Warning! - Never use a free VPN provider. They are free for a reason, and that is to collect your tracking information and sell it to others.
Warning! - The following sites are not my recommendations, they are simply sites I have heard about. If you have comments or suggestions or recommendations, I can add that information.
If your VPN is frequently disconnecting, I suggest manually choosing the TCP protocol. This will create a more stable connection that results in fewer disconnections.
VPN Beginner's Guide: What is a VPN and how does it work (Explained) - https://thebestvpn.com/what-is-vpn-beginners-guide/ - an advertisement? - Thanks to Grace Howard (howard.l.grace@gmail.com) for recommending this site.
How To Hide Your IP Address (6 Fool Proof Ways) - TheBestVPN.com - https://thebestvpn.com/hide-ip/ - Thanks to Linda Garth (linda@thebestvpn.com) for recommending this site.
TheBestVPN.com (30+ VPNs Reviewed) - https://thebestvpn.com/ - Thanks to John Mason (john@thebestvpn.com) for recommending this site.
7 Best VPNs for Netflix Users in 2018 (Unblocking Netflix w/ VPN) - https://thebestvpn.com/vpn-netflix/ - Thanks to Chris Peddler (chris@thebestvpn.com) for recommending this site.
Some iPhone VPN apps don't use OpenVPN, even if the VPN service that made the app supports the protocol.
Instead of using the VPN app from the company from which you've purchased a subscription, you can download the standalone OpenVPN app. Open it, and you can enter your subscription information from the VPN company you've decided to work with. The OpenVPN app will then connect to the VPN company's servers using our preferred protocol.
VPN Watcher from UDGsoft. It will check your VPN connection ‘every half-second or less (up to 100ms) depending on current networking conditions’, and shut down any specified program immediately it detects a disconnect. As soon as you reconnect to a VPN server it will start the specified programs up again. The limitations of the free version being that the connection is checked every 500ms (rather than ‘up to’ every 99ms), and only one program can be controlled. $10 for 2 devices or $20 for 5 devices (and includes priority tech support) - This appears to be a one-time fee (not a recurring monthly or annual fee).
If your VPN stops working, your internet connection will stop working. The VPN will restart your internet connection when it is safe.
Some VPNs (without a kill switch) will not tell you if theVPN stops working and will allow you to continue working unprocted on the internet. Very dangerous.
A kill switch shuts everything down. Your internet access will be automatically cut off when the VPN connection is lost.
Proton VPN - desktop app - the kill switch button can be found on the Countries tab on the main dashboard.
NordVPN - click the gear icon on the top toolbar, then choose Kill Switch from the list of options on the left.
ExpressVPN - with the desktop client installed, the kill switch can be found by clicking the menu button (top left), then Options and General: You can then check the box marked Stop all internet traffic if the VPN disconnects unexpectedly.
Getting Connected
cmd: ping, nslookup, tracert
Control Panel > Network and Sharing Centre > Set Up A New Connection or Network > Connect To A Workplace > Use My Internet Connection > Virtual Private Network Connection > give the connection a name and provide the host (DNS) name or IP address > Connect
if necessary: Network and Sharing Centre > Manage network connections > R-click your VPN network icon and select Properties > Networking (tab) > Internet Protocol TCPIPv4&TCPIPv6 > Properties > provide the exact IP address and DNS names for the network > exit Properties > R-click your VPN icon > Connect > log in
Turn on airplane mode after activating a VPN to shut off all of a device's connections, then switch off airplane mode with the VPN still engaged which should restart connections inside the tunnel. Airplane mode, however, might not stop all prior connections, as users can control Wi-Fi settings independent of it, possibly confusing the process.
Ultimately, don't trust any VPN on Apple iOS devices. Instead, users may want to operate a VPN from the router to protect the entire network if individual devices leak data. A secondary router dedicated to VPN connections is ideal.
Persistent VPN connection.
I want the VPN to stay permanently connected, no matter what (unless I change the Settings).
I want an always-on VPN.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2333948 (discussion of this problem started in 2010)
Having to go into iOS Settings and turn it on every time the screen is unlocked makes the VPN feature pointless. It might as well not even be there if it's going to be broken in such a way.
