Setting Up Your Own VPN Server
As Woz commented on my previous VPN article before the Senate debacle, you could be running your own VPN server:
But if you cant trust your home connection or you have a slow upload speed on your home connection, its not really practical.
I played around with Algo VPN, a set of scripts that let you set up a VPN in the cloud in very little time, even if you dont know much about development. Ive got to say that I was quite impressed with Trail of Bits approach.
I created VPN servers on a DigitalOcean server, an Amazon Web Services instance and a Scaleway server. I could connect to all these VPNs from my Mac and iPhone just a couple of minutes after that.
Algo VPN automates the VPN installation process so that you dont have to establish an SSH connection with a server and run complicated command lines.
It takes three command lines to install the dependencies on your computer. After that, you should sign up to a cloud provider like DigitalOcean and run the Algo VPN setup wizard in your terminal. Im not going to detail the installation process as it can change after I publish this post, but everything is explained on the official GitHub repository.
On DigitalOcean, you dont have to create and configure your own server. Algo VPN takes care of that for you as it uses DigitalOceans API to create a server and install everything.
So heres a quick recap:
How Can I Make My Own VPN Company
Connecting Wireguard VPN On Windows
1. Type the below command in the terminal to see the folders or files in the current directory:
ls
2. Now, copy the configuration file’s filename. In our case, the file is called “wg0-client-windows.conf”, although the file name will vary by user.
3. Once done, use the below command to read the file’s content in the terminal.
cat wg0-client-windows.conf
Remember to replace “wg0-client-ubuntu.conf” with the name of your configuration file.
4. At this step, you’ll receive information about your WireGuard configuration. Finally, copy everything from “” to the end.
5. Now, on Windows, open WireGuard and navigate to Add Tunnel > Add empty tunnel.
6. Give the tunnel a name and paste the copied text into the editor box. Once completed, click the Save button.
7. On the next screen, click Activate to connect to your VPN.
Also Check: How To Disable My VPN
Are There Any Disadvantages
While setting up your own VPN server can be extremely beneficial, there are some situations when this idea might be a poor choice:
- If you use a VPN to accessregion-locked content around the globe. If you rely on your VPN provider having lots of available servers in different countries, a homemade VPN server is inferior. Commercial VPN operators can subsidize the cost of running servers in so many places by having lots of customers.
- If you arent willing to dedicate the time to set it up. While modern tools have made the process easier, theres no doubt that setting up a VPN isnt for everyone.
- If you dont want to be on the hook for security. Even though todays automation solutions help, youre ultimately still responsible for securing your server and VPN solution. Youll need to make informed decisions on security-related issues.
Set Up A VPN On Apple Devices
VPNs are also directly configurable on all iPhones, iPads, and Macs. You have to go through a few extra steps on macOS, but its a breeze on iOS.
How to manually set up a VPN on iOS
Manually setting up a VPN on macOS
Youll have to go through the different sections and add the required information.
- First, select VPN Type, choose the VPN protocol, add a name, and click on Create.
- You can then enter the server address, authentication and login info, and any additional network administrator settings.
- Click Apply and then select OK.
- To connect to the VPN, go to System Preferences > Network, click on the VPN service name and click on Connect.
- You can also select Show VPN status in the menu bar and use the status icon to connect to the VPN network quickly.
Recommended Reading: 911 VPN App
How To Create Your Own VPN With Wireguard
While there are many VPNs available, you might want to set up your own instead. Here’s how to use WireGuard to create your own secure network.
There are a lot of commercial VPN providers available, but in many cases, setting up your own VPN is the best option.
When you use a third-party VPN, your data is routed through their servers, meaning that we have no knowledge of what happens to our data on the back end. If you want to maintain your privacy, you should consider setting up your own VPN server using WireGuard.
But why should you use WireGuard to set up a VPN? What actually is WireGuard? And how can you use it to create your own secure network?
Including Multiple Machines On The Client Side When Using A Routed VPN
In a typical road-warrior or remote access scenario, the client machine connects to the VPN as a single machine. But suppose the client machine is a gateway for a local LAN , and you would like each machine on the client LAN to be able to route through the VPN.
For this example, we will assume that the client LAN is using the 192.168.4.0/24 subnet, and that the VPN client is using a certificate with a common name of client2. Our goal is to set up the VPN so that any machine on the client LAN can communicate with any machine on the server LAN through the VPN.
Before setup, there are some basic prerequisites which must be followed:
- The client LAN subnet must not be exported to the VPN by the server or any other client sites which are using the same subnet. Every subnet which is joined to the VPN via routing must be unique.
