New! The latest version of UsenetServer VPN client is now available.

Download the new software now to experience the new streamlined look and feel, tailored protocol preferences, and an updated server selection.

UsenetServer VPN Menu:


A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is an encryption tool that puts you in control of your IP address and provides privacy to your Internet connection. Once you are using an anonymous UsenetServer IP address your Internet connection is secure delivering the following benefits:
  • Online Identity and Data Protection
  • Keeps you Safe at Wi-Fi Hotspots
  • Stops your ISP's from Throttling
  • Provides a Virtual Firewall
  • Shields from Cyber Crime
  • Bypasses Internet Censorship Blocks
  • Blocks Unwanted Marketing
UsenetServer provides custom and easy-to-use VPN software that makes using a VPN as easy as it is private.
Click on your operating system below to download. You must have a UsenetServer VPN account to access. If you need further assistance, contact support.

Windows Software

The following prerequisites are required:
  • Windows Installer 3.1
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Client Profile (x86 and x64)
  • OpenVPN Tap Driver
If these components are not installed, the UsenetServer application will install them for you.

macOS (10.11+) Software

The following prerequisites are required:
  • 64-bit processor

iOS Mobile App

The following prerequisites are required:
  • iOS 8+ required

Android Mobile App

To set up UsenetServer VPN, click on your operating system below. Please note you will need to add @usenetserver to the end of your username (ex. user@usenetserver). If you need further assistance, contact support.

Windows 10 PPTP Setup

  1. Push the Windows key and type 'vpn' and click 'Change virtual private networks'
  2. Click "Add a VPN connection" in the Network & Internet Settings window
  3. When the "Add a VPN connection" window pops up, fill in the following information:
    • VPN provider: select Windows (built-in) from the drop down
    • Connection Name: type name that you will recognize for the connection (ex. Usenetserver San Jose Server)
    • Server name or address: enter the Usenetserver server address from our list here (ex. sjc-a02.wlvpn.com).
    • VPN Type: select the Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) from the drop down
    • Type of sign-in info: leave the default User name and password
    • User name: type your Usenetserver username followed by @usenetserver
    • Password: type your Usenetserver password
    • Remember my sign-in info can be unchecked if you would like to login each time you connect
  4. Click the connect button on the VPN you created, after which you should be connected. If you run into any issues, please contact support though our support center.
  5. Once you have the VPN connection setup, you can connect by clicking the Windows key and typing VPN and clicking 'Change virtual private networks' to bring up the Network and Internet page. There you will find a list of your VPN connections, to connect click the connect button on the selected server. Another way to connect is though your network status icon down at the bottom-right of your taskbar, click the network icon and then select the VPN of your choice.

Windows 10 L2TP Setup

  1. Push the Windows key and type 'vpn' and click 'Change virtual private networks'
  2. Click "Add a VPN connection" in the Network & Internet Settings window
  3. When the "Add a VPN connection" window pops up, fill in the following information:
    • VPN provider: select Windows (built-in) from the drop down
    • Connection Name: type name that you will recognize for the connection (ex. Usenetserver San Jose Server)
    • Server name or address: enter the Usenetserver VPN server address from our list here (ex. sjc-a02.wlvpn.com).
    • VPN Type: select the Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol with IPsec (L2TP/IPsec) from the drop down
    • Type of sign-in info: leave the default User name and password
    • User name: type your Usenetserver username followed by @usenetserver
    • Password: type your Usenetserver password
    • Remember my sign-in info can be unchecked if you would like to login each time you connect
  4. Before you connect, you will need to change some advanced settings. Please click the "Change adapter options" button under Related Settings.
  5. Find and right click the VPN connection you created, then click Properties.
  6. Under the Security tab in the Properties window, check "Allow these Protocols" and leave only Microsoft CHAP Version 2 checked. Then click the Advanced Settings button under the Type of VPN drop-down list at the top.
  7. When the Advanced Properties window pops up check the Use preshared key for authentication then type 'vpn' for the Key. Then click OK on the Advanced Properties and the connection Properties windows.
  8. Click the connect button on the VPN you created, after which you should be connected. If you run into any issues, please contact support though our support center.
  9. Once you have the VPN connection setup, you can connect by clicking the Windows key and typing VPN and clicking 'Change virtual private networks' to bring up the Network and Internet page. There you will find a list of your VPN connections, to connect click the connect button on the selected server. Another way to connect is though your network status icon down at the bottom-right of your taskbar, click the network icon and then select the VPN of your choice.

Windows 10 OpenVPN Setup

  1. Download and install the OpenVPN software from openvpn.net. Make sure to allow the TAP drivers to install when you receive the pop-up later on during the installation.
  2. Download the OpenVPN configuration files from our website.
  3. Please open the location you saved the config.zip file, then proceed to extract the files
  4. Once the files are extracted, please move your desired .ovpn server files and the .crt certificate file to your OpenVPN config folder at (C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\config). Please note that OpenVPN can only display 50 servers so please pick no more than 50 .ovpn files to copy.
  5. Run the OpenVPN GUI as Administrator by right clicking the OpenVPN GUI shortcut and clicking 'Run as administrator'.
  6. Right click the OpenVPN status icon on the bottom right of your taskbar to open the OpenVPN GUI menu.
  7. Choose and connect to a server by hovering over the server and clicking the connect option that appears in the menu to the right.
  8. Enter your Usenetserver username followed by @usenetserver and password when prompted and click OK.
  9. You should now be connected. If you run into any issues please contact support though our support center.
  10. You can view that you are connected by right clicking the OpenVPN GUI status icon in the bottom right of your taskbar and seeing that there is a check mark next to the server you connected to.

Windows 8 PPTP Setup

  1. Open the Windows Search Bar by hitting the Windows key and the letter 'q'.
  2. Inside of the search box, type in 'Control Panel'. The Control Panel icon should appear to the left.
  3. Click to open the Control Panel.
  4. Open 'Network and Internet'.
  5. Open the 'Network and Sharing Center'.
  6. Choose 'Set up a new connection or network'
  7. Choose 'Connect to a workplace', and click the Next button at the bottom.
  8. If you have another connection already present, you'll be asked if you want to use a connection that you already have. Choose the radio button that says 'No, create a new connection' and click the Next button at the bottom.
  9. Choose 'Use my Internet connection (VPN)'.
  10. For Internet address, please type the server address of the server you wish to connect to. A full list and current status for each server can be found server can be found here.
  11. For Destination name, please choose a name that you will recognize for the connection.
  12. Do *not* put a checkmark next to 'Use a smart card'.
  13. It is optional to put a checkmark next to 'Remember my credentials' and 'Allow other people to use this connection.'
  14. Click the Create button at the bottom.
  15. The VPN connection will show in a list to the right.
  16. Right-click on the VPN connection you just made and choose 'View connection properties'.
  17. Click on the Security Tab.
  18. Under the heading 'Type of VPN:' choose 'Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)'.
  19. On the same page, click the radio button next to 'Allow these protocols'.
  20. Place a checkmark next to 'Microsoft CHAP Version 2 (MS-CHAP v2)' if one does not already exist and make sure no other check box is selected.
  21. Click on the Networking Tab.
  22. Remove checkmarks from everything except 'Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)'.
  23. Click the OK button at the bottom.
  24. When you connect make sure to add @usenetserver to the end of your username (ex.username@usenetserver) and use the same password used to create the account.

Windows 8 L2TP Setup

  1. Open the Windows Search Bar by hitting the Windows key and the letter 'q'.
  2. Inside of the search box, type in 'Control Panel'. The Control Panel icon should appear to the left.
  3. Open the Control Panel.
  4. Open 'Network and Internet'.
  5. Open the 'Network and Sharing Center'.
  6. Choose 'Set up a new connection or network'.
  7. Choose 'Connect to a workplace', and click the Next button at the bottom.
  8. If you have another connection already present, you'll be asked if you want to use a connection that you already have. Choose the radio button that says 'No, create a new connection' and click the Next button at the bottom.
  9. Choose 'Use my Internet connection 'VPN'.
  10. For Internet address, please type the server address of the server you wish to connect to. A full list and current status for each server can be found here.
  11. For Destination name, please choose a name that you will recognize for the connection.
  12. Do *not* put a checkmark next to 'Use a smart card'.
  13. It is optional to put a checkmark next to 'Remember my credentials' and 'Allow other people to use this connection'.
  14. Click the Create button at the bottom.
  15. The VPN connection will show in a list to the right.
  16. Right-click on the VPN connection you just made and choose 'View connection properties'.
  17. Click on the Security Tab.
  18. Under the heading 'Type of VPN:' choose 'Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol with IPsec (L2TP/IPsec)'.
  19. Click the Advanced Settings button.
  20. Click the radio button next to 'Use preshared key for authentication'.
  21. Enter 'vpn' (without the quotes) as the preshared key.
  22. Click the OK button at the bottom.
  23. Back in the Security tab, click the radio button next to 'Allow these protocols'.
  24. Place a checkmark next to 'Microsoft CHAP Version 2 (MS-CHAP v2)' if one does not already exist and make sure no other check box is selected.
  25. Click on the Networking tab.
  26. Remove checkmarks from everything except 'Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)'.
  27. Click the OK button at the bottom.
  28. When you connect make sure to add @usenetserver to the end of your username (ex.username@usenetserver) and use the same password used to create the account.

Windows 8 OpenVPN Setup

  1. First, point your web browser to the OpenVPN Community Downloads page. Download and install the latest version of OpenVPN for your operating system.
  2. Download the configuration file.
  3. Open the zip file and extract the files to the Program Files directory (click the 'Extract All' button). NOTE: On 32-bit systems, the directory is C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\config while on 64-bit systems you would use C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenVPN\config instead. Only 64-bit systems will show the (x86) directory.
  4. The directory should open. The OpenVPN GUI only allows up to 50 config files (50 servers) to be displayed, so delete the servers that you do not want to connect to. If there are more than 50 config files in the directory, not all will be displayed in the list.
  5. Launch the OpenVPN GUI as an administrator, or the program will not function correctly.
  6. Locate the OpenVPN icon down at the bottom-right in the task bar and right-click on it.
  7. Hover over the server you wish to connect to, and click 'Connect'.
  8. Enter your UsenetServer username with @usenetserver at the end (ex. username@usenetserver) and password when prompted and click OK.
  9. If successful, you should see a successful connection prompt down in the bottom-right.