There should be an option to never send any data without a VPN connection That would solve it. - See also: VPN Watcher
I'm interested in a setting that would force all iPhone data access only through the VPN, and make the VPN try to remain connected at all times unless manually turned off.
There should be in option in ios to "BLOCK ALL TRAFFIC IF VPN IS NOT CONNECTED". It's that simple!
With iOS, the problem is not the VPN, it is the WiFi. WIFI DOESNT TURN OFF IF YOU HAVE (the iOS device) POWER PLUGGED IN.
It's not a bug. The iPhone is designed to disconnect from WiFi and VPN when it sleeps. This is to save battery life. And that is how it will always be, because battery life is an important marketing point. More important than permanent VPN.
The VPN connection does not drop during sleep as long as the iPhone is plugged in
Cisco Anyconnect VPN ? (only for WiFi, not for cellular?)
Cisco AnyConnect VPN with PKI certificates. It is possible to set the VPN to be persistant and it only reauthenticates when it wakes up. It does this very quickly and using PKI certs it does not require any manual intervention. The tunnel restablishes very quickly.
Doesn't work for everyone.
Anyconnect VPN is useless as a solution if you are using a VPN connection that is reachable only via an APN connection provided by a carrier such (i.e.Verizon).
Given the nature of push notifications, automated email checks, etc, it's simply untenable in a business enviornment to not have the option to sacrifice battery for always-on vpn.
This is why companies like RIM (BlackBerry) stay in business. There are security issues with iPhone and iPad. Have to turn off all push and updates so nothing happens without manually turning VPN back.
I think the issue is that these device are not Laptops so when they go into (Auto-lock) or when you press the (Sleep/Wake button) it break the VPN session, The device goes to sleep mode not screen saver mode like you can configure a laptop to do. These devices don’t have a screen saver mode.
Sleep is different on an iPhone than on a Mac. Unless it is physically turned off, the iPhone keeps checking email and getting push messages even while sleeping. (Thus the notifications while it is in your pocket or during the night) Unfortunately, it doesn't keep the VPN connection while doing this. So, the unacceptable scenario is when you turn on a VPN connection to secure your email and messages, but the phone "goes to sleep" and drops the VPN... but the email keeps coming as the phone then checks it insecurely without the VPN. Your only option to keep secure at that point is to diconnect from any open WiFi if it is asleep.
"Installing browser add-ons or plug-ins can help, too. For example, Force-TLS and HTTPS-Everywhere are free Firefox add-ons that force the browser to use encryption on popular websites that usually aren't encrypted. They don’t protect you on all websites – look for https in the URL to know a site is secure."
VPN Unlimited - vpnunlimitedapp.com - Russian? (i.e. all your info is controlled through Russia?), tech support may not be good, other problems reported, not recommended
$69/year. Allows only two active connections per individual account.
You’re welcome to load your VPN on other computers and devices that you own and are allowed two active connections per individual account. If you have some special need beyond that, you will need to buy a second subscription (since Witopia has no flexibility at all on this issue).
"You only need the Basic service to work with the Blackberry Z10 as it uses IPSec to connect to the VPN.
The difference between the two services is that the PRO package ($70/year) gives you OPENVPN, which is faster and typically used on computers."
PRO services - You need to uninstall and reinstall each year to update the cert and key files for OpenVPN. Be sure you delete ANY previous installers you downloaded to avoid confusion with which copy to reinstall
1. Uninstall the vpn software
2. Empty the trash
3. Restart the computer TWICE (important)
4. Reset
To Reset Your VPN:
1. Login to the portal (https://my.privacy5000.com/login)
2. Click on your active service
3. Click on "reset ssl vpn"
4. Click on "regenerate"
5. Download the program
6. Reinstall
7. Restart the computer
8. Enjoy the vpn
IPSec (in WiTopia Pro)
IPSec is faster? Secure. IPSec provides the same level of encryption as OpenVPN since they both provide 256 bit encryption?
If you keep getting strange error messages (like "Your Current Location is Unknown" or "Authentication Failed"), try using a different server. Sometimes the servers crash.
Custom Gateways (icon)
- this step is optional
Add (button)
General (tab)
Gateway Name | MyNewGateway (or whatever)
Protocol | IPSec
Server Address | 192.69.209.60 (or whatever WiTopia tech support suggests)