- The client must have a unique Common Name in its certificate , and the duplicate-cn flag must not be used in the OpenVPN server configuration file.
First, make sure that IP and TUN/TAP forwarding is enabled on the client machine.
Next, we will deal with the necessary configuration changes on the server side. If the server configuration file does not currently reference a client configuration directory, add one now:
client-config-dir ccd
The next step is to create a file called client2 in the ccd directory. This file should contain the line:
iroute 192.168.4.0 255.255.255.0
Next, add the following line to the main server config file :
Read Also: Avast VPN Technical Issue
The Disadvantages Of Making Your Own VPN Server
Unfortunately, making your own VPN Server has more disadvantages than advantages, so its not the best choice for everyone. For most people, using a reliable VPN service is a better option because its a lot less technical, has fewer security risks, and comes with many more benefits. ExpressVPN is a much easier alternative to making your own VPN server and it comes with world-class security features, unblocks dozens of popular streaming platforms and you can use it on all of your devices at home or away.
Before attempting to make your own VPN server, consider the following disadvantages:
How To Configure Firewall And Ip Forwarding
In addition to setting up the WireGuard server, you should configure your local networking and firewall. This gives you greater control over who can connect to your server.
1. Using the following command, open the system configuration file:
sudo nano /etc/sysctl.conf
2. Next, locate and delete the “#” symbol from the following line: #net.ipv4.ip forward=1. This enables IPv4 address forwarding on your server.
3. Finally, save the changes and run the below command to make the changes permanent:
sudo sysctl -p
Your WireGuard server will now deliver traffic to the rest of the world from the clients of your WireGuard peers.
If you are more tech-savvy, you can also set up a firewall to protect your server from malicious attacks. To accomplish this, you can either install a software firewall on your cloud server or enable the “Firewall” function in your server provider’s instance settings.
Also Check: Setup VPN On Xbox One
A VPN Doesnt Make You Anonymous
What the hell is a VPN? I already wrote an article explaining VPNs using simple concepts, even comparing VPNs to movie car chases.
But if you want a brief recap, when you connect your computer or phone to a VPN server, you establish an encrypted tunnel between your device and that server. Nobody can see whats happening in the middle of this tunnel, not even your ISP.
And yet, it doesnt make you magically anonymous. Youre just moving the risk down the VPN tunnel as the VPN company can see all your internet traffic. In fact, many of them sell your data to scammers and advertisers already.
Thats why I dont recommend signing up to a VPN service. You cant trust them.
As a side note, many sites now rely on HTTPS to establish a secure connection between your browser and the website youre using, even TechCrunch. You should install the HTTPS everywhere extension to make sure that you use HTTPS as much as possible.
But VPNs can be useful from time to time. Sometimes you cant access a website from a public network because its blocked. Or you could be traveling to China and you want to be able to access your Gmail account. In those cases, its all about minimizing the risk while you use a VPN.
Download And Install VPN Clients
The simplest way to get your VPN up and running is to install clients from your VPN provider. However, they may not offer software for every platform you need, such as Windows, iOS, and Android. Even if they don’t, it’s better to install what they offer first and then confirm that your VPN account is operating correctly.
Look for the “downloads” page on your VPN provider’s website. You should also download apps for the mobile devices that your workers use since youll want to protect connections from as many devices as possible.
If the initial client you install works right off the bat, then you can contact the VPN provider about clients for other platforms. And if you cant log in at all, then you can pass along that information to the VPN provider’s support team.
Recommended Reading: Does VPN Use Data On Iphone
How To Make & Setup A VPN Server 2020 Diy Guide Blokt
Three Ways to Setup a VPN Server of Your Own In this step-by-step guide, we show you three ways you can make your own VPN
Perhaps you want to spoof your location, use BitTorrent via VPN, or take advantage of custom servers. Or maybe the server the app recommends just doesnt work
May 26, 2017 One of those friends says, Hey, how about you just setup a VPN between your house and mine? Then everything coming out of your room will
You can either create a VPN profile on your own or set up a work account to get a VPN profile from your company. Before you start: If its for work, look for VPN
Are There Downsides To Using VPNs
A VPN’s success depends on other parts of your network infrastructure. Here are factors that could cause performance issues for your VPN:
Configuration security risks
Design and implementation of a VPN can be complicated. If youre not sure how to keep it up and running safely, consider bringing in an experienced network security professional to make sure VPN security hasnt been compromised.
Reliability
Since VPN connections run off the Internet, you need to choose an Internet service provider that consistently delivers excellent service with minimal to no downtime.
