What is a VPN? The essence of the technology and its areas of application. VPN - what is it, server setup
Many people are interested in knowing what a VPN connection is and why it is needed. Let's understand this in simple layman's language, without using professional terminology, so that everyone can understand what it is. A VPN connection is a secure network (tunnel) created within the Internet, which is not protected. If we consider the simplest type, it is a tunnel consisting of a VPN client, which is located on the user’s PC, and a VPN server. What happens in the tunnel:
Encryption;
Changing the information exchanged between the user’s PC and sites located on the Internet.
Advantages of this protection
And what is its merit? Sometimes a VPN is needed to hide your IP address in order to become an anonymous user. There are cases when it is needed to download files from a network that prohibits this from the IP addresses of the countries in which the clients are located. There is also a need to encrypt traffic transmitted from the user’s PC to the destination. It turns out that there are quite a few situations in which a VPN connection is used.
Mechanism for using a VPN connection
Let's look at an example that we often encounter in real life. Free and often open Wi-Fi networks are growing in popularity these days. They are everywhere:
In restaurants;
In hotels;
In other public places.
The number of devices that allow you to connect to the Internet is constantly increasing. There are PDAs, mobile phones, netbooks and other devices. This makes modern people happy, since in many places it allows them to easily connect to their email, access social networks, and now they can work while on vacation, combining business with pleasure.
But have you ever thought about how safe it is? Are you sure that in the open space of unsecured networks no one will steal your credentials and passwords? Not everyone knows, but by analyzing such unprotected traffic, it is easy to gain access to personal information, establishing control over your PC. This is where a VPN connection comes to the rescue. It must be installed before connecting via an unsecured network.
How to install a VPN
Windows 7 is not difficult. The principle is almost the same as in any case. You will need a control panel, there go to the section called “Network and Internet”, in which click on “Set up a new connection or network”. After that, select a connection option. We are talking about the “Connect to a workplace” item, which will allow you to set up a VPN. Then you need to provide information about how the VPN connection will be made. Over an existing Internet connection or a dedicated phone number. If in doubt, choose the first option. At the next step, enter the IP address (you can use the name of the PC) to which you will connect using the VPN tunnel. Find out from Then enter your access credentials. Next, click the “Connect” button.
It is important to create a VPN connection; once a secure channel is established, there is no longer any risk of data interception. You can safely check your email and access necessary sites using your password.
In the modern world, cybernetic space has become much more popular than the real world. Young people are more likely to spend time playing online games and social networks than going for a walk or reading a book. And this is understandable - the availability of information increases awareness and overall human development. However, for some reasons, information and social resources may be blocked by providers, government agencies, or the sites themselves. In this case, do not despair, since in most cases the blocking can be bypassed.
What is a VPN connection and why is it needed?
VPN (English: Virtual Private Network) is a generalized name for technologies that allow one or more network connections (logical network) to be provided over another network (for example, the Internet). Despite the fact that communications are carried out over networks with a lower or unknown level of trust (for example, over public networks), the level of trust in the constructed logical network does not depend on the level of trust in the underlying networks due to the use of cryptography tools (encryption, authentication, public key infrastructure, means to protect against repetitions and changes of messages transmitted over the logical network).
Wikipedia
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/VPN
To explain it in simple and understandable words, VPN is the ability to access Internet resources through other networks.
In this case, several levels of channel changing are used, which means that your IP address is encrypted, and access is provided according to the following scheme: Internet - virtual network (or several virtual networks) - Internet. When using a VPN, providers “see” the connection to a certain network or server, and further requests to resources occur through an encrypted channel. Thus, data packets are returned to you regardless of blocking by the Internet provider.
When connecting to the Internet via a virtual network, the provider does not monitor traffic
The main disadvantage of a VPN is considered to be a reduction in speed while surfing and downloading files, but technology does not stand still and paid services already provide good communication speeds.
How to create and configure a VPN connection on Windows 10
- There are several options for setting up a VPN for Windows 10. Conventionally, they can be divided into:
- built-in (standard OS tools);
third-party (special programs and browser extensions, as well as functions of some routers).
