How to set up a VPN on Windows 7,8,10 and VISTA in 10 minutes

VPN is a useful technology used by tens of millions of people. In this article you will learn what a VPN is, how it works and why it is needed. We tell you which VPN services are best to use and how to set them up to protect yourself on the Internet.

In this article you will learn:

1. VPN: what is it in simple words
2. Why do you need a VPN?
3. How VPN works
4. Types of VPN connections
5. How VPN chains work
6. Selecting a VPN: What to Consider?
7. VPN is not prohibited in Russia?
8. How to use a VPN
   NordVPN service
9. VPN for free with Opera
10. conclusions

VPN: what is it in simple words

You may have heard that with the help of a VPN, people access previously inaccessible sites. And they are not afraid of being tracked on the Internet. This is why the system was invented.

In general, VPN is an abbreviation for the English “Virtual Private Network”. Literally: virtual private network.

What kind of virtual network? Let's figure it out.

In simple words, VPN is a generalized name for technologies that allow you to use not your own location, but a substitute location on the Internet. Thus, protecting information about yourself from prying eyes.

Essentially, this is a setting that enables you to browse websites without the risk of being tracked by anyone.

Remember

1. VPN is an anonymous network connection technology. It allows you to organize a subnet in an existing connection.
2. Used to protect information and achieve anonymity on the network.
3. You can connect to a VPN thanks to OS settings and special programs.
4. When connecting, errors may occur that prevent you from connecting to the network. You can solve them by creating a new connection, looking for errors in the settings, or disabling the antivirus.

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Why do you need a VPN?

In general terms, you already understand that a VPN is needed to increase security on the Internet. But why exactly? What should we, ordinary honest people, hide and why hide from someone online?

There are three most common reasons for using a VPN.

Firstly, technology prevents other sites from collecting information about you . Today, almost every second website tracks and collects information about you. When you go to a page, your location is immediately recorded there. Both on the Internet and geographically (at least - your country and locality). Using this information, sites will try to sell you something, impose something on you. This is especially true for online stores.

In addition, just when you open a website, your gender and approximate age can be determined. And in some cases - even a name and some personal information. Further more. Some sites may share information about us with other sites. Perhaps you have already encountered the situation where you enter a website for the first time, and there is a greeting for you by name and a list of individual offers. Here they are - the arrogant marketing spies in action.

To avoid this kind of intrusive tracking, we can use a VPN. And pretend, for example, not to be Russians from Voronezh, but to be Japanese. Tomorrow - Bulgarians. And then - Mexicans. Then, no site will know who you really are and where you come from.

VPN allows you to access blocked sites

Secondly, a VPN is needed to bypass blocking . The most common example: Russian sites Yandex, Mail.ru and Vkontakte are blocked in Ukraine. But many Ukrainians like these services. Many have a page on VKontakte. And now you can't go there.

However, with the help of a VPN you can easily access VKontakte, Yandex and other sites. Technology allows you to bypass most blocks in most countries of the world. People want to be able to use their favorite services.

I think there is nothing criminal about messaging friends on social media. networks. And, VPNs allow you to do this by bypassing regional blocking. Therefore, various VPN services have gained massive popularity. Especially in recent years.

Thirdly, thanks to VPN, your personal information will be protected when using Wi-fi in public places . The fact is that by using open Wi-Fi we become vulnerable. Connecting to the network somewhere in a park or in a cafe, our devices become an easy target for hackers. Here they can find out literally everything about us. Right down to bank passwords and personal correspondence messages.

Can you imagine what the consequences could be if attackers hack our gadgets while we are sitting with friends in a cafe? Unfortunately, I tested this myself. And no antivirus software saved me. But a VPN would have saved me. After all, he would have confused the traces of our device. And hackers would start hacking some already non-working mobile phone somewhere in Brazil, instead of ours.

And in general, not only when using open Wi-Fi, the VPN service will help protect our personal data under lock and key. Even if you pay utility bills from home, I recommend using a VPN. So that no one intercepts the information. He didn't steal your money or do anything bad to you.

