Best secret tips for your VPN
Get more from your virtual private network than just watching iplayer on holiday
By giving your computer a different IP address and encrypting your connection, a VPN (virtual private network) lets you browse the web anonymously and access services normally blocked in the UK. Most VPNS are paid for (usually about £10 per month, less if you pay annually).
We covered VPN basics in Issue 532’s Cover Feature, so here we dig deeper to show how versatile they can be. If you don’t have one installed, the free Tunnelbear ( www.tunnelbear.com) is a good place to start, though you are limited to 500MB data transfer per month. Alternatively, NORDVPN has an unrestricted three-day trial ( https://free. nordvpn.com).
Browse public Wi-fi safely
Public Wi-fi hotspots can be a Godsend when you’re out and about. They give you a high-speed internet connection (often for free and with just a couple of clicks), helping you stay within your mobile-data limit. However, they can be fraught with risk. The vast majority of Wi-fi hotspots aren’t encrypted, which means any information you send (or receive) is vulnerable. If a hacker happens to be connected to the same network, they can easily intercept and view your data - not great if you’re doing a spot of online banking (which we don’t recommend on any public Wi-fi).
We do recommend using a VPN when on public Wi-fi. It’s easy to forget to switch on your VPN every time, but thankfully, most have a setting that automatically triggers it whenever you connect to a new network.
To switch this on in Tunnelbear, click the cog icon, select the Trusted Networks tab, then switch on the ‘Use trusted networks…’ slider (see screenshot left). The next time you connect to a Wi-fi hotspot in a cafe, library or anywhere else, Tunnelbear will connect to the fastest available server. To exclude specific networks (such as your home Wi-fi), click the ‘Add to Trusted Networks’ button when connected to that network.
To find out how to set this up on other VPNS, visit their support pages.
Restrict your VPN to specific programs
There will be times when your VPN causes conflicts of interest. For example, you may need to connect to a VPN server abroad to unblock a certain website, but then you can’t access Uk-based services (such as BBC iplayer) due to your ‘change in location’. You may also find that some devices on your home network, such as wireless printers, can’t be accessed when your VPN is switched on.
A feature known as ‘split tunneling’ lets you resolve this by limiting your VPN to specific programs (see Nordvpn’s setting in screenshot above). This means you could always use your VPN when browsing with Chrome, for example, but use a standard, unencrypted connection when browsing with Firefox or Edge.
At present, support for split tunneling is limited, even among paid-for VPNS. If you think it’s something you’ll need, PUREVPN and Expressvpn offer it. Find setup instructions online (PUREVPN at www.snipca.com/28752; Expressvpn at www.snipca.com/28753).
Get extra free views of websites
Some websites require you to pay to read their articles. To lure you in, you’ll often
be given a number of free article views per month. If you find this isn’t enough to make a commitment to subscribe, you can use a VPN to give you more access. Turn your VPN on (or disconnect then reconnect) and you’ll be given a new IP address. You’ll then need to reload the website using a private browsing window, otherwise the cookies stored on your computer will tell the site that you’ve visited previously.
To use a private browsing window, open your chosen browser, right-click its icon on the taskbar, then select ‘New incognito window’ (Chrome), ‘New private window’ (Firefox), or ‘New Inprivate window’ (Edge).
If this doesn’t work, try connecting to a VPN server in a different country, then revisiting the site in a new, private browsing window.
Save money on holiday bookings and more
In 2012, travel company Orbitz hit the headlines after its owners confirmed in a Wall Street Journal interview that it showed more expensive hotel deals to visitors using Apple Mac computers ( www.snipca.com/28754). Although it didn’t display different prices for the same deal, it highlighted how some businesses were using profiling methods to maximise profits.
While a VPN won’t hide what type of computer you’re using, it can spoof your location, and you can use this to beat some travel companies at their own game. For example, some companies will offer cheaper deals to visitors from countries where the average income is lower. Other sites will have special offers only in certain countries.
When comparing prices using a VPN, be sure to clear your cookies and open a new private browsing window each time. When we tested this, differences in pricing were significant. We searched for hotels in London on Expedia and found prices were consistently lower when connected to a VPN in the US. One night at the Nobu hotel cost £195, for example, whereas the same deal cost $210 (£162) via a US server (see screenshot above left). Exchange rates and fees need to be taken into account, but it’s still a significant saving.
Use a VPN on your home network
The easiest way to use a VPN is to install it on whatever device you access the web with (such as your PC, tablet or phone). However, by setting the VPN up on your router, you can ensure that all devices on your home network use it.
Whether you can do this depends on your VPN and the make of your router. Tunnelbear, for example, can’t be installed on a router. Similarly, BT’S Smart Hub router won’t let you install a VPN, no matter which one you use.
You can, however, set up NORDVPN and Expressvpn on some routers. You’ll find a list of supported routers and setup instructions on their support pages (Nordvp: www.snipca.com/28755); Expressvpn: www.snipca.com/28756, see screenshot left).