Creating a VPN through Windows Settings
- Creating a virtual network through Windows Settings is the most time-consuming, but at the same time the most reliable way to gain access to blocked resources. In addition, once the VPN is created, it is quite easy to manage it and, if necessary, change the server address:
Press the Win+I key combination and go to the “Network and Internet” applet. - In the “Windows Settings” block, open the “Network and Internet” element
Open the VPN tab and click on the plus icon that says “Add a VPN connection.” - Click on the plus icon with the caption “Add VPN connection”
- Next, fill out the form:
We save the changes using the button of the same name. Click on the connection and click “Connect”
Open VPN servers can be found on the Internet, for example, or on a similar resource.
Video: how to create a VPN connection
How to disable or remove a VPN connection
If you no longer need a VPN or you don’t like the services provided, the created connection can be disabled or deleted:
Like most Windows features, creating a VPN connection has been adopted by software developers. As a result, users got a whole market with programs that simplify creating a tunnel and connecting to virtual networks. Most of them are a small window with just one button - connect/disconnect from VPN.
One such program is HideGuard VPN. Using her example, it is very easy to see how a connection to a virtual network occurs:
Setting up via router
Unfortunately, not all routers support VPN connections. To do this, the router must have DD-WRT technology, but devices that are less than four years old almost certainly have the necessary firmware. The settings of routers vary, but in general, virtual network management is located in the same tabs:
VPN in browser
Instead of setting up a virtual connection for your entire computer, you can resort to partial VPN use in your browser. There are two possibilities for this:
- internal browser settings (for example, Opera has a built-in function with a good and free VPN);
- extensions in browser stores.
“Turbo” modes in some situations can also be considered virtual networks, but they only work when your browser has a low access speed to a certain address; in other cases, the function is ignored.
To enable VPN in the Opera browser, you need to slightly change your browser settings. To do this, press the key combination Alt+P, select “Advanced” in the menu, then “Security” and slightly scroll down the page with settings. We find the VPN column and switch the toggle switch to the working position.
Turn on the VPN by moving the corresponding toggle switch to the right position In other browsers, you can install additional extensions that will add VPN functionality to your browser:
I prefer to use a browser-based VPN, and there are several reasons for this. Firstly, for most extensions you can set exceptions in the operation of the virtual network, and this provides huge advantages, for example, applying the service to only one or two sites. For the rest of the Internet, the original connection will be used. Secondly, when downloading files through applications and exchangers, the traffic will not exceed the amount of information received, since packets are often “lost” when passing dozens of nodes in the virtual network. And besides, I always value connection speed, and a virtual network, even a paid and fastest one, will slow down data transfer, which is unacceptable in some cases.
Video: how to install VPN in Chrome, Opera, Mozila browsers
Using a VPN on a Windows 10 computer is very easy. Using standard tools, you can create and configure a virtual connection. If necessary, it can be quickly removed or temporarily disabled.
Imagine a scene from an action-packed movie in which the villain escapes the crime scene along the highway in a sports car. He is being pursued by a police helicopter. The car enters a tunnel that has several exits. The helicopter pilot does not know which exit the car will appear from, and the villain escapes the chase.
VPN is a tunnel connecting many roads. No one from the outside knows where the cars entering it will end up. No one from the outside knows what is happening in the tunnel.
You've probably heard about VPN more than once. Lifehacker also talks about this thing. Most often, a VPN is recommended because using the network you can access geo-blocked content and generally increase security when using the Internet. The truth is that accessing the Internet through a VPN can be no less dangerous than directly.
How does a VPN work?
Most likely, you have a Wi-Fi router at home. Devices connected to it can exchange data even without the Internet. It turns out that you have your own private network, but in order to connect to it, you need to be physically within reach of the router’s signal.
VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a virtual private network. It runs on top of the Internet, so you can connect to it from anywhere.
