Free VPN, I mean FREE to connect my laptop to desktop when travelling

You spend loads of money on travelling and are not prepared to pay a modest sum for a paid VPN service?

Ask yourself why people run vpn services?

Do they run them out of the goodness of their hearts?

Of course not - they want to make money!

They will make money either via subscriptions, or via advertising or by selling info.

The paid services usually have a significant server infrastructure and security protocols.

Free ones are going to make money somehow. How can you be sure they are not selling info, or worse putting malware, spyware on your device. Also, they usually have a limited infrastructure, and are prone to outages.



Frankly, I would not touch free services with a bargepole.

In the end, as my dear old Gran used to say "you get what you pay for".

Of course, can we trust the paid services either? You have to take a leap of faith and assume well known services such as Nordvpn are reputable. I use Nordvpn and it is reliable, and I see no evidence of spyware, nagware etc.

NavyLCDR said:

@cereberus,

Why is a third part VPN service required at all? The question the OP was asking was about connecting to their own desktop computer with their laptop when on the road. In my home network, I've got several computers, a DVR, a couple printers, and a NAS, all connected to my router. The easiest way for me to connect my laptop to my entire network at home is to install openvpn client on my laptop and install the security certificate from my router. My router keeps a DDNS service updated with my internet side IP address which gives me a domain name to connect to. I use the openvpn client on my computer to connect to the openvpn server built into my router and I'm on my home network because my laptop is connected directly to my router just like sitting at home.

If I want to keep the free DDNS service, I have to log into it every thirty days to keep my domain name activated. Or I can pay $25/year to keep it active without logging in every 30 days. The VPN service that I use and connect to is my own.

In fact, I can also install openvpn and certificate on my cell phone and connect to my home router over 5G and then whatever connects to my phone's hotspot is connected to my home network - again, over my own VPN, no outside VPN company involved.

Sure but not all routers support this or limit the ddns suppliers (that could be a UK thing admittedly).

I also use my 3rd party vpn on other platforms e.g. android. I have not tried it aa you describe.


I will look more into creating my own vpn.

Now that you have a solution as a basis for comparison, do consider an alternative method of solving your problem - a travel router.
This is one - TPLink TL-WR902AC
A router will let you set up a secure network of your own to achieve the security you want for your file transfers and will free those file transfers from dependence on third-party infrastructure such as public wifi hotspots.
This might not be a VPN solution but it is a PN solution.

The router will also, incidentally, then be available as a go-between when you want to connect to a public wifi hotspot for internet access. Networks hidden behind routers are said to be much better protected against hacking than a directly-connected computer.

You'll have to pay for the router so it does not meet your 'free' criterion but
- It will only be a single charge not a subscription
- Your router will not attempt to sell your data to other people

Denis