VPN and Proxy

7 questions

What VPN protocols are there?

WireGuard — modern, fast.
OpenVPN — proven, flexible.
IKEv2 — good for mobile devices.
PPTP — outdated, insecure.
Recommended: WireGuard.

Which VPN to choose?

Paid ones are more reliable than free.
NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Mullvad.
Check logging policies.
Speed depends on the server.
Own server: WireGuard + VPS.

How to set up VPN on a router?

The router must support a VPN client.
OpenWrt, DD-WRT expand capabilities.
All network traffic through VPN.
Speed reduction on weak routers.
Split tunneling for selective traffic.

VPN and proxies: how to choose a VPN protocol for tasks (speed/mobility/security)?

Start with requirements on the topic «VPN and proxies»: what should work, what are the limitations regarding budget/performance/security. Then choose a solution.

VPN and proxies: how to set up split tunneling and exceptions for applications?

Practice for «VPN and proxies»: create a checklist (installation, configuration, backup, updates) and go through it once — this reduces the number of «mystical» problems.

VPN and proxies: how to check DNS/WebRTC leaks and properly configure DNS?

Answer on «VPN and proxies»: updates and backups are more important than fine-tuning. Automate backups and enable 2FA.

VPN and proxies: why VPN does not work and how to diagnose?

For «VPN and proxies» it is useful: to find the original source (documentation, release notes) and reproduce the problem with a minimal example.