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    Convenient VPN App

    App Development
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    • Lakotaubp
      Lakotaubp @PhoenixLandPirat last edited by Lakotaubp

      @PhoenixLandPirat That app is ok but still a bit of a faff. You need to download the configuration file use a text editor to create two files upload those and so on.
      What would be ideal would be a vpn set up from file similar to desktop. Just download file, import and add passwords. Sounds sooo easy when you type it out 🙂

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      • T
        theare27 last edited by

        Agree with the need for an indicator too
        When the connection drops, there is an on screen notification, but it doesn't persist in the notification tray so it's easy to miss

        Being unaware your vpn connection has dropped could be potentially dangerous to some users

        Also, auto reconnect would be a good feature to have (e.g. when moving between access points)

        PhoenixLandPirat S 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • PhoenixLandPirat
          PhoenixLandPirat @theare27 last edited by

          @theare27 the VPN indicator menu is the same as networks, it just needs to have the VPN icon show up in the menu when active, this has been shown in design documents, but I don't think its ever worked in code, there are bug reports about that though!

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            theare27 @PhoenixLandPirat last edited by

            @PhoenixLandPirat I'm talking about an indication on the bar at the top of the screen, either next to the wifi icon or incorporated into it somehow

            Android has the key icon. On UT you have to go digging through the dropdowns to see if it's connected or not.

            Yeah I have commented on some of the open bugs, just saw this thread & thought worth raising here too

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • dobey
              dobey last edited by

              If you want to make VPN connection easier, then the first thing to do would be to get .ovpn file import support working in System Settings VPN config, so that one can simply import the necessary settings.

              Concentrating on partnership marketing will not bring a better user experience to VPN setup.

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              • M
                marc_aurel last edited by

                Sailfish OS offers the approach with a VPN script. The disadvantage is, that it doesn't cover the requirement to change the server or - as mentioned in the discussion - a kill switch. A kill switch might be implemented by the system itself.

                One more thing. We should be aware, that many consumers doesn't know anything about openVPN scripts or similar technology, but they are able to install the app of the VPN provider, they have chosen from an app store.

                Companies would need an MDM solution for UT. But this is another topic.

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                  pixelated last edited by

                  getting ovpn files to import would be massive, that is by far the most painful bit atm lol i could live without an app, if i could quickly import the 200 odd connections i use easily

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                    malditobastardo @dobey last edited by

                    @dobey exactly

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                    • arubislander
                      arubislander last edited by arubislander

                      There is something I think I am not understanding here.

                      I understand that Volla has partnered with hide.me to offer VPN services.
                      I have looked on their site and they offer a download after payment. If it is an app or simply an .ovpn file I do not know.

                      But if it is an app, I assume they could make one for UTouch too, no?

                      If it is an .ovpn file, I have seen on their site they have step by step instructions and video tutorials to get their service configured on different platforms. In that case it would be a huge step in the right direction to, as @dobey and others have mentioned, implement .ovpn file support in the VPN settings plugin.

                      Or am I missing something obvious?

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                      • M
                        marc_aurel last edited by

                        @arubislander Yes hide.me offers a script for OpenVPN. This works fine for experienced users. However this script doesn't cover the following requirements:

                        1. Considering changing servers
                        2. Optimizing bandwidth by choosing the currently fastest server for a location
                        3. Switching countries
                        4. Supporting kill switch
                        5. Supporting newer protocol WireGuard
                        6. Convenient installation for consumers

                        UT has the potential to become an alternative to Apple and Google for consumers. Therefore I'm looking for a convenient and best solution.

                        If someone is interested to work on a convenient solution, let me know. We can offer a Volla Phone as a Thank you.

                        dobey 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • dobey
                          dobey @marc_aurel last edited by

                          @marc_aurel said in Convenient VPN App:

                          Supporting kill switch

                          You keep saying kill switch but it's not at all clear what you mean by that. The indicator has a toggle to turn VPN on and off already.

                          @marc_aurel said in Convenient VPN App:

                          Supporting newer protocol WireGuard

                          This is not currently supported in UT at all, so perhaps you could start with getting the basic support of that into a PR, as well.

                          @marc_aurel said in Convenient VPN App:

                          Convenient installation for consumers

                          If hide.me provides an OVPN file, how would simply loading this into the System Settings page, not be convenient? Marketing != convenience.

                          Keneda 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • Keneda
                            Keneda @dobey last edited by Keneda

                            @dobey
                            Kill switch, in my knowledge of VPN, is the ability for a VPN solution to prevent apps from using "normal" network when encrypted link fails between device and VPN server.

                            This, is in order to prevent user from sending datas over non secured network if anything goes wrong in VPN connection, it's a privacy safeguard.

                            It's an automated task.

                            In VPN settings, that would be an option like "turn off data if VPN connection fails".

                            When kill switch is active, only VPN software is allowed to send data to its server in order to try reconnect VPN.

                            Some kill switch solutions offer a whitelist for allowing user chosen apps to connect outside VPN protocole when kill switch is active.

                            dobey M 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • dobey
                              dobey @Keneda last edited by

                              @Keneda OK. This already exists in NetworkManager sort of, but there is no UI for it on UT I guess. That is apparently another specific thing that Volla could work on and help improve VPN for everyone.

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                                marc_aurel @Keneda last edited by

                                @Keneda Exactly. We may develop that our selves. But community developers are invited to help us. We would spend a developer device.

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                                  marc_aurel last edited by

                                  Good news. Our partner eVenture has recently published a command line tool for a Wireguard VPN connection as open source on Github:

                                  https://github.com/eventure/hide.client.linux

                                  It would be great to have a UI for this command line tool, so consumers can use VPN on Ubuntu Touch conveniently. Is someone interested to help us with an improved user experience regarding VPN on Ubuntu Touch?

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                                  • S
                                    scottbouch @theare27 last edited by

                                    @theare27 I'd echo these points...

                                    I have set up several VPN configs, all through privateinterneraccess, they work nicely. (Oneplus One).

                                    I like access to switch them on or off by the top network menu, it is convenient.

                                    But alas, whenever I leave the house, go off my wifi and onto mobile data, or from mobile back to wifi the VPN connection never re-establishes itself, and having no VPN symbol in the top menu, this can be the case for hours until I notice I'm not VPN'd.

                                    An automatic re-connection is desireable, notification symbol, and maybe a kill switch if VPN is not connected to block all data until VPN is re-connected.

                                    These are features offered by privateinterneraccess's Android app that made phone use more private / secure.

                                    Many thanks, Scott

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                                      marc_aurel @scottbouch last edited by

                                      @scottbouch I see. That’s another reason for an app, that includes a kill switch an automatic reconnection, if you chance the network. So that you can be sure to be connected to the VPN.

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                                      • dobey
                                        dobey last edited by

                                        I see no reason it needs to be a separate app for any of those features, versus simply improving the existing system.

                                        And having an app doesn't negate the need to fix things in the system to work in a certain way. Apps alone cannot solve all the problems.

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                                          domubpkm last edited by

                                          VPN editor is an app that works well now when I use it. It was already suggested a long time ago to 'merge' this app into UT system. And if UT system could also include a VPN connection indicator and a KILL SWITCH it would be very nice. Because indeed, the ultimate goal is that all UT phones can configure a safe working VPN.

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                                            marc_aurel @dobey last edited by

                                            @dobey How could a system setting retrieve the available servers and countries of a specific VPN provider?

                                            dobey 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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