Scalability
If you need to add new infrastructure or create new configurations, you may run into technical problems due to incompatibilityespecially if you’re adding new products from different vendors.
Slow connection speeds
If you’re using a VPN client that provides free VPN service, your connection speed may be slow, as these providers do not usually offer high-speed connections. Consider whether the speed is sufficient for business needs.
Don’t Miss: Att Uverse Router Models
VPN Server Vs VPN Client: Whats The Difference
In this guide we have talked about setting up a VPN server, but we also touch upon VPN clients.
So, whats the difference between the two?
Both a VPN server and a VPN client are required to create an encrypted VPN tunnel.
The VPN server is at one end of the tunnel, and the VPN client at the other.
The VPN client initiates the connection with the VPN server and authenticates itself before being granted access to the virtual private network.
While VPN servers can accept connections from many clients, a VPN client can only establish a connection with just one server at a time.
You install VPN client software on the device that you want to connect to the VPN server.
For example, on your Android smartphone that you want to use securely on public WiFi while out and about.
Internet traffic from the VPN client device is routed through the encrypted VPN tunnel to the VPN server, whether thats a server you have set up at home, or one belonging to a VPN service provider.
The VPN server enables hosting and delivery of the VPN service, and also masks the VPN clients IP address with one of its own.
So, if you connect to a VPN server located in your home, your web activity will be associated with the public IP address of your home network, even though youre not physically located there yourself.
In this guide we showed you how to set up a VPN server at home, but if you need help setting up your device as a VPN client, check out our VPN installation guides.
Adding The Completed Configuration File
Once you have downloaded the file, open the VPN client of choice. There will be an option for importing the VPN server configuration. Use the option that asks for a local file. Once that is finished you can log in using the email address you sent us, and the password it uses to log in on Onomondo.
For example, using OpenVPN on mac:
Drag and Drop Version: Newer versions of OpenVPN Connect on Mac has a different layout. Instead of using a URL, you can go to the tab “File”
1. Drag and drop or upload the .opvn file, This will create a VPN profile based on the information provided.
2. Set the Onomondo App user’s email
3. Connect to the the VPN Profile.
Step 1 – Import from local file.
Step 2 – Select the completed file.
Step 3 – Connect to Onomondo’s VPN.
Step 4 – Sign in using the activated email and your Onomondo password.
Also Check: Expressvpn Lg Smart TV
How To Set Up And Use A VPN
A VPN is one of the simplest ways to protect your privacy online. Best of all, installing and using a VPN app is easy. Whether you’re working from home because of COVID-19 or you’re using unsecured Wi-Fi in a coffee shop, this is how to do so safely!
It might sound paranoid to say you should use a virtual private network as often as possible, but there are real threats to your privacy. Whenever you connect to the internet, your internet service provider has access to everything you send and has been given the green light from Congress to sell your anonymized information to advertisers. If Coronavirus has forced you to start using public Wi-Fi, unscrupulous individuals can attempt to intercept your web traffic. Out on the wide-open internet, advertisers can track your movements between websites and discern your location by peeking at your IP address. And don’t forget what three-letter government agencies may be up toit’s scary out there!
The fact is that the internet was created for easy information exchange, not user privacy, anonymization, or encrypted communication. While HTTPS goes a long way toward protecting your information, it doesn’t guard against all ills. Unless and until a new, more private internet comes togetherdon’t hold your breathusing a VPN is the easiest way to make sure that you’re sharing as little information as possible.
When Should I Use A VPN
For the best security, you should use a VPN as often as possible, whether you’re using public Wi-Fi or working from homeall the time, ideally. But that’s an aspirational goal, and it’s not always achievable. If your VPN is causing problems and you need to switch if off, don’t beat yourself up. At minimum, you should use a VPN whenever you’re using a network you don’t control, and especially if it’s a public Wi-Fi network.
VPNs for Android and iPhones are a little trickier, particularly if you frequently move in and out of cellphone coverage. Each time you lose and regain data connectivity, the VPN has to reconnect, which adds a frustrating wait. It’s also just less likely that your cell traffic can be intercepted by bad guys, but we’ve seen researchers prove that it can be done.
Most mobile devices can automatically connect to any familiar looking Wi-Fi network. That’s out of convenience to you, but it’s trivially simple to impersonate a Wi-Fi network. Your phone may be connecting to a digital honeypot without you even realizing it. At minimum, you should use a VPN when connecting via Wi-Fi to keep your data safe, even if your device falls for an attack like this one.
Also Check: Free Download 911 VPN Setup