I belong to several chat sites. On one of them, I received a message that says I have an unauthorized VPN and I need to change it before I can rejoin. I know next to nothing about computers. And I haven't a clue about changing a VPN. I have a H.P. laptop that uses Chromebook. About the only thing I do know is that I do NOT have Windows. Can anyone help me, please ?
If I understand it correctly they are asking me to "Turn off the VPN for our members safety" But how do I do that ?
I don't know how you can have a VPN and not know it. Do you use some other kind of masking software? I use a VPN and seldom have much trouble except for government websites and my own ISP. There could be a "VPN button on the top right (usually) of your screen. You cna turn that off if default is on. Other than that, I don't have a clue.
Some internet providers include VPN in their routers; I know Comcast/Xfinity does but the user can choose to have it off/on. Richard, I don't know anything about Chromebook so you might need to do some googling to find out how that works. Also, be wary of some popup "alerts"; it may be a scam so don't click on any random links that claim to "fix" the problem for you.
I looked up what a VPN is. And I saw a message warning against turning it off. IF I can locate a VPN icon and I turn it off does that open me up to hackers ?
No. Most of the "don't turn off VPN!!!" warnings are from VPN sellers. The vast majority of people don't use a VPN and don't know what "VPN" is/does.
Until yesterday I had never even heard of VPN . To the best of my knowledge I don't have any "masking software". In the top right of my screen I see 3 "dots". And a small flag and a mail icon and nothing else. When I click those 3 dots, I see : new tab, new window, download, zoom, print, cast, find, more tools, edit, settings, and help. Nothing else is listed.
One of the browsers I use has a VPN option, but I have never used it. I have a separate VPN. I first became familiar with them when I was working in healthcare computers. I had a VPN that connected me directly to the hospital mainframe and I could sign into my desktop in my office. It was required for information security. My current VPN masks my location. I can use it to view information not available to U.S. users, so I can sign in to the U.K. or wherever to see things that have been blocked to U.S. users for whatever reason. I can see Australian prices on Amazon to see how much they pay for things that are available in both places. A security tool that has a fun side to it.
As @Beth Gallagher says it doesn't stop hackers, but it does prevent them from knowing where you are. The secure VPN that I had for work DID stop hackers, as I could make no connection other than to the hospital; it was kinda like using a so-called "dumb" terminal, just at a distance. The original military internet was all set up in this way I think.
Settings will include 'security'. I don't have a vpn so I can't help you. But I know Kim Komando talks about it quite a bit. Maybe go to her site?
Kate, I tried your suggestion. I turned off my laptop several times and turned it back on again. It did not change anything , but thank you for the suggestion. It was worth a try. The biggest problem I have is that I know next to nothing about computers.
l am waiting till computers work like they do on Star Trek. Computer, steer the ship. Computer make me dinner in three minutes....
Me either @Richard Whiting but hubs has been “ playing” with computers for a long time and knows more than me on the workings so to speak …I only started using a computer in about 1996 when I bought a computerised embroidery sewing machine and allot of the embroidery side had to be organised on the computer and transferred to a disk to put in the machine to sew out the selected design