For example, the company you work for may use a virtual private network for remote workers. Using a VPN, they connect to their work network. At the same time, their computers, smartphones or tablets are virtually transferred to the office and connected to the network from the inside. To log into a virtual private network, you need to know the VPN server address, login and password.
Using a VPN is quite simple. Typically, a company installs a VPN server somewhere on a local computer, server, or data center, and connects to it using a VPN client on the user’s device.
Nowadays, built-in VPN clients are available in all current operating systems, including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux.
The VPN connection between the client and the server is usually encrypted.
So VPN is good?
Yes, if you are a business owner and want to secure corporate data and services. By allowing employees into the work environment only through a VPN and using accounts, you will always know who did and is doing what.
Moreover, the VPN owner can monitor and control all traffic that goes between the server and the user.
Do your employees spend a lot of time on VKontakte? You can block access to this service. Does Gennady Andreevich spend half his working day on sites with memes? All his activity is automatically recorded in logs and will become an ironclad argument for dismissal.
Why VPN then?
VPN allows you to bypass geographic and legal restrictions.
For example, you are in Russia and want. We regret to learn that this service is not available from the Russian Federation. You can use it only by accessing the Internet through a VPN server in the country in which Spotify operates.
In some countries, there is Internet censorship that restricts access to certain sites. You want to access some resource, but it is blocked in Russia. You can open the site only by accessing the Internet through a VPN server of a country in which it is not blocked, that is, from almost any country except the Russian Federation.
VPN is a useful and necessary technology that copes well with a certain range of tasks. But the security of personal data still depends on the integrity of the VPN service provider, your common sense, attentiveness and Internet literacy.
The use of VPN networks in our time has become an integral part of working with the Internet. A variety of virtual private network technologies and specifications are used by both huge international corporations and individual users. Some providers even provide Internet services based on VPN servers. One way or another, connecting to existing ones or setting up your own VPNs is not difficult, but very necessary. Everything connected with it is clearly examined using the example of the Windows 7 system.
What is a VPN connection
VPN (English acronym for “virtual private network”) is the common name for several technologies that allow you to create network connections on top of existing ones. VPNs are often used in closely held corporations to restrict access to the corporate network. Thus, an internal network is created on the basis of an existing external network (most often the Internet).
A simplified diagram-icon symbolizing a VPN connection
Thus, data exchange is carried out using Internet technologies, while the corporate network (VPN) has closed access only for employees.
Moreover, employees may be located in different parts of the world. “Closed” access is achieved through cryptographic technologies such as encryption, authentication and/or public key infrastructure.
The general structure of a VPN is shown in the figure below.
The diagram shows what a VPN structure typically looks like using lines and icons
So, two regional branches, the main office, as well as individual employees are connected to a common network. At the same time, the connection between them is carried out through Internet technologies, and information security tools make it possible to limit the access of unauthorized users or completely close it.
In addition to the examples above, VPN is now used by some providers to connect users into groups. This allows you to connect multiple computers to the same IP address. Thus, savings are made on renting Internet addresses, which means the cost of connection services drops. At the same time, data transmitted by users remains encrypted.
How to connect and configure VPN services on Windows 7
Setting up a VPN connection on Windows 7 is quite simple. You don't need any additional software. Just follow the instructions.
- First of all, go to the Network and Sharing Center: open Start and select Control Panel. In the open window you will see a button to enter the “Center...”. Select "Set up a new connection...".
In the Network and Sharing Center, click "Set up a new connection or network" - From the list, select “Connect to a workplace.” This paragraph contains settings for the VPN connection.
Select “Workplace Connection” from the list of network connection options - The program will ask: “How to connect?” In our case, we need to choose the first option. Then click Next. By the way, in this window you can view Microsoft's VPN data (click the link at the bottom of the screen).
When asked how to connect, select "Use my Internet connection (VPN)" - A window will appear in front of you to fill in your connection information. In the “Internet address” line, you must specify a link to the VPN server. You can find this out from your provider and/or administrator. You can enter any “Destination Name”. In addition, you need to check the box next to “Don’t connect now...”. When everything is ready, click “Next”.
