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How to Configure a VPN on Your Android

How to Configure a VPN on Your Android

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How to Configure a VPN on Your Android

Image Source: clario.com

Setting up a VPN (Virtual Private Network) on your Android device can help shield your online activity from prying eyes in the modern digital world when security and privacy are crucial. Here’s a thorough tutorial on setting up a VPN on your Android device, regardless of your reasons for wanting to protect your privacy, access content that is blocked, or secure your connection when using public Wi-Fi.

Selecting a Trustworthy VPN

Choosing a reputable VPN service is essential before beginning the setup procedure. Even while there are many free VPNs out online, they frequently have restrictions and privacy issues. Here are a few well-liked VPN suggestions for Android:

  • NordVPN: Well-known for its extensive server network, quick connections, and strong security features.

  • ExpressVPN: Strong encryption, good speed, and easy-to-use applications are all features of ExpressVPN.

  • Surfshark: An inexpensive VPN with a tonne of features and limitless simultaneous connections.

How to Configure an Android VPN

On an Android smartphone, setting up a VPN is simple and may be done in a few different ways, depending on your preferences.

Installing a VPN App

  • Set up a VPN application: Get a VPN app from the Google Play Store, such as Surfshark, NordVPN, or ExpressVPN.

  • To log in, open the VPN app and enter your login details.

  • Choose a Server: Select a server location via the VPN application.

  • Link: To create a secure VPN connection, tap the “Connect” button.

Manual Setup (Integrated VPN)

  • Get to the Android Settings: Your Android device’s Settings app should open.

  • Go to the Network & Internet page: Select “Network & Internet” from the menu. 

  • Choose a VPN: Select “VPN” from the network settings menu.

  • Create a VPN Profile: To create a new VPN profile, tap the “+” symbol.

  • Enter your VPN information here: Enter the necessary VPN server information that your VPN provider has sent you.

  • Save Profile: Conserve the VPN profile configuration.

Configuring an OpenVPN

  • Get OpenVPN Connect by downloading it: OpenVPN Connect may be installed via the Google Play Store.

  • Configuration for Import: OpenVPN Connect should import the VPN configuration file that your VPN provider sent you.

  • Connect to Server: To create a VPN connection, click “Connect” in the OpenVPN Connect app.

Setting a VPN connection on an Android device

Connecting to a VPN on your Android smartphone is simple after it has been configured:

  • Get VPN Settings Access: Go into the settings on your Android smartphone.

  • Open the VPN: Navigate to “Network & Internet” > “VPN.”

  • Include a VPN profile: Input your VPN credentials by tapping “Add VPN Profile”.

  • Save Preferences: To save the VPN profile, click “Save”.

  • You can establish a direct connection to the VPN profile from the VPN settings menu if it has already been configured.

Removing Yourself from an Android VPN

To unplug your Android smartphone from a VPN:

  • Get VPN Settings Access: Navigate to “VPN” under “Network & Internet” in your device settings.

  • To disable a VPN, either flip the switch to “Off” or choose “Disconnect” from the menu next to the VPN profile.

  • Modifying the VPN Settings on an Android Device

You May Personalise the VPN Experience to your Tastes by Adjusting the VPN Settings on your Android Device:

  • Always On VPN: To maintain an active VPN connection at all times, enable “Always On”.

  • Clear alerts: While the VPN is operational, turn off the persistent alerts.

  • Establish a work profile to provide safe access to private networks.

Also Read: A Quick Guide to Cancelling Your Spotify Premium Subscription

Why a VPN Is Necessary for Android

On your Android smartphone, using a VPN has the following advantages:

  • Enhanced Privacy: Hides your IP address and online activity by encrypting your internet traffic.

  • Secure Public Wi-Fi: Prevents possible hackers from accessing your data on public Wi-Fi networks.

  • Access to Restricted Content: Get around geo-restrictions and internet censorship to access content from around the world.

  • VoIP Call Security: Provides safe Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) connections.

  • Streaming and torrenting: Provides access to geo-blocked streaming material and secure torrenting.

To sum up, installing a VPN on your Android phone is a simple procedure that improves your internet security, accessibility, and privacy. You may use your Android device to browse the internet more safely and securely by selecting a reliable VPN service and adhering to these setup guidelines.

 
Google One

Google One VPN Service Now Available on Windows and Mac

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Google One subscribers who are utilizing the Premium Plan or higher, are granted access to the firm’s own VPN service without any cost.  Up until recently, the service was only available on Android and iOS devices, but Google is now making it available to desktop users as well. This means that if a user purchases a 2TB or higher plan, then VPN by Google One will be added automatically and without any additional charge.

