Wireless/VPN for Security, need some help

Question

Hi there.  I am a first time Dell owner, I bought the Inspiron 6400 with upgrades.  But I left the wireless default selection.   I have setup a VPN on my home computer using PPTP but I want to use L2TP/IPSEC.  I am able to connect using VPN passthrough on my Linksys router using PPTP but not with L2TP PSK I enable Secure server IPSEC policy and my home computer stops working.   My question is, How does the VPN work? What I am trying to do is, while using public wifi use the VPN and have ALL browsing, gaming request go THROUGH the tunnel.  Does it work like this?  How do I get IPSEC working without losing internet all together.   I haven't gotten  the notebook yet, I am using other 'test' machines to get the VPN up and running.   Thanks Jeff

NemesisDB · Answer

mind posting the type and hardware revision of the linksys router? you might also look into an option like OpenVPN

NemesisDB · Answer

generally with VPN all your data is encrypted between your connection and the endpoint. this would effectively mean that the data would be secure traveling from your network card to your VPN server (and not viewable to others on the public network you're using to connect with).

Negatives are that if the VPN server is at home, your connection is now traveling from the public hotspot, to your house, and then to a website in question (and then back). Most people's broadband is slow, especially for upstream (which sends the data back to you), so you will notice a speed loss.

Lastly, aftermarket, free firmware called dd-wrt is available for your router and does include an openVPN server. It's not for everyone but I think it is an excellent product.

Message Edited by NemesisDB on 10-20-2006 11:13 AM

xxBigFootxx · Answer

I will check out OpenVPN thanks.   I have a Linksys WRT54G Rev 3.0   Thanks Jeff

xxBigFootxx · Answer

But does a VPN connection by-pass the wifi in  such a way that all traffic is routed through the VPN tunnel?

xxBigFootxx · Answer

I downloaded that firmware.  Very nice features.   Although I can't get that OpenVPN to work.  Tried everything.  For all its worth.  I can still setup XP at home using add a new connection and listen for connections and us PPTP.  It should be as secure as I need.  I mean I am probable being too scared of hacking bank account info browsing bank accounts using wifi.  If I couple PPTP and WPA PKI it should be secure enouph.  Right?   Thanks Jeff

NemesisDB · Answer

as long as the bank account uses a secure website (and all do I think) then you're fine. the traffic is encrypted from your computer to the bank, VPN or not.

if you do want to setup the openVPN on the router, there is a very good guide on the dd-wrt site's wiki. it took me a few tries and some time but I got it running for myself in a night or so.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Was this post helpful?