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 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: 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 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 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 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: 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: A method for providing a notification system in a virtual private network (VPN), the method comprising transmitting, to a user device, a notification indicating that data of interest requested by the user device potentially includes harmful content, the data of interest to be obtained from a host device; receiving, from the user device, a response indicating that the data of interest is to be received by the user device; receiving, based at least in part on the response, the data of interest from the host device; and transmitting the data of interest to the user device. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method for providing a split-configuration virtual private network (VPN), the method including receiving, at a VPN server, an initiation request from a user device to establish a VPN connection with the VPN server, the initiation request including remote content information associated with remote content; and transmitting at least a portion of the remote content information to a remote domain name services (DNS) server to receive an access internet protocol (IP) address associated with a first exchange point that is capable of obtaining the remote content. Various other aspects are contemplated.

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: A method for server picking in a virtual private network (VPN), the method comprising determining a parameter associated with a requesting user device requesting a connection to the VPN, comparing the determined parameter to a current parameter associated with a current user device connected to a VPN server associated with the VPN, and transmitting, to the requesting user device, information associated with the VPN server to enable the requesting user device to connect to the VPN server based at least in part on a result of comparing the determined parameter to the current parameter. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: The current embodiments offer a method to generate, send, and authenticate users through validations codes without the need for data retention. Codes are generated each time they are sent and received