Image Source: 9to5google.com

Google One VPN support has been brought for Mac and Windows devices and it was confirmed by the company. It is now available in 22 countries around the world, enabling the users to mask their IP addresses and restrict trackers.

“We remain committed to a high degree of transparency and verifiability of our privacy and security guarantees. We have recently completed an extension of this audit to cover the desktop implementations for Windows and macOS,” the company was quoted as saying.

Source: business-standard.com

The desktop version necessitates a minimum of macOS Big Sur or Windows 10. The Mac app supports both x86 and ARM users, whereas the Windows app does not support 32-bit or ARM-based systems.

It’s worth noting that, unlike most of the premium VPN services on the market, Google One’s VPN does not permit users to modify their location in order to access or unlock media content from other regions on streaming platforms. The Google One VPN, like Apple’s iCloud Plus VPN, automatically assigns an IP address within the area from which the user connects.

Google’s VPN service is also audited by third-party organizations. To ensure transparency, the firm also showcases the source code for its app libraries. The search engine behemoth has revealed that the desktop app audit will be publicly disclosed in the upcoming week time.

Google began offering their VPN service for free to Google One subscriber having a 2TB plan in the United States in 2020, but the firm has since decided to expand this free offering to 22 marketplaces, including Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, among others.

Surfshark

Surfshark Shuts Down Servers In India In Response To Govt. laws.

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In response to the proposed rule requiring VPN service providers to store and control their users’ data, another famous Virtual Private Network service provider, Surfshark, has shut down its servers in India. Surfshark, like ExpressVPN, plans to build virtual Indian servers that will be physically based in the United Kingdom and Singapore, allowing customers to access Indian websites. Surfshark, stated on Tuesday that it is shutting down its servers in India in response to a government mandate requiring VPN service providers to preserve user logs for 180 days and gather and store client data for five years. According to the company, which is based in the Netherlands, it operates under a strict “no log” policy, therefore the government’s new rules go against its “fundamental ethos.” In response to the government’s directive, ExpressVPN shut down its VPN servers in the country last week.

Surfshark
Image source: www.businessinsider.in

Surfshark became the second major virtual private network (VPN) service to shut down its servers in India, following ExpressVPN, in reaction to India’s new cybersecurity policy, which mandates VPNs to preserve customer data for five years. VPN providers leaving India “isn’t helpful for its developing IT sector,” according to the business.

“A VPN is an online privacy tool, and Surfshark was founded to make it as easy to use for the common users as possible. The infrastructure that Surfshark runs on has been configured in a way that respects the privacy of our users, and we will not compromise our values or our technical base” Gytis Malinauskas, Surfshark’s Head of Legal, believes.

Source: www.indiatoday.in

Before the new law takes effect on June 27, Surfshark said its physical servers in India will be taken down. The corporation will introduce “virtual” Indian servers when the rules take effect, which will be physically situated in Singapore and London. According to Surfshark, the loss of VPN services in India will exacerbate the country’s cybersecurity problems.

“Notably, VPN providers leaving India is bad for the country’s developing IT sector,” the report stated.

Source: www.indiatoday.in

According to Surfshark’s data, 254.9 million of the 14.9 billion accounts created since 2004, the year when data breaches became common, belong to Indian users. This means that the personal contact information of 18 out of every 100 Indian users has been compromised.

“Taking such radical action that highly impacts the privacy of millions of people living in India will most likely be counterproductive and strongly damage the sector’s growth in the country. Ultimately, collecting excessive amounts of data within Indian jurisdiction without robust protection mechanisms could lead to even more breaches nationwide,” was mentioned the corporation.

Source; gadgets360.com

About The Company:

Surfshark is a British Virgin Islands-based virtual private network (VPN) operator. Surfshark VPN was founded in 2018 and is owned by Surfshark Ltd., which has employees in eight countries. At the time of writing, the corporation has 3,200+ servers across 65 countries. Surfshark provides a lower range of VPN protocols than other VPN providers, but the ones it does support are among the most popular.

Surfshark VPN servers are accessible from anywhere in the world, and users may disguise their surfing behavior with end-to-end encryption. Apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, macOS, and Amazon Fire TV Stick are available. It comes with Chrome and Firefox extensions, a Linux client, and support for a variety of routers. Surfshark VPN’s main feature is a virtual private network (VPN) service that focuses on privacy, but the company also offers a variety of extra security features in addition to simply encrypting your data. Whitelister, for example, is a split tunneling application that lets you send most traffic via the VPN “tunnel” while directing certain traffic outside of it. The site provides clear examples of when you might wish to turn this on and how to do so.