OpenVPN client assistance

[Antibiotic]

@Gertjan I'm apologizing for this, but what the point of this message? Do not use any VPN services?

[Gertjan]

@Antibiotic said in OpenVPN client assistance:

Do not use any VPN services?

There is no definite yes or no answer.
You can use what you want. Just keep the list with pro and cons updated. When you use a "thing", you have to control and understand that thing.
Is it worth it ? Or not ? Up to you.

[Antibiotic]

@Gertjan How , its possible to control not your own VPN server outside?

[Gertjan]

@Antibiotic

You probably can't, but there is a way to make your question irrelevant.
And it is also what most, if not all VPN ISP want you to do : install their app on your device, activate it - enjoy. Chances are very great you won't have any issues.

The VPN ISPs control the app, as they build it. So, all they have to do make the app as slick as possible for everybody.

Using a "VPN ISP" with your own router firewall is most often not supported, barely tolerated, by most "VPN ISP", as they then also have to support all the versions, all possible settings, write and maintain manuals, etc etc.
Most often, is a "if you manage to get it work, that's great for you - if you don't : don't call us" condition.

If you find something like this "Setup Tutorials > How to set up xprssVPN on pfSense (OpenVPN)" and that page can be found on the site of the VPN ISP itself, and not Instagram or Toktik, and is recently updated (February 14, 2024) then that might say to you that it probably also actually works.
Btw : I'm not endorsing or recommending this VPN, it's just an example.

Something that worked well for me in the past, is actually applying what you've said above :

How , its possible to control not your own VPN server outside?

It's way more easier then you think to make this happening.
Since march 2020, millions if not billions did this : activate you own pfSense OpenVPN server.
Install a OpenVPN 'app' in your smartphone, pad or portable PC.
Now set up the OpenVPN server, use the pfSense blog page for a manual, or the pfSense manual, or one of the (old, yes, but still valid) Youtube Netgate channel OpenVPN videos.
The advantage is two fold : you start to know how things work, as you control both sides = you see the logs on both sides. "Logs" are essentiel here, not optional.
You also now have a secured remote access to your pfSense, and even your LAN's.
When you've seen all this working, you are ready to pick a VPN ISP. Now you have to knowledge to know how to select a good one.
And yeah, the 'price' is a factor, and present, somewhere buried in the list with your criteria.
You know now also that that youtuber that told you that you should use xxxVPN was just payed to tell you this. And I bet he didn't tell you to use it with pfSense, but with your phone or some other personnel hand held device.

[Antibiotic]

@Gertjan First of all, example of ExpressVPN. I don't trust VPN whom belong to KAPE Aliance ,formerly know as Crossrider (the notorious creator of some pernicious data-huffing ad-ware, Crossrider. The UK-based company was cofounded by an ex-Israeli surveillance agent and a billionaire previously convicted of insider trading who was later named in the Panama Papers. It produced software which previously allowed third-party developers to hijack users' browsers via malware injection, redirect traffic to advertisers and slurp up private data). Yea you can create OpenVPN server on pfSense, the point that after pfSesne your traffic anyway will go unencrypted!

[Antibiotic]

@Antibiotic Kape the company used to distribute malware and now is a security company)))) Nonsense

[Gertjan]

@Antibiotic
I wasn't saying that something had to be downloaded from some where.
Just pointing out where assistance can come from, and what it look like.

[Antibiotic]

@viragomann Hi again, can you please give me a tip?
From console pkg upgrade command show me 2 available upgrades ( unbound and curl). Should me procced for upgrade or its going from FreeBSD repo not a pfSesne and could be a problem after?

[viragomann]

@Antibiotic
I suspect, you're using OS commands.

Why do you try this from the console, not in the GUI?

Check the docs for the proper commands: Upgrading using the Console

[Antibiotic]

@viragomann Ok

[Antibiotic]

@viragomann Hello, any benefits to pass clients via pfsense non-transparent proxy and than via openvpn client on pfSense to internet? Will this traffic catching if use non-transparent proxy? Benefits for security i mean