For an index to all my stories click this text.
In a previous story I explained what a VPN is and how to install that service when your computer runs Kubuntu (Linux)
This story explains what a VPN is and how to install it on Your Raspberry Pi.
The VPN I am going to discuss here is a different one from the previous story. However this one runs on Raspberry Pi as well on a PC with Kubuntu.
What is a VPN
For those that have no idea what a VPN is and why you could use one I'll give a brief explanation.
Normally when you visit a website with your browser you have a direct connection to that website.
A VPN is a bridge in between. So you send the request for the website to the server of the VPN provider. The connection between your browser and the VPN server is encrypted and their server is a secure server. The VPN then contacts the website, gets the information and sends it encrypted back to you.
That way you do not have direct contact with the website you want to visit. This keeps you safe in countries where free speech is at stake. But it also makes it impossible for the website you are visiting to track you down.
Another advantage is that you can access sites that are geo-restricted. This means that the website you are contacting believes that you are in a different country then where you really are.
For a long time this was popular by people in Europe that wanted to watch certain US restricted TV-shows. Without a VPN the US media server saw that you were in Europe and blocked viewing. If you contacted these media through a VPN you could trick them in thinking you were in the US.
A VPN is secure for both UDP and TCP communication. Therefore you can also mask your IOT communication this way.
Free or paid VPN's
There are free and paid VPN services.
The restriction of a free VPN service is that you have less VPN servers to chose from, the service might not always be available and it may be slower.
I have been using the free VPN service from RiseUp for a while, on my Raspberry, and they were always available and I did not notice any significant speed limitations. RiseUp has no paid services and runs on donations. So if you need to use their serices on a frequent base consider making a donation. That can be done at their webpage:
https://riseup.net/en/vpn
RiseUp has a no-log policy. That means that they do not keep a log of your activities. That is an extra safety measure that makes sure that no one can see what sites or services you have been using.
Next to the VPN service they also supply a safe email service, and an email-list service.
Install RiseUp VPN
To use a VPN you'll need to install a small software package. This package intercepts all your network communication and sends it to the VPN server.
Installing the RiseUp VPN software on your Raspberry is easy.
Just open Discover from your Application Launcher and search for VPN.
This may look awkward to (maybe) most of you. But I am using the KDE desktop on my Raspberry Pi with Trixie as it is far more convenient then the Raspberry Desktop. And it is fully compatible.
I really urge you to install the KDE desktop on your Raspberry PI as it is so much better as the Raspberry standard desktop. Installing is easy. You can read my story where I explain the installation here:
https://lucstechblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/raspberry-trixie-with-kde-plasma.html
Click Install and you're done.
No need to make an account or fill in your email address. Just click and install.
Using the RiseUp VPN
After downloading and installing RiseUp VPN you will find the software in the internet section of the Application Launcher.
Starting the program opens a window that immediately shows that it already has made a secured connection.
The bottom of the window shows to what server you are connected. In this example you can see I was connected to a server in Amsterdam.
If you click on that connection name you'll get a list of available servers. You can chose another server from the list if that makes you more comfortable.
Next to the server there is a small graph that shows if the server is available. A green graph (like in this example) shows that the server is available.
Click on the server of your choice. Then click on the left arrow at the top of the screen. This brings you back to the start-screen.
Click on the Turn ON button ad a new connection is made.
Be aware that switching from VPN server to another server might take some time.
After a short while you will see that the new connection has been made.
That is all.
You can now open your browser and visit any website you want without anybody being able to trace your internet tracks.
Connection status.
At the bottom of your desktop on the right side there are some icons. Like said before: this is the Raspberry Pi running the KDE desktop.
This example shows a small green shield which means that your VPN connection is up and running.
This shield can have several colours.
Well this explains all.
Does it work.
Here is a quick and simple test to see if the VPN works.
Start with disconnecting the VPN server in the RiseUp VPN software by simply pressing the Turn Off button.
Then open your internet browser and visit the following site:
https://www.whatsmyip.org/
The website shows your normal IP address.
Now activate the RiseUp server and choose any server anywhere in the world to your liking. Then again visit https://www.whatsmyip.org/
And look at that: a totally different IP address.
And here is a different prove.
If you open your web browser and visit the Google search or Youtube or whatever Google service, you are greeted in a different language. Here I was greeted in French. Meaning that Google thinks my location is somewhere in France !!
Extra safety
Those of you who have worked with a TOR browser know that a TOR browser connects to a TOR server, that connects to another TOR server and that again connects to yet another TOR server. And that last server connects to the website you wanted to have a look at. For safety all these connections are encrypted.
This way you can not easily be traced.
For extra safety you can use your TOR browser with the VPN.
Just make sure to start the VPN connection first and then start your TOR browser. That way your TOR browser connects to a TOR server through your VPN connection which gives you an encrypted communication line upon an encrypted line. So a double encrypted and untraceable connection.
So if you, for example, want to see a tv show or series that is only available for US citizens within the US connect to a VPN server in the US. And if you connect through a TOR browser make sure the last server in the range is also a US TOR server.
Safe surfing
till next time
have fun
Luc Volders
