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VPNs have become an essential protection mechanism during every online browsing session. With millions of Britons now relying on these handy tools every day, even a split-second connection drop can be enough to expose your real IP address and online activity.
The best VPNs have become the "Swiss Army Knife" of programmes and an extremely helpful tool wherever you are in the world. It can help protect your privacy, access cheap products and software, as well as let you access your favourite shows and movies while on holiday – just as if you were sitting in front of your couch.
Never used a VPN for yourself? This guide will help you understand how a VPN can protect you, how to install one on your laptop, how to activate it, and more.
How do you use a VPN on your laptop?
One of the first things you need to do is find a reputable VPN service. ExpressVPN, for instance, has been listed as one of the best VPN deals, with subscription prices starting at only £1.74 a month. Additionally, our recent ExpressVPN review illustrates how useful the software has become, especially since its recent revamp.
Once installed, you can connect multiple servers from ExpressVPN's network of over 3,000 servers across 105 countries. The service uses proprietary Lightway protocol for enhanced speed and reliability, ensuring smooth streaming.
The service also works across all your devices - Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, smart TVs and streaming devices like Fire TV Stick. You can even use ExpressVPN's MediaStreamer feature to watch on devices that don't normally support VPNs, such as PlayStation or Xbox.
After you’ve signed up for your chosen VPN service, you might be asked to download the app for your laptop. This is the easiest way to ensure it works correctly without any fiddly steps.
Simply download the app for either Windows, Linux, Mac or other platforms and wait for it to install. Afterwards, you might be asked by the app to get access to certain settings – allow the VPN app to access your settings to ensure it works correctly.
It will then ask you to log in to the app. Afterwards, most VPN services will allow you to quickly connect to a server that provides the best speed and performance. This will normally be another location in the same country.
However, most apps will allow you to choose which server and location you wish to connect to.
Most premium VPN services will also have browser extensions that can be used with or instead of the standalone app. This works similarly by going to the extension storefront of either Google Chrome or Firefox, then following the installation steps.
Use a VPN on your laptop with a subscription to ExpressVPN
With its new multi-tier subscription structure, ExpressVPN has never been more affordable
If you want to unlock reliable protection, the ExpressVPN Basic plan offers unlimited access to its award-winning reliable and ludicrously speedy VPN servers across the globe, it has cut monthly subscriptions by 82%. If you sign up for a 12-month plan, you'll be gifted with a generous 4 months of access to the award-winning VPN service for free. That equates to under 6 pence per day!
ExpressVPN
$9.99
$1.74
How to use a VPN manually on your laptop
You also have the option to manually set up a VPN on your laptop.
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on how to install a VPN without an app:
- Open your settings and then select Network or Internet, depending on your device
- Find the VPN tab in the settings
- Click Add a VPN connection
- Enter details including the connection name, server name or address, the VPN type as specified by your provider and the type of sign-in information, usually your username or password
- Enter your username and password if prompted
- Click save, then click the network icon in your taskbar, select your new VPN, and click connect.
This step-by-step guide should work similarly on Windows and Mac. However, it may differ slightly depending on the device. To check if it’s working, search "What is my IP?’' on Google or visit a similar website to see if the VPN service has been enabled.
However, we highly recommend downloading the provider’s built-in app as this makes it much easier to change servers, access advanced settings and easily connect and disconnect.
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Benefits of ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is particularly well-suited for streaming as it boasts VPN server locations in 105 countries, providing access to global coverage. It offers ultra-fast speeds on a 10-Gbps network, essential for high-quality streaming without buffering.
With military-grade encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and features like split tunnelling and a kill switch, your online activity stays private.
Virtual Private Networks, like ExpressVPN, mask your real location by routing traffic through servers in different countries, tricking services into thinking you're elsewhere | EXPRESSVPN PRESS OFFICE Based in the British Virgin Islands — outside Five Eyes jurisdiction — it avoids mandatory data retention laws, which means that even if the company were collecting data (it's not), law enforcement from the UK and US would be unable to compel ExpressVPN to hand over any information about its subscribers.
ExpressVPN supports a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, and routers. There's no limit on the number of ExpressVPN apps that you can download on your devices, and with a single subscription, you can connect to the VPN on up to 10x gadgets at once.
It also has a dedicated team that optimises the service for major streaming platforms. Round-the-clock customer support is available if you encounter any issues during race weekend.
When it comes to buying a cheap VPN, ExpressVPN isn’t one of the cheapest. However, its 30-day money-back guarantee makes it a risk-free choice for privacy-conscious users and frequent streamers.
It should also give new customers the confidence to subscribe to one of its longer contracts, which unlock the biggest discounts.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is software that protects and anonymises everything you do online. | UNSPLASH What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is software that protects and anonymises everything you do online. VPNs can conceal your online activities by routing traffic through an encrypted tunnel that connects to secure servers worldwide.
Cheap VPNs, and even some of the best free VPNs use the same encryption standards as governments in the United Kingdom and the United States, ensuring that even your Internet Service Provider (ISP) on Wi-Fi cannot record the websites you visit, the duration of your sessions on each site, or your current location. This protection extends to advertisers, trackers, and hackers, preventing them from monitoring your online behaviour.
Furthermore, personal information entered into online forms and sensitive data transmitted to and from your device will be safeguarded from hackers using strong encryption provided by a VPN.
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