://www.vpngate.net/en/ (for the L2TP/IPsec column Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android No client required in the list of servers must be checked).
• Open the list of open relay servers and select the VPN server you want to connect to.

Important information

For the L2TP/IPsec Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android No client required column, the list of servers must have a checkmark that indicates support for the custom L2TP/IPsec protocol.

• Copy the DDNS hostname (the ID that ends with ".opengw.net") or IP address (the numeric value xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx) and enter it in the field Server on the configuration screen.

  Note: It is recommended to use the DDNS name - you can continue to use it even if the corresponding DDNS IP address changes in the future. However, in some countries you may not be able to use a DDNS hostname, in which case you must use an IP address.

• Enter vpn in the Account, Password, and Shared Key fields, then click Finish.

2. Starting a VPN connection

• You can establish a new connection to the VPN server at any time by selecting required configuration in the settings menu VPN and setting the switch Status to the "On" position.
• iOS shows "VPN" indicator in top panel, if a VPN connection is established.
• By going to the configuration, you can get the following information: assigned IP address and connection time.

3. Internet without restrictions

Once the connection is established, all traffic will go through the VPN server. You can also go to ip8.com to view your global IP address. You will be able to see your web-visible location, which will be different from your actual location.

When connected to a VPN, you will be able to visit blocked websites and use blocked applications.

Found a typo? Highlight and press Ctrl + Enter

After setting, click Next. The created VPN connection can be found in the window Network connections. There you can create a shortcut for of this connection. What I mean is that many people have a shortcut for connecting to the Internet on their desktop. It's the same issue here. The VPN connection is connected in the same way as all other connections.

During this setup, the user does not have access to most VPN connection settings. Therefore, after creating a connection, you can log in VPN connection properties and change the necessary parameters. But basically, these parameters should not be changed.

What is VPN Reconnect?

VPN Reconnect is a new feature in Windows 7. And as you might guess, this feature belongs to VPN technology. We have already learned what a VPN is.

What is VPN Reconnect? VPN Reconnect is a feature that can initiate a reconnection to the VPN server when disconnected. With traditional VPN connections, if the connection was lost, you had to manually re-establish the connection. At the same time, any process that was taking place at this moment will have to be started again.

But times are changing. The new VPN Reconnect feature allows you to automatically re-initiate a broken connection without re-authorization. All this is possible thanks to the new IKEv2 tunneling protocol with the MOBIKE extension. And since we’re talking about protocols, it’s worth noting that other protocols (PPTP, L2TP/IPsec, SSTP) that are also supported in Windows 7 are not compatible with the VPN Reconnect function. And given the fact that the IKEv2 protocol is the most secure of all the protocols listed above, it follows that using the new IKEv2 protocol is not only secure, but also convenient.

The IKEv2 protocol with the MOBIKE extension allows you to automatically re-initiate the connection even after 8 hours of interruption. More precisely, the maximum gap period is 8 hours. You can leave the computer for a couple of hours, turning off the Internet, then come back, connect to the Internet and continue working on remote computer. Also, this protocol Allows VPN clients to change their Internet addresses. So, you can safely move from one location to another, while disconnecting the previous connection and connecting to a new Internet connection, but you will still be connected to the VPN. Although in truth, you will first be disconnected from the VPN connection, but VPN Reconnect will immediately return it to you. So you won't notice anything.

I recently introduced readers to new technology Direct Access, which bypasses in several ways VPN technology. So, one of the advantages of DirectAccess is permanent connection- can easily compensate new feature VPN. The main thing here is to keep up with fashion and use new software: I have already mentioned Windows 7 (by the way, in the article Why Windows 7 is better than Windows XP you can find other examples of the fact that XP has really lagged behind advanced operating systems), but about Windows Server I forgot 2008 R2. This means that the IKEv2 protocol only supports VPN servers running Windows Server 2008 R2 or later.

Well, in the end, I’ll indicate the place where you can configure the maximum time for disconnecting the connection. To do this, you need to go to Network connections, find the created VPN connection there and log into it Properties A. Next, on the tab Safety find and press the button Extra options . In the window that opens Additional properties go to tab IKEv2, check the box Mobility and specify the maximum break time. This is how the VPN Reconnect function is configured.

Virtual Private Network is a virtual private network, which are used to provide secure connections within corporate connections and Internet access. The main advantage of a VPN is high security due to the encryption of internal traffic, which is important when transferring data.