Windows 7 PPTP Setup

  1. Click the 'Start' or 'Windows' button in the lower-left hand corner of your screen, then navigate your mouse to the 'Control Panel' item and click.
  2. Locate the 'Network and Internet' category, mouse over the heading, and click.
  3. Point the mouse cursor on the 'Network and Sharing Center' item, and click.
  4. Under the heading labeled 'Change your networking settings', click on the item labeled 'Set up a new connection or network'.
  5. With your mouse, select the third item in the list, labeled 'Connect to a workplace' - click the 'Next' button on the lower-right corner of the panel, to the left of the 'Cancel' button.
  6. *NOTE* - This menu may appear if you have previously configured any other custom connections in the 'Network and Sharing Center'. If you do not see this panel, please move on to the next step. Otherwise, select the radio button labeled 'No, create a new connection', and continue forward with the 'Next' button on the bottom as before.
  7. Mouse over the first item on this panel, labeled 'Use my Internet connection (VPN)', and click.
  8. For the 'Internet address' field, fill in the UsenetServer hostname you've selected from our list of available hosts. The address in the example is not valid, and must be replaced. For the 'Destination name' field, you may enter whatever you wish - this is a descriptor of the connection. Of the three unticked options below, only the last needs to be activated - check the box labeled 'Don't connect now, just set it up so I can connect later'. Move to the next step after clicking the 'Next' button.
  9. Confirm your username and password from the confirmation email sent to you at sign-up, and enter both in the corresponding fields on this form - please keep in mind that you need to add @usenetserver to the end of your username (ex. username@usenetserver), and our authentication system is case-sensitive. If you'd like to save your password, check the second checkbox below, labeled 'Remember this password'. Do not fill the 'Domain' field. Click the 'Create' button in the lower-right corner to continue.
  10. More configuration is necessary, so connecting now would potentially error out - you will need to mouse over to the 'Close' button on the lower-right corner of the panel and click to continue.
  11. Back in the 'Network and Sharing Center', look for the link second from the top of the sidebar on the left side of the panel - the link is labeled, 'Change adapter settings'. Click this link to continue.
  12. Depending on your folder view settings, the order of your icons may be different than in the screenshot. Also, if the name of your connection differs from our example, keep that in mind. Look for the connection you made earlier, right click on the icon, mouse down to the 'Properties' item, and click your mouse to continue.
  13. Confirm the hostname from our list, and continue on to the 'Security' tab, clicking on corresponding tab indicator at the top of the panel.
  14. Click the drop-down box labeled 'Type of VPN', and mouse or arrow-key down to the 'Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)' selection. No additional configuration should be required on this page, however under the 'Allow these protocols' radio button, confirm that only the 'CHAP', and 'MS-CHAP v2' items are checked off. Please examine the screenshot as a reference.
  15. Continue forward to the 'Networking' tab by clicking the tab of the same name near the top of the panel. In the center frame on this panel, uncheck the 'TCP/IPv6' and 'File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks' items, as shown in the example. You may confirm your changes by hitting the 'OK' button on the lower-right side of the panel.
  16. To test your settings and login credentials, point your cursor to the 'Notification Area', usually located near the lower-right hand corner of your screen. In this area, look for icon of a computer with a cord and plug along the side (see the example), and click it. Find the connection made earlier, the example using the name 'UsenetServer (PPTP)', and click the 'Connect' button directly to the right.
  17. Confirm your username for accuracy, then click the 'Connect' button in the bottom-left corner of this panel. After 30 seconds or so, confirm the connectivity status by opening the 'Notification Area' popup in your taskbar - you will be notified of any problems with the connection, in which case you will want to contact our support team. Once you have verified connectivity to the VPN, you can now have peace of mind that your online activities are secured from prying eyes.

Windows 7 L2TP Setup

  1. First, click the 'Start' or 'Windows' button in the lower left hand corner of your screen, and proceed to the 'Control Panel'.
  2. Locate the 'Network and Internet' category, mouse over the heading, and click.
  3. Point the mouse cursor on the 'Network and Sharing Center' item, and click.
  4. Under the heading labeled 'Change your networking settings', click on the item labeled 'Set up a new connection or network'.
  5. With your mouse, select the third item in the list, labeled 'Connect to a workplace' - click the 'Next' button on the lower right corner of the panel, to the left of the 'Cancel' button.
  6. *NOTE* This menu may appear if you have previously configured any other custom connections in the 'Network and Sharing Center'. If you do not see this panel, please move on to the next step. Otherwise, select the radio button labeled 'No, create a new connection', and continue forward with the 'Next' button on the bottom as before.
  7. The example in the 'Internet address' field is not valid, and must be replaced. Fill in the UsenetServer server name of the server you wish to use. A list of available servers, located here.

    For the 'Destination name' field, you may enter whatever you wish; this is a descriptor of the connection. Of the three unchecked options listed, only the last needs to be activated. Check the box labeled 'Don't connect now, just set it up so I can connect later' then click 'Next'.
  8. For the 'Internet address' field, fill in the Usenetserver hostname or IP address you'd like to connect to. For the 'Destination name' field, you may enter whatever you wish - this is a descriptor of the connection. Of the three un-checked options below, only the last needs to be activated - check the box labeled 'Don't connect now, just set it up so I can connect later'. Move to the next step after clicking the 'Next' button.
  9. Confirm your username and password from the confirmation email sent to you at sign-up, and enter both in the corresponding fields on this form - please keep in mind that you need to add @usenetserver to the end of your username (ex. username@usenetserver), and our authentication system is case-sensitive. If you'd like to save your password, check the second checkbox below, labeled 'Remember this password'. Do not fill the 'Domain' field. Click the 'Create' button in the lower-right corner to continue.
  10. More configuration is necessary, so connecting now would potentially error out - you will need to mouse over to the 'Close' button on the lower-right corner of the panel and click to continue.
  11. Back in the 'Network and Sharing Center', look for the link second from the top of the sidebar on the left side of the panel - the link is labeled, 'Change adapter settings'. Click this link to continue. *Outline or highlight link/item 'Change adapter settings'.
  12. Depending on your folder view settings, the order of your icons may be different than in the screenshot. Also, if the name of your connection differs from our example, keep that in mind. Look for the connection you made earlier, right click on the icon, mouse down to the 'Properties' item and click your mouse to continue.
  13. Confirm the hostname from our list, and continue on to the 'Security' tab, clicking on corresponding tab indicator at the top of the panel.
  14. Click the drop-down box labeled 'Type of VPN', and mouse or arrow-key down to the 'Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol with IPsec (L2TP)' selection. No additional configuration should be required on this page, however under the 'Allow these protocols' radio button, confirm that only the 'CHAP', and 'MS-CHAP v2' items are checked off. Please examine the screenshot as a reference.
  15. Next, click on the 'Advanced settings' button, which is directly below the drop-down described in the previous step.
  16. In the 'Advanced settings' pop-up panel, confirm that the radio button labeled 'Use preshared key for authentication' is selected, and place your cursor in the corresponding 'Key' field. Enter 'vpn' (without the quotes) as the preshared key, and then click the 'OK' button below.
  17. Continue forward to the 'Networking' tab by clicking the tab of the same name near the top of the panel. In the center frame on this panel, uncheck the 'TCP/IPv6' and 'File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks' items, as shown in the example. You may confirm your changes by hitting the 'OK' button on the lower-right side of the panel.
  18. To test your settings and login credentials, point your cursor to the 'Notification Area', usually located near the lower-right hand corner of your screen. In this area, look for icon of a computer with a cord and plug along the side (see the example), and click it. Find the connection made earlier, the example using the name 'UsenetServer (PPTP)', and click the 'Connect' button directly to the right.
  19. Verify your username to ensure an accurate entry, then click the 'Connect' button in the bottom-left corner of this panel. After 30 seconds or so, verify the connectivity status by opening the 'Notification Area' pop-up in your taskbar - you will be notified of any problems with the connection, in which case you will want to contact our support team. Once you have confirmed connectivity to the VPN service, you can now have peace of mind that your activities are secured from 'prying eyes'.

Windows 7 OpenVPN Setup

  1. Click the 'Start' or 'Windows' button in the lower-left hand corner of your screen, click the 'Search programs and files' field. Enter 'Mozilla Firefox' as done in the example or enter the name of your favorite web browser - hit the 'Enter' key or click the resulting link to continue.
    **NOTE: This tutorial assumes that Mozilla Firefox is the default web browser - if you are using IE or Chrome, some of these steps may need to be slightly modified depending on how download links are handled
  2. In the URL bar of your web browser, browse to the UsenetServer Config Index. You may download the entire config library or a single config file. The last three letters before the extension '.ovpn' indicate the locale of the server - for example, nyc.a01.ovpn points to New York City. After making your selection, point your cursor to the corresponding link and click to continue.
  3. If you are using Mozilla Firefox with default settings and extensions, you should see the dialog below - confirm the 'Save File' radio button is selected, and click the 'OK' button. If the 'Downloads' progress window appears, click back to the web browser and move on to the next step.
  4. Next, point your web browser to the OpenVPN Community Downloads page. Download and install version 2.3.4. After making your selection of which version to use, click the given link. In the resulting dialog, click the 'Save File' button to continue.
  5. Start the OpenVPN client installation process by locating the executable file in the browser's 'Downloads'. To locate this panel click the 'Firefox' menu button in the upper-left corner of the browser window. Locate the 'Downloads' item in the resulting context menu, and click to continue. Once the Downloads panel is open, click the item to select, then right click to open a context menu. Within this context menu, locate the 'Open' item and click it to continue.
  6. Depending on your user privileges or operating system settings, you may or may not see the dialog shown in the example below. The installation requires Administrative rights to continue - confirm this request by clicking the 'Continue' button. If a username and password are requested, enter the credentials for an Administrator account. Hit the 'Continue' button and move on to the next step.
  7. Once the OpenVPN Client installation has begun, click the 'Next >' button on the first step to continue.
  8. Read through the terms of use and agree to those terms by clicking the 'I Agree' button at the bottom of the pane, then move on to the next step.
  9. No changes need to be made to the installation options, however you may want to scroll through and confirm that each item is ticked. All available install options will ensure that the tutorial can be successfully completed. Move on to the next step after the 'Next >' button is clicked.
  10. Confirm the contents of the 'Destination Folder' field - in most cases, the default option will suffice. For those with external devices plugged in, double-check to confirm that the installer isn't trying to place the destination directory on your external device. Click the 'Install' button to continue to the next step.
  11. As the the OpenVPN client installs, you may notice a brief pause as the the TAP driver is installed. Notice the 'TAP INSTALL (tap-0901)' label, as shown in the example. If a 'Windows Security' dialog pops up during this portion of the install, simply click the 'Continue' button or enter your login credentials as indicated in step 6. Once the 'TAP DRIVER' installation finishes, the progress bar will inch forward and finally complete. Move on to the next step once further input is required.
  12. Once all of the required files and components have been successfully installed, the installer application will indicate this status with a 'Completed' label above the progress bar. Move on to the next step by clicking the 'Next >' button.
  13. On the last page of the installer, you may untick the checkbox labeled 'Show Readme'. If you'd like to consult the official documentation, feel free to leave the box ticked before finally clicking the 'Finish' button in the bottom-right corner of the panel. Move on once the installer has terminated.
  14. Back on your Desktop, locate the newly created 'OpenVPN GUI' icon, and execute it by right-clicking and selecting the 'Open' item. Alternatively, you may double-click the icon to execute the GUI. You will not immediately see a dialog or new window, however take notice of the new icon in the taskbar in the lower-right corner of your screen. The desktop icon and taskbar icon are similarly styled, however the taskbar icon will have a red shading by default. Once the GUI is running, move on to the next step.
  15. Again, like in the first step, locate the Windows 'Start Menu' button, and click it - then find the 'Search programs and files' field and click into it. Enter 'Downloads' into the search field and click the resulting 'Downloads' item above to continue to the next step.
  16. For this step, the contents of the 'uns_configs.zip' file, obtained previously in step two, will need to be extracted into the OpenVPN configuration directory. If you downloaded the file to a location other than the default 'Downloads' folder, please move to that location to proceed further. Once in view, select the 'uns_configs.zip' file with a single click. Near the top end of the window, under the location and search bar, look for the 'Open' button. Click this button and continue to the next step.
  17. Again, find the tool menu below the search and location fields, and click the button labeled 'Extract all files'. After the resulting dialog appears, move to the next step.
  18. Within the 'Extract Compressed (Zipped) Folders' window, locate the destination folder field - to the right, find the 'Browse' button, and click it to continue.
  19. Within the resulting 'Select a destination' dialog, drop down through the menus until the 'config' directory, under the the 'OpenVPN' folder, is selected. If you chose the default install path during the install process, you may use the example as a guide - if a different install location was selected, your result may differ from the example. Alternatively, the full path, 'C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\config', can be manually entered into the destination field in the previous window. If entering the destination by hand, or via the copy/paste functions, click the 'Cancel' button, enter the destination and continue to the next step. Those who are following the tutorial to the word may click the 'OK' button after the destination has been chosen.
  20. Now back in the previous window, confirm your previous selection in the destination field before continuing. Untick the checkbox labeled 'Show extracted files when complete', and click the 'Extract' button: this action may trigger privilege escalation, read all pop-up dialogs carefully.
  21. In the corresponding 'Destination Folder Access Denied' dialog, click the 'Continue' button. To confirm this decision, click the second 'Continue' button in the resulting 'Permissions Request' dialog, then move on to the next step.
  22. After the progress bar indicates the completion of the extraction process, point your cursor to the 'OpenVPN GUI' icon in taskbar on the lower-right corner of your desktop. Right-click the 'OpenVPN GUI' icon, and locate the desired server configuration in the resulting context menu. Mouse over the selected config/server so the pop-out menu appears, then locate and click the 'Connect' item to move on to the next step.
  23. Enter your login information into the 'OpenVPN - User Authentication' dialog exactly you provided it to us at sign-up. Our authentication servers require you to add @usenetserver to the end of your username (ex.username@usenetserver). Also keep in mind our authentication system is case-sensitive, and a single mis-capitalized letter will result in an error message.
  24. Once you have entered your credentials and hit the 'OK' button, you may notice status messages scrolling through the 'OpenVPN Console'. When the secure tunnel is finally established, the console will disappear, and the status indicator shown in the example will appear in your notification area. If any error or warning messages appear, take note of them; look for the 'connected' message above the 'Assigned IP'. Take this opportunity to test the connection by opening your favorite web site or by checking your email. Through the secure OpenVPN tunnel, have the assurance that your online activities are not being monitored by prying eyes.

