Google One VPN uses Wireguard protocol to provide fast and secure connections.
Wireguard is a modern VPN protocol that offers high speeds and low latency. It's also open-source, which means it's free and community-driven.
To get started with Google One VPN on your Android device, you'll need to download the Wireguard app from the Google Play Store.
Once installed, you can follow the tutorial in the next section to set up your VPN connection.
Configuration
To configure your WireGuard VPN, start by SSHing into your adblocker instance and running the wireguard command. Press 1 to create a VPN tunnel for a new user, and accept the default values for the wizard's prompts.
You'll need to edit the generated .conf file to configure your VPN settings. By default, the file creates a Split Tunnel VPN connection, which can be edited from within the Wireguard mobile app. To route all traffic through Google Cloud, replace the contents of Allowed IPs with 0.0.0.0/0.
To verify your Full Tunnel VPN configuration, visit http://checkip.amazonaws.com from your device. If it shows the IP address of your Google Cloud virtual machine, then all traffic is routing through there.
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Configure Tunnels
To configure tunnels, you'll need to SSH into your adblocker instance and run the wireguard command. Press 1 to create a VPN tunnel for a new user, and accept the default values for the wizard's prompts.
The generated .conf file will create a Split Tunnel VPN connection by default. This configuration will be reflected in the generated QR code, which can be scanned in the Wireguard mobile apps.
You can verify if your Full Tunnel VPN configuration is working by visiting http://checkip.amazonaws.com from your device. If it shows the IP address of your Google Cloud virtual machine, then all traffic is routing through there.
To verify if your Pi-hole DNS settings are working, visit dnsleaktest.com and perform an Extended Test. It should only query DNS servers configured in your Pi-hole.
Here's a step-by-step guide to verify your tunnel configuration:
Adding to Android
Android devices run on a fork of the Linux kernel, which includes patches specific to the Android community. Google releases new Android versions with supported Linux kernel releases, such as Linux Kernel versions 4.14 and 4.19 in Android 11.
Curious to learn more? Check out: Android Auto Google One Vpn
For instance, Android 12 will include Linux Kernel version 5.4, which supports WireGuard. This means new devices running Android 12 will have access to WireGuard as a simple network device driver.
Android Common Kernels are the Linux kernels that ship with Android devices, and they're supported by Google for each new Android version.
What Is
Google's VPN by Google One is a free add-on for customers with a 2TB or higher subscription plan.
It's a virtual private network (VPN) service that provides an extra layer of protection for Android devices.
The VPN service will be available in the coming weeks and will extend to iOS, Windows, and Mac devices in the coming months.
Google's VPN is application-agnostic, meaning it encrypts all incoming and outgoing traffic on the device for all applications with a single tap.
This service is designed to protect end-users connected to an unsecured public network.
The demand for VPNs is surging, with 25% of all internet users accessing VPNs in the last month of 2019.
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The VPN market is projected to hit $70 billion by 2026, according to Global Market Insights.
The VPN service comes with a 2TB cloud storage plan that costs $9.99 per month or $99 a year.
Google has open-sourced the code that runs on a user's device, making it available for public use and review.
The server-side user authentication mechanism will be open-sourced in the coming months.
Features and Compatibility
WireGuard is compatible with all major operating systems, including Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows (7+).
Its universal support across major devices makes it a reliable choice for protecting your online data.
WireGuard seamlessly protects each type of operating system with ease, unlike some other protocols that may have compatibility issues.
You can trust that WireGuard will work on your device, regardless of whether you're using an Android or iOS smartphone, or a Windows or macOS computer.
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What Are the Pros and Cons of?
Google One VPN with WireGuard is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a secure and efficient VPN solution. WireGuard takes very few resources from your host device to protect your connection.
One of the biggest advantages of WireGuard is its lightweight nature, which improves speeds and reduces the load on your device's battery. This means you can enjoy a faster and more reliable VPN experience without sacrificing battery life.
WireGuard deploys all the latest cryptographic technologies, taking a more modern approach compared with older VPN protocols. This ensures that your connection is secure and protected from potential threats.
If you're someone who's always on the go, you'll appreciate WireGuard's quick reconnects. Because it doesn't use handshake authentication like other protocols, it can quickly drop and pick up new connections without a complex reconnection process.
Sources
- https://github.com/rajannpatel/Pi-Hole-on-Google-Compute-Engine-Free-Tier-with-Full-Tunnel-and-Split-Tunnel-Wireguard-VPN-Configs
- https://www.spiceworks.com/collaboration/remote-support/news/google-launches-vpn-service-for-google-one-customers/
- https://dhanangw.medium.com/setup-wireguard-vpn-in-google-cloud-platform-67ddb692b2d8
- https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/what-is-wireguard-and-do-you-need-it-for-your-vpn
- https://www.techradar.com/news/google-quietly-adds-revolutionary-vpn-protocol-to-next-android-os
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