What is a VPN, should I use it and which one is good and free?

Updated (January 23, 2019)

I suggest this VPN for 2019: https://do-you-know-tech.blogspot.com/2019/01/this-premium-vpn-gives-free-17-gb-of.html

As the problem of anonymity on the Internet grows, we try to protect our privacy in all possible ways. I have already written a lot of posts about how to protect yourself on the Internet, how to surf anonymously, how to install Tor, etc. so it would be advisable to read those posts.

One of the options I like the most is VPN. Now, I also wrote about a VPN service that is quite good and free, but the problem with that service is that you have to change the code every 24 hours (which appears on the site) and the flow is a bit slower.

I also wrote briefly about what a VPN is, but here I will clarify it in a little more detail and try to show you that it is a really useful option and that you should use it.

What is a VPN?

VPN is an abbreviation for "Virtual Private Network", which would literally mean " Virtual Private Network " - which it is. So, when you connect to a VPN, you are actually using the Internet as an infrastructure in which a special, well-protected, tunnel is created through which data is transmitted and which only you can access.

VPN is also used for anonymous surfing because your traffic is encrypted so that it can only be read by the end server and not by third parties along the way.

Should I use a VPN?

There is no universal answer, it all depends on the user. If you are not interested in online privacy, then you do not have to read the text further. If you are still worried about your privacy, you will be glad to write now that you can use one unlimited and fast VPN completely free of charge and it can be set up in a minute or two!

As I am a fanatic about anonymity on the internet, I will definitely recommend VPN to you. Every day we can read on the Internet how they spy on us and intercept traffic, buy information and sell, how nothing is safe, etc. so I believe that not everyone cares.

Free and good VPN?

Since the purchasing power of citizens in Serbia is not the best, I believe that everyone is looking for free solutions. You can find a lot of VPN services, the problem is that they are paid and free versions are more or less limited. They are limited in terms of throughput, which means that you generally have a certain number of megabytes available on a monthly/weekly/daily basis.

But some have goodwill so give full and unlimited flow and all for free! In return, if you want to help, you can donate some money for the development of the project (such people should always be supported!)

I came across JustFreeVPN but, as I said, the problem is the password that has to be re-entered therefore you don't have a permanent connection to the VPN and the throughput is a bit worse.

So I went in search of others and found a VPNBOOK uses the OpenVPN client so you have a constant connection, full and unlimited throughput, and all for free!

I wrote the OpenVPN client because they also recommend it in the manual, but I would recommend (for those more advanced users)  the SecurePoint SSL VPN client because it performed better while I was testing it.

How to set up a VPN?

You have a complete explanation on the site for Win7 / 8 / XP, Mac, Ubuntu, iPad, and Android, and I will briefly explain here for Windows OS.

1. On the vpnbook site, choose which VPN you want - http://www.vpnbook.com/freevpn  (I recommend EURO 1 because it proved to be the fastest during testing. Again, you should try everything)
2. Download the .zip archive by clicking the selected VPN
3. Install one of those two VPN clients (OpenVPN is recommended for first-time users)
4. Unzip .zip and upload the unzipped files to the VPN client
5. Enter the Username and Password located on the site
6. Done!

Conclusion

You can never be completely anonymous on the Internet, even the almighty Thor broke in - there has been talking about that these days. But you can certainly increase anonymity with VPN and other services/tools that I have written a lot about.

I personally use:

DoNotTrackMe (add-on), Ghostery (add-on), vpnbook, DoNotTrackMe (chrome settings), SafeIp (proxy, browser ID protection, cookie tracking protection, referring URL protection, DNS privacy, traffic encrypt).