How Do I Enable A VPN In Google Chrome
A step-by-step guide to setting up a VPN in Chrome in seconds
There are a number of reasons why you might want to use a VPN, or Virtual Private Network, when surfing the internet. And being the worlds favorite browser, its no surprise that getting a VPN for Chrome is on the to-do list for many.
Not only do they generally keep your private data safe from hackers and government surveillance agencies, they can also stop your ISP from throttling your connection speeds and bandwidth.
Additionally, they offer a useful and perfectly legal workaround for accessing geo-restricted content. For instance, use one for Netflix and you can stream content from any version of the service, such as watching Netflix US in the UK . In other cases, you may live in a country that blocks certain sites and services entirely , in which case a VPN can help you stay connected to friends via Facebook or simply help you catch-up on your favourite TV shows.
Despite a certain mystique surrounding VPNs, theyre actually remarkably easy to install and convenient to use. This is especially true when it comes to Googles popular Chrome browser, where all you need to do is install an extension.
Our pick for best Chrome VPN extension is currently ExpressVPN, so well show you how to enable that as its the easiest and most reliable to use based on our testing.
In a few seconds, youll be connected and browsing with all the additional privacy offered by a VPN.
The 5 Best VPNs For Chromebook
With all of that in mind, we combed through the top VPN providers to find the five best VPNs for Chromebook. Here they are, starting with our top choice, ExpressVPN.
More details about ExpressVPN:
Cons:
- Expensive
ExpressVPN is our favorite VPN, so finding out it has a dedicated Chromebook app puts the cherry on top of the already-iced cake. Plus, the VPN also has an Android app, Chrome browser extension and supports L2TP connections. It has the whole package. Its also one of the easiest VPNs to use, making it a perfect fit for Chromebooks.
On top of that, ExpressVPN has strong security and privacy, giving you the best shot at online protection. It also has servers in 94 countries, the fastest speeds around and comes with unlimited bandwidth.;
With all of that, its no surprise that ExpressVPN is our top VPN for streaming even getting into Netflix without a hitch . Read our ExpressVPN review for more details.
However, ExpressVPNs price tag brings all the hype to a halt. Its expensive, especially if you opt for the monthly plan. You can bring the high price down a few notches, though, by opting for the 12-month plan. Theres a 30-day money-back guarantee, too.
ExpressVPN Plans
- Inconsistent speeds across the network
- Doesnt support L2TP
NordVPN offers a more affordable price than ExpressVPN, with its 12-month plan costing almost 50 percent less. Theres also a 30-day money-back guarantee.
NordVPN
- No Chromebook app or Chrome browser extension
- Slow
One MonthCyberGhost Plans
How To Use VPN In Google Chrome
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ICT News Thursday, August 28, 2078
With the development of technology, the incidence of cyber attacks is also increasing day by day. Hackers are coming up with new ways to steal data every day.
In this case, it is very important to protect your data. Even cyber attacks from web browsers are on the decline. At such times, it is important to keep your web safe.
VPN is a virtual private network that helps to surf the web safely. It provides privacy and data protection. It provides security by encrypting data. Today we are going to give you information about using VPN in Google Chrome.
To do this, you must first open Google Chrome. Then click on the app icon from the bookmarks bar. Then click on Web Store. By doing so, you should search for VPN in the web store. Then download your favorite VPN and click Add to Chrome.
When the next prompt box appears, click on the ad extension. VPN can be started by clicking on VPN in the extension bar.
Also Check: How To Change VPN To Another Country Free
Use Your VPN Providers One
If your favorite VPN provider offers a Chrome extension , you can use that too.;Simply install it, click the toggle, and;bam, youre done.
Thats literally all there is to it.
However, not all VPNs are going to support Chrome OS directly , so if yours doesnt have an Android App or a Chrome extension, youll need a VPN that also allows for manual setupin my case, I use StrongVPN.
How Do I Know If My Chromebook Supports Android Apps
As previously mentioned, installing the ExpressVPN app is only possible if your Chromebook supports Android apps. Although many do support them, there are exceptions.
The general rule is that all Chromebooks manufactured in 2019 or later support Android apps unless specified otherwise. However, some Chromebooks made before 2019 support Android apps, too. If youre interested in checking the Chromebooks manufactured before 2019 that support the Android apps, visit this page.
Also Check: How To Install VPN On Samsung Smart TV
Start Using A VPN On A Chromebook
Once you have a functioning VPN configuration, you can easily access it again. Just click your user icon in the lower right, and then click the VPN Disconnected option. All of the connections you’ve manually configured will appear under the OpenVPN/L2TP section. If you have VPN Android apps or Chrome OS apps, they’ll appear in their respective sections. To create a new configuration, just click the blue plus sign in the section you want.
To switch on the VPN, just select it from the list. That goes for Android VPN apps and Chrome OS apps, too. You can click on it a second time to configure that specific connection. Or you can open the Settings menu, navigate to the Network section, and click the caret next to the connection you want to configure.
Each connection has its own host of options. Toggles let you prefer a particular network, or always connect to the network when your Chromebook is in use. These are great options, and I recommend you use them.
