PublicVPN.com

System Requirements

Before setting up your VPN connection, make sure your version of Windows 7 is up to date by running Windows Update.

Be sure that you run Windows Update before setting up your VPN connection.

First, click on the Start Menu and type “VPN” into the search box.

Click on the “Set up a virtual private network (VPN) connection.”

Now, enter the server information as below.

In the text box labelled ‘Internet address’ type ‘gateway.publicvpn.net’. This is the Internet address of the PublicVPN.com servers.

In the text box labelled ‘Destination name’ type ‘PublicVPN.com PPTP’. This is the name of the connection, and will show up in the “Connect to a network” screen when we’re done.

Lastly, make sure that the checkbox labelled “Don't connect now; just set it up so I can connect later” (hilighted in yellow) is checked.

Then click the “Next” button.

In this screen, enter your PublicVPN.com username and password. This is the same username and password that you use to log in to the PublicVPN.com website.

In the text box labelled “User name:”, enter your PublicVPN.com username.

In the text box labelled “Password:”, enter your PublicVPN.com password.

Optionally, check the “Remember this password” checkbox and you won’t have to enter your password when you connect to PublicVPN.com.

Then, click the ”Create” button.

Click on the Start Menu, type the word ‘Network’ into the search box, and click on ‘Network and Sharing Center.’

When the Network and Sharing Center opens, click on "Connect to a network."

When you click on "Connect to a network", a list of VPNs pops up. Right click on the "PublicVPN.com PPTP" connection and choose "Properties."

When the property window opens, click on the "Security" tab. Click on "Automatic", and change it to "Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP).

This screen shows you the network settings. You may have different items in your list. In the list of items that you see, make sure that only the “Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4)” and “Client for Microsoft Networks” items are checked. If oher protcols are checked, uncheck them by clicking on the checkbox (the thing that looks like a ‘√’).

PublicVPN.com currently does not route anything except TCP/IP version 4.

You’re now done with your basic setup! You've set up your PublicVPN.com connection to use PPTP. Click “OK” to finish now, if you want.

However, for better security we recommend that you configure your VPN connection to use an L2TP/IPsec connection, which is more secure. To do this, keep reading.

Create a new VPN connection document as above, but name it "PublicVPN.com L2TP".

In the “PublicVPN.com Properties”, click on the “Type of VPN” pop–up menu (hilighted in red) and select “L2TP/IPsec”.

Next, click on the “Advanced Settings…” button.

In the “IPsec Settings” dialog, click the radio button labelled “Use preshared key for authentication”. Then type ‘publicvpn.net’ into the textbox labelled “Key”. Then click the “OK” button.

You’re finished! Click the ”OK” button to save your settings.