Windows Vista PPTP Setup

  1. Click the 'Start' or 'Windows' button in the lower left corner of your screen, then navigate to the 'Control Panel'.
  2. Under the 'Network and Internet' section, locate and navigate to 'View network status and tasks'.
  3. Proceed to the 'Set up a connection or network' option in the left-side column.
  4. In the resulting dialog box, select 'Connect to a workplace', and click 'Next'.
  5. NOTE - A menu may appear if you have previously configured any other workplace or VPN connections in the 'Network and Sharing Center'. If you do not see this panel, please move on to Step 6 below. Otherwise, select the radio button labeled 'No, create a new connection', and click 'Next'.
  6. Click on the first item on this panel, 'Use my Internet connection (VPN)'.
  7. In the 'Internet address' field, fill in the UsenetServer server address you've selected from our list of available servers. The 'Destination name' field can be set to whatever you'd prefer - it is a description of the connection you're creating. Of the three unchecked options that follow below, you'll only need to select the 'Don't connect now; just set it up so I can connect later' option. Click 'Next'.
  8. At this dialog, you'll need to enter your UsenetServer username followed by @usenetserver (example – username@usenetserver) and the password you created when you signed up with us. Please keep in mind that your login is case sensitive, and even a single mis-capitalized letter will prevent you from logging in. If you'd like to save your password so that you don't need to re-enter this each time that you connect, check the 'Remember this password' box. Leave the 'Domain' field blank, and click the 'Create' button in the lower-right corner to continue.
  9. More configuration is necessary, so connecting now would potentially error out; you will need to click the 'Close' button on the lower-right corner of the resulting dialog to continue.
  10. Back in the 'Network and Sharing Center', on the left side of the panel under 'Tasks', click 'Manage network connections'.
  11. Look for the connection you made earlier; right click on the icon and click 'Properties'.
  12. Confirm the server address from the UsenetServer list, and continue on to the 'Security' tab along the top of this menu.
  13. Under the 'Security options' frame, select the 'Advanced (custom settings)' radio button - click the 'Settings...' button to the right to proceed.
  14. In the 'Data encryption' drop-down list, select 'Require encryption (disconnect if server declines)'. Confirm the 'Allow these protocols' radio button is selected and that only the 'MS-CHAP v2' item is selected. Click the 'OK' button to continue.
  15. Continue to the 'Networking' tab once back at the previous panel. In the drop-down list labeled 'Type of VPN', choose 'PPTP VPN'. Deselect all options except for 'Internet Protocol Version 4'. Click 'Ok'.
  16. Your connection is now configured. To test your settings and login credentials, point your cursor to the 'Notification Area' down at the lower-right hand corner of your screen near the clock. Right-click the Network icon (looks like a computer monitor with a globe over it) and then click 'Connect to a network'.
  17. Under 'Dial-up and VPN', select the connection you created and click 'Connect' to initiate the secure tunnel.
  18. Confirm your username and password for accuracy then click the 'Connect' button. When the connection is established, you can have peace of mind that your online activities are secure from prying eyes. If any errors appear, or if you need any further assistance, please contact our support staff though our support page.

Windows Vista L2TP Setup

  1. Click the 'Start' or 'Windows' button in the lower left corner of your screen, then navigate your mouse to the 'Control Panel' item and click.
  2. Locate and click on the 'View network status and tasks' item under the 'Network and Internet'.
  3. Locate and click on 'Setup a connection or network' item, which is the third option from the top in the 'Tasks' sidebar on the left.
  4. Select the fourth item in the list, labeled 'Connect to a workplace' and click the 'Next' button on the lower right corner of the panel.
  5. *NOTE* - This menu may appear if you have previously configured any other workplace or VPN connections in the 'Network and Sharing Center'. If you do not see this panel, please move on to the next step. Otherwise, select the radio button labeled 'No, create a new connection' and continue by clicking 'Next'.
  6. Click on the first item on this panel, 'Use my Internet connection (VPN)'.
  7. The example in the 'Internet address' field is not valid, and must be replaced. Fill in the UsenetServer server name of the server you wish to use. A list of available servers, located here. For the 'Destination name' field, you may enter whatever you wish; this is a descriptor of the connection. Of the three unticked options listed, only the last needs to be activated. Check the box labeled 'Don't connect now, just set it up so I can connect later' then click 'Next'.
  8. At this dialog, you'll need to enter your UsenetServer username followed by @usenetserver (example – username@usenetserver) and the password you created when you signed up with us. Please keep in mind that your login is case sensitive, and even a single mis-capitalized letter will prevent you from logging in. If you'd like to save your password so that you don't need to re-enter this each time that you connect, check the 'Remember this password' box. Leave the 'Domain' field blank, and click the 'Create' button in the lower-right corner to continue.
  9. More configuration is necessary, so connecting now would potentially error out - you will need to mouse over to the 'Close' button on the lower-right corner of the panel and click to continue.
  10. Back in the 'Network and Sharing Center', look for the link fourth down from the top in the 'Tasks' sidebar on the left side of the panel - the link is labeled, 'Manage adapter connections'. Click this link to continue.
  11. Keep that in mind when selecting the connection. Look for the connection you made earlier, right click on the icon, mouse down to the 'Properties' item, and click your mouse to continue.
  12. Confirm the hostname from the UsenetServer server list, and continue on to the 'Security' tab by clicking on corresponding tab indicator at the top of the panel.
  13. Under the 'Security options' frame, select the 'Advanced (custom settings)' radio button - click the 'Settings...' button directly to the right to continue.
  14. Click the drop-down box labeled 'Data encryption:', and mouse or arrow-key down to the 'Require encryption (disconnect if server declines)' item. Confirm the 'Allow these protocols' radio button is selected after making the previous change, and confirm that only the 'CHAP', and 'MS-CHAP v2' items are ticked in the list below. Click the 'OK' button to continue.
  15. Following your confirmation of the previous panel, the dialog shown should display - click the 'Yes' button to continue.
  16. Continue forward to the 'Networking' tab by clicking the tab of the same name near the top of the panel. Click the drop-down box labeled 'Type of VPN', and mouse or arrow-key down to the 'L2TP IPsec VPN' selection. Once selected, move on to the next step.
  17. In the center frame on this panel, uncheck the 'TCP/IPv6' and 'File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks' items, as shown in the example. Under the drop-down box labeled 'Type of VPN', locate the 'IPsec Settings...' button. Click that button, and continue to the next step.
  18. Within the 'IPsec Settings' dialog, confirm that the 'Use preshared key for authentication' radio button is selected - in the 'Key' field below, enter 'vpn', without the quotes. Click the 'OK' button below and continue on to the next step.
  19. Confirm all of the settings within this pane against our example, and click the 'OK' in the lower-right corner, and move on.
  20. To test your settings and login credentials, point your cursor to the 'Notification Area', usually located near the lower-right hand corner of your screen. In this area, look for an icon of network with a globe overlay (see the example), and click it. Click the link labeled 'Connect to a network' to continue.
  21. Confirm the VPN connection name made earlier, select it with a single click - then locate the 'Connect' button in the lower-right corner. Click the 'Connect' button to start the secure tunnel.
  22. Confirm your username for accuracy, then click the 'Connect' button in the bottom-left corner of this panel. After 30 seconds or so, confirm the connectivity status by opening the 'Notification Area' popup in your taskbar - you will be notified of any problems with the connection, in which case you will want to contact our support team. Once you have verified connectivity to the VPN, you can have peace of mind that your online activities are secure from prying eyes.

Windows Vista OpenVPN Setup

  1. Click the 'Start' or 'Windows' button in the lower left corner of your screen, click the 'Search programs and files' field. Enter 'Mozilla Firefox' as done in the example or enter the name of your favorite web browser - hit the 'Enter' key or click the resulting link to continue.

