VPNs have many uses, and even more types of people that use them.  This guide is for users looking to access blocked sites, download torrents, stream content from other countries, and otherwise make use a VPN SERVICE.  If you’re looking for a tutorial for how to set up a Windows 7 PPTP VPN for connection to your home office or to access YOUR OWN computer network remotely – you’re in the wrong place.

Don’t worry though – I won’t completely ditch you. You can find more information on that stuff at Groovy Post and SOFTLAYER for instructions on how to set up a Windows 7 PPTP VPN for your home office or work network.

If you just want to connect to a VPN because your workplace blocked Facebook, you’re living abroad is China, Egypt, or other places that censor the internet, you wan to access movies, music, and TV from around the world, or are just looking for a private connection on public networks, then you’re in the right place.

Now, lets first discuss why you would want to use PPTP on Windows 7.  I mean, by all means, you CAN, but do you really want to?  The answer is maybe.

Why?

Well, the thing is PPTP is still using the age-old PPP encryption.  This is pretty old school, and if you’re looking for privacy or security, then this isn’t the best choice.  Not everyone is looking for anonymity on the internet though so who might benefit from a Windows 7 PPTP VPN connection?

Someone looking to…

* stream movies, music, and TV from other countries
* download anonymously
* unblock banned sites

So you can see that anonymity and security doesn’t play into these.  It’s basically that you need to change your IP address. After all, Netflix and iPlayer aren’t going to track down you IP, hack you, and steal your credit card information, right?  And your employer isn’t going to spend hours trying find out why he can’t seem to find your computer on the network.  PPTP is cheaper and faster, and widely available.

Best VPN Services with PPTP for Windows 7

Hide My Ass

• + 40 country locations
• + 30 day money back guarantee
• + Torrents allowed

>>> Test Drive Hide My Ass <<<

12VPN

• + Great customer service
• + Military grade encryption upgrades (OpenVPN, also can be used on Win 7)
• + VPN Router options

>>> Test Drive 12VPN <<<

StrongVPN

• + Cheapest ($55 for 1 year of US/UK IP address)
• + Live support
• + SSTP also available (*see below)
• + Torrents allowed

>>> Test Drive StrongVPN <<<

Ok, but lets say that you are looking for anonymity and privacy online. In that case, you should be looking for a SSTP VPN.  Though not many services carry this VPN protocol right now, more will in the future.  Microsoft recently developed this VPN protocol to make use of SSL encryption, which is the “+ s” in the “http” when you sign into your accounts.  Have you ever bought anything online and seen the URL prefix change and a little lock show up? Yeah, same stuff. So if it can protect your credit card, it can protect your identity online.

Though OpenVPN is open source software, and many VPN services offer it, for Windows 7, SSTP might be your best option.  Not to say OpenVPN is bad, but SSTP was developed specifically for Microsoft products (BTW, this works with Vista, but not XP).

So better encryption (SSL) than PPTP (PPP) means more security and more anonymity.  Your Win 7 operating system will of course come ready to use SSTP, so installation is a piece of cake.

Best VPN Services with SSTP VPN for Win 7

StrongVPN

• + Cheap ($55 per year, as mentioned above)
• + Fast
• + Live support
• + 7 day money back guarantee
• + Torrents allowed

>>> Test Drive StrongVPN <<<

PureVPN

• + Free & unlimited server switching
• + 14 country locations in all packages
• + Live support
• + 3 day account available (for those looking for super-short-term subscriptions)
• + Torrents allowed

>>> Test Drive PureVPN <<<

…………

Previous Post

If you want to enjoy movies on websites like Hulu and Netflix on your iPhone and iPad outside the United States then you are going to need a software to change IP address on iPhone and iPad.

The reason for this is that these websites are inaccessible for IP addresses that are not American and if you want to access these websites from outside the US the servers of these websites will recognize you as a non-US resident and will not allow you access to the website.

This is why changing the IP address is the only way of viewing regional sites like Hulu and Netflix on iPad and iPhone.  The same this goes for other sites like BBC iPlayer, and other local TV sites for different countries around the world.

In order to change the IP address of your iPad or iPhone you will need to get a VPN which is software capable of hiding and changing the original IP address of a user. This software allows you to surf the web with a different IP address of a country of your liking which enables you to assume the identity of a user belonging to a different region.

