General Tech Tips

How to Setup a VPN | Complete Guide [2023]

The internet may have given rise to many great things in modern society, but it also has one big flaw: there’s no privacy. The number of threats and invasive attacks is growing by the day. It’s not paranoia that’s fueling the massive increase in VPN use. Some of the most popular ones are listed and reviewed here at VPN Compare, which you can check out. This privacy tool has become essential in the fight against ISP snooping and throttling. This, you must know how to How to Setup a VPN now! It also protects from man-in-the-middle and local network attacks.

Want to know more about how VPNs work and why they’re so useful? Then read on and find out how to setup a VPN for better online security.

Table of Contents

What is a VPN and Why Is It Useful?

A virtual private network (VPN) is a service that acts as a mediator between the connection of a device or network and the internet. It uses encryption to protect any data as it travels over the connection towards its end destination. The connection sent through a VPN server also masks the IP address of the original device or network with its own. That makes it almost impossible to trace the connection back to the user’s IP address.

VPN services can be useful for many reasons. For one, a VPN keeps a user safe from being spied on by their ISP and other entities (like advertisers). But they also protect a connection from snooping outsiders who might want to steal credit card info or log-in details on a public or fake WiFi network. As a bonus, VPNs overcome geo-restrictions and open geo-blocked websites. In some countries, such as China, that alone solves a huge problem.

How to Pick the Right VPN Service Provider

There are hundreds of VPN services on the market. Like buying any other product, it’s good to be picky. VPN companies have different strengths — some focus on speed, others on anonymity, for instance. It’s best to find one that aligns with whatever you deem to be most important (for example this one). So, someone who will use VPN to stream content or play online games will prioritize speed over anonymity.

It’s also important to look at the VPN’s features and qualities. If you need to protect your anonymity, you will find a kill-switch feature useful. If you travel abroad a lot, VPN with plenty of servers across many countries is more beneficial.

Two other important things to check when choosing a VPN is the service’s policies and location. For the former, the VPN must have a no-logs policy. That means they don’t track or collect the connection data of their users. As for the latter, if the VPN service is located in certain countries, then they may have no option but to collect and hand over users’ data.

How to Setup a VPN on PC

Not knowing how to install and use a VPN is no excuse not to get one in today’s information-dense world. It might seem like a daunting task to those who are unsure of how a VPN works, but this guide has got them covered too. Installing a VPN doesn’t have to be a complicated chore. So don’t fret, follow the instructions below.

Buy a VPN Subscription

There are two main methods of setting up a VPN on a personal computer. Of course, they rely on whether a user has already subscribed to a VPN service provider. It’s possible to setup a personal VPN at home or the office. But that’s an arduous and time-consuming task meant for organizations rather than individual users.

If you need a VPN for personal use, stick to the service providers and buy a VPN subscription. Avoid free VPNs. If they don’t make money out of subscriptions, they must be making money doing something else. That can include selling your data or bandwidth.

Download and Install Software

The first and easiest method of installation is downloading the VPN app from the service provider’s website. Most premium VPN service providers have an app and detailed instructions on how to set up a VPN. This method takes only a couple of minutes to get things up and running.

Install VPN Manually

Those who don’t have the opportunity to install a VPN app or who might not want to for some reason can also install the VPN manually. It works a little different based on what computer you have. But it isn’t too complicated.

This installation method involves going into the network settings menu and adding the VPN as a new connection. The process is quite straightforward. Once again, you can follow the instructions from the service provider. Should they fail to have any instructions, search for the instructions for your device or operating system.

How to Setup a VPN on a Smartphone

It doesn’t get any easier than setting up a VPN on a smartphone or any other mobile device. First, find the app on the corresponding app store.

Most VPNs have apps for Android on Google Play and iOS on the AppStore. Download the app, follow the setup instructions, and presto! You’re all done!

How to Setup a VPN on a Router

How difficult it is to install a VPN on a router depends on your router. For some routers, it’s enough to configure the setting on the manufacturer firmware. For others, you would need to manually install a VPN through a process known as flashing new firmware (usually DD-WRT) onto the WiFi router.

This process is a little tricky and could result in a bricked router, rendering it useless. There is also the option to buy a pre-flashed router that comes with the necessary firmware to install a VPN.

Conclusion

Installing the VPN is the hard part if you can call it that. Using a VPN is easy because all you have to do is turn it on. One click and your device has an encrypted connection. You can rest assured that intrusive outsiders are not tracking your every move online.