Although I don't do anything to worry about too much in networks, I have been installed on Manjaro, Kubuntu, Android and iOS for a long time ProtonVPN. The app has always been available for mobile devices, and for Windows as well, but we couldn't use it on Linux and we had to rely on the command line version. The app with a user interface recently appeared in the official Manjaro repositories, but it was not until today that the company made its launch official.
The news, which has been sent by mail to all users of Protonmail, is that now we can use the VPN software with the app with user interface. Until now, although there had been something in AUR (Arch Linux) for a while, we had to open a terminal, write a command, choose a VPN from among 3 countries, or more for paying users, and connect. Now we can do that with the mouse.
ProtonVPN already has a graphical interface also on Linux
To install ProtonVPN we can do what is explained in the official website, which we could summarize as follows:
- Debian / Ubuntu / Linux Mint / MX Linux / Kali Linux and any Debian or Ubuntu based system is assumed: the DEB package is downloaded and installed. That will also install the repository for future updates.
- Fedora - The RPM package is downloaded and installed for you to install software and repository.
- Arch Linux / Manjaro and Arch-based systems - is available from the AUR. If we have Pamac installed, we just have to search for "protonvpn", click install, then OK, put the password and accept to install software and dependencies.
And its operation is very simple. Unlike the CLI version, we had to put our "key" in it, in the ProtonVPN app just put our username and password and then click "Quick connect" or choose a server. We will probably see that the WiFi is disconnected, but, even if the icon does not indicate it like that, we will be connected to the internet.
Given the news, we have to remember something about VPNs: If what we want is privacy and real security, it is worth subscribing to a paid one. The free ones are, in addition to slower, less secure. They can be used to skip some geoblocking, but little else. If that's what you need, ProtonVPN is one of the best options, and even more so now that there is an official user interface for Linux.
4 comments, leave yours
I have tried to install it and I have never gotten the graphical interface to appear I do not think that the page is not very clear how to install it, they only say that through a .deb but I have downloaded and installed it and I do not know if it is missing something to appear I use kde neon maybe it only works in ubuntu or debian because in kde nothing at all.
The same thing happened to me testing in Kubuntu. Can you tell me if you already had the "cli" version installed? I tried it for a short time in (k) ubuntu, it gave me an error when trying to uninstall that package and I did not continue testing. In case there is any conflict.
A greeting.
Edit: I confirm that when uninstalling the "cli" version and reinstalling ProtonVPN, I see the application in Kubuntu.
The .deb package says to install the repository and the key. When I look for the repository in sources.list it doesn't show up. If I tell it install protonvpn it says that the key is not secure and gives an error
Wow. I can tell you little. I installed it on Kubuntu without those problems. Yes, it failed to start the interface (in Manjaro it does).
Something must be fixed.