You can also update the server information for a given connection, simply by overwriting the server hostname. That’s handy, in case the server you were using is deactivated by your VPN company. You can change the username and password for the connection by clicking the Configure button. Note that you can’t change the provider type . To do that, you’ll have to create a new connection.
If one of your configurations doesn’t work or simply doesn’t suit you anymore, just click the Forget button.
Using Chrome Os Built
Android apps are easier to install and often offer advanced features such as kill switch, split-tunnelling, leak protection, and more. But if your Chromebook doesn’t support Android apps, then Chrome OS has your VPN needs covered.
This method uses L2TP/IPsec, so you need to pick a provider that supports this VPN protocol. Most do, but not all – so please check before handing over your money.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Cheapest VPN
Using Openvpn For Linux
If your provider doesn’t have a dedicated Linux app, then never fear! The official OpenVPN app for Linux will work with any valid .ovpn files you care to throw at it.
1. Sign up for a VPN service
Almost all reputable VPN services allow manual OpenVPN setup using .ovpn files. It’s always worth checking before buying, though.
2. Download its .ovpn files
If doing this in the regular Chrome browser, then dont forget to drag the .ovpn fines to your Linux Downloads folder. This is unnecessary if you downloaded them using a Linux browser: sudo apt install firefox-esr.
Either way, it will make launching the VPN easier if you rename the files to something snappy and quick to type in.
3. Install OpenVPN
Launch Terminal from the Apps Launcher and enter:
sudo apt-get update
4. CD into your Downloads folder and enter:
sudo openvpn
And that should do it. You should be connected to your chosen VPNserver.
To disconnect,; simply close the Terminal window that OpenVPN is running in. You can remove OpenVPN with the following command:
sudo apt-get remove openvpn
How To Manually Configure Your Chromebook’s VPN
If you decide to go this route in securing your Chromebook, you’ll need to do a little homework first. I highly recommend contacting the customer support for your preferred VPN company or looking through the company’s documentation to help guide you. I also highly recommend reading through for using VPNs with Chrome OS.
In general, you need to find a list of the service’s VPN servers, the protocols supported by those servers, and the actual names of those servers. These should look like URLs. For example, one NordVPN server in the Ukraine is known as “ua5.nordvpn.com.” You should look for servers that support L2TP, if you’ve decided to go that direction. NordVPN, for example, lets you sort servers by the protocol they support in the advanced section of its online server selector.
Depending on the VPN service you use, you may have to copy or create new login credentials to use L2TP. You also have to track down a special passcode called a pre-shared key or shared secret. On top of that, you also need the username and password you use to access the VPN service.
As I noted above, I was only able to connect via OpenVPN through TorGuard, and only after first downloading an OpenVPN server certificate file. Again, you can find those instructions in TorGuard’s documentation. I’ll include those steps below.
Also Check: How To Use VPN To Change Ip Address
How We Tested And Selected These VPNs
We had several vital features in mind when putting together this list. From important features to basics that need to be ticked off, heres whats to look out for when selecting the best VPN for Chromebook.
- Does it have an Android app, and is it optimized for Chrome OS? Ideally, your chosen VPN will have an app thats optimized specifically for Chrome OS. Failing that, a strong Android app that works well on Chromebook will still do the job.
- Speed. Fast connections make your online life more convenient. The best VPNs deliver speedy connections, so you can get the best out of streaming, gaming, torrenting, and everything else you do online.
- Good for streaming? Unblocking streaming sites is one of the most popular uses of a VPN, but not all do the job well. Our top VPNs for Chromebook are proven to get around the geo-restrictions of all major streaming platforms.
- Customer support. Need a bit of tech support? We only recommend VPNs that give you easy access to help in the shape of a 24/7 live chat, tutorials, and guides.
- Price. Nobody wants to feel ripped off. This list offers VPNs that we feel are fairly priced in relation to their service and quality.
- Security and privacy. With all sorts of online threats and snoopers looking for your data, security and privacy are key. These VPNs offer robust security to keep you safe and anonymous.
Best VPNs For Chromebook In 2021
Chromebooks are easy to use, affordable, and ideal for everyday computing. Yet Chrome OS users need a good VPN as much as anyone else.
If you want to unblock streaming sites or access games that might be blocked at school on your Chromebook, all while staying secure and anonymous, getting a VPN is the way to go.
But which is the best VPN for Chromebook? We’ve taken a look, and here are our 7 favorite ones.
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Using The Native Chrome Os VPN Client
This supports the L2TP/IPsec VPN protocol and routes all Chrome OS and all Android connections through the VPN interface . Linux connections are not routed in this way and thus do not benefit from the VPN.
When properly implemented, L2TP/IPsec is typically regarded as secure but it’s worth noting that it’s almost definitely been cracked by the NSA. This situation is not helped by the fact that every VPN service we know that offers this VPN protocol uses insecure pre-shared keys.
