Question:

How can I create an always-on VPN configuration with a device and a PC?

I want to connect my PC to a device (such as a raspberry pi) and ensure that my PC can only access the internet through a VPN tunnel to a specific country. The device should act as a killswitch, blocking all network traffic if the VPN connection drops. Ideally, the device should also be able to create a wifi hotspot. What are the necessary steps and components to achieve this setup?

Answer:

How to create an always-on VPN configuration with a device and a PC

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a service that encrypts and routes your internet traffic through a remote server, hiding your real IP address and location. This can help you bypass geo-restrictions, protect your privacy, and secure your data from hackers and snoopers.

However, not all VPNs are reliable and trustworthy. Some VPNs may leak your IP address, log your activity, or expose you to malware. Moreover, VPN connections can sometimes fail or disconnect unexpectedly, leaving you vulnerable to online threats.

To avoid these risks, you may want to create an always-on VPN configuration with a device and a PC. This means that your PC will only be able to access the internet through a VPN tunnel to a specific country, and the device will act as a killswitch, blocking all network traffic if the VPN connection drops. Ideally, the device should also be able to create a wifi hotspot, so you can share your VPN connection with other devices.

There are different ways to achieve this setup, but one of the simplest and most popular methods is to use a Raspberry Pi as the device. A Raspberry Pi is a small, inexpensive, and versatile computer that can run various operating systems and applications. You can use a Raspberry Pi to create a VPN router, a VPN client, or both.

A VPN router is a device that connects to a VPN service and routes all the traffic from your network through the VPN tunnel. This way, you can protect all the devices on your network with one VPN subscription, without having to install VPN software on each device.

To create a VPN router with a Raspberry Pi, you will need the following components:

• A Raspberry Pi (any model will do, but the newer ones have better performance and wifi capabilities)
• A microSD card (at least 8GB) with a compatible operating system (such as Raspbian) installed
• A power supply for the Raspberry Pi
• An ethernet cable
• A VPN subscription (preferably one that supports OpenVPN, which is a secure and widely used VPN protocol)
• A wifi dongle or a wifi router (optional, if you want to create a wifi hotspot)

The steps to create a VPN router with a Raspberry Pi are:

1. Connect the Raspberry Pi to your modem or router with the ethernet cable, and plug in the power supply.

2. Log in to the Raspberry Pi via SSH or a monitor and keyboard, and update the system with the following commands:

“`bash

sudo apt update

sudo apt upgrade

“`

3. Install OpenVPN and other necessary packages with the following command:

“`bash

sudo apt install openvpn unzip wget

“`

4. Download the configuration files for your VPN service. You can usually find them on the VPN provider’s website or app. Make sure you download the files for the country or server you want to connect to. For example, if you want to connect to a VPN server in the UK, you may download a file named `UK.ovpn`.

5. Copy the configuration files to the `/etc/openvpn` directory with the following command:

“`bash

sudo cp /path/to/your/config/files/*.ovpn /etc/openvpn

“`

6. Edit the configuration file to include your VPN username and password. You can use any text editor, such as nano, to do this. For example, if you want to edit the `UK.ovpn` file, you can use the following command:

“`bash

sudo nano /etc/openvpn/UK.ovpn

“`

7. Find the line that says `

auth-user-pass

` and add your VPN username and password in a new line below it, separated by a space. For example:

“`bash

auth-user-pass

yourusername yourpassword

“`

8. Save and exit the file by pressing `Ctrl+X`, then `Y`, then `Enter`.

9. Enable the VPN service to start automatically on boot with the following command:

“`bash

sudo systemctl enable openvpn@UK

“`

Replace `UK` with the name of your configuration file, without the `.ovpn` extension.

10. Reboot the Raspberry Pi with the following command:

“`bash

sudo reboot

“`

11. After the reboot, check if the VPN connection is working by running the following command:

“`bash

curl ipinfo.io

“`

This will show you your IP address and location. If they match the VPN server you chose, then the VPN connection is successful.