Enter the required VPN connection information: Internet address, destination name. These can be obtained from your provider. - Go to the Network tab. Here, uncheck the “Internet Protocol Version 6...” checkbox to increase data transfer speeds, because most likely it is not used on your VPN server (unless specified otherwise). Now single-click on “Internet Protocol Version 4...” and select its “Properties”.
Click "Properties" with the cursor over "Internet Protocol Version 4..." - In the window that opens, select “Advanced...” You should not change the DNS server addresses here, as we will set them next to match your VPN.
Click “Advanced...” to go to additional. menu - In all previously opened windows, click “OK”. The VPN connection is ready to use! You can launch it from the “Desktop” if you created a shortcut earlier.
Now you need to enter your username and password to connect to the VPN network. If you are not sure if they are correct, contact your administrator (provider). In addition, for easy access to the VPN server, you can specify its domain. If you are simply setting up an Internet connection to your ISP, leave the field blank. Now click the “Create” button. 
Enter your username and password in the appropriate fields when connecting to your workplace
A message appears indicating that the connection is ready. Just click "Close".
Close the VPN Ready message box
In the “Center…” window that opened earlier, click on “Change adapter settings.”
In the Network and Sharing Center, click on “Change adapter settings”
A window will open in front of you, which contains information about available connections. The newly created connection is named as the “Destination Name” you specified earlier. Right-click on it. If you want, you can create a shortcut for this connection on your desktop. This will make it easier to access the network. Then select Properties: There are a few things you need to change before you can start using the VPN.
Create a connection shortcut if you want and then go into its properties
Now be careful. In the small “Properties” window of your connection, switch to the “Security” tab. Select the type of VPN network, which depends on the specifics of it. Contact your administrator or provider for this information. For example, if you want to connect to some remote server, the connection type is usually “PPTP”. But this is just an example. Be sure to check the correct choice.
Select the appropriate VPN network type; if you don't know it, contact your ISP or administrator
Please note that on the same tab there is a drop-down list “Data encryption”. You can choose the item that suits you personally. But this does not guarantee uninterrupted operation of the connection. Such data should also be clarified with the administrator.
In the “Advanced TCP/IP Settings” window, on the “IP Settings” tab, uncheck the words “Use the default gateway on the remote network.” If this is not done, Internet traffic will pass through the VPN server, which will reduce the data transfer speed. 
Uncheck "Use the default gateway on the remote network" to increase connection speed
If you are just connecting to a remote server, go to the DNS tab. In the “DNS connection suffix” column, enter the suffix provided by the administrator. This way, you don't have to enter it every time to go to a specific site.
Video: how to install and connect to a VPN in Windows 7
Possible connection problems
There are a number of errors that can cause your VPN connection to not work or not work properly. But before we move on to their descriptions, let’s take a look at the most common problem: when you turn on the VPN, the Internet connection disappears.
What to do if the Internet connection disappears after startup
This problem is relevant if you are connecting to a certain server, and not to the provider. It doesn’t matter how you are connected to the Internet (cord, Wi-Fi, another VPN), the connection drops for the same reason. And restoring it is quite simple.
As we indicated above, enabling this option may slow down the speed of your Internet connection, since traffic will pass through the VPN server. If the connection is completely lost, it means that the gateway for remote connections is closed on the server. After unchecking the box, the Internet will work again.
VPN connection problems and their solutions
Errors when trying to automatically connect to a VPN connection are numbered with a three-digit number - an error code. This code appears in a separate window as shown in the screenshot.
VPN connection error window; in this case, error 807 popped up
Here are ways to correct the most common errors.
400 Bad Request
This error means that the request from your computer contains some information incorrectly.
- Try turning off all additional network programs.
- Refresh your browser and reset its settings.
Error 624
Error 691
This error can have many causes, but they are all similar to some extent. So, it appears if you have not paid for the services to the provider, entered an incorrect login or password, incorrectly specified any VPN connection settings, or the connection has already been established. One way or another, check all the entered data in the connection properties or simply create it again, as we did above.