By getting an American IP address from the VPN a person can assume the identity of an American resident and can gain access to American-only websites like Hulu and Netflix, or a UK IP will even get you access to UK-only websites like BBC iPlayer.

VPNs are safe to use on all Apple products including iPads and iPhones. The operating system of these devices, iOS, allows a user to run a VPN on two types of networking protocols namely PPTP and L2TP. However if you jailbreak your iPad or iPhone you will be able to use a VPN on OpenVPN/SSL protocols as well.

In addition to providing access to geo-blocked websites a VPN can also enable a person to ensure his safety on the web. Because VPNs employ data encryption and make use of many security protocols they are considered the safest options for surfing the web.

No hacker or government organization will be able to get any information about you if you are going to surf the web while using a VPN. This is because the changed IP address provided by the VPN will make it impossible for the hacker to find you on both public and private networks.

Still another advantage associated with the use of VPNs is that they can be used to access blocked websites as well. If on your travels you go to a country where a website of your liking is blocked then a VPN can help you to access that website with ease.

The key to accessing a blocked website in a country is to change the IP address of your computer or phone and to use an IP address of a country where that particular website is not blocked. A VPN gives a person the opportunity to change IP address and unblock most sites by bypassing firewall restrictions.

Best Service Providers For Software to Change IP Address on iPhone and iPad

So if you want to change your IP address, there are a few things you need to consider.

1. Which country do you want your new IP address to be from? (Server Location)
2. Are you going to be download/uploading a lot with your new IP? (Bandwidth Limitations)
3. Are you using torrent software? (Torrent Compatible)
4. Which country are you currently located in? (Software Availability)
5. How much do I want to spend (Price)
6. How long do I need the software (Subscription length)

……….

Hide My Ass

1. 38 countries available, free server switching
2. Unlimited bandwidth
3. Torrents are allowed
4. Currently blocked in  China, Iran, and Kuwait
5. $6.55 to $11.52 per month
6. 1 month, 6 months, 12 months available

>>> Go To HideMyAss.com

……….

12VPN

1. 6 countries available, free server switching
2. Unlimited bandwidth
3. No Torrents
4. Alternate site available for blocked areas (click HERE)
5. $79 – $119 per year
6. Quarterly, Semi-Annual, Annual available

>>> Go To 12VPN.com

……….

StrongVPN

1. 29 countries available, limited server switching (5-12 times depending on package)
2. Unlimited bandwidth
3. Torrents are allowed
4. Blocked in China
5. $55 – $210 per year, $7 – $30 per month
6. 1-month, 6-month, 12-month subscriptions available

>>> Go To StrongVPN.com

……….

Web Based Proxy – SecuriTales

1. No installation necessary
2. Can unblock sites
3. $6-$8 per month
4. 2-month, 6-month, and 12-month subscriptions

>>> Go To SecuriTales.com/Secure

……….

Previous Post

Internet freedom is not appreciated in all countries of the world which is why people living there have to use software to change IP address on Windows if they are to enjoy the websites that are banned in their countries. Some of the countries where this internet censorship is in effect include China and Iran. In these countries people even do not have access to useful websites like Google and Wikipedia. The Governments there do not want to expose their people to freedom and want to deprive them from learning the realities of the world.

Though in places like The US and Canada, our life is not under threat if we try to access banned sites, our job and reputation may be.  Privacy invasion is a serious issue in some places, whether it be individual hackers looking to cause trouble, or large organizations trying to sell us more stuff.  Changing IP is a solution.

The only way for the people living in countries like China and Iran to access banned websites is by finding a way to change their IP addresses. By doing this will they be able to bypass the Government censors (firewalls) deployed to block off any native IP address from accessing the blocked websites. If you have a different IP address than an Iranian or Chinese IP address then the Government censors will not block you from accessing a banned websites like Facebook and YouTube because it will not recognize you as a native internet user. That is why software to change IP is required to access the banned websites in many Asian and Middle Eastern countries.

A VPN is capable of supplying a user a different IP address which belongs to a different country. With this changed IP address a user can access any website he wants because the website firewalls will not block him. The use of a software to change IP address on Windows will allow us to access region-restricted websites too like Hulu and Netflix in America and BBC iPlayer in Britain. However, for this the changed IP address of the user must be American or British.

The VPNs also have an excellent reliability and safety record. The VPNs make use of security protocols that keep the conversations between a user and an accessed website absolutely private. No one other the user gets to know about the accession of the banned websites that is why VPNs are very secure to use. In addition to this a VPN can be installed with utmost ease on all the versions of Windows.

