Want to make it tougher for anyone to track your internet activity? You could pay for a VPN service… or you could build your own.

If you have a bit of patience and a Rasberry Pi, the BBC has published a guide for creating your own, personal virtual private network (VPN) to browse the Web from a mobile device without being “followed” by anyone looking to sell your data.

Raspberry Pi VPN

The BBC guide offers detailed, step-by-step instruction guide for setting up a DIY VPN server with Rasberry Pi.

For the project, you will need a Raspberry Pi or Pi 2, an 8GB MicroSD card, an SD card reader, a 5v mini USB power supply (such as a smartphone charger), an HDMI monitor, a USB keyboard, an Ethernet cable, and a lot of free time.

The rest of the instructions involve different software to download and install, steps for setting up security passwords and generating keys, configuring networks and keys, and more coding-related steps.

Toward the end of the project, you’ll download OpenVPN Connect for iOS or Android on your smartphone or tablet. This allows you to input your new privacy configurations into your mobile device.

The hardest part will be setting aside the time needed to get through all of the installation and security setup — the process could be pretty lengthy. But, for some, a little more privacy on the Internet is worth the extra effort.

via Adafruit

 

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3 replies on “Set up a virtual private network at home with Raspberry Pi”

  1. Way overkill though, both on hardware and on software. The cheapest of OpenWrt devices will allow you to create an OpenVPN server. If you’re already having an OpenWrt device as your main router even without any overhead at all.

    1. Agreed, my cheapest solution is
      – NEXX WT1520 from Aliexpress $16
      – usb flash drive (4gb) from Aliexpress $3~$4
      – option usb hub for addition devices like (webcam) another $1~$3 from Aliexpress

      Lot’s of software project options with this set up… wifi radio, vpn, sshuttle (poor man vpn), home automation, dns server, wifi webcam, make any printer network capable, proxy/web server, file server.

      1. You’re missing the point. Rasberry Pi’s were created in order to help a new generation learn coding and to become more familiar with building computers of their own. Exactly what this project entails.

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