Error 800
This error indicates that there are problems with the VPN server itself. Perhaps it receives too many requests that it does not have time to process, or there is a load directly on your virtual network segment. In this case, you can only report the problem to the server provider/administrator and wait for a solution from them.
Error 800 means the VPN server is overloaded
Error 650
If this error occurs, you need to check the health of your equipment: network card and cable. To do this, it is better to call a specialist. Before doing this, go to “Properties: Internet Protocol Version 4...” (see the item “What should I do if the Internet connection is lost after turning on the VPN?”) and set the switch to “Obtain an IP address automatically.”
Enable automatic IP address selection
Thus, the server itself will provide you with an IP address from the list of available ones with each new connection.
Error 735
The appearance of error 735 indicates that the VPN connection is configured incorrectly. Most likely, a specific IP address is specified. Set it to be selected automatically, as in the case of error 650.
Error 789
In this case, you need to enter the properties of the VPN connection and go to the “Security” tab (we have already described how to do this earlier). From the VPN Type drop-down list, select Automatic. This will solve the problem.
Set VPN type to auto-select to check network health
Other errors
In addition to the above, there are many other local errors. If you are an advanced user, sometimes you can solve them yourself (for example, open some ports in the firewall so that the server works), but most often they must be resolved by your ISP or server administrator. The only thing you can do is to go through all the points we suggested and check that the VPN connection is configured correctly. If the connection worked before, but is now lost, the problem is definitely on the server side.
How to disable automatic VPN connection
Sometimes you may need to disable your VPN connection for a while. For example, to connect to another network or check the possibility of reconnection. To do this, go to Control Panel from the Start menu. Open the list of settings “Network and Internet” -> “Network Center...”. Click on "Change adapter settings" on the left. Your connection will be displayed in the window. Right-click on it and select Disable.
To disable VPN, select the appropriate context menu item
Additionally, once disconnected, you can remove the VPN connection completely. This is necessary if you have configured it incorrectly or you no longer need it. Just click "Delete" in the same context menu.
Creating and masking your own connection
In this section we will talk about the possibilities of masking a VPN connection for the average user. This may be needed in different cases. For example, if you want to create your own small server to control your home computer from your work computer, which would be maximally protected from outsiders. Or you need to mask your IP address through a remote VPN server to gain access to online sites and stores in other countries.
How to create a VPN network using the OpenVPN client
If you want to create a personal small VPN network or connect to a geographically distant server, you will need the OpenVPN program and configuration files from your provider. These files should be selected according to your purposes. Please note that the VPN provider may have nothing to do with your Internet Service Provider. VPN services are paid.
- Download the OpenVPN installer from the developer's website. After downloading, run the installer (all actions on the computer must be performed as an administrator) and click Next.
A program downloaded from other sites may turn out to be a fake or even a dangerous virus.
Click "Next" to begin the OpenVPN installation - Read the user agreement and click I Agree.
Click the I agree button after reading the documentation
A list of components to be installed will appear in the installer window. Without changing anything in it, click Next.
Without changing anything in the list of installed components, click Next
Specify the desired path to the OpenVPN program and click Install to begin installation.
Select the desired path to the program and click Install
When installing the program, Windows will ask for permission to install the driver because OpenVPN creates a virtual device. Just click “Install” in the window that appears.
Install the virtual device driver, without it OpenVPN will not work
Once the installation is complete, click Next and then Finish. 
Once the installation is complete, click Next, then Finish
Now you need to copy the files provided by your VPN provider to a special folder in the OpenVPN program. Follow the path […]OpenVPN\config (here “[…]” is the program path you selected during installation), right-click and click on “Paste”.
Paste the provider files into the config folder
Go to the Start menu and find OpenVPN under All Programs. Right-click on the OpenVPN GUI file and select its Properties.
Enter OpenVPN GUI properties
Switch to the "Compatibility" tab and make sure that the "Run this program as an administrator" checkbox is checked. Otherwise it won't work.
