Tag: VPN for Security

How To Setup ProtonVPN On Windows

ProtonVPN app for Windows - ProtonVPN Support
The following instructions are applicable for Windows versions 7, 8, and 10.

ProtonVPN’s native client app is the simplest way to install ProtonVPN on your device. To guarantee the protection of your data we use the OpenVPN protocol by default. Once installed you can start using ProtonVPN right away. If you don’t yet have a Proton account, you can sign up for a Free plan for Windows. Below we also explain the steps you can take to uninstall ProtonVPN.

Installing ProtonVPN

To install ProtonVPN, please follow these steps:

  1. Download the ProtonVPN Windows app
  2. Go to your downloads folder and double click the protonvpn.exe installation file
    1. If a new window pops up asking “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?”, click ‘Yes’
    2. If installing for the first time, the OpenVPN TAP adapter installation will appear. In the window, click ‘Next >
    3. During the installation process, installation of Windows .NET might be required as well. If prompted, follow the instructions to install Windows .NET as well.
  3. Click I Agree and then Next>
  4. Finally, click Install
  5. Once the installer window is open, click install on the first screen. The installer will proceed with the process automatically
  6. Once installed, the ProtonVPN application will start, and appear in a new window. A shortcut to the application will also appear on your desktop for ease of access.

What is a Virtual Private Network (VPN) ?

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Using a VPN establishes an encrypted connection (sometimes referred to as a “tunnel”) between your device and a remote server run by a VPN service. All of your internet traffic is routed through this tunnel to the server, which then forwards it to the public internet as usual. Data returning to your device follows the same path: from the internet to the VPN server, then through the encrypted connection to your machine.

Anonymous Identity Through VPN

Encrypting your traffic and routing it through a VPN server makes it more difficult, but not impossible, for observers to identify you and track your online movements. Your internet service provider (ISP) has extensive knowledge of what you do online, and thanks to Congress, your ISP can sell anonymized customer data. That means the company that charges you for internet access is profiting from your data. In 2021, the FTC issued a report outlining how much your ISP knows about what you do online, and it’s a lot. If you don’t like the idea of a company you already pay profiting from your data, or if you’re concerned about ISPs storing detailed information about your activities, a VPN can help.

VPNs also make it more difficult for advertisers and others to track your online activity. Data is normally transmitted from the internet to your device via its IP address. When you use a VPN, your true IP address is hidden, and anyone watching you can only see the VPN server’s IP address. VPNs mitigate one method of identifying and tracking you online by masking your real IP address.

Unblocking Contents and Altering Location

Streaming services may offer different content to different countries at times. Until recently, residents of the United Kingdom could watch Star Trek: Discovery on Netflix, while residents of the United States had to use Paramount+. You can connect to a remote VPN server from the comfort of your own home, perhaps to watch streaming video that is unavailable in the United States.

You can use a VPN to connect to a server in another country and spoof your location. One method for determining the location of an internet-connected machine is to look at its IP address. These addresses are geographically distributed and may be quite close to your true location at times. Your true location can be concealed by concealing your true IP address behind the IP address of a VPN server.

References:

https://sea.pcmag.com/privacy/14857/what-is-a-vpn-and-why-you-need-one

https://cdn.hswstatic.com/gif/VPN.jpg