Learn how to install a VPN on Linux using your VPN provider’s downloadable app, the command line, Linux network manager or a browser plugin.
One of my favorite Canadian television shows, Murdoch Mysteries, recently returned for its 17th season. To watch it, I pulled out my Kubuntu Focus Linux gaming laptop, connected it to my LG C2 OLED and went to fire up my VPN (virtual private network), only to realize I still needed to install it.
Perhaps, like me, you need to watch Netflix, Disney Plus or another streaming service while traveling abroad. Maybe you want to bolster your online privacy. Whatever the reason, it’s worth using a VPN. Using a VPN lets you hide your location from your internet service provider (ISP) as well as services like apps or websites. For instance, I can comfortably be seated on the sofa in my living room in North Carolina, but using a VPN, apps and websites think I’m in Toronto, Canada (or another location based on the server you select).
On most platforms like Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android, setting up a VPN is pretty simple: Download an app and install it. However, on Linux, the configuration process isn’t as straightforward. While some VPN providers offer standalone apps, you may have to resort to changing your network manager settings or relying on a browser plugin.