Make sure that the OpenVPN GUI program will be run as administrator
After clicking OK, launch OpenVPN GUI from the Start menu. The program icon will appear in the notification area on the taskbar. Right-click on it and select Connect.
Right-click on the program icon and click Connect to launch
The program will start and a log of connection data will appear on the screen.
This window provides information about the VPN server startup
Now you can click the Hide button to hide this window. A message indicating a successful connection and the IP address assigned to you will appear on the taskbar.
Successful connection message
Your VPN connection is ready to use!
Video: detailed OpenVPN setup for advanced users
Masking a VPN connection using Obfsproxy
Now your VPN connection is ready to use. Now let's move on directly to his disguise. The Obfsproxy program will help you cope with this task best.
The steps involved in installing Obfsproxy require basic programming and administration knowledge.
This program is created on the basis of Linux systems for multi-level encryption of transmitted data. The full cryptographic algorithms, of course, are kept secret, however, Obfsproxy has proven itself to be excellent among both advanced administrators and ordinary users. Therefore, its use guarantees complete isolation and protection of information transmitted over the VPN network.
As we already said, Obfsproxy is developed on Linux. Therefore, to use it on Windows 7, you will need a Python compiler. You can download it from the official website of the Python Software Foundation. The recommended version is 2.7.13.
Install Python on your computerIn addition, you will need a Visual C++ compiler for Python. You can download it from the Microsoft website. It is called something like this: Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler for Python 2.7. Please note that the compiler version (2.7) must be the same as the Python version (2.7.13). Install the program to any folder on the C:\ drive.
Install Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler for Python 2.7
Install OpenSSL Light v1.0.2d
Then it's a matter of little things. Run Command Prompt as an administrator: From the Start menu, type cmd in the search bar, right-click and select Run as administrator. 
Run Command Prompt as Administrator
Enter the following commands into the command line window in the given sequence (press Enter after entering each command):
Run OpenVPN as administratorYou must run the first and fourth commands from the list before each launch of OpenVPN. In this case, you do not need to close the command line, otherwise obfsproxy will not work.
Your VPN connection is now secure and camouflaged!
As you can see, working with a VPN is not that difficult. Any user with minimal knowledge can not only connect to an existing network, but even create his own. In addition, cryptographic protection of personal data, it turns out, is also available to everyone. The main thing is to be vigilant when connecting to the traffic of foreign servers. After all, any actions performed by their administrators will be governed by the laws of the country in which the server is located.
Today, Internet users increasingly use the term VPN. Some recommend using it more often, while others recommend avoiding it. Let's take a closer look at what is hidden behind this term.
VPN connection, what is it?
VPN(Virtual Private Network) is technology, which provides communication closed from external access in the presence of a high connection speed. This connection is carried out according to the principle “ dot - dot" In science, this connection method is called tunnel. You can join the tunnel at PC with any OS, wherein VPN client installed. This program “forwards” a virtual port using TCP/IP to another network.
To implement such a connection, you need a platform that quickly scales and ensures data integrity and confidentiality.
In order for the PC to IP address 192.168.1.1-100 connected via a gateway to an external network, you need to set the connection rules on the router. When a VPN connection is made, the message header contains the address of the remote PC. The message is encrypted by the sender and decrypted by the recipient using a shared key. After this, a secure connection is established between the two networks.
How to connect a VPN
A brief diagram of the protocol's operation was previously described. Now we’ll find out how to connect a client on a specific device.
On a computer and laptop
Before you set up VPN connection to Windows 7 PC, should specify IP address or server name. To do this in " Network Sharing Center" on " Control panels" need to " Create a new connection».
Select item "" - " (VPN)».
At the next stage you should specify Name And server address.
You need to wait for the connection to complete.
Let's check the VPN connection. To do this in " Control Panel" In chapter " Network connections» Call the context menu by double-clicking on the shortcut.
On the " Details" need to check IPv4 address. It must be within the IP range specified in the VPN settings.