12. To create a wifi hotspot, you can either use a wifi dongle or a wifi router. If you use a wifi dongle, you will need to install and configure some additional packages, such as hostapd and dnsmasq, to turn your Raspberry Pi into a wireless access point. You can follow this guide for more details: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/configuration/wireless/access-point-routed.md

If you use a wifi router, you will need to connect it to the Raspberry Pi with another ethernet cable, and configure it to use the Raspberry Pi as the gateway and DNS server. You can follow this guide for more details: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/configuration/wireless/access-point-bridged.md

Creating a VPN client with a Raspberry Pi

A VPN client is a device that connects to a VPN service and routes only its own traffic through the VPN tunnel. This way, you can protect only your PC with a VPN connection, without affecting other devices on your network.

To create a VPN client with a Raspberry Pi, you will need the following components:

• A Raspberry Pi (any model will do, but the newer ones have better performance and wifi capabilities)
• A microSD card (at least 8GB) with a compatible operating system (such as Raspbian) installed
• A power supply for the Raspberry Pi
• A VPN subscription (preferably one that supports OpenVPN, which is a secure and widely used VPN protocol)
• A USB cable

The steps to create a VPN client with a Raspberry Pi are:

1. Connect the Raspberry Pi to your PC with the USB cable, and plug in the power supply.

2. Log in to the Raspberry Pi via SSH or a monitor and keyboard, and update the system with the following commands:

“`bash

sudo apt update

sudo apt upgrade

“`

3. Install OpenVPN and other necessary packages with the following command:

“`bash

sudo apt install openvpn unzip wget

“`

4. Download the configuration files for your VPN service. You can usually find them on the VPN provider’s website or app. Make sure you download the files for the country or server you want to connect to. For example, if you want to connect to a VPN server in the UK, you may download a file named `UK.ovpn`.

5. Copy the configuration files to the `/etc/openvpn` directory with the following command:

“`bash

sudo cp /path/to/your/config/files/*.ovpn /etc/openvpn

“`

6. Edit the configuration file to include your VPN username and password. You can use any text editor, such as nano, to do this. For example, if you want to edit the `UK.ovpn` file, you can use the following command:

“`bash

sudo nano /etc/openvpn/UK.ovpn

“`

7. Find the line that says `

auth-user-pass

` and add your VPN username and password in a new line below it, separated by a space. For example:

“`bash

auth-user-pass

yourusername yourpassword

“`

8. Save and exit the file by pressing `Ctrl+X`, then `Y`, then `Enter`.

9. Enable the VPN service to start automatically on boot with the following command:

“`bash

sudo systemctl enable openvpn@UK

“`

Replace `UK` with the name of your configuration file, without the `.ovpn` extension.

10. Reboot the Raspberry Pi with the following command:

“`bash

sudo reboot

“`

11. After the reboot, check if the VPN connection is working by running the following command:

“`bash

curl ipinfo.io

“`

This will show you your IP address and location. If they match the VPN server you chose, then the VPN connection is successful.

12. To use the Raspberry Pi as a killswitch, you will need to configure your PC to use the Raspberry Pi as the default gateway and DNS server. This will ensure that all your PC’s traffic goes through the Raspberry Pi, and if the VPN connection drops, the Raspberry Pi will block all network traffic. You can follow this guide for more details: https://www.instructables.com/Raspberry-Pi-VPN-Gateway/

Conclusion

In

this article, we have shown you how to create an always-on VPN configuration with a device and a PC, using a Raspberry Pi as an example. You can use this setup to protect your privacy, security, and freedom online, and to access geo-blocked content from anywhere in the world. However, you should also be aware of the limitations and risks of using a VPN, such as speed loss, compatibility issues, and legal implications. You should always choose a reputable and trustworthy VPN service, and do your own research and testing before implementing any solution. We hope you found this article helpful and informative. Thank you for reading.