You will find no problem in configuring it on computers that use Windows as their operating System. The only downside in using a VPN is its speed.  Some users report a slow download speed for OpenVPN, in which case you may want to try PPTP or L2TP.  Encryption and tunneling protocols means there’s a whole lot more going on behind the scenes.  Web based proxies are also an option, but lack of security and the fact that many countries block proxy usage means not everyone will be able to access the proxy site.  Some websites like Hulu and Netflix also block proxy access, adding to the disadvantage of signing up for this kind of service.

*For general browsing, web based proxies are great.

Despite the minor problems that might occur in the use of the VPNs they are surely the best when it comes to finding a software to change IP address on Windows.

Best Service Providers For Software to Change IP Address on Windows Operating Systems

So if you want to change your IP address, there are a few things you need to consider.

1. Which country do you want your new IP address to be from? (Server Location)
2. Are you going to be download/uploading a lot with your new IP? (Bandwidth Limitations)
3. Are you using torrent software? (Torrent Compatible)
4. Which country are you currently located in? (Software Availability)
5. How much do I want to spend (Price)
6. How long do I need the software (Subscription length)

……….

Hide My Ass

1. 38 countries available, free server switching
2. Unlimited bandwidth
3. Torrents are allowed
4. Currently blocked in  China, Iran, and Kuwait
5. $6.55 to $11.52 per month
6. 1 month, 6 months, 12 months available

>>> Go To HideMyAss.com

……….

12VPN

1. 6 countries available, free server switching
2. Unlimited bandwidth
3. No Torrents
4. Alternate site available for blocked areas (click HERE)
5. $79 – $119 per year
6. Quarterly, Semi-Annual, Annual available

>>> Go To 12VPN.com

……….

StrongVPN

1. 29 countries available, limited server switching (5-12 times depending on package)
2. Unlimited bandwidth
3. Torrents are allowed
4. Blocked in China
5. $55 – $210 per year, $7 – $30 per month
6. 1-month, 6-month, 12-month subscriptions available

>>> Go To StrongVPN.com

……….

Web Based Proxy – SecuriTales

1. No installation necessary
2. Can unblock sites
3. $6-$8 per month
4. 2-month, 6-month, and 12-month subscriptions

>>> Go To SecuriTales.com/Secure

……….

Previous Post

Intro – Change Your IP Address in Vista

Your “IP address” is like a post office box for your computer. Changing your IP in Vista is much like changing your mailing address. The post office is your modem and many boxes are serviced by one post office. However there are many cases where you might want a return address that might be different than before.

There are some cases where your address is important in what other post offices (servers) require. Fortunately it is pretty easy to change your address to suit what needs you might have.

First things first, if you want to change your IP address in Vista the long way it works like changing any other setting. The start menu button in the lower left will show you the control panel. After you are in the control panel click on the “Network and Internet” option and then the “Network and Sharing Center”. You should now have “Manage Network Connections” as an option and click it.

If your computer is a part of a larger network this might be the trickiest part but it still shouldn’t be a big deal. Choose which internet connection you want to change if you have more than one enabled. For most users they’ll only have one to worry about and either way you will only need to change the one you plan on using.

At this window right-click and select “Properties” and then the “Networking” tab. Choose Internet version protocol 6 (TCP/IPv6) if you have the most recent service packs, if not go with version 4. Now all you need to do is click “Obtain an IP Address Automatically” and then click okay. Now you should see a field for you to enter a new IP address, labeled “Use the Following IP Address” and copy and paste a new IP. There are many third party IP address providers to choose from, and these would provide you a list and their benefits.

Enter the IP address into these three boxes. A) “IP address” B) “subnet mask” and C) “default gateway”. The “default gateway” is a way of saying primary mailing address. If you are changing the DNS server settings in Vista than you only have a few different steps to
worry about.

At the last screen choose “Obtain DNS server address automatically” then okay. Click “Use the Following DNS Server Addresses” so that you can manually change them. Now you type your primary DNS server address into the box that says “Preferred DNS server” and the secondary one in the one that says “Alternate”. The first one is where you would want to set the proxy or other IP.

If you are trying to add a new network protocol in Vista click on “Properties” then “Install” from “Manage Network Connections” then click on “Client” then “Protocol” now it’s just a simple “Add” and an OK and you should be all done.

