Configuring PPTP VPN Client in Windows XP

Let’s learn on how to configure PPTP VPN client in Windows XP in this article, then connect to home network’s PPTP VPN server securely. Please note if your PPTP server is behind the router with DSL/Cable Internet connection and you try to connect to it from Internet, then you need to connect to public IP of your DSL/cable Internet connection.

Here is step-by-step instruction on how to configure PPTP VPN client:

1) Go to Start and open Control Panel.

2) Control Panel window will open, then double click Network Connections icon.

3) Click Create a new connection on Network Connections window.

4) New Connection Wizard window will appear, click Next.

5) Select Connect to my network at my workplace option and clickNext.

6) Select Virtual Private Network connection option and click Next.

7) You can then name this VPN connection. Here I put home VPN server. Click Next again.

8) If you have dial up connection setting on your computer, this Public Network window will appear. If you computer already connected to public network or hotspot, click Do not dial the initial connection option. If you need to dial Internet connection and then initiate VPN connection, then you need to select the other option, Automatically dial this initial connection.

9) Ok, here you need to type the IP address or host name of the VPN server computer in your home network. Most of the time it’s the public WAN IP of your home network’s DSL/cable Internet connection if the VPN server is located behind router. Check this what is my WAN IP article if not too sure about WAN IP of your home network's Internet connection.

10) Click Finish to complete the new connection wizard. Tick that Add a shortcut to this connection to my desktop option.

11) Now you can go to your desktop and double-click the new VPN connection icon, after that key in your username and password and click Connect button.

Note: If you did not create the shortcut in your desktop, you can locate this new VPN connection icon in Network Connections window.

Note: click the Properties button if you need to change the configuration.

12) Once you are connected to VPN server, the connected icon will be shown in Network Connections window.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Virtual Private Network (VPN) Introduction

Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the technology that you can use to access the office or home network remotely and securely over the Internet, so that the communication data is protected from sniffing or hijacking by hackers.

When the VPN connection is established between 2 parties (between a VPN client and VPN gateway or between 2 VPN gateways), a secured virtual tunnel will be created with capability to encrypt the data (so no hacker can see the data content), preserve data integrity (no data change during transmission) and ensure the communication only happen between that 2 authenticated parties.

There are 2 common types of virtual private network, which are remote access VPN and site-to-site VPN.

Remote Access VPN

Remote access VPN is very common VPN service that you can set up in your office or home network. It can be implemented by setting up a VPN gateway or server and you can connect to it by using VPN client from other locations. If not, you can also subscribe to VPN service provided bya VPN provider for similar secure access too.

As you can see from the diagram below, whether at airport, library, restaurant or other public hotspots, the user can launch VPN connection by using VPN client on the computer and connect to VPN gateway. Whenever the user computer sends the data, the VPN client software encrypts that data before sending it over the Internet to the VPN gateway at the edge of the destination network. Once the VPN gateway receives the data, it decrypts the data and sends the packet to the destination computer in its private network (office or home network), after that the destination computer will encrypt the returning data as well.

The remote access VPN is supported by L2F, PPTP, L2TP and IPsec tunneling protocols.

Sometimes if the user uses the web browser instead of VPN client to connect to VPN gateway, we call this type of VPN as SSL VPN.

Site-to-Site VPN

Site-to-site VPN is the VPN connection established between 2 VPN gateways that reside in 2 different networks over the Internet, so that both networks’ computers can exchange data securely. There is no VPN client needed on user computers. The VPN connection will be established between both VPN gateways. Both VPN gateways will encrypt and decrypt the communication data to ensure the security and integrity of data.

The site-to-site VPN can be supported by IPsec tunnel mode, PPTP, L2TP over IPSec tunneling protocols. Interesting? You can also take a look on these VPN products to get more info!

Computer Security Tips

Welcome to this computer security tips section! If you are looking for tips about how to secure computer or improve network security, this is the right section!

I'm going to show you tips that can be used to secure your computer or network properly, so that to minimize the attacks from hacker, virus, worm or malware. Take some time to explore, feel free to come back to explore more, more articles will be added.

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How to Protect Facebook or Twitter from Firesheep Attack
If you have Facebook or Twitter account, then you should read this article to understand an easy way to steal Facebook or Twitter session and ways to protect it.

Quick Tips to Secure Android Smartphone
Let's explore how to secure Android smartphone, tablet or other devices properly in order to avoid it from being hacked!

Free Computer Virus or Worm removal tool in Microsoft Windows
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Windows Defender Definition Update How-To
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Real Time Protection with Windows Defender Antispyware
It benefits you if you enable real time protection in Windows Defender to protect your computer from spyware or harmful software.

How to Use Windows Defender to Protect Computer
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Website Scanning Online for Safe Web Browsing
Several URL or website scanning online tools will be shown on this article to give you opportunity to check the website reputation and alert you in advance on the safety of the website before surfing it.

How to Use Free Antivirus - Microsoft Security Essentials
If you are looking for free antivirus software to protect your computer, then you sould consider Microsoft Security Essentials which is provided by Microsoft.

Beware of Bluejacking and Bluesnarfing
Let's learn more about Bluetooth security! They're bluejacking and bluesnarfing that appear due to security flaws on Bluetooth technology!

Safe Web Browsing by Using Web of Trust (WOT)
If you are able to know how trusted the websites that you surf or the reputation of websites real time, you will then avoid from doing web surfing on those malicious or untrusted websites. Question, is there a tool that provides the feature I mentioned? Yes, there is, it’s Web of Trust (WOT).

Enforcing Bluetooth Security in Microsoft Windows
Let's enforce Bluetooth security in Microsoft Windows to safeguard your computer!

Wireless Network Security
Here are some tips on wireless network security. Read and implement them in your wireless network. Wireless network security is important, don't overlook it!

Implementing Network Security
Implementing network security? Yep.. This is important! You need to know the ways to safeguard your network in order to minimize the risk from being compromised by hackers, worms, viruses and other intrusions.

Test Computer Security with Shields Up
Computer security is important!! Lets use Shields Up to do online security checking on every computers in your home network. It's free!!

Wi-Fi Hotspot Security Threats
You might heard a lot about wi-fi hotspot recently, or most probably you have been using it to access Internet to do some web browsing, email checking, chatting or on-line shopping. Although it’s easy to connect to hotspot, but do you know that it’s basically not secure to use this kind of service?

Wi-Fi Hotspot Security Tips
Wi-Fi Hotspot is dangerous! Don't simply connect to it! Here are some wi-fi hotspot security tips you can apply!

Useful Internet Safety Tips
Here I list down some useful Internet safety tips, so that you can use Internet with safety in mind.

Opendns: Safer, Faster and Smarter Free DNS Service
Are you suffering from poor ISP DNS service? Or your ISP's DNS servers are always down? Opendns!! Let's try it!

Beware of Dangers on Internet
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Why do We Need Antivirus, Antispyware and Other Security Software
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Firefox - Secure and Better Web Browser
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