Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to clock management systems and methods. An example method involves a computer identifying an inaccuracy in a local clock of a client device based on a data bundle received from the client device. The data bundle can include information associated with an occurrence of an event in the client device. In one embodiment, the inaccuracy in the local clock of the client device is identified by detecting a time difference between a timestamp contained in the data bundle and a reference time standard. The timestamp can correspond to a time of occurrence of the event in the client device or to a time of transmission of the bundle by the client device. A corrective action may be taken to address the inaccuracy in the local clock, such as, by applying a time shift to at least a portion of the information contained in the data bundle.

Abstract: A method including receiving, at a processor, credential requests for accessing the VPN environment from a first user device using a first interface and from a second user device using a second interface; transmitting, to the first user device, a first credential based at least in part on the first user device using the first interface; and transmitting, to the second user device, a second credential based at least in part on the second user device using the second interface, the first credential being different from the second credential. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method in a virtual private network (VPN) environment is disclosed. A user device transmits, to a VPN server before establishment of a VPN connection between the user device and the VPN server, an initiation request to establish the VPN connection. The initiation request includes remote content information indicating remote content that is unavailable in a geographic location of the user device. The user device receives, from the VPN server after establishment of the VPN connection, the remote content based at least in part on a configuration of domain name services (DNS) settings associated with the VPN connection to utilize a remote DNS server that is capable of obtaining the remote content. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: User system authentication includes a service infrastructure system receiving, from the user system, an authentication request including a user account identifier, generating a first validation code by performing a hash algorithm on the user account identifier and a first timestamp associated with the authentication request, sending to an email account associated with the user account identifier, an email message including the first validation code, receiving from the user system, a verification code, in response to receiving the verification code, generating a second timestamp, validating the second timestamp, in response to determining that the second timestamp is valid, generating a second validation code by performing the hash algorithm on the user account identifier and the first timestamp associated with the authentication request, comparing the verification code and the second validation code, and authenticating the user system, in response to a determination that the verification code and the second v

Abstract: A method comprising maintaining, in a central database, stored host device information related to one or more host devices associated with providing harmful data, which potentially includes harmful content; configuring a VPN server to receive, from a DNS server, obtained host device information associated with a host device based at least in part on receiving an indication that data of interest is to be requested from the host device; configuring the VPN server to determine that the data of interest potentially includes harmful content based at least in part on determining that the obtained host device information matches the stored host device information; and configuring the VPN server to transmit, based at least in part on determining that the data of interest potentially includes harmful content, a notification indicating that the data of interest to be requested potentially includes harmful content. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method associated with a split-configuration virtual private network (VPN), the method including receiving, by a VPN server from a user device prior to establishment of a VPN connection between the VPN server and the user device, an initiation request to establish the VPN connection, the initiation request including remote content information indicating remote content that is to be requested by the user device after the VPN connection is established, the remote content being unavailable in a geographic location of the user device; and configuring, by the VPN server based at least in part on the remote content information, domain name services (DNS) settings associated with the VPN connection to associate the VPN connection with a remote DNS server that is capable of enabling the VPN server to obtain the remote content after establishment of the VPN connection is disclosed. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: An intended network usage of a user device is received. A list of virtual private network (VPN) servers is received at the user device from a central server. Respective network data are obtained for the VPN servers. The respective network data are transmitted to the central server. An updated list of VPN servers that constitutes a re-ordering of the list of the VPN servers according to the respective network data and the intended network usage is obtained; An encrypted tunnel is established to a VPN server of the updated list of VPN servers.

Abstract: A method including transmitting, by a requesting user device to an infrastructure device associated with a virtual private network (VPN), a connection request for receiving VPN services; receiving, by the requesting user device from the infrastructure device, connection information associated with a VPN server selected for providing the VPN services to the requesting user device, the VPN server being selected based at least in part on a comparison between a parameter associated with the requesting user device and a current parameter associated with another user device currently receiving VPN services from the VPN server; and transmitting, by the requesting user device to the VPN server, an initiation request to receive the VPN services from the VPN server based at least in part on utilizing the connection information is disclosed. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: Domain name system (DNS) configuration during virtual private network (VPN) connection includes, by a VPN entry server, receiving from a client device, via a VPN tunnel between the entry server and the client device, a first request for first content that identifies a first external source for the first content, receiving, from an operative DNS server configured for the tunnel, an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a first VPN system exit server, in response to determining that the first content is unavailable via the first system exit server, identifying a second DNS server, such that a second VPN system exit server for obtaining the first content is available using the second DNS server, obtaining, from the second system exit server, the first content, wherein the second system exit server obtained the first content from the first external source, and transmitting, to the client device, via the tunnel, the first content.

Abstract: Domain name system (DNS) configuration during virtual private network (VPN) connection includes establishing a VPN tunnel between a client device and a VPN system entry server, which includes configuring a first DNS server as an operative DNS server for the VPN tunnel, and obtaining first content by transmitting to the VPN entry server, a first request that identifies a first external source for the first content, receiving from the VPN entry server a DNS configuration message indicating a second DNS server, configuring the second DNS server as the operative DNS server, and receiving from the VPN entry server, via the VPN tunnel, the first content, wherein the VPN entry server obtained the first content from the first VPN system exit server identified by the VPN entry server using the second DNS server, and the first VPN system exit server obtained the first content from the first external source.

