Free Online Privacy Training 101
  • Online Privacy Training
  • About this online privacy training course
  • Contents
  • Introduction
    • Disclaimer
  • Modules
    • 1. Online Privacy: an introduction
      • Lesson 1: Understanding the Digital Landscape
      • Lesson 2: Privacy Policies & User Agreements
    • 2. Privacy Basics and Background
      • Lesson 1: The Public You vs. The Private You
      • Lesson 2: Dissecting Your Digital Footprint: Data and Metadata
      • Lesson 3: Tracking (Cookies, Link Tracking and Data Aggregation)
        • Part 1: Cookies
        • Part 2: Link Tracking
        • Part 3: Data Aggregation
      • Lesson 4: Proprietary vs. Open Source
    • 3. Privacy Architecture
      • Lesson 1: Privacy Architecture
      • Lesson 2: Operating System Layer
      • Lesson 3: Networking Layer
      • Lesson 4: Application Layer and Above
      • Privacy Architecture Summary
    • 4. Private Messaging with Signal Messenger
    • 5. Private Browsing
    • 6. Data Encryption, User Name and Password Management
      • Lesson 1: User Name and Password Best Practices
      • Lesson 2: USB Disk Encryption
      • Lesson 3: Password Management with KeePassX
    • 7. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
    • 8. Private Email
    • Summary
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  • Recommended VPN providers
  • Procedure

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  1. Modules

7. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

Lesson on the importance of using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Online privacy, data security, tracking, personally identifiable information (PII), NordVPN, SurfShark, EarthVPN, ExpressVPN, OpenVPN

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Last updated 1 year ago

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Learning objectives: Understand the importance of using a VPN, and how to deploy one.

A virtual private network, or VPN, makes your internet connection more secure by ‘lending’ you a temporary IP address and hiding your true IP address from every website or email you connect with.

Recommended VPN providers

We have reviewed a number of VPN’s, here are links to some of our most recommended.

Note: Some of these are affiliate links, which means if you purchase or sign up a) you should qualify for the best pricing, and b) we may get something in return. Thanks!

Procedure

Here is how to get online with your own VPN (for the sake of this tutorial, we are going to use NordVPN, but the steps are similar with other VPN providers) and start running it on your computer or smartphone.

  1. Open NordVPN's website and click Get Nord VPN. Choose the length of subscription and the price per month that suits you best. Use your ProtonMail email address to identify yourself.

  2. If you already have some Bitcoin, select that payment method. Alternatively, you can pay by credit card – do not use PayPal! Back on the NordVPM signup page, click Join Now. You will see a Bitcoin payment page. Finalize the transaction.

  3. Generate and save your strong password in KeyPassX!

  4. Log in to your NordVPN dashboard and download and install the appropriate installer package for your computer (you can also use this ).

  5. Open the app and log in to NordVPN using the account you created when you purchased the subscription plan (check your email).

  6. Once logged in, select your country via the map and NordVPN will do the rest for you.

  7. To set up for your smartphone (follow the instructions ). There is also a more comprehensive step-through there, so if you get in trouble, review it.

NordVPN
SurfShark
Mullvad VPN
ExpressVPN
OpenVPN
comprehensive guide
here