How to setup VPN on Android

There are a great deal of definitions and acronyms related to the internet and how it works. Especially these acronyms, which have several different meanings, for instance: URL (Uniform Resource Locator); IP Address (Internet Protocol Address); DNS (Domain Name System) or ISP (Internet Service Provider). Most of the cybernauts have no idea of what they mean, how they work or why they are related to each other. The acronym that we are going to talk about in this article is called VPN. Therefore, we are going to tell you what a VPN is, how they work, how you can set up a VPN on your Android smartphone and what VPN apps do we recommend you use.

Nowadays, the probability that your private information could get stolen from your computer or smartphone, or that an internet criminal uses your financial information to withdraw money from your accounts is way higher than a burglar breaking into your place. People are taking Cyber security way more seriously on these days than having anti-theft security systems to avoid robberies in their neighborhood.

Per year hundreds of people lose their credentials and identity information on the internet. There are a few methods you can use to avoid this from happening. One of the most known and used by internauts is the usage of VPNs.

What is a VPN?

VPN, which stands for Virtual Private Network, is a security method used to encrypt your data and add a layer of privacy to protect your identity while you are browsing the internet. Using VPN when you are connected to the internet allows you to surf websites privately and securely. Also, it grants you access to restricted websites and surpasses censorship blocks.

How does VPN work?

When you access the internet via VPN, you are connected to a VPN server located in a different place. While this process happens, the server gives you a different IP address masking yours and your location, making the internet think that your location is in a different place than where it really is.

VPN also encrypts your internet connection between your device and the server you are connected to.

Hiding your IP address helps you surf the net privately and also helps to prevent your browsing from being tracked or traced.

In other words, when you surf the net encrypting your connection with the help of a VPN, you are browsing through some sort of secret tunnel. This tunnel prevents anyone or anything from knowing who you are, where you are located, where you are going and from what device you are browsing.

How to use VPN on Android

The easiest way to use VPN is using a VPN app. We suggest you use the app ExpressVPN. Well teach you how to set up VPN on your Android Smartphone in the following steps:

• Download the app: go to Google Play Store and search for ExpressVPN. Download the app and once it has been downloaded tap on Open.
• Sign up: before starting to use the app, you have to sign up. Choose the Start-Free-Trial option and type an email address. The trial version lasts for seven days, after that period of time youll need to pay for the subscription to continue using it. You can also let the VPN share any crash reports.
• Open the App: once you have opened the app, you might have found a big button in the centre. This button turns the VPN on and off. Beneath the button you will see the server location. Also there is a choose location This can be helpful in case you want to show a specific location. For instance, when watching Netflix using a VPN.
• Press the button and start navigating: once you have pressed the button, your connection is encrypted and you are ready to browse. In the bar you will see that there is a key icon, this represents that VPN is running. You might notice that the speed of your connection has slowed down a bit. This is due to the encryption of your data.
• Finish using VPN: once you have finished using VPN, again tap the on/off button and your connection will be reverted back.

Do you really need to use a VPN?

As we have mentioned previously, VPN enables you to encrypt all the data that travels on your network. In this way, helping you to stop hackers and spies from stealing your personal information.

VPNs also help you stop websites from tracking your browsing activity. Apart from this, VPN helps you access blocked content securely and anonymously.

Using VPN in a country where general internet activity is censored is an advantage. Also, you can watch geo-restricted content, for instance Netflix.

The best VPN Apps for Android

ExpressVPN

This app has an user-friendly system, but offers lots of advanced options as well. Some of its options are Location picker, Insecure Network Detection and Killswitch to improve privacy and security. Additionally, Its security system is superb and the speed is considerably fast. ExpressVPN is not definitely one of the cheapest out there, but the price really worth if you are looking for an excellent VPN experience.

NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the most popular apps in the space of VPN apps with +10 million users and high ratings. This app counts with double VPN technology that passes your connection through two different VPN servers. This app is easy-to-use, though it has pretty basic functions and lacks configuration options. NordVPN is a good app with a reasonable price.

Surfshark

Surfshark is a great and simple to use app that offers you killswitch, split tunneling and integrated malware blocker. This app definitely keeps things very straightforward.

IPvanish

This is a good rated app that offers you some sort of peculiar tools like obfuscation and split tunneling. Moreover, it has a feature that resembles the already mentioned killswitch, which instantly shuts down the internet in case the VPN drops. This app is one of the most expensive VPNs in the market. However, all of their plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.