MX Linux Forum

Proton releases a brand-new Linux app with many new features for its Proton VPN service.
https://alternativeto.net/news/2023/11/ ... n-service/ With links near the bottom.

https://protonvpn.com/blog/vpn-linux-app/

And recent integration ++EDIT of email with SimpleLogin.

Free version also: https://protonvpn.com/free-vpn

Just FYI.

VERY slick. Went right into my mx23 test, I installed the panel icon too. One click start, one click connect and all good!

Thanks for the shout out on this!

Yes Sir Charles!

I presume many privacy concerned folks are moving from Windows to Linux.

Bamber wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2023 2:40 pm I presume many privacy concerned folks are moving from Windows to Linux.

Windows is becoming more and more invasive. Their "latest" thing is to not allow turning off OneDive without providing MS with a reason.

imo ... there is no question that many people are heading to Linux as a result of the onslaught.

Maybe someday it gets into "Popular Apps" tab in MXPI

I am on MX21 and the version in their repo.

I don't like the dark theme because I need to turn my laptop up to full brightness just to see the servers displayed in green against the black, maybe because I am too old to see well. Another poor choice is that if you want to turn on or off the kill switch the status is not on the same screen as your location choice (as it was before) and when you turn it on or off you need to manually disconnect and reconnect. It did it automatically before.

Their website talks about adding support for OpenVPN DCO and that it will result in speed increases. I believe you need a newer version of OpenVPN than in our repo for MX21. When I click on Settings Connection Protocol my only choices are TCP and UDP. I am wondering if people with MX23 and perhaps a newer version of OpenVPN (mine is 2.5.1-3) get the OpenVPN DCO option or if this is for the future.

Another disappointment with the changes is that city names are no longer shown. I can go to their website at https://protonvpn.com/vpn-servers#plus to see them but it used to be in their app. I have one site that only shows me multiple captchas if I don't select a particular city.

I had hoped that Wireguard would be one of the choices through the app but I do have the Wireguard profiles of some servers in NetworkManager.

What positive changes are people seeing that makes this an improvement?

I think the interface is better - although I agree with you that I would like a Light mode.

Wireguard can be setup manually, and their notes talk about a wireguard choice may be added. But OpenVPN DCO is loaded on my mx23 version and is very fast.

What I liked about this version:
Netshield Ad-Blocker built in and is nice.
the VPN Accelerator - definitely faster than PIA, which is pretty dang fast.
Secure Core - My understanding is that traffic exits differently and has far less chance of being sniffed.

Note: I believe only SecureCore and OpenVPN DCO are really new on this version (and the look ) , everything else has been implemented last year, or was already in ProtonVPN. But as I recall turning these things on or off was a little trickier in the previous app

First, I can not help with listing any advantages because I only installed it last night, the new linux app two nights ago, and the free ProtonVPN last night and I am so lost with this VPN, I know about zilch when it comes to routers, modems, wifi, network, etc. Wireguard, OpenVPN and how, if it does, and if I should somehow use OpenVPN with ProtonVPN, but I'll muddle through and maybe have it figured out in about half a year.

I don't know if I downloaded the the new linux app correctly.

From this site, https://protonvpn.com/support/official- ... pn-debian/
in Step 4: Linux system tray icon
I entered
sudo apt install libayatana-appindicator3-1 gir1.2-ayatanaappindicator3-0.1 gnome-shell-extension-appindicator
in the terminal.
I'm not sure that I should have as it reads:
By default, the GNOME desktop doesn’t support tray icons.
and also reads:
To enable this functionality on Debian-based distributions, run: (the above command)
I can be anal with instructions.

I'm not sure where the extensions app page is, is this it?
brave://extensions/
But I don't see any" Ubuntu AppIndicators is toggled on before launching the app.
Note, I have developer mode enabled, but I don't see it with it enabled either.

Re, "when you turn it on or off you need to manually disconnect and reconnect. It did it automatically before.
Sounds like a downgrade, but thanks, I didn't know that.

How to use Proton VPN on Linux
https://protonvpn.com/support/linux-vpn-setup/
Our official app is the best way to use Proton VPN on your Linux PC. It natively supports advanced Proton VPN features, including:
But, do you think using OpenVPN or Wireguard is better, or has any advantages – this is COMPLETELY new to me.
I suppose that I need to use my OpenVPN / IKEv2 username in OpenVPN?
I know nothing – Schultz. Yes, I'll read the links later.
What about the downloads available at: https://account.protonvpn.com/downloads
They seem redundant if you use MX's OpenVPN -!? perplexed?
What about the individual (what appear to be similar to instances), some say "download", some say "create".
What should I do, and with which one or ones if I should?
What about the upgrade and connect options in the small panel app, do,should I select something there?