Abstract: Domain name system (DNS) configuration during virtual private network (VPN) connection includes transmitting, to a VPN entry server, from a client device, via a VPN tunnel between the VPN entry server and the client device, a first request for first content, wherein the first request identifies a first external source for the first content, and wherein a first DNS server is configured as an operative DNS server for the VPN tunnel, and receiving, by the client device, from the VPN entry server, via the VPN tunnel, the first content, wherein the VPN entry server obtained the first content from the first VPN system exit server identified by the VPN entry server using a second DNS server as the operative DNS server for the VPN tunnel, and the first VPN system exit server obtained the first content from the first external source.

Abstract: A method including receiving, at a first VPN server during an established VPN connection, a first data request and a second data request from a user device; transmitting, by the first VPN server during the established VPN connection, the first data request to a second VPN server and the second data request to a third VPN server; receiving, by the first VPN server from the second VPN server during the established VPN connection, first data associated with the first data request; and receiving, by the first VPN server from the third VPN server during the established VPN connection, second data associated with the second data request, the second exit IP address being different from the first exit IP address. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: Virtual private network (VPN) service provider infrastructure (SPI) receives a request to access a VPN from a client device. The VPN SPI selects an Internet Protocol (IP) address for access to the VPN by the client device from a pool of IP addresses. The VPN SPI provides access to the VPN for the client device via the IP address. The VPN SPI receives one or more handshake notifications from the client device. The VPN SPI determines that a threshold time period has passed since a latest-in-time handshake notification of the one or more handshake notifications. The VPN SPI disconnects the client device from the VPN in response to determining that the threshold time period has passed. The VPN SPI adds the IP address to the pool of IP addresses in response to disconnecting the client device from the VPN.

Abstract: A method including receiving, at a first VPN server during an established VPN connection, a first data request and a second data request from a user device; transmitting, by the first VPN server during the established VPN connection, the first data request and the second data request to a second VPN server; and receiving, by the first VPN server from the second VPN server during the established VPN connection, first data associated with the first data request and second data associated with the second data request, the first data being retrieved by the second VPN server using a first exit IP address associated with the second VPN server and the second data being retrieved by the second VPN server using a second exit IP address associated with the second VPN server, the second exit IP address being different from the first exit IP address. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method for providing a notification system in a virtual private network (VPN), the method comprising receiving, from a user device, an indication that data of interest is to be requested, the indication including domain information associated with a host device capable of providing the data of interest; and transmitting, based at least in part on the domain information, a notification indicating to the user device that the data of interest to be requested from the host device potentially includes harmful content. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: Virtual private network (VPN) service provider infrastructure (SPI) receives a request to access a VPN from a client device. The VPN SPI selects an Internet Protocol (IP) address for access to the VPN by the client device from a pool of IP addresses. The VPN SPI provides access to the VPN for the client device via the IP address. The VPN SPI receives one or more handshake notifications from the client device. The VPN SPI determines that a threshold time period has passed since a latest-in-time handshake notification of the one or more handshake notifications. The VPN SPI disconnects the client device from the VPN in response to determining that the threshold time period has passed. The VPN SPI adds the IP address to the pool of IP addresses in response to disconnecting the client device from the VPN.

Abstract: A method including receiving, at a processor, credential requests for accessing the VPN environment from a first user device using a first interface and from a second user device using a second interface; transmitting, to the first user device, a first credential based at least in part on the first user device using the first interface; and transmitting, to the second user device, a second credential based at least in part on the second user device using the second interface, the first credential being different from the second credential. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: Virtual private network (VPN) service provider infrastructure (SPI) receives a request to access a VPN from a client device. The VPN SPI selects an Internet Protocol (IP) address for access to the VPN by the client device from a pool of IP addresses. The VPN SPI provides access to the VPN for the client device via the IP address. The VPN SPI receives one or more handshake notifications from the client device. The VPN SPI determines that a threshold time period has passed since a latest-in-time handshake notification of the one or more handshake notifications. The VPN SPI disconnects the client device from the VPN in response to determining that the threshold time period has passed. The VPN SPI adds the IP address to the pool of IP addresses in response to disconnecting the client device from the VPN.

Abstract: A method comprising maintaining, in a central database, stored host device information related to one or more host devices associated with providing harmful data, which potentially includes harmful content; configuring a VPN server to receive, from a DNS server, obtained host device information associated with a host device based at least in part on receiving an indication that data of interest is to be requested from the host device; configuring the VPN server to determine that the data of interest potentially includes harmful content based at least in part on determining that the obtained host device information matches the stored host device information; and configuring the VPN server to transmit, based at least in part on determining that the data of interest potentially includes harmful content, a notification indicating that the data of interest to be requested potentially includes harmful content. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method associated with a split-configuration virtual private network (VPN), the method including receiving, by a VPN server from a user device prior to establishment of a VPN connection between the VPN server and the user device, an initiation request to establish the VPN connection, the initiation request including remote content information indicating remote content that is to be requested by the user device after the VPN connection is established, the remote content being unavailable in a geographic location of the user device; and configuring, by the VPN server based at least in part on the remote content information, domain name services (DNS) settings associated with the VPN connection to associate the VPN connection with a remote DNS server that is capable of enabling the VPN server to obtain the remote content after establishment of the VPN connection is disclosed. Various other aspects are contemplated.