On your phone, iPhone or tablet
Now let's look at how to create a VPN connection and configure it on gadgets running Android OS.
For this you need:
- smartphone, tablet; login, network password; server address.
To set up a VPN connection, you need to select “” in your phone settings and create a new one.
An icon with a new connection will appear on the screen.
The system requires a login and password. You need to enter the parameters and select the "" option. Then at the next session you will not have to confirm these data again.
Once the VPN connection is activated, a characteristic icon will appear on the toolbar.
If you click on the icon, the connection details will appear.
How to set up a VPN to work correctly
Let's take a closer look at how to automatically configure VPN on computers with Windows 10 OS.
Go to PC settings.
In chapter " Options"go to the subsection "".
... and add a new VPN connection.
On the next page you should specify the VPN connection parameters:
- Service provider - Windows;Connection name;Server address;VPN type;Username and password.
Once the connection is established, you need to connect to it.
How to create a VPN server
All providers record the activities of their clients. If a request is received from law enforcement agencies, they will provide complete information about which sites the offender visited. Thus, the provider relieves itself of all legal liability. But sometimes situations arise in which the user needs to protect his data:
- Companies transmit their data via the Internet via an encrypted channel. Many services on the Internet operate based on geographic location. For example, the Yandex.Music service operates only on IP from the Russian Federation and CIS countries. A Russian living in Europe will not be able to listen to his favorite music. In offices, access to social networks is often blocked.
Next, you need to create a user and give him limited rights only to the VPN. You will also have to come up with a new long password. Select a user from the list. At the next stage you need to select the connection option " Through the Internet" Next you need to specify the connection parameters. If you don’t need access to files and folders when working with a VPN, you can uncheck all the boxes and click on the “” button.
How to use a VPN
After a new connection has been created, all you need to do is open the browser and load any page. Beginners can skip creating the connection and immediately download the VPN client from the Internet or install a special extension in the browser. After downloading the program, you need to launch it and click the “ Connect" The client will join another network and the user will be able to view sites prohibited in his region. The disadvantage of this method is that the IP is issued automatically. The user cannot select a country. But the connection is set up very quickly, by pressing just one button. The option of adding an extension also has disadvantages. Firstly, the user must be registered on the official website of the program, and secondly, the extension often crashes. But the user can choose the country through which the connection to the external network will be made. The connection process itself also does not raise any questions. Just press the button " Start" and the browser will reboot on the new network. Let's look at how to install the extension using an example ZenMate VPN.Download the program from the official website. After installation, the following icon will appear in the browser:Click on the icon. The extension window will appear:
If you move the mouse cursor to icon with the Russian flag, then the screen will display current IP. If you move the cursor over the icon with the Romanian flag, the IP of the selected server will appear. If desired, you can change the connection country. To do this, click on the globe and select one of the automatic addresses.
The disadvantage of the free version of the program is the small number of available servers and the imposition of advertising.
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.| Error | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| 678 | Encryption is not allowed in the OS | You need to open the command line and check the “ProhibitIpSec” parameter in the registry “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\RasMan\Parameters”. It should be equal to 0. If the provider itself uses an encryption channel to provide services, then changing this setting will affect Internet access. |
| 691 | Incorrect login/password entered | You need to log in to the network again |
| 692 | Firewall Error | Disable your firewall |
| 720/738 | User is already connected | Error 720 occurs only on Windows 7. All other operating systems display code 738. If you have to work from different PCs through one client, then you need to create several user names. |
| 734 | Automatic VPN | You need to change the connection type from “Automatic” to “L2TP IPSec VPN” in the connection properties. If the error does not disappear, you need to re-create the connection. |
| 766/781 | Key not saved/not entered | Open the VPN properties, on the “Security” tab, select “Advanced settings” and enter the key in the new window |
| 768/789 (Windows 7, Vista, XP) | IPSec doesn't work | RMB on the shortcut “My Computer” - “Management”. In the “Services” section, select “IPSec”. Set the connection type to Auto. |