Definition

To make it easier to understand what a VPN is, you just need to know what it can do. A VPN connection allocates a specific sector in an existing network and all computers and digital equipment located in it have a constant connection with each other. But the most important thing is that this sector is completely closed and protected for all other devices in the large network.

How VPN works

Technically, thanks to a VPN, you connect to sites not from your own location, but from someone else’s, random one. I'll explain how it works.

Every device on the Internet has its own address. The so-called IP address. It shows where you are connecting from. For example, on the 2ip.ru service, you can easily determine your IP address. And, make sure that sites determine both the IP address of each visitor and their geographic location.

VPN protects us from unwanted attention

So, when you connect to sites without a VPN, they immediately learn and remember everything about you. Automatically.

When you use a VPN, your device does not immediately connect to websites. First, it connects to a private virtual network via an encrypted communication channel. And this network connects to the site you need and transmits information to you.

Thus, sites see information not about you, but about some random IP address from a frequent virtual network. And you see sites as usual. Is it possible that sites will take a few fractions of seconds longer to load?

It's a bit like an identification scene. You've probably seen this in movies. Three suspects are sitting in a bright room. A witness from another room sees them perfectly through the glass. And they only see the mirror. This is roughly the same with VPN. You see websites. But they don’t have you.

And a few more words about why VPN allows you to bypass blocks. The fact is that sites are most often blocked only for certain regions. Roughly speaking, people with Ukrainian IPs cannot connect to the VKontakte website. When using a VPN, you are not accessing VKontakte, but a virtual network. But it's not blocked. So it turns out that instead of the forbidden link:

Ukrainian IP —> VKontakte

we get resolved:

Ukrainian IP -> dummy IP (for example in Belgium) -> Vkontakte.

That is, we calmly bypass the blocking without fear of being tracked.

Types of VPN connections

VPN can be different. Let's briefly look at the technical features of this technology. And, I’ll immediately note that in most cases now three types of VPN connections are used.

• L2TP (or Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol) is one of the oldest types of VPN connections. Appeared back in the 1990s. It is not demanding on computer resources, that is, it works with minimal, not noticeable delays. However, it does not use encryption. This means that if the user really wants to, it can still be tracked. However, this protocol is quite suitable for bypassing site blocking.
• IPsec (or Internet Protocol Security) - also developed in the 90s. At the same time, this protocol is much more secure and uses encryption. The downside is that IPsec requires a lot of computing power. Simply put, using such a VPN is reliable, but expensive.
• SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer and Transport Layer Security) is perhaps the most common type of VPN connection. Thanks to the use of modern technologies, quick access to any site is provided. The level of security is average. However, within this type of connection, in some cases, we can use a VPN for free.

In my opinion, the third option is optimal for most users. By the way, such a VPN is already built into some popular browsers. For example, in the Opera browser. We will also learn how to use it a little later in the article.

Windows 7

The process of making settings in Windows 7 is simple and accessible even to inexperienced computer users.

To make them, a Windows 7 user needs to take the following sequential steps:

1. Click on the tray icon that looks like a PC display and click “Connection” in the menu that appears;

2. If required, type the login and access code, click the “Properties” button;

3. Next, enter your specific parameters in the “General” tab;
4. Then go to the “Settings” tab and also enter specific data corresponding to the specific network and server;

5. Open the “Security” tab, where you can configure specific encryption and protection settings;

6. Enter the “Network” tab, the most commonly used “Protocol 4...”, check the box;

7. Open the “Access” tab and enter the required parameters and click “Ok”.

Note: for correct operation, careful individual selection of all parameters is necessary.

How VPN chains work

To further increase security, you can use so-called VPN chains. That is, several secure connections at once.

I'll explain with an example.

If we do not use a VPN, then when entering the site the connection will be something like this:

We (Russia) —> Website

When using a VPN, the connection will look something like this:

We (Russia) —> VPN network (Brazil) —> Website

When using a VPN chain, it will be extremely, extremely unlikely for us to be tracked. Because the chain will be something like this:

We (Russia) -> VPN network (Holland) -> another VPN network (Switzerland) -> Website

How VPN chains work

Based on the number of servers in the chain, they distinguish between DoubleVPN, TrippleVPN and QuadroVPN. That is, respectively: the use of two, three and four VPN networks.