I'll get it later, maybe watch a video or two first.

Yes, I see it could be too dark for some.
I doesn't look like changing the themes (dark/light) affect the small panel app darkness.
Yes, I see, no cities.

Does this help? https://account.protonvpn.com/downloads ... figuration

Good Luck – to both of us.

Added after I saw CharlesV's post.

PS - and CharlesV, I assume that you have ProtonVPN?
I thought you had something other than ProtonVPN - weird question/reasoning, I know, but just trying to avoid confusion - really lacking understanding of this now - I'll be fine - eventually.

https://protonvpn.com/support/secure-core-vpn/

Cheers all!

++EDIT OK, actually used it for the first time, but it stopped audio from radio.net (online radio).
Tab showed audio signal via
moving waveform, but not audio, nothing available in pavucontrol.

MXRobo wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2023 11:45 am... do you think using OpenVPN or Wireguard is better, or has any advantages – this is COMPLETELY new to me...

https://rublon.com/blog/openvpn-vs-wire ... entication.

:)

Thanks CharlieBrown, actually I did look at the differences about a week ago.

And the confusion is partially due to the fact that I don't know if OpenVPN or Wireguard allow a VPN to work within those apps and I committed one of my pet peeves by using a comparative verb (better) without explicitly using a comparative, but with the preceding context, "Our official app is the best way to use Proton VPN on your Linux PC. It natively supports advanced Proton VPN features..."

So I should have said, Do you think using the ProtonVPN within MX's OpenVPN or Wireguardis better than using the official app as suggested by Proton?

Either way, thanks for the reply. - I'll get this later!

@MXRobo I actually use six or eight different VPN solutions. As there are two types, read on:-)

For most people, VPN means internet traffic that is encrypted, private safe. What that means, is that LOCALLY your traffic cannot be snooped, since you have an encrypted traffic connection to a VPN server, which then dumps you onto the internet. This is what I call Type 2 - Internet traffic.

Type 1 - is what a REAL VPN is.. a Virtual Private Network, which connects *your machines* together into a private, encrypted tunnel network. Also this can connect you to a network, such as work etc. Or just a bunch of machines for gaming etc, and typically the only 'internet' part is that the internet is how all these get to each other.

For me, for Internet I use Private Internet Access (PIA) primarily, and then ProtonVPN since it was introduced. (I have use protonMail for along time.) There are a few others I use, but this is really it.

For Type 1 networking, I use Tailscale, Hamachi, Zerotier, OpenVPN and I have clients on them as well as a few others.

Since I primarily use pfSense as router / firewalls, I use OpenVPN a lot to connect to those etc.

The reason I like seeing the ProtonVPN client is because I tend to stick with GUI for most people, as they can understand it. Not too many of my clients and throw down a CLI and make things work ;-/ , so PIA and ProtonVPN having a nice GUI that works... is a good thing!

You're smart. I just rcvd my Protectli 4port pfsense firewall w/bgn wifi AP, and went ahead and bought a trendnet 8port switch to make life simpler. Can't wait to see what all it will do. Proton I use only for email now. When I did use their VPN it seemed to work fine but I heard they were giving up email data to law enforcement and stopped using the vpn.

Thanks! Ya, Protectli works VERY well, I have many in service and they have been stellar! (And thats what I have too.)

As for encrypted email, while I have no issue with it being turned over... the ONLY way to have REAL encrypted email ... is to encrypt it and then send the encrypted package via email . In my opinion, you can NOT rely on any country (5, 9 OR 14 eyes) to handle encrypted bundles and expect it to *never* be turned over ;- /

I get that. It's possible what they turned over was useless but still when you say private and secure and then find out it's neither it kinda leaves a bad taste. As for encrypting the content yourself? That would be great if there was a single entity on earth who actually also wanted privacy and security like I do. So far I have not met even one. I was using IVPN out of Gibraltar and then the "system" would not let me renew my subscription and I did not want to send cash through the mail. IVPN was the best VPN I've used. The only thing I like about Proton is they let you make anonymous email accts. That's it.

Protonmail is very good and gives a positive feeling, wheras Neutronmail has no charge at all.