Given that Android apps that use OpenVPN or IKEv2 are more secure, and because manually configuring the Chrome OS L2TP/IPsec VPN;client can be a bit fiddly anyway, we strongly recommend using an Android VPN app over this method if your Chromebook supports Android.
It’s worth noting that the native VPN client also has basic OpenVPN support, but it cannot import the standard .ovpn configuration files used by almost all commercial VPN services.
Google itself recommends using an Android app for this, which makes Chrome OS native OpenVPN support all but useless for most VPN users.
Choose A Different VPN Server Location
To connect to a different server location, click .
To connect to a server location, double-click the location.
By default, the list of VPN locations features two tabs: RECOMMENDED and ALL LOCATIONS.
The RECOMMENDED tab shows ExpressVPNs top picks for you.
The ALL LOCATIONS tab lists VPN server locations by region. You can expand and collapse the lists by clicking and
To add a location to your favorites, drag it to the right.
You can access your favorite locations in the FAVORITES tab.
To remove a location from your favorites, drag it to the right again.
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What Is A Chromebook VPN
VPN stands for virtual private network. You can say a VPN serves as the middle-man in your connection to the internet. It allows you to connect your device to a computer/server in the country of your choice and have all web traffic go through the said distant machine before reaching your device. Its as if you were controlling a computer remotely. This masks your identity, location, and other private details you might not want to share.
How To Setup Free VPN On Chromebook Step
If you have a Chromebook and want to keep your browsing history, online activities, and identity safe and private when online, a VPN is vital. Not everyone wants to commit to buying a VPN subscription each period, but there are free VPNs available that are compatible with Chromebook.
We take a look at the different ways to install a VPN on Chromebook, which includes: L2TP/IPsec, a Chrome browser extension, and Android apps.
Recommended Reading: What Does VPN Provider Mean
VPNs: Confusing On Chrome
The sheer volume of people searching our site for advice on using VPNs with Chromebooks prompted me to write this article. After several days, several headaches, and several confusing emails, I can see why so many people are searching for help. It’s damned confusing.
It’s clear to me that using an Android VPN app on your Chromebook is the best option for securing your trafficâif your system supports Android apps. Arriving at that conclusion wasn’t easy. As I researched it, I found that even most VPN companies didn’t have the right information about how VPNs worked on Chromebooks. Google’s own documentation, while thorough, is short on details and advice.
Worse yet, using mobile apps on a computer might not be the first thing a consumer thinks to do. Especially when some Chromebooks still do not support Android apps.
A major selling point of Chromebooks is their security. With little opportunity to store or run malware, Chromebooks are a blessing to the low-cost computer market. Just restart to solve most problems and powerwash your worries away. Google needs to simplify the VPN experience on Chrome OS, since surveillance and online threats are the greatest potential pitfall for Chromebook owners. For now, Android VPN apps are your best option for protecting your Chromebook online.
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Using A VPN On A Chromebook
You can certainly use a VPN a Chromebook just like using a VPN on almost any other computer. Using a VPN on a Chromebook will allow for private internet browsing. There are many benefits to using a VPN on a Chromebook and a VPN offers an enhanced level of security online. For example, using a VPN on a Chromebook will keep your IP address private and protect the data that is transmitted between your computer and internet servers.
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Using A Linux VPN App
A Linux VPN app will protect Linux connections, but will not route Chrome OS or Android connections through the VPN interface.
There are only two full GUI Linux VPN apps that work on a Chromebook at the time of writing , but using OpenVPN in Terminal works for any VPN service that supports manual OpenVPN setup .
If you want to route both Chrome OS/Android and Linux connections through a VPN, then you will need to run either the Chrome OS client or an Android VPN app and run a Linux VPN app.
Do You Need A VPN For Chromebook
VPN creates a secure connection
The connection is encrypted and has various security measures put in place to protect your safety, identity, and privacy; your traffic cannot be spied on or tracked by any third-parties, including your ISP.
This level of protection is even more important when using public Wi-Fi networks.
Additionally, as using the VPNs proxy server obscures your IP address and allows you to assume an alternative, you can spoof your location and enjoy better net neutrality.
Also Check: How To Log Into VPN
Use An Android VPN App From A VPN Provider
Using an Android VPN app on your Chromebook is the most reliable way to secure all your web traffic. Simply download the VPN app you want to use from the Play Store and activate it:
- Open the Play Store.
- Type vpn in the Search box.
- Choose a VPN client app, install it, open it.
Next, if required, create an account and subscribe. Further, select a location or server and connect to the VPN.
The first time the application tries to connect to the VPN, it requires explicit permissions. It is a security measure to protect your private data.
You should only click OK if you trust the VPN provider. If you dont, you should better uninstall the app and take a look at the services I recommend below.
A problem with using an Android VPN app on your Chromebook is that older Chromebooks dont support Android apps. The , but if you have a device that is not on the list, you wont be able to set up a VPN on your Chromebook by using an Android app.;
If your device is supported, you will need to have Chrome OS latest version. You must also use the Settings menu to activate the Google Play store. Open Settings, search Google Play and switch it on. Note that users with corporate Google accounts may not have the right to activate the Google Play store.