Such chains definitely increase the security of your personal data. However, they are expensive. And, they significantly slow down the loading of websites.

To be honest, for most people there is no point in using chains. However, if you, for example, are doing your own hype project, then additional security is not needed.

Selecting a VPN: What to Consider?

Previously, a few years ago, you always had to pay for a VPN. That is, we had to choose some company. She set up a secure VPN connection for us, and we paid for it every month.

Now there are a number of free VPN services. Including - there are very simple solutions where the VPN is turned on and off with one click. And, they are all very different.

Let's take a look at what you should pay attention to when choosing a VPN.

• Ease of use . When using a VPN, you don’t want to plunge into the technical jungle and constantly configure some IPs, gateways and other things. I want to press “on” and use it.
• A VPN should be convenient and fast.
  Speed ​​of operation. If each site takes two minutes to load, then it will simply be impossible to use such a VPN network. And such cases do happen. Therefore, before choosing a specific network, it is better to find out how fast it works.
• Safety . For many, this is the main factor. However, I wouldn't overestimate him. To bypass blocks and protect against most hackers, any simple VPN service will be enough. Including free ones. Expensive and reliable VPNs are needed only for some emergency situations. For example, if you are afraid that the FBI is following you.
• Price . Well, everything is clear here. The higher the price, the higher the quality of service they offer us, as a rule.
• Versatility . In some cases, different regions require different VPN networks. So, for example, if you went on vacation to Turkey, then a free VPN in Opera will not help you. At the same time, sites blocked in Turkey can be opened using other VPNs. And, this is relevant because quite a few sites are blocked in Turkey, including Wikipedia.
• Support . When working with a VPN, some configuration may be required. It’s clear that I would like to quickly receive qualified help if I need it.

In general, there are more than two hundred companies in the world that offer us to connect a VPN. Many of them offer good service for reasonable money. At the same time, if you need a VPN only for the most basic protection and access to blocked sites, then feel free to use some of the simplest, free option. It would be enough.

Windows 10

Here the procedure is different. It combines auto-tuning with user-specific settings. It is enough to know your login, password, and server address. The tenth version ensures stable operation of this service through providers that do not work with VPN. You need to download the appropriate program. It will be accepted and adapted by the OS.

More details in the video for those who don't want to read.

Further actions:

• Start - Settings - Network and Internet. Select VPN from the list that appears on the left.
• Click + to add a new connection. Enter the parameters in the window that appears. They will be provided by the administrator or provider. Specify the provider, type of VPN, login information.
• Save the changes, return to the network management menu, click “change settings”. Select connection properties by right-clicking.
• Select the line IP version 4, then properties.
• Leave the general settings as default and click “advanced”. Remove the “use default gateway” market. Confirm.

A special icon will appear on the panel. Activation takes a few seconds and occurs without entering a login password.

VPN is not prohibited in Russia?

VPN is currently not prohibited in Russia. Formally. However, in 2022, amendments to the federal law “On Information...” came into force. They specify restrictions for anonymizers and VPNs.

The regulations do not prohibit the use of VPN. At the same time, it is prohibited to use VPN for anything illegal. That is, according to the law, for example, we cannot use a VPN to access a site selling drugs that is blocked in Russia.

The FSB will monitor this. However, exactly how is not specified. The function is needed so that you cannot be tracked. One way or another, I personally don’t recommend doing drugs either. This is evil!

Important point. Users are not in danger under the new law. You can use a VPN and go wherever you want. All responsibility within the framework of the law lies with the sites, providers and Roskomnadzor.

How to use a VPN

It's actually quite easy to start using a VPN. In most cases, the procedure is as follows:

• We agree with one of the relevant companies about connecting to the VPN;
• We install the program provided by our provider (company);
• Once the installation is complete, we can access the Internet as usual. VPN will work.

Sometimes, you need to install not a program, but an add-on in your browser.

Alternatively, a VPN can be included in the browser. We have already said that you can use a free VPN in the Opera browser. There, this option is enabled with just one click in the settings. Turned it on and everything works.

The process is simple and even an inexperienced PC user can handle it. Although, why only PC? Today, this function can also be used on mobile devices running iOS and Android. In most cases, there are no difficulties connecting to a VPN today.

NordVPN: how to use

The most popular VPN service today is NordVPN. To improve their online security, it is used by millions of people and many companies. But does this mean that the service is good? And if it’s good, how much does it cost and how to use NordVPN? Let's figure it out in order.

NordVPN's popularity is partly due to its good advertising campaign. I note that the company is an official partner (read: bought advertising) of the Liverpool football club, the BBC media holding and the Forbes publication.

At the same time, the company offers a fairly reliable VPN service for a reasonable fee. On average, for $10 per month, the company's clients receive an encrypted high-speed connection to a VPN network.

Their network operates from any country in the world. Including North Korea and China. In this case, 256-kilobyte encryption is used. That is, intercepting information is practically impossible.

Well, for those for whom this is not enough, there is the option of using DoubleVPN. That is, a double chain.

In addition, the service provides a built-in filter for suspicious resources. In other words, this is also additional protection against viruses.

How to set up NordVPN

First of all, we need to download the proprietary program from the NordVPN website. There are versions for all popular operating systems, including Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android and iOS.

Open the downloaded file and start the installation. Next, we will need to indicate our username and password in the system. We will receive them when paying for the service.

NordVPN installation process

Next, all we have to do is select the country through which the sites will be accessed. We choose according to our wishes. Or, press the button for quick connection (“Quick Connect”). Then the ama program will select a country.

This completes the setup. VPN works.

How to set up NordVPN on your phone and tablet

The setup will be approximately the same as on a computer. With a slight difference.

So, here is the action plan for setting up NordVPN on your phone or tablet:

1. Download the application from the AppStore or Play Market;
2. We go into the application and log in using the username and password (which we received when paying for NordVPN services);
3. Automatically add a new configuration by clicking the “I trust this application” or “Allow” button;
4. Select the country you like, or select “Quick Connect”.

That's all. The VPN on your mobile device is now working.

VPN for PC free through Opera

Using VPN through Opera is perhaps the simplest and most convenient option. Built-in VPN allows you to quickly and securely connect to any sites, including those blocked in your country. Plus, it's free.

I can say with confidence that a VPN in the Opera browser will be sufficient for the vast majority of users.

Windows 8

The eighth version is automated, so the instructions on how to set up a VPN on Windows 8 are simple:

• At the bottom, find the corresponding icon that looks like a monitor.
• Find “Network Control Center” - “create and configure a connection” where the network parameters change.
• Confirm your PC's direct connection to the Internet.
• Specify the name of the work environment by changing the options. The same values ​​are entered as for other OS versions.

The process completed successfully.

For those who find it difficult, watch the video instructions.

Setting up a VPN service in Opera for PC

So, let's install Opera. Let's open it. Most likely, the VPN switch will already be right in your address bar.

Next, simply move the toggle switch to the “on” position with a mouse click. And that's it, the VPN works. You will immediately feel this, as sites will take a little longer to load.

If there is no “VPN” icon in the address bar, then go to Opera settings. Select “Advanced” - “Security”. And, also, with one click we enable the function.

For mobile devices, the procedure is exactly the same. Download the Opera application. Go to settings and enable VPN. As you can see, this is easy to do.

UPDATED: Please note! In June 2022, VPN in Opera became unavailable under the influence of Roskomnadzor. Thus, at present, to protect personal data and free access to sites on the Internet, it remains to use specialized VPN services. Such as, for example, NordVPN, which I mentioned just above.

The most common mistakes

Various antivirus programs and firewalls may block the connection. In this case, an error code is displayed on the screen. Let's look at the most popular problems and ways to solve them.