What is a VPN connection

Many people, when they come across this abbreviation, ask: VPN – what is it and why is it needed? This technology opens up the ability to create a network connection on top of another. VPN works in several modes:

• node-network;
• network-network;
• node-node.

Organization of a private virtual network on network levels allows the use of TCP and UDP protocols. All data that passes through computers is encrypted. This is additional protection for your connection. There are many examples that explain what a VPN connection is and why you should use it. This issue will be discussed in detail below.

Why do you need a VPN?

Each provider is able to provide user activity logs upon request from the relevant authorities. Your internet company records every activity you do online. This helps relieve the provider of any responsibility for the actions carried out by the client. There are many situations in which you need to protect your data and gain freedom, for example:

1. The VPN service is used to send confidential company data between branches. This helps protect important information from interception.
2. If you need to bypass the service's geographic location. For example, the Yandex Music service is available only to residents of Russia and residents former countries CIS. If you are a Russian-speaking resident of the United States, then you will not be able to listen to the recordings. A VPN service will help you circumvent this ban by replacing the network address with a Russian one.
3. Hide website visits from your provider. Not every person is ready to share their activities on the Internet, so they will protect their visits using a VPN.

How VPN works

When you use another VPN channel, your IP will belong to the country where this secure network is located. When connected, a tunnel will be created between the VPN server and your computer. After this, the provider’s logs (records) will contain a set of incomprehensible characters. Analyzing the data with a special program will not produce results. If you do not use this technology, the HTTP protocol will immediately indicate which site you are connecting to.

VPN structure

This connection consists of two parts. The first is called an “internal” network; you can create several of these. The second is the “external” one, through which an encapsulated connection occurs; as a rule, the Internet is used. It is also possible to connect to the network of a separate computer. The user is connected to a specific VPN through an access server connected simultaneously to the external and internal network.

When VPN software connects remote user, the server requires passing two important processes: first identification, then authentication. This is necessary to obtain the rights to use this connection. If you have fully completed these two steps, your network is empowered, which opens up the possibility of work. In essence, this is an authorization process.

VPN classification

There are several types of virtual private networks. There are options for the degree of security, implementation method, level of operation according to the ISO/OSI model, and the protocol involved. Can be used paid access or free VPN service from Google. Based on the degree of security, channels can be “secure” or “trusted”. The latter are needed if the connection itself has the right level protection. To organize the first option, the following technologies should be used:

• PPTP;
• OpenVPN;
• IPSec.

How to create a VPN server

For all computer users, there is a way to connect a VPN yourself. Below we will consider the option for operating system Windows. This instruction does not provide for the use of additional software. The setup is carried out as follows:

1. To make a new connection, you need to open the viewing panel network access. Start typing the words “ Network connections».
2. Press the “Alt” button, click on the “File” section in the menu and select “New incoming connection”.
3. Then set the user who will be given a connection to this computer via VPN (if you only have one Account on a PC, you must create a password for it). Check the box and click “Next”.
4. Next, you will be asked to select a connection type; you can leave a checkmark next to “Internet”.
5. The next step is to enable network protocols, which will work on this VPN. Check all the boxes except the second one. If desired, you can set a specific IP, DNS gateways and ports in the IPv4 protocol, but it is easier to leave the assignment automatic.
6. When you click on the “Allow access” button, the operating system will automatically create a server and display a window with the computer name. You will need it for connection.
7. This completes the creation of a home VPN server.

How to set up a VPN on Android

The method described above is how to create a VPN connection on personal computer. However, many have long been doing everything using their phone. If you don’t know what a VPN is on Android, then all the above facts about this type connections are also valid for a smartphone. The configuration of modern devices ensures comfortable use of the Internet on high speed. In some cases (to launch games, open websites), proxy substitution or anonymizers are used, but for stable and quick connection VPN is better.

If you already understand what a VPN on a phone is, then you can proceed directly to creating a tunnel. This can be done on any device that supports Android. The connection is made as follows:

1. Go to the settings section, click on the “Network” section.
2. Find the item called " Additional settings" and go to the "VPN" section. Next, you will need a PIN code or password that will unlock the ability to create a network.
3. The next step is to add a VPN connection. Specify the name in the “Server” field, the name in the “username” field, set the connection type. Click on the “Save” button.
4. After this, a new connection will appear in the list, which you can use to change your standard connection.
5. An icon will appear on the screen indicating that there is a connection. If you tap on it, you will be provided with statistics of received/transmitted data. You can also disable the VPN connection here.

Video: Free VPN service

Deploying a VPN server on an enterprise network is a more complex task than setting up basic services - NAT, DHCP and file servers. Before getting down to business, it is necessary to clearly understand the structure of the future network and the tasks that must be solved with its help. In this article we will touch on the main questions, the answers to which you should know before you approach the server. This approach will avoid many typical problems and mindlessly copying the settings from the example, and will also allow you to correctly configure the VPN specifically for your tasks and needs.

What is a VPN?

VPN ( Virtual Private Network) - virtual private network, this abbreviation hides a group of technologies and protocols that allow you to organize a logical (virtual) network on top of a regular network. Widely used to restrict access and improve the security of corporate networks, organizing secure access to resources corporate network externally (via the Internet) and, in Lately, city network providers for organizing Internet access.

What types of VPN are there?

Depending on the protocol used, VPNs are divided into:

• PPTP(Point-to-point tunneling protocol) - a point-to-point tunnel protocol allows you to organize a secure connection by creating a special tunnel over a regular network. This is currently the least secure of all protocols and is not recommended for use in external networks for working with information to which access to unauthorized persons is undesirable. To organize the connection, two network sessions are used: a PPP session is established using the GRE protocol for data transfer, and a connection is established on TCP port 1723 to initialize and manage the connection. In this regard, difficulties often arise in establishing such a connection in some networks, for example, hotel or mobile operators.

• L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol) is a Layer 2 tunneling protocol, a more advanced protocol based on PPTP and L2F (Cisco's Layer 2 Handover Protocol). Its advantages include much higher security due to encryption using IPSec protocol and combining the data channel and control channel into one UDP session.

• SSTP (Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol)-- a secure socket tunneling protocol based on SSL and allows you to create secure VPN connections via HTTPS. Required for its work open port 443, which allows you to establish connections from anywhere, even behind a proxy chain.

What is VPN usually used for?

Let's look at a few of the most commonly used VPN applications:

• Access to the Internet. Most often used by metropolitan network providers, but it is also a very common method in enterprise networks. The main advantage is more high level security, since access to local network and the Internet is carried out through two different networks, which allows you to set different security levels for them. With the classic solution - distributing the Internet to a corporate network - it is practically impossible to maintain different levels of security for local and Internet traffic.

• Access to the corporate network from outside, it is also possible to combine branch networks into single network. This is actually what VPN was designed for, it allows you to organize safe work in a single corporate network for clients located outside the enterprise. It is widely used to unite geographically dispersed departments, provide network access for employees on a business trip or vacation, and make it possible to work from home.

• Consolidation of corporate network segments. Often, an enterprise network consists of several segments with varying levels of security and trust. In this case, a VPN can be used to communicate between segments; this is a much more secure solution than simply connecting networks. For example, in this way you can organize access for a warehouse network to individual resources of the sales department network. Since this is a separate logical network, you can set everything for it necessary requirements security without affecting the operation of individual networks.

Setting up a VPN connection.

The clients of the VPN server will most likely be workstations running Windows control, while the server can run under Windows, Linux or BSD, so we will consider the connection settings on Windows example 7. We won't stop there. basic settings, they are simple and understandable. Let’s dwell on one subtle point.

When connecting a regular VPN connection, the default gateway will be specified for the VPN network, that is, the Internet is on client machine will disappear or will be used through a connection on a remote network. It is clear that this is at least inconvenient, and in some cases can lead to double payment for traffic (once on a remote network, a second time on the provider’s network). To exclude this point on the bookmark Net in protocol properties TCP/IPv4 press the button Additionally and in the window that opens, uncheck the box Use default gateway on remote network.

We would not dwell on this issue in such detail if it were not for the massive occurrence of problems and the lack of basic knowledge about the reasons for this behavior of VPN connections among many system administrators.

In our article we will look at another current problem - correct setting routing for VPN clients, which is the basis for the competent construction of enterprise-level VPN networks.

IN modern world cyberspace has become much more popular than the real world. Young people are more likely to spend time playing online games and in social networks than going for a walk or reading a book. And this is understandable - the availability of information increases awareness and overall human development. However, for some reasons, information and social resources may be blocked by providers, government agencies or the sites themselves. In this case, do not despair, since in most cases the blocking can be bypassed.

What is a VPN connection and why is it needed?

VPN (English: Virtual Private Network) is a generalized name for technologies that allow one or more network connections(logical network) on top of another network (for example, the Internet). Despite the fact that communications are carried out over networks with a lower or unknown level of trust (for example, over public networks), the level of trust in the constructed logical network does not depend on the level of trust in core networks through the use of cryptography tools (encryption, authentication, public key infrastructure, means to protect against repetitions and changes in messages transmitted over the logical network).

Wikipedia

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/VPN

To explain it in simple and understandable words, VPN is the ability to access Internet resources through other networks. In this case, several levels of channel changing are used, which means that your IP address is encrypted, and access is provided according to the following scheme: Internet - virtual network(or several virtual networks) - Internet. Using VPN providers they “see” a connection to a certain network or server, and further requests to resources occur through an encrypted channel. Thus, data packets are returned to you regardless of blocking by the Internet provider.

When connecting to the Internet via a virtual network, the provider does not monitor traffic

The main disadvantage of a VPN is considered to be a reduction in speed while surfing and downloading files, but technology does not stand still and paid services already provide good speed communications.

How to create and configure a VPN connection on Windows 10

There are several options for setting up a VPN for Windows 10. Conventionally, they can be divided into:

• sewn ( standard tools OS);
• third party ( special programs and browser extensions, as well as functions of some routers).

Creating a VPN through Windows Settings

Creating a virtual network via " Windows Settings" - this is the most labor-intensive, but at the same time the most reliable way to gain access to blocked resources. Moreover, after VPN creation it is quite easy to manage and, if necessary, change the server address:

1. Press the Win+I key combination and go to the “Network and Internet” applet.
   In the “Windows Settings” block, open the “Network and Internet” element
2. Open the VPN tab and click on the plus icon that says “Add a VPN connection.”
   Click on the plus icon with the caption “Add VPN connection”
3. Next, fill out the form:
   
4. We save the changes using the button of the same name.

Click on the connection and click “Connect”

Open VPNs servers can be found on the Internet, for example, or on a similar resource.

Video: how to create a VPN connection

How to disable or remove a VPN connection

If you no longer need a VPN or you don’t like the services provided, the created connection can be disabled or deleted:

Automatic configuration of a virtual network using special programs

Like most Windows functions, the creation of a VPN connection was adopted by the developers software. As a result, users got a whole market with programs that simplify creating a tunnel and connecting to virtual networks. Most of them are a small window with just one button - connect/disconnect from VPN.

One such program is HideGuard VPN. Using her example, it is very easy to see how a connection to a virtual network occurs:

Setting up via router

Unfortunately, not all routers support VPN connections. To do this, the router must have DD-WRT technology, but devices that are less than four years old almost certainly have necessary firmware. The settings of routers vary, but in general, virtual network management is located in the same tabs:

VPN in browser

Instead of establishing a virtual connection for the entire computer, you can resort to a partial one using a VPN in the browser. There are two possibilities for this:

• internal browser settings (for example, Opera has a built-in function with a good and free VPN);
• extensions in browser stores.

“Turbo” modes can also be considered virtual networks in some situations, but they only work when your browser has low speed access to a specific address; in other cases, the function is ignored.

To enable VPN in Opera browser, you need to change your browser settings a little. To do this, press the key combination Alt+P, select “Advanced” in the menu, then “Security” and slightly scroll down the page with settings. We find the VPN column and switch the toggle switch to the working position.

Turn on the VPN by moving the corresponding toggle switch to the right position

In other browsers you can install additional extensions which will add the VPN feature to the browser:

I prefer to use a browser-based VPN, and there are several reasons for this. Firstly, for most extensions you can set exceptions in the operation of the virtual network, and this provides huge advantages, for example, applying the service to only one or two sites. For the rest of the Internet, the original connection will be used. Secondly, when downloading files through applications and exchangers, the traffic will not exceed the amount of information received, since packets are often “lost” when passing dozens of nodes in the virtual network. And besides, I always value connection speed, and a virtual network, even a paid and fastest one, will slow down data transfer, which is unacceptable in some cases.

Video: how to install VPN in Chrome, Opera, Mozila browsers

Using a VPN on a Windows 10 computer is very easy. By standard means can be created and configured virtual connection. If necessary, it can be quickly removed or temporarily disabled.