    **NOTE: This tutorial assumes that Mozilla Firefox is the default web browser - if you are using IE or Chrome, some of these steps may need to be slightly modified depending on how download links are handled.
  2. In the URL bar of your web browser, browse to the UsenetServer Config Index. You may download the entire config library, or if you wish, you may simply download a single config file. The last three letters before the extension '.ovpn' indicate the locale of the server - for example, nyc-a01 points to New York City. After making your selection, point your cursor to the corresponding link and click to continue.
  3. If you are using Mozilla Firefox with default settings and extensions, you should see the dialog - confirm the 'Save File' radio button is selected, and click the 'OK' button. If the 'Downloads' progress window appears, click back to the web browser and move on to the next step.
  4. Next, point your web browser to the OpenVPN Community Downloads page. Download and install the latest version of OpenVPN for your operating system.
  5. Start the OpenVPN client installation process by locating the executable file in the browser's 'Downloads'. To locate this panel click the 'Firefox' menu button in the upper-left corner of the browser window. Locate the 'Downloads' item in the resulting context menu, and click to continue. Once the Downloads panel is open, click the item to select, then right click to open a context menu. Within this context menu, locate the 'Open' item and click it to continue.
  6. Depending on your user privileges or operating system settings, you may or may not see the dialog shown in the example below. The installation requires Administrative rights to continue - confirm this request by clicking the 'Continue' button. If a username and password are requested, enter the credentials for an Administrator account. Click 'Continue' to move on to the next step.
  7. Once the OpenVPN Client installation has begun, click the 'Next >' button on the first step to continue.
  8. Read through the terms of use and agree to those terms by clicking the 'I Agree' button at the bottom of the pane, then move on to the next step.
  9. No changes need to be made to the installation options; however, you may want to scroll through and confirm that each item is ticked. All available install options will ensure that the tutorial can be successfully completed. Click 'Next >'.
  10. Confirm the contents of the 'Destination Folder' field; in most cases, the default option will suffice. For those with external devices plugged in, double-check to confirm that the installer isn't trying to place the destination directory onto your external device. Click the 'Install' button to continue.
  11. As the OpenVPN client installs, you may notice a brief pause as the TAP driver is installed. Notice the 'TAP INSTALL (tap-0901)' label, as shown in the example. If a 'Windows Security' dialog pops up during this portion of the install, simply click the 'Continue' button or enter your login credentials as indicated in step 6. Once the 'TAP DRIVER' installation finishes, the progress bar will inch forward and finally complete. The installer application will indicate this status with a 'Completed' label above the progress bar. Move on to the next step by clicking the 'Next >' button.
  12. On the last page of the installer, decide whether or not you would like to consult the official documentation via the checkbox labeled 'Show Readme'. Click the 'Finish' button in the bottom right corner of the panel.
  13. Back on your Desktop, locate the newly created 'OpenVPN GUI' icon and execute it by right-clicking and selecting the 'Open' option or by double-clicking the icon. You will not immediately see a dialog or new window, but you should have a new icon on your taskbar.
  14. The contents of the 'configs.zip' file need to be extracted to the OpenVPN configuration directory. If you downloaded the file to a location other than the default 'Downloads' folder, please move to that location to proceed further. Once in view, select the 'configs.zip' file with a single click. Near the top end of the window, under the location and search bar, look for the 'Open' button. Click this button and continue to the next step.
  15. Find the tool menu below the search and location fields, and click the button labeled 'Extract all files'. After the resulting dialog appears, move to the next step. Scroll through the menus to find the 'Open VPN' folder. Select the 'config' directory within this folder and click OK.

    If a different install location is selected, your result may differ from the example. Alternatively, the full path, 'C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\config', can be manually entered into the destination field in the previous window. If entering the destination by hand or via the copy/paste functions, click the 'Cancel' button, enter the destination, and continue to the next step.
  16. Back in the previous window, confirm your selection in the destination field before continuing. Untick the checkbox labeled 'Show extracted files when complete', and click the 'Extract' button. This action may trigger privilege escalation; read all pop-up dialogs carefully.
  17. In the corresponding 'Destination Folder Access Denied' dialog, click the 'Continue' button.
  18. To confirm this decision, click the second 'Continue' button in the resulting 'Permissions Request' dialog, then move on to the next step.
  19. When the progress bar indicates completion of the extraction process, point your cursor to the 'OpenVPN GUI' icon in the taskbar (lower right corner of your desktop). Right-click the 'OpenVPN GUI' icon and locate the desired server configuration in the resulting context menu. Mouse over the selected config/server so the pop-out menu appears, then locate and click the 'Connect' item to move on to the next step.
  20. Enter your login information into the 'OpenVPN - User Authentication' dialog exactly as you provided it to us at sign-up. Our authentication servers require you to add @usenetserver to the end of your username (ex.username@usenetserver). Also keep in mind our authentication system is case sensitive, and a single mis-capitalized letter will result in an error message. If you are unsure if you have the correct credentials or run into any error messages in any of the following steps, please contact our support team. After you have filled in both fields, click the 'OK' button to continue to the final step.
  21. Upon completion of the previous step, you may notice status messages scrolling through the 'OpenVPN Console'. When the secure tunnel is successfully established, the console will disappear, and the status indicator shown in the example will appear in your notification area. If any error or warning messages appear, take note of them; look for the 'connected' message above the 'Assigned IP'. Take this opportunity to test the connection by opening your favorite web site or by checking your email. Through the secure OpenVPN tunnel, your online activities are safe from prying eyes.

UsenetServer OSX App (requires 10.7+)

  1. After you've downloaded the UsenetServer Mac client from VPN Software open the .dmg file from your downloads folder.
  2. The UsenetServer DMG will open as a new drive on your desktop and the folder containing the application will appear. Drag the application on top of the shortcut to the Applications folder.
  3. Once you've copied the UsenetServer client open your Applications folder and click on the UsenetServer application.
  4. You may get a dialogue asking you to verify that you wish to open the application. Click on open to continue.
  5. The UsenetServer client hooks into kernel-level functions with a 'helper tool'; use your administrative login again at this prompt, and click the 'Install Helper' button to continue.
  6. Now that the helper tool has been installed the first run wizard will guide you through the setup process, click start to begin.
  7. You can choose to have the client remember your UsenetServer login data. Either select yes and enter your login username and password or select no and continue by clicking on Next.
  8. If you would like to use UsenetServer when you first login to your computer select yes, otherwise select no and move to the next step.
  9. If you want the client to connect to the VPN servers immediately when the program is launched select yes and choose from the 3 connection options, if you wish to manually connect select no and continue.
  10. Choose your default protocol. You can choose from OpenVPN, L2TP, or PPTP. Once you've selected your default protocol click finish.
  11. Now that the UsenetServer client is running you can connect to the server of your choice. Highlight the location and server that you wish to connect to by clicking anywhere on that row and click connect.
  12. If you chose to manually enter your login information you must do so now, if you chose to enter and save your information during the wizard process you can skip this step. Fill in both fields, bearing in mind that our authentication system is case-sensitive. Click the 'OK' button to connect, and continue to the next step.
  13. The client will indicate it's current connection status next to the colored icon, below the main logo - the yellow icon indicates an attempted connection is in progress. Move on to the next step once the icon turns green, or if an error message is displayed.
  14. When the status icon turns green, and the prompt beside indicates a 'Connected to...' status, you are now connected to the previously chosen server! All incoming and outgoing network traffic is being encrypted, then relayed through our server. You may confirm connectivity by opening your favorite web browser to http://www.whatismyip.com - your IP has changed to one assigned by our server. Please feel free to contact our support team if you have any trouble, or run into any error messages; otherwise, have peace of mind that your activities are secured from prying eyes!

macOS PPTP Setup

  1. Minimize or suspend any running applications, and activate your main desktop, or 'Finder'. Locate the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of the screen, and continue to the next step.
  2. Click the Apple icon, and in the resulting context menu, locate the 'System Preferences...' item. Click the 'System Preferences...' item and move on to the next step. Alternatively, you may click the 'System Preferences...' icon in your dock to continue.
  3. Within the 'System Preferences' menu, locate the 'Internet & Wireless' category. In this category, locate the 'Network' icon, and click it to move on.
  4. Administrative privileges will be required to progress from this point forward - locate the 'Lock' icon in the lower-left corner of this panel, labeled 'Click the lock to make changes', and click to continue.
  5. When the login dialog appears, enter UsenetServer username with @usenetserver at the end (ex. username@usenetserver) and password in the corresponding fields - if you are unable to proceed beyond this step, and you do not have access to an administrator account, you may need to contact Apple for support. Once you have entered your login details, click the 'OK' button to continue.
  6. Once you have enabled administrative privileges, the 'Lock' icon in the lower-left should now appear to be unlocked. To continue, create a new connection profile by clicking the square '+' (Plus) button just above the 'Lock' icon.
  7. When the resulting dialog appears, look for the 'Interface' drop-down box, and click. In the drop-down context menu, locate, and select the item labeled 'VPN' to continue.
  8. Once you've assigned the interface type, click the second drop-down box that appears below, labeled 'VPN Type'. As this tutorial covers the PPTP protocol, select the 'PPTP' item from the drop-down menu, and move on to the next step.
  9. Finally, enter a descriptive name in the 'Service Name' field below - this field can contain whatever descriptive title meets your needs. Click the 'Create' button to continue.
  10. Once the new connection profile is made, fill in [SERVER NAME] (You will replace [SERVER NAME] with the server you would like to connect to. A full list of servers can be found here) in the 'Server Address' field - when choosing a server to connect to, geographical location may be a concern. When filling in the 'Account' field you will use your UsenetServer username with @usenetserver at the end (ex. username@usenetserver). Also, remember that our authentication system is case-sensitive, so a single mis-capitalized letter in either your username or password will cause your connection to error out. Confirm that the 'Encryption:' drop-down box is set to the default 'Automatic (128 bit or 40 bit)' setting. Finally, locate the 'Authentication Settings...' button, and click to move on.
  11. In the resulting dialog, enter your UsenetServer password in the 'Password' field. As before, this field is case-sensitive, so double-check against the confirmation email we sent you at sign-up. Click the 'OK' button to continue.
  12. When you return to the previous menu, locate the 'Advanced...' button in the lower-right corner, next to the question mark icon. Click the 'Advanced...' button to continue.
  13. In the 'Advanced' settings pane, locate the 'Session' category. Tick the third checkbox down, labeled 'Send all traffic over VPN connection', then click the 'OK' button in the lower-right corner to continue.
  14. Find and tick the 'Show VPN status in menu bar' checkbox, located to the left of the 'Advanced...' button. Once this checkbox is ticket, you may commit all configuration options by clicking the 'Apply' button in the lower-right corner of the panel.
  15. Test your newly created connection by clicking the 'Connect' button, just below the 'Authentication Settings...' button, and move on to the next step.
  16. As the session to our server opens, watch the 'Status:' indicator at the top of the pane for any error or warning messages. If you are unable to obtain the 'Status: Connected' message, first confirm that you have entered your username and password - if you are still unable to connect, feel free to contact our support team, and include any relevant status messages.
  17. Once the session has successfully connected, look for the 'Status: Connected' message with the 'Connection Time:' and 'IP Address' details below.
  18. For a quick way to access your VPN session, locate the indicator on the top of the screen - look for the session 'Connect Time:' indicator, and click to open a context menu. From this menu, you quickly start and stop your VPN session without navigating through the 'System Preferences' menu. Click out of the context menu, close the 'System Preferences' menu, and enjoy peace of mind that your online activities aren't being monitored by prying eyes.

