Tag: secure browsing

How to Set Up a Private Proxy Server on Your KVM VPS

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Setting up a private proxy server on your KVM VPS is a great way to enhance privacy, control internet access, or bypass geo-restrictions. In this tutorial, we’ll guide you through the process of installing and configuring a private HTTP/HTTPS proxy server using Squid — a powerful, flexible, and widely-used caching proxy.

✅ 

Prerequisites

  • A KVM VPS from Hosteons
  • Root access to your VPS
  • Ubuntu 20.04/22.04 or CentOS/AlmaLinux 8/9 installed

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Step-by-Step Setup Using Squid Proxy

Step 1: Update System Packages

# For Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# For CentOS/AlmaLinux
sudo dnf update -y

Step 2: Install Squid

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install squid -y

# CentOS/AlmaLinux
sudo dnf install squid -y

Step 3: Backup Default Config

sudo cp /etc/squid/squid.conf /etc/squid/squid.conf.backup

Step 4: Configure Squid

Edit the config:

sudo nano /etc/squid/squid.conf

Look for and modify these lines:

http_port 3128

Add this at the top or near ACL section to allow only your IP:

acl allowed_ips src YOUR_IP_HERE
http_access allow allowed_ips
http_access deny all

Replace YOUR_IP_HERE with your real IP. You can get it from https://ipinfo.io

Step 5: Restart Squid

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo systemctl restart squid

# CentOS/AlmaLinux
sudo systemctl restart squid

Step 6: Enable on Boot

sudo systemctl enable squid

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Step 7: Test Your Proxy

Configure your browser or tool to use your VPS IP and port 3128 as the HTTP/HTTPS proxy. You can use websites like https://whatismyipaddress.com to verify your outgoing IP.

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(Optional) Add Authentication to Your Proxy

To prevent misuse, you can add basic authentication.

  1. Install Apache utils:
sudo apt install apache2-utils -y  # Ubuntu/Debian
sudo dnf install httpd-tools -y   # CentOS/AlmaLinux
  1. Create password file and user:
sudo htpasswd -c /etc/squid/passwd proxyuser
  1. Edit squid.conf and add:
auth_param basic program /usr/lib/squid/basic_ncsa_auth /etc/squid/passwd
auth_param basic realm Proxy
acl authenticated proxy_auth REQUIRED
http_access allow authenticated
  1. Restart Squid again.

✅ 

Done!

You now have a fully working private proxy server running on your Hosteons KVM VPS! This setup is lightweight, secure (with IP whitelisting or optional authentication), and suitable for personal or development use.

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Explore our plans at:

👉 Budget KVM VPS (US & EU)

👉 Ryzen KVM VPS (10 Gbps)

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📡 10Gbps Port Speed included!

Why You Should Use a Private VPN on Your Own VPS While Traveling

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When you’re traveling — whether for work, study, or leisure — using public Wi-Fi networks is often unavoidable. Airports, hotels, cafes, and coworking spaces all offer connectivity, but often at the cost of privacy and security.

While many people turn to commercial VPNs to protect their connection, the best and most secure option is to run your own private VPN on a VPS.

In this post, we’ll explain why that matters and how you can get started using a VPS from Hosteons.

🔐 Why Privacy Matters More When You Travel

When you use public networks, your data is at risk from:

  • 🕵️‍♂️ Network sniffing and man-in-the-middle attacks
  • ❗ Fake Wi-Fi hotspots
  • 👁️ ISP or network logging and censorship
  • 🚫 Location-based content restrictions

VPNs solve this by encrypting your traffic and routing it through a trusted server — but who controls that server matters a lot.

🤔 The Problem with Public/Commercial VPNs

While commercial VPNs are better than nothing, they come with some caveats:

  • ❌ Shared IPs — may be flagged, banned, or blacklisted
  • ❌ Limited trust — you’re trusting a third-party company with your traffic
  • ❌ Logs and data retention — not all “no-log” policies are actually enforced
  • ❌ Performance throttling — many commercial VPNs limit speeds or locations
  • ❌ Overcrowded servers — inconsistent speeds and high latency

In short, you’re still handing over your traffic to someone else.

✅ Why a Private VPN on Your VPS is Better

Setting up a VPN on your own VPS solves most of these issues — and gives you full control.

✨ Benefits of Running a VPN on Your Own VPS:

  1. Full Control
    • You own and configure the server — no third-party snooping.
  2. Dedicated IP Address
    • No one else shares your IP, reducing chances of blacklisting or captchas.
  3. Custom Configuration
    • Choose your encryption, protocol (WireGuard, OpenVPN, etc.), DNS, and firewall rules.
  4. Faster Speeds
    • Avoid the bandwidth bottlenecks common with commercial VPNs.
  5. Consistent Access While Abroad
    • Appear to be at “home” and access region-specific services like banking or Netflix.
  6. Bypass Local Censorship or Firewalls
    • Secure access even in restrictive countries.
  7. Affordable
    • VPS plans from Hosteons start at just $1.75/month — often cheaper than VPN subscriptions.