More Tips – Change Your IP Address in Vista

Finding a new IP will be the most difficult place if you don’t know where to look. The good news is there are a lot of spare IP addresses out there and by finding a service that lends you an IP like an anonymous proxy service, this can be relatively painless. Proxies tend to be less reliable and less secure then virtual private networks.

A virtual private network takes all the hard work out of quiet, secure, anonymous browsing of the internet. Fulfilling your needs is the biggest factor in what you’ll need to pick in the way of an IP solution.

……..

Previous Post

When writing an article about anonymous internet surfing, it’s tough to know what the reader is looking for. There are a lot of different kinds of people that need to be anonymous online.  Of course, as soon as ‘anonymity’ comes up, you might think of some guy huddled in the basement of his parents house watching fetish-porn worried about his mom finding out.

It’s none of my business.

But chances are, you’re not that guy.  You probably fit into one of these other categories.  These are common reason to use an anonymous IP when connecting to the internet.

1. You have an online business and want to keep you data private
2. You work for a company and need to access company servers from remote locations
3. You want to unblock websites/bypass firewalls on networks you don’t control (work, school, public)
4. You want to access foreign movie/music/TV/download sites, but they block your IP
5. You worry about your government spying on you, or private organizations tracking your IP
6. You got kicked out of a forum/website unfairly and want to access it under a different name
7. You want to create multiple accounts, but need multiple IP addresses to do this.
8. You download movies and music (P2P/Torrents), but don’t want to get in trouble

There are of course other reasons, but I think these 8 categories hit most of them.  Whatever the reasons, anonymous internet surfing is TOTALLY LEGAL.  It may sound kind of creepy if you’ve never heard of it before, but don’t think about it as “hiding”, but more as “protecting” your privacy.

For example, when you browse the net, all of your information goes through your ISP.  Every website you visit, ever link you lick, every song you download, and ever video you stream.  That information is stored, and can be accessed later.

How would you feel if the mailman could read every letter you wrote and then made a copy to store at the post office for later reference.

How would you feel if every time you went shopping, the store made a record of your name, address, phone number, and what you bought so that next time they knew what items to advertise to you?

How would you feel if the guy at your local DVD rental place followed you home and watched a movie with you?

Yeah. When you take the situation off the internet and into ‘real life’, it sounds pretty invasive.

So protect your privacy with anonymous surfing software.

It’s called a VPN (virtual private network).

It’s fast to download, easy to install, you can choose an IP from your home country or a foreign country.  It can be installed on your phone and laptop, or you can route your laptop to change the IP on your Xbox 360 or PS3.

I could go into details, but that would be boring. It’s best to download it and play around with it to see for yourself.  I’ve reviewed some services below (that I’ve personally used).  They all have money back guarantees, so try it out, and if you don’t like it or want to try another service, you can just get your money back.

……….
Best VPN Services
……….

StrongVPN

This is a great service because they have something for everyone.  It can be a bit of a challenge for a noob to find what they want – there’s just so much of everything, and too many options.  But it’s worth it to take a look if you know what you need.  You can also ask live support, and they can direct you to a product.   You can also choose a product based on location.  The most confusing thing for new users is deciding which VPN protocols to get.  IF security/anonymity online is your goal, you should be using a L2TP VPN for your smart phone or OpenVPN for your computer. IT’s as simple as that.

>>> Take me to StrongVPN!

……….

12VPN

This is actually the service I use on a regular basis.  Their customer service team makes all the difference, and if I run into any issues, they’re always fast and ready to help.  I’ve communicated with plenty of VPN services over the years, and many support (live/ticket) guys are very short in their response, unhelpful, and sometimes just rude.  Perhaps the worst experience was with a VPN live support person who told me, “That doesn’t concern me. Submit a ticket”, an signed out without saying bye.  12VPn also has a great prices and simple installation, which makes it a great VPN for noobs.  Data encryption options available as well.

>>> Take me to 12VPN!

……….

Hide My Ass

This is one of the most popular VPN services in the world.  They boast over 23,000 IP addresses in 38 countries and they’re still growing. Over the past year they’ve added several thousand IP addresses and 5 or more countries.  Six dollars a month is an excellent price for full access to all servers and unlimited bandwidth.  The 30 day money back guarantee pretty much seals the deal.

>>> Take me to Hide My Ass!

……….

Previous Post