macOS L2TP/IPSec Setup

  1. Minimize or suspend any running applications, and activate your main desktop, or 'Finder'. Locate the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of the screen, and continue to the next step.
  2. Click the Apple icon, and in the resulting context menu, locate the 'System Preferences...' item. Click the 'System Preferences...' item and move on to the next step. Alternatively, you may click the 'System Preferences...' icon in your dock to continue.
  3. Within the 'System Preferences' menu, locate the 'Internet & Wireless' category. In this category, locate the 'Network' icon, and click it to move on.
  4. Administrative privileges will be required to progress from this point forward - locate the 'Lock' icon in the lower-left corner of this panel, labeled 'Click the lock to make changes', and click to continue.
  5. When the login dialog appears, enter UsenetServer username with @usenetserver at the end (ex. username@usenetserver) and password in the corresponding fields - if you are unable to proceed beyond this step, and you do not have access to an administrator account, you may need to contact Apple for support. Once you have entered your login details, click the 'OK' button to continue.
  6. Once you have enabled administrative privileges, the 'Lock' icon in the lower-left should now appear to be unlocked. To continue, create a new connection profile by clicking the square '+' (Plus) button just above the 'Lock' icon.
  7. When the resulting dialog appears, look for the 'Interface' drop-down box, and click. In the drop-down context menu, locate, and select the item labeled 'VPN' to continue.
  8. Once you’ve assigned the interface type click the second drop-down box that appears below, labeled ‘VPN Type’. As this tutorial covers the L2TP protocol, select the ‘L2TP over IPSec’ item from the drop-down menu, and move on to the next step.
  9. Finally, enter a descriptive name in the 'Service Name' field below - this field can contain whatever descriptive title meets your needs. Click the 'Create' button to continue.
  10. Once the new connection profile is made, fill in [SERVER NAME] (You will replace [SERVER NAME] with the server you would like to connect to. A full list of servers can be found here) in the 'Server Address' field - when choosing a server to connect to, geographical location may be a concern. When filling in the 'Account' field you will use your UsenetServer username with @usenetserver at the end (ex. username@usenetserver). Also, remember that our authentication system is case-sensitive, so a single mis-capitalized letter in either your username or password will cause your connection to error out. Confirm that the 'Encryption:' drop-down box is set to the default 'Automatic (128 bit or 40 bit)' setting. Finally, locate the 'Authentication Settings...' button, and click to move on.
  11. In the resulting dialog, enter your UsenetServer password in the 'Password' field. As before, this field is case-sensitive, so double-check against the confirmation email we sent you at sign-up. In the 'Machine Authentication' category below, confirm that the 'Shared Secret' radio button is selected, and enter the UsenetServer VPN secret in the corresponding field - our pre-shared key is 'vpn', without the quotes. Click the 'OK' button to continue.
  12. When you return to the previous menu, locate the 'Advanced...' button in the lower-right corner, next to the question mark icon. Click the 'Advanced...' button to continue.
  13. In the 'Advanced' settings pane, locate the 'Session' category. Tick the third checkbox down, labeled 'Send all traffic over VPN connection', then click the 'OK' button in the lower-right corner to continue.
  14. Find and tick the 'Show VPN status in menu bar' checkbox, located to the left of the 'Advanced...' button. Once this checkbox is ticket, you may commit all configuration options by clicking the 'Apply' button in the lower-right corner of the panel.
  15. Test your newly created connection by clicking the 'Connect' button, just below the 'Authentication Settings...' button, and move on to the next step.
  16. As the session to our server opens, watch the 'Status:' indicator at the top of the pane for any error or warning messages. If you are unable to obtain the 'Status: Connected' message, first confirm that you have entered your username and password - if you are still unable to connect, feel free to contact our support team, and include any relevant status messages.
  17. Once the session has successfully connected, look for the 'Status: Connected' message with the 'Connection Time:' and 'IP Address' details below.
  18. For a quick way to access your VPN session, locate the indicator on the top of the screen - look for the session 'Connect Time:' indicator, and click to open a context menu. From this menu, you quickly start and stop your VPN session without navigating through the 'System Preferences' menu. Click out of the context menu, close the 'System Preferences' menu, and enjoy peace of mind that your online activities aren't being monitored by prying eyes.

Ubuntu PPTP Setup

  1. Point your cursor to the 'Network Manager Indicator' icon, located in the 'Notification Area' on the default desktop panel, in the upper-right corner. Click this icon, and mouse over the 'VPN Connections' item - click the 'Configure VPN...' item in the expanded menu to continue.
  2. When the network connections dialog window appears, click the “Add” button.
  3. In the next window that appears, click on the dropdown menu and select “Point to point tunneling protocol (PPTP)” and click the “Create” button.
  4. Confirm that the 'VPN' tab is active in the current panel. Fill in a descriptive title for the new connection in the 'Connection name:' field at the top. Under the 'General' category, fill in the 'Gateway:' field with the UsenetServer hostname you've selected from our server list. Below, look for the 'Optional' category, and enter your login credentials in the corresponding fields, if you prefer not to enter them manually at each login. Our authentication servers are case-sensitive, so take care when entering both your username and password. Enter your UsenetServer username with @usenetserver at the end (ex. username@usenetserver). The 'NT Domain' field below should not be filled in. Next, look for the 'Advanced...' button near the bottom-right side of the panel, and click.
  5. Under the 'Security and Compression' label, tick the checkbox labeled 'Use Point-to-Point encryption (MPEE)'. Next, scroll through the frame labeled 'Authentication', and confirm that ONLY the MSCHAP and MSCHAPv2 boxes are ticked. Finally, click the 'OK' button in the bottom-right corner of the panel to continue.
  6. To commit the settings, first hit the 'Save' button in the bottom-right corner of this panel. Move your cursor back to the 'Network Connections' panel that was opened earlier, and hit the 'Close' button located at the bottom-right corner to continue.
  7. Click on the 'Network Manager Indicator' icon, located in the 'Notification Area', and then navigate to the 'VPN Connections' as preformed in the first step. Now, in the expanded menu, you should see an additional item, labeled as the 'Connection name:' defined in step three. You may click this item to initialize the connection. If you declined to save your full credentials, you will soon see a dialog prompting you to enter your username and password. Remember that our authentication servers are case-sensitive, and enter your UsenetServer username with @usenetserver at the end (ex. username@usenetserver) and password to continue. Look in the upper-right corner of your screen for any error notifications that may appear as you connect.
  8. You will see a message that the VPN has established a connection upon successfully connecting to the VPN. If any other message is shown, feel free to contact our support team for further assistance; otherwise you can now have peace of mind that your online experience is secured and private.

Ubuntu OpenVPN Setup

  1. From the login screen (display manager) choose an administrator-enabled account and login to your main desktop. Point your mouse to the 'Dash home' icon in the Unity launcher - click and move to the next step.
  2. Type 'terminal' in the resulting dashboard - if the letters are not appearing, point your mouse to the text area, and click to focus. Then type 'terminal' - once the result appears, either hit the 'Enter' key on your keyboard, or click the 'Terminal' icon from the results.
  3. In the resulting window, a new shell has been spawned, now waiting for further input. Move to the next step.
  4. Confirm that the terminal window is in focus, and enter the following command:

    cd Documents/

    Press the 'Enter' key, and continue to the next step.
  5. Again, confirm the terminal window is in focus, and enter the following command:

    wget http://www.usenetserver.com/vpn/software/configs/nyc-a01.ovpn

    Please copy this command EXACTLY as seen here - In our example, we are configuring a connection to the nyc-a01.com server, however should you wish to use a different server, point your web browser to http://www.usenetserver.com/vpn/software/configs/ locate the server of your choosing, and copy the link to your clipboard. Modify the command above to include the URL to your chosen config file, like so: 'wget http://www.usenetserver.com/vpn/software/configs/ams-a01.ovpn' for Amsterdam. Hit the 'Enter' key, and continue to the next step.
  6. The OpenVPN software and Network Manager snap-in are required to utilize an OpenVPN tunnel. Install both of these by entering the following command into the prompt:

    sudo apt-get install network-manager-openvpn

    Hit the 'Enter' key, and continue to the next step.
  7. Authenticate with your password in the resulting prompt to confirm administrator-level access to the previous command. Hit the 'Enter' key, and continue to the next step.
  8. The Debian package manager 'apt-get' will resolve all dependencies to the previously selected software packages, and will present you with a confirmation screen as shown in the example below. Type the 'Y' (for yes) button, and hit the 'Enter' key, then continue to the next step.
  9. Watch for any error messages in the resulting output, and report them to our support team for further assistance. Once the prompt appears, the terminal may be closed; then move to the next step.
  10. Find the 'Network Manager' icon from the indicator area of your main panel - it's in the upper-right corner, to the left of the 'Sound' indicator: two arrows pointing in opposing directions. Click this icon and hover your mouse over the 'VPN Connections >' item. In the resulting menu, click the 'Configure VPN...' item and move to the next step.
  11. When the network connections dialog window appears, click the “Add” button.
  12. In the next window that appears, click on the dropdown menu and select “Import a saved VPN configuration” and click the “Create” button.
  13. Navigate to the 'Documents' folder, where the two files downloaded earlier are located - double-click the 'Documents' item within the file tree, and move to the next step.
  14. From the 'Documents' folder, select the OpenVPN configuration file downloaded earlier in the guide - in the example, we are selecting the 'nyc-a01.ovpn' item. If an alternate server was selected previously, substitute the correct filename when making a selection. Once the configuration file has been chosen, click the 'Open' button in the bottom-right corner.
  15. In the following window, the previously selected OpenVPN config file will have been imported into the Network Manager as an unsaved session. Confirm the server address in the 'Gateway' field, and confirm that the “Authentication” fields have your UsenetServer username with @usenetserver at the end (ex. username@usenetserver).
  16. Once you've entered all required details, and confirmed existing details, the 'Save...' option will un-gray. Click the 'Save' button, and move to the next step.
  17. Back in the 'Network Connections' window, you should see the newly created UsenetServer OpenVPN session listed in the main selection area of this window. Close the window using the “Close” button in the bottom-right corner and move to the next step.
  18. As before, find the 'Network Manager' icon from the indicator area of your main panel - it's in the upper-right corner, to the left of the 'Sound' indicator: two arrows pointing in opposing directions. Click this icon and hover your mouse over the 'VPN Connections >' item. Then select the 'nyc-a01' (if you chose a different server, this item will be different) item to open the tunnel. Move on to the next step.
  19. Even if you opted to save your password in the previous configuration menu, upon first connection, you may be prompted for your password. Enter your UsenetServer password, and click the 'OK' button, then move to the next step. You won't be prompted for your password again.
  20. After the tunnel has initialized, you will see a few notification windows appear in the corner of the screen, indicating any errors or issues along the way. When a successful connection is established you will see a successfully connected message - at this point, you may now browse the Internet free from the prying eyes of your ISP. If your IP address doesn't change, or you see any error messages, copy those down and contact our support team for further assistance.