🌐 Recommended VPN Protocols

You can install and run any of the following on your Hosteons VPS:

  • WireGuard – Lightweight, fast, and secure. Great for mobile.
  • OpenVPN – Highly configurable and widely supported.
  • Shadowsocks / V2Ray – Ideal for bypassing censorship in restricted regions.
  • IPSec / L2TP – Good compatibility with built-in OS VPN support.

Need help? Check out our tutorials for in our knowledge based articles for various types of VPN and Proxy on Hosteons.

🧭 VPS Locations for Best Travel VPN Experience

Choose your VPS location based on:

  • Your home country (to access region-locked services)
  • A neutral/nearby country for lower latency
  • High-bandwidth regions (like Germany, or Los Angeles)

Hosteons offers VPS in multiple locations globally, with inbound unmetered bandwidth and IPv6 support.

🔐 Bonus Tip: Add Your Own DNS & Firewall Rules

Once you’ve set up your private VPN:

  • Use custom DNS servers like NextDNS or AdGuard
  • Set firewall rules to block tracking domains or limit open ports
  • Enable kill switches on mobile and desktop to avoid leaks

🧰 What You’ll Need to Get Started

  • A Hosteons VPS (1 CPU, 512MB+ RAM is enough for VPN)
  • A domain (optional, for easier connection)
  • Basic Linux knowledge or follow one of our setup scripts
  • Your laptop or mobile devices

🚀 Ready to Travel Securely?

Don’t rely on sketchy free VPNs or overcrowded commercial services. Take control of your online privacy and performance with a self-hosted VPN on your own VPS.

🔗 Explore Hosteons VPS plans starting at just $1.75/month:

👉 https://hosteons.com

Need help setting it up? We’re always here → https://my.hosteons.com

What Is Freegate and How to Set It Up

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In regions with internet censorship and restrictions, accessing free and open content on the web can be challenging. That’s where tools like Freegate come in.

If you’re new to Freegate or want to help others get started, this guide will explain what it is, how it works, and how to install and use it safely.

🔍 What Is Freegate?

Freegate is a free anti-censorship software developed by Dynamic Internet Technology (DIT), primarily used in China, Iran, and other countries with restricted internet access. It allows users to bypass the Great Firewall (GFW) and access blocked websites, including Google, YouTube, and many news platforms.

Freegate uses DynaWeb proxy servers (a system of encrypted tunnels) to provide users with secure and private access to the open internet.

🛡️ Key Features of Freegate

  • 💻 No installation required (portable EXE file)
  • 🔐 Encrypted tunneling through DynaWeb
  • 🌐 Supports both IE and Chrome/Firefox via proxy
  • ✅ No configuration needed — just run and connect
  • 💸 Completely free to use

📥 How to Download Freegate

  1. Visit a reliable mirror (Freegate’s website is often blocked in restricted regions):
  2. Download the latest version (usually a .zip file containing fg742p.exe or similar).
  3. Extract the file to a folder (no need to install).

🖥️ How to Use Freegate

  1. Run fgXXXp.exe (replace XXX with version number).
    • No installation needed; it runs as a standalone app.
  2. When prompted, choose your preferred mode:
    • Classic Mode (default) opens Internet Explorer with proxy enabled
    • Proxy Mode lets you configure external browsers like Chrome or Firefox
  3. Once connected, Freegate will display the DynaWeb homepage, confirming that your connection is active.

🌐 How to Use Freegate with Chrome or Firefox

If you prefer using Chrome or Firefox:

  1. Launch Freegate
  2. Go to your browser settings
  3. Set the HTTP proxy to:
    • 127.0.0.1
    • Port: 8580 (default used by Freegate)
  4. Save the settings and browse as usual — Freegate will tunnel traffic through DynaWeb.

📱 Can You Use Freegate on Mobile?

Unfortunately, Freegate is only available for Windows desktop environments. For mobile use, consider using:

  • VPN apps (WireGuard/OpenVPN + Hosteons VPS)
  • V2Ray or Shadowsocks with Android/iOS clients
  • Tor Browser (mobile)

⚠️ Important Notes

  • Freegate may not work reliably if deep packet inspection (DPI) is active on your network.
  • Because it uses a central set of proxy servers, Freegate performance may fluctuate depending on demand and censorship levels.
  • If you’re seeking a more stable and private option, consider running your own proxy server or VPN on a VPS (like one from Hosteons).

🚀 Want More Control? Use a VPS Instead

Freegate is great for beginners, but if you want more flexibility and privacy, consider deploying:

  • Shadowsocks or V2Ray on a Hosteons VPS
  • WireGuard VPN for all devices
  • Self-hosted proxies with IPv6 vHosts and custom rDNS

Hosteons offers:

  • ✅ Full root access
  • ✅ Global server locations
  • ✅ Inbound unmetered bandwidth
  • ✅ Up to 20 IPv6 IPs per VPS
  • ✅ Crypto & local payment options

🔗 Final Thoughts

Freegate is a powerful tool for quickly bypassing censorship and accessing open internet content. It’s ideal for casual users in restrictive environments — but power users will benefit from setting up their own VPS-based proxy for maximum control.

🧠 Want to go further? Check out our guides on:

Need a VPS to run your own private proxy?

👉 https://hosteons.com – starting at just $1.75/month