iPad PPTP Setup

  1. Navigate to your home screen (or whichever page contains the 'Settings' app) by closing the current app, pressing the 'Home' button near the base of the unit, or by swiping to the 'Spotlight' search, and entering 'Settings'. Launch the 'Settings' app with a single tap.
  2. By default, the 'General' category will be automatically selected, as shown in the example. Users who haven't already setup a custom network connection need to create one through the 'General' settings pane, using the 'Network' item; for those who may already have an existing VPN connection, select the 'Network' item from the sidebar on the left. If you are not already on the 'General' category, simply select it from the sidebar on the left side of the screen.
  3. On the 'Network' settings pane, create a new VPN connection by locating the 'VPN' item, on the very top of this menu. This item may contain the text 'Not Configured', if you haven't already setup a VPN connection. Tap this item to continue.
  4. From the 'VPN' settings page, under the category labeled 'Choose a Configuration...', tap the item labeled 'Add VPN Configuration...'.
  5. In the 'Add Configuration' pane, look for the protocol selector tabs near the top - L2TP will be selected by default, however this tutorial deals with PPTP. Tap the 'PPTP' tab near the top of the frame and continue to the next step.
  6. The frame below the protocol tabs contains the required VPN settings - for the 'Description' field, fill in a descriptive title for your new VPN connection. For the 'Server' field below, enter [SERVER NAME(S)] (You will replace [SERVER NAME] with the server you would like to connect to. A full list of servers can be found here). When filling in the 'Account' field you will use your UsenetServer username with @usenetserver at the end (ex. username@usenetserver). Also, for both the 'Account' and 'Password' fields, keep in mind our authentication system is case-sensitive. Even a single miscapitalized letter will cause your connection attempt to error out. Do NOT fill the 'RSA SecurID' field between the 'Account' and 'Password' fields - leave the switch *OFF*. Confirm that the 'Send All Traffic' switch is in the 'ON' position. Finally, look for the blue 'Save' button in the upper-right corner of the panel and tap to commit your settings.
  7. After saving, you will be brought back to the previous VPN connections page. To test the connection, look for the first item at the top of the category labeled 'Choose a Configuration...'. After you have selected your connection, marked with a 'check', look for the ON/OFF switch at the top of the frame - simply press the switch, changing it to the ON position to initialize the connection.
  8. Once the connection has begun, look for the new item below the ON/OFF switch with a 'Status' label. Any error or warning messages will display here; the last message before a successful connection can be seen in the example, 'Authenticating...'. If you can't seem to get beyond this point, confirm that you've entered your username and password correctly. Contact our support team for further assistance if you continue to have trouble, and provide any error or warning messages shown in the status indicator.
  9. Upon successful connection to the server, a 'Connected:' status message will be visible, with the uptime count to the right. One thing to keep in mind about VPN access on Apple mobile devices: when the device goes to the lock screen, or to sleep, the VPN session will end - this behavior is 'working as indented', a feature implemented by Apple to secure access to your saved login information. Beyond that, your iPad is now connected securely to your WiFi or mobile network, and you can have peace of mind knowing that prying eyes are not snooping on your activities.

iPad L2TP Setup

  1. Navigate to your home screen (or whichever page contains the 'Settings' app) by closing the current app, pressing the 'Home' button near the base of the unit, or by swiping to the 'Spotlight' search, and entering 'Settings'. Launch the 'Settings' app with a single tap.
  2. By default, the 'General' category will be automatically selected, as shown in the example. Users who haven't already setup a custom network connection need to create one through the 'General' settings pane, using the 'Network' item; for those who may already have an existing VPN connection, select the 'Network' item from the sidebar on the left. If you are not already on the 'General' category, simply select it from the sidebar on the left side of the screen.
  3. On the 'Network' settings pane, create a new VPN connection by locating the 'VPN' item, on the very top of this menu. This item may contain the text 'Not Configured', if you haven't already setup a VPN connection. Tap this item to continue.
  4. From the 'VPN' settings page, under the label 'Choose a Configuration...', tap the item labeled 'Add VPN Configuration...'.
  5. In the 'Add Configuration' pane, look for the protocol selector tabs near the top - L2TP will be selected by default, and as this tutorial deals with L2TP, no change is necessary. If for whatever reason any other protocols are already selected, tap the 'L2TP' tab near the top of the frame and continue to the next step.
  6. The frame below the protocol tabs contains the required VPN settings - for the 'Description' field, fill in a descriptive title for your new VPN connection. For the 'Server' field below, enter [SERVER NAME(S)] (You will replace [SERVER NAME] with the server you would like to connect to. A full list of servers can be found here). When filling in the 'Account' field you will use your UsenetServer username with @usenetserver at the end (ex. username@usenetserver). For both the 'Account' and 'Password' fields, keep in mind our authentication system is case-sensitive. Even a single miscapitalized letter will cause your connection attempt to error out. Do NOT fill the 'RSA SecurID' field between the 'Account' and 'Password' fields - leave the switch *OFF*. Enter the UsenetServer pre-shared secret key into the 'Secret' field - the key is 'vpn', without quotes. Confirm that the 'Send All Traffic' switch is in the 'ON' position. Finally, look for the blue 'Save' button in the upper-right corner of the panel and tap to commit your settings.
  7. After saving, you will be brought back to the previous VPN connections page. To test the connection, look for the first item at the top of the category labeled 'Choose a Configuration...'. After you have selected your connection, marked with a 'check', look for the ON/OFF switch at the top of the frame - simply press the switch, changing it to the ON position to initialize the connection.
  8. Once the connection has begun, look for the new item below the ON/OFF switch with a 'Status' label. Any error or warning messages will display here. If you can't seem to get beyond this point, confirm that you've entered your username and password correctly. Reply back for further assistance if you continue to have trouble, and provide any error or warning messages shown in the status indicator.
  9. Upon successful connection to the server, a 'Connected:' status message will be visible, with the uptime count to the right. One thing to keep in mind about VPN access on Apple mobile devices: when the device goes to the lock screen, or to sleep, the VPN session will end - this behavior is 'working as indented', a feature implemented by Apple to secure access to your saved login information. Beyond that, your iPad is now connected securely to your WiFi or mobile network, and you can have peace of mind knowing that prying eyes are not snooping on your activities.

iPad OpenVPN Setup

  1. Download and install the OpenVPN Connect client from the App Store.
  2. Download the UsenetServer VPN configuration files
  3. Unzip uns_configs.zip
  4. Each server has its own configuration file and will end in .ovpn. Select the server you want to connect to.
  5. You will now need to transfer the .ovpn file into the OpenVPN iOS app. Connect your iOS device to your computer and select it in iTunes.
  6. Click Apps.
  7. Scroll down to File Sharing, from the list on the left, select the OpenVPN app on your device.
  8. From the list on the right, click "Add", navigate to where the .ovpn file is located, select the files you want to transfer, and click "Sync."
  9. Launch the OpenVPN app
  10. You will see the name of the server you just added and below it a green plus sign button. Click on that button.
  11. A prompt will appear asking for your Username and Password. Your username will be your UsenetServer username with @usenetserver added to the end (ex. username@usenetserver). You can choose to save the password by selecting the "Save" toggle switch. After completing the password click on the return button on the keyboard.
  12. You are now connected to UsenetServer VPN on an iOS device with OpenVPN.

iPhone PPTP Setup

  1. Navigate to your home screen (or whichever page contains the 'Settings' app) by closing the current app, pressing the 'Home' button near the base of the unit, or by swiping to the 'Spotlight' search, and entering 'Settings'. Launch the 'Settings' app with a single tap.
  2. By default, the 'General' category will be automatically selected, as shown in the example. Users who haven't already setup a custom network connection need to create one through the 'General' settings pane, using the 'Network' item; for those who may already have an existing VPN connection, select the 'Network' item from the sidebar on the left. If you are not already on the 'General' category, simply select it from the sidebar on the left side of the screen.
  3. On the 'Network' settings pane, create a new VPN connection by locating the 'VPN' item, on the very top of this menu. This item may contain the text 'Not Configured', if you haven't already setup a VPN connection. Tap this item to continue.
  4. From the 'VPN' settings page, under the category labeled 'Choose a Configuration...', tap the item labeled 'Add VPN Configuration...'.
  5. In the 'Add Configuration' pane, look for the protocol selector tabs near the top - L2TP will be selected by default, however this tutorial deals with PPTP. Tap the 'PPTP' tab near the top of the frame and continue to the next step.
  6. The frame below the protocol tabs contains the required VPN settings - for the 'Description' field, fill in a descriptive title for your new VPN connection. For the 'Server' field below, enter [SERVER NAME(S)] (You will replace [SERVER NAME] with the server you would like to connect to. A full list of servers can be found here). When filling in the 'Account' field you will use your UsenetServer username with @usenetserver at the end (ex. username@usenetserver). Also, for both the 'Account' and 'Password' fields, keep in mind our authentication system is case-sensitive. Even a single miscapitalized letter will cause your connection attempt to error out. Do NOT fill the 'RSA SecurID' field between the 'Account' and 'Password' fields - leave the switch *OFF*. Confirm that the 'Send All Traffic' switch is in the 'ON' position. Finally, look for the blue 'Save' button in the upper-right corner of the panel and tap to commit your settings.
  7. After saving, you will be brought back to the previous VPN connections page. To test the connection, look for the first item at the top of the category labeled 'Choose a Configuration...'. After you have selected your connection, marked with a 'check', look for the ON/OFF switch at the top of the frame - simply press the switch, changing it to the ON position to initialize the connection.
  8. Once the connection has begun, look for the new item below the ON/OFF switch with a 'Status' label. Any error or warning messages will display here; the last message before a successful connection can be seen in the example, 'Authenticating...'. If you can't seem to get beyond this point, confirm that you've entered your username and password correctly. Contact our support team for further assistance if you continue to have trouble, and provide any error or warning messages shown in the status indicator.
  9. Upon successful connection to the server, a 'Connected:' status message will be visible, with the uptime count to the right. One thing to keep in mind about VPN access on Apple mobile devices: when the device goes to the lock screen, or to sleep, the VPN session will end - this behavior is 'working as indented', a feature implemented by Apple to secure access to your saved login information. Beyond that, your iPad is now connected securely to your WiFi or mobile network, and you can have peace of mind knowing that prying eyes are not snooping on your activities.

iPhone L2TP Setup

  1. Navigate to your home screen (or whichever page contains the 'Settings' app) by closing the current app, pressing the 'Home' button near the base of the unit, or by swiping to the 'Spotlight' search, and entering 'Settings'. Launch the 'Settings' app with a single tap.
  2. By default, the 'General' category will be automatically selected, as shown in the example. Users who haven't already setup a custom network connection need to create one through the 'General' settings pane, using the 'Network' item; for those who may already have an existing VPN connection, select the 'Network' item from the sidebar on the left. If you are not already on the 'General' category, simply select it from the sidebar on the left side of the screen.
  3. On the 'Network' settings pane, create a new VPN connection by locating the 'VPN' item, on the very top of this menu. This item may contain the text 'Not Configured', if you haven't already setup a VPN connection. Tap this item to continue.
  4. From the 'VPN' settings page, under the label 'Choose a Configuration...', tap the item labeled 'Add VPN Configuration...'.
  5. In the 'Add Configuration' pane, look for the protocol selector tabs near the top - L2TP will be selected by default, and as this tutorial deals with L2TP, no change is necessary. If for whatever reason any other protocols are already selected, tap the 'L2TP' tab near the top of the frame and continue to the next step.
  6. The frame below the protocol tabs contains the required VPN settings - for the 'Description' field, fill in a descriptive title for your new VPN connection. For the 'Server' field below, enter [SERVER NAME(S)] (You will replace [SERVER NAME] with the server you would like to connect to. A full list of servers can be found here). When filling in the 'Account' field you will use your UsenetServer username with @usenetserver at the end (ex. username@usenetserver). For both the 'Account' and 'Password' fields, keep in mind our authentication system is case-sensitive. Even a single miscapitalized letter will cause your connection attempt to error out. Do NOT fill the 'RSA SecurID' field between the 'Account' and 'Password' fields - leave the switch *OFF*. Enter the UsenetServer pre-shared secret key into the 'Secret' field - the key is 'vpn', without quotes. Confirm that the 'Send All Traffic' switch is in the 'ON' position. Finally, look for the blue 'Save' button in the upper-right corner of the panel and tap to commit your settings.
  7. After saving, you will be brought back to the previous VPN connections page. To test the connection, look for the first item at the top of the category labeled 'Choose a Configuration...'. After you have selected your connection, marked with a 'check', look for the ON/OFF switch at the top of the frame - simply press the switch, changing it to the ON position to initialize the connection.
  8. Once the connection has begun, look for the new item below the ON/OFF switch with a 'Status' label. Any error or warning messages will display here. If you can't seem to get beyond this point, confirm that you've entered your username and password correctly. Reply back for further assistance if you continue to have trouble, and provide any error or warning messages shown in the status indicator.
  9. Upon successful connection to the server, a 'Connected:' status message will be visible, with the uptime count to the right. One thing to keep in mind about VPN access on Apple mobile devices: when the device goes to the lock screen, or to sleep, the VPN session will end - this behavior is 'working as indented', a feature implemented by Apple to secure access to your saved login information. Beyond that, your iPad is now connected securely to your WiFi or mobile network, and you can have peace of mind knowing that prying eyes are not snooping on your activities.

iPhone OpenVPN Setup

  1. Download and install the OpenVPN Connect client from the App Store.
  2. Download the UsenetServer VPN configuration files
  3. Unzip uns_configs.zip
  4. Each server has its own configuration file and will end in .ovpn. Select the server you want to connect to.
  5. You will now need to transfer the .ovpn file into the OpenVPN iOS app. Connect your iOS device to your computer and select it in iTunes.
  6. Click Apps.
  7. Scroll down to File Sharing, from the list on the left, select the OpenVPN app on your device.
  8. From the list on the right, click "Add", navigate to where the .ovpn file is located, select the files you want to transfer, and click "Sync."
  9. Launch the OpenVPN app
  10. You will see the name of the server you just added and below it a green plus sign button. Click on that button.
  11. A prompt will appear asking for your Username and Password. Your username will be your UsenetServer username with @usenetserver added to the end (ex. username@usenetserver). You can choose to save the password by selecting the "Save" toggle switch. After completing the password click on the return button on the keyboard.
  12. You are now connected to UsenetServer VPN on an iOS device with OpenVPN.

Android PPTP Setup

  1. Head to your Android home screen by pressing the corresponding hard or soft-key on your phone. Your home screen or interface may look differ from the example, however the process will largely be the same. Pull up the 'Settings' menu by tapping on the app of the same name from your home screen, or App Dock. Alternatively, you may press the menu hard or soft-key on your phone, then tap the 'Settings' item.
  2. Slide through the 'Settings' menu until the 'Wireless & networks' item is visible. Once you have tapped into this menu, move on to the next step.
  3. In the 'Wireless & networks' settings menu, locate the 'VPN Settings' item - look to the screenshot for the exact placement and appearance. Move on once you have tapped this item.
  4. Under the 'VPN Settings' menu, locate the 'Add VPN' item at the top of this menu. Tap this item to continue.
  5. This tutorial details the configuration process for the PPTP protocol - to continue, select the item labeled 'Add PPTP VPN - Point-to-Point'. When the next screen appears, move on to the next step.
  6. Starting off with the 'VPN name' field, fill in a descriptive title for your new VPN connection - feel free to name it whatever you like; see the screenshot for an example. After selecting a server to connect to from our available list, tap the 'Set VPN server' item, and enter the chosen address in the dialog. Our example features an invalid hostname, just as an example - you will see an error message if you try to connect to this host. Next, tick the checkbox next to the 'Enable encryption' option, and continue on to the next step.
  7. To finalize your settings, first tap the menu hard or soft-key on your phone, and locate the 'Save' option. Tap the 'Save' option to commit your changes and move on to the next step.
  8. Once you have saved the configuration, you will be brought back to the previous 'VPN Settings' menu. Confirm that the connection is present and accounted for, and test your settings by tapping the connection name listed under the 'VPNs' category. When the login dialog pops up, move on to the next step.
  9. When the login dialog is shown, go ahead and enter your UsenetServer credentials. Keep in mind that our authentication servers are case-sensitive, and a single miscapitalized letter will cause your connection to error out. Enter your UsenetServer username with @usenetserver at the end (ex. username@usenetserver) in the 'Username' field, and your password in the 'Password' field. Your Android device will not store your password in memory like many other devices - this is an intended feature, designed to help keep passwords out of the hands of hackers. If you'd like your device to at least store your username, tick the checkbox labeled 'Remember username'. To continue with the connection test, tap the 'Connect' button. The current status will be indicated below the connection name - take note if any error messages appear, and contact our support team for further instructions.
  10. After the connection establishes a secure tunnel to our servers, a 'Connected' status message will be indicated under the connection name. If you'd like to check on the status of your VPN session outside of your 'Settings' app, swipe your finger in a downward motion from the top edge of your screen, pulling down the 'Notification Area'. Scroll through the 'Notification Area', looking for the icon resembling a key; look for the connection name, followed by a status message. The counter underneath the icon indicates how long the VPN session has remained open for. Close your notifications, open up your web browser or favorite app, and rest easy knowing your online activities are secure from prying eyes and hackers.

Android L2TP Setup

  1. Head to your Android home screen by pressing the corresponding hard or soft-key on your phone. Your home screen or interface may look differ from the example, however the process will largely be the same.
  2. Pull up the 'Settings' menu by tapping on the app of the same name from your home screen, or App Dock. Alternatively, you may press the menu hard or soft-key on your phone, then tap the 'Settings' item.
  3. Slide through the 'Settings' menu until the 'Wireless & networks' item is visible. Once you have tapped into this menu, move on to the next step.
  4. In the 'Wireless & networks' settings menu, locate the 'VPN Settings' item - look to the screenshot for the exact placement and appearance. Move on once you have tapped this item.
  5. Under the 'VPN Settings' menu, locate the 'Add VPN' item at the top of this menu. Tap this item to continue.
  6. This tutorial details the configuration process for the L2TP protocol - to continue, select the item labeled 'Add L2TP/IPSEC PSK VPN'. When the next screen appears, move on to the next step.
  7. Starting off with the 'VPN name' field, fill in a descriptive title for your new VPN connection - feel free to name it whatever you like; see the screenshot for an example. After selecting a server to connect to from our available list, tap the 'Set VPN server' item, and enter the chosen address in the dialog. Our example features an invalid hostname, just as an example - you will see an error message if you try to connect to this host.
  8. To continue, tap the item labeled 'Set IPSEC pre-shared key'.
  9. In this field, enter our pre-shared IPSEC key, which is 'vpn'. After that, tap the 'OK' button to continue.
  10. To finalize your settings, first tap the menu hard or soft-key on your phone, and locate the 'Save' option. Tap the 'Save' option to commit your changes and move on to the next step.
  11. Depending on whether or not you've ever configured a L2TP/IPSEC VPN before, the screen shown here may or may not appear. If you are presented with the 'Credential Storage Password' dialog, just enter a password of your choosing and confirm it below. You *may* need to enter this password when you connect, so pick something that you can remember. Press the 'OK' button to continue.
  12. Once you have saved the configuration, you will be brought back to the previous 'VPN Settings' menu. Confirm that the connection is present and accounted for, and test your settings by tapping the connection name listed under the 'VPNs' category. When the login dialog pops up, move on to the next step.
  13. When the login dialog is shown, go ahead and enter your UsenetServer credentials. Keep in mind that our authentication servers are case-sensitive, and a single miscapitalized letter will cause your connection to error out. Enter your UsenetServer username with @usenetserver at the end (ex. username@usenetserver) in the 'Username' field, and your password in the 'Password' field. Your Android device will not store your password in memory like many other devices - this is an intended feature, designed to help keep passwords out of the hands of hackers. If you'd like your device to at least store your username, tick the checkbox labeled 'Remember username'. To continue with the connection test, tap the 'Connect' button.
  14. The current status will be indicated below the connection name - take note if any error messages appear, and contact our support team for further instructions.
  15. After the connection establishes a secure tunnel to our servers, a 'Connected' status message will be indicated under the connection name.
  16. If you'd like to check on the status of your VPN session outside of your 'Settings' app, swipe your finger in a downward motion from the top edge of your screen, pulling down the 'Notification Area'. Scroll through the 'Notification Area', looking for the icon resembling a key; look for the connection name, followed by a status message. The counter underneath the icon indicates how long the VPN session has remained open for. Close your notifications, open up your web browser or favorite app, and rest easy knowing your online activities are secure from prying eyes and hackers.

Android OpenVPN Setup

  1. Download the OpenVPN Connect app from the Play Store.
  2. Using a computer, download our .ovpn files from our site here, and unzip the servers configuration files.
  3. Email the server's .ovpn files to your Android device, or plug the Android device into your computer to move the files over.
  4. Launch the OpenVPN Connect app. Click the menu button in the top right. Click 'Import' then tap 'Import Profile from SD card'.
  5. Locate the .ovpn file from Step 3. Click it, then hit the 'select' button.
  6. Enter your Username, followed by @usenetserver (ex: username@usenetserver) and then enter your Password(Check the 'Save' box if you don't want to enter the password each time you connect).
  7. Click the 'Connect' button at the bottom and hit 'continue' on the Select Certificate popup.
  8. To disconnect, simply open the OpenVPN Connect app and click the 'Disconnect' button.
  9. If you wish to add another server, you can import another .opvn file. You can also select 'Add Shortcut' in the menu to create a shortcut icon on your home page.

Chromebook L2TP Setup

  1. Open Chrome. In the address bar, type chrome://settings and hit enter. Go to 'Add Connection' → 'Add private network…'
  2. In the box that appears, enter the following:

    Server hostname: Enter the full server name (ex: phx-a01.wlvpn.com). You can choose from our server list.
    Service name: Accept the default entry or create your own.
    \Provider type: L2TP/IPSEC + pre-shared key
    Pre-shared Key: vpn
    Server CA certificate: default
    User certificate: leave blank
    Username & Password: Your credentials for connecting to the VPN
    OTP: leave blank.
    Group name: leave blank
    Save username & password combination is optional

    Click 'Connect' to connect to the specific server you have configured. You can create multiple networks for different servers by repeating this process.

DD-WRT Routers OpenVPN Setup

  1. Point your web browser to your DD-WRT Administration Page, which usually by default is http://192.168.1.1 - for others who may have changed the default LAN-side router address, the gateway address of the attached network adapter is usually acceptable. If you are having trouble getting to this page, you may need to reset the router to factory default settings.
  2. Click the 'Services' tab from the navigation area - a username and password prompt will appear. The correct credentials must be entered to continue.
  3. Now, in the 'Services' tab, scroll to the bottom of the page and move to the next step.
  4. In case you encounter issues at any point during the setup guide, we will enable 'System Logging' - log files can help the us assist you with a resolution. Enable logging by ticking the 'System Log -> Enabled' radio button. Click the 'Save' button at the bottom of the page, and continue on. *Arrow/indicate towards the 'Syslogd -> Enable' radio button, and the 'Save' button.
  5. After the page has refreshed following the 'Save' action, locate the navigation bar, and the sub-tab labeled 'VPN'. Click this item to continue. *Arrow/indicate towards the 'VPN' sub-tab item.
  6. Enable the OpenVPN configuration options within the 'Services -> VPN' tab by clicking the 'Start OpenVPN Client -> Enable' radio button. Once this option has been ticked, more configuration options should appear below - move on to the next step. *Arrow/indicate towards the 'Start OpenVPN Client -> Enable' radio button.
  7. After the options expand, carefully follow the following directions: each option must be correctly configured for the tunnel to become established. 

    * 'Server IP/Name' - enter the [SERVER NAME] (You will replace [SERVER NAME] with the server you would like to connect to. A full list of servers can be found here).
    * 'Port' - enter '443'.
    * 'Tunnel Protocol' - click the drop-down, and select 'TCP'.
    * 'Tunnel Device' - click the drop-down, and select 'TUN'.
    * 'Encryption Cipher' - click the drop-down, and select 'AES-256-CBC'.
    * 'Hash Algorithm' - click the drop-down, and select 'SHA256'
    * 'nsCertType Verification' - leave this unticked.
    * 'Advanced Options' - tick the radio button labeled 'Enable'.

    As soon as you enable the Advanced Options radio button they will appear. Continue to the next step for the Advanced Options Settings.
  8. The bullet points below outline the required Advanced Option configuration:

    * 'Use LZO Compression' - tick the radio button labeled 'Enable'.
    * 'NAT' - tick the radio button labeled 'Enable'.
    * 'Local IP Address' - leave this blank.
    * 'TUN MTU Setting' - leave this configured at '1500'.
    * 'MSS-Fix/Fragment across the tunnel' - leave this blank.
    * 'TLS Cipher' - click the drop-down, and select 'AES-256-SHA'.
    * 'TLS Auth Key' - leave this blank.
    * 'Additional Config' - enter the following items, each on a single line, like so:

    #--------------------- #do not copy this line#
    persist-remote-ip
    keysize 256
    tls-remote [UsenetServer Hostname**]
    auth-user-pass /tmp/auth.conf
    script-security 3 system
    #--------------------- #do not copy this line#

    **NOTE: [UsenetServer Hostname**] is to be replaced with the chosen UsenetServer host above (ex. lax-a01.wlvpn.com)

    * 'CA Cert' - enter the contents of the certificate file located here.

    Now move on to the next step…
  9. Review all of the previously entered settings, double-checking against the previous two steps. Correct any mistakes, scroll to the bottom of the page, and commit your changes by clicking the 'Save' button.
  10. After the page has refreshed, locate and click the 'Security' tab from the navigation bar. Move on once the following page loads. *Arrow/indicate towards the 'Security' tab.
  11. To further assist our support team with any issues you may have with your configuration, we recommend the additional logging functions on your router. Scroll to the bottom of the page, and locate the 'Log Management' section. Tick the radio button under the 'Log' section, labeled 'Enable'. In the drop-down labeled 'Log Level', select the 'High' option. Finally, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the 'Save' button to commit your changes. Move on to the next step.
  12. After the page has refreshed, locate the 'Administration' tab from the navigation bar, and click to continue.
  13. In the 'Administration' area of the control panel, locate the 'Commands' sub-tab, and click to continue.
  14. Enter the following lines into the 'Commands' text area as seen in the example:

    #--------------------- #do not copy this line#
    #!/bin/sh
    touch /tmp/auth.conf
    echo "[YOUR USER NAME*]" > /tmp/auth.conf
    echo "[YOUR PASSWORD**]" >> /tmp/auth.conf
    #--------------------- #do not copy this line#

    *Enter your UsenetServer username in place of [YOUR USER NAME*] with @usenetserver added to the end, like "user@usenetserver".
    *Enter your UsenetServer password in place of [YOUR PASSWORD**].

    After you've entered your credentials into this field as shown, please click the 'Save Startup' button to continue.

    Look for your previously saved login credentials in the 'Startup' area below. Please take note that anyone who has access to your DD-WRT control panel may view these credentials - pick a unfamiliar username and password, and choose a very secure 'root' user password for the router. Move on to the next step.

    Click the 'Management' sub-tab, still under the 'Administration' category, and move to the next step.

    Lastly, reboot your router by scrolling to the bottom of the page, and clicking the 'Reboot Router' button. After your router comes back up, test the OpenVPN tunnel by heading to a site like 'http://www.whatismyip.com' after about 5 minutes. If your IP has not yet changed, please reboot your router again, and wait another 5 minutes. If you are still not seeing a change, feel free to contact our support team for further assistance.
  15. If you see something in the OpenVPN log that says "the certificate is not yet valid," then you'll want to manually set the time since it didn't happen quick enough in the script:

    * Enable NTP (synchronized time)
    -- Setup > Basic Setup > Time Settings> NTP Client (enable)
    -- Setup > Basic Setup > Time Settings> Time Zone > UTC
    -- Setup > Basic Setup > Time Settings> Summer Time (DST) > none
    -- Setup > Basic Setup > Time Settings> type in us.pool.ntp.org
    -- Click the 'Apply Settings' button at the bottom

    * Reboot the router again
    Administration > Management > (scroll to the bottom) Reboot Router
    [you may get a screen saying that the webpage couldn't load. Just refresh the screen]

DD-WRT Routers PPTP Setup

  1. Make sure no other VPN settings are enabled... includes getting rid of the startup script and disabling the OpenVPN Client.
  2. Go to Setup > Basic Setup
  3. Change the Connection Type to PPTP
  4. The screen will refresh and you'll have a few other fields to enter.

    * Use DHCP = Yes
    * WAN IP Address = Greyed Out
    * Subnet Mask = Greyed Out
    * Gateway = Greyed Out
    * Gateway (PPTP Server) = This is the server you want to connect to(sel-a01.wlvpn.com is Seoul, lax-a01.wlvpn.com is Los Angeles, and nyc-a01.wlvpn is New York City)
    * Username = your username with @usenetserver attached to the end
    * Password = your password
    * Connection Strategy = choose whatever you want... I prefer Keep Alive Redial Period 10sec
    * PPTP encryption = Enable
    * Disable Packet Reordering = Enable
    (this can be toggled if you have connection issues)
    * Additional PPTP Options = none
    * STP = Disable

  5. Scroll to the bottom and select 'Save'
  6. Go to Administration > Management
  7. Scroll to bottom and click 'Reboot Router'
  8. After the router is rebooted, give it a minute and then co to whatismyip.com to make sure you don't have an IP from your ISP.

Tomato Routers OpenVPN Setup

  1. In the side bar, click on "VPN Tunneling," and then "OpenVPN Client." 

    Under the Basic tab, make the following changes:
    1) Put a check mark next to "Start with WAN"
    2) Change "Interface Type" to TUN
    3) Change "Protocol" to your preference (TCP or UDP)
    4) Type in your desired server ( the server list) and your desired port (choose from 443 or 1194)
    5) Change "Firewall" to Automatic
    6) Change "Authorization Mode" to TLS
    7) Put a check mark next to "Username/Password Authentication"
    8) Enter your UsenetServer username with @usenetserver added to the end (ex. user@usenetserver) and password in the appropriate fields.
    9) Put a check mark next to "Username Authen. Only"
    10) Make "Extra HMAC authorization (tls-auth)" Disabled
    11) Put a check mark next to "Create NAT on tunnel"

    After you are finished, click "Save" at the bottom-right.

  2. Under the advanced tab, make the following changes:
    1) Put a check mark next to "Redirect Internet traffic"
    2) Change "Accept DNS configuration" to Strict
    3) Change "Encryption cipher" to AES-256-CBC
    4) Change "Compression" to Adaptive
    5) Leave "TLS Renegotiation Time" at -1
    6) Leave "Connection Retry" at 30
    7) Enter the following into the "Custom Configuration":

    resolv-retry infinite
    nobind
    persist-key
    persist-tun
    persist-remote-ip
    comp-lzo
    verb 3
    auth SHA256
    keysize 256
    tls-cipher DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA

    After you are finished, click "Save" at the bottom-right.

  3. Under the Keys tab, paste in everything from the following file: http://www.usenetserver.com/vpn/software/certificate.txt After you are finished, click "Save" at the bottom-right.

  4. Under the Keys tab, hit the Start button to begin the OpenVPN service.

    Wait for the service to start.

  5. We now want to make sure that the router start up with OpenVPN. In the side bar, click on "Reboot."

    Next, click on OK.

  6. Wait for the router to reboot.

  7. Some distributions of Tomato may require you to hit "Continue" before the router finishes booting.

  8. We can now check to see if OpenVPN is running.
    In the side bar, click on "VPN Tunneling," and then "OpenVPN Client."
    Click on the "Status" tab. You should see statistics appear. As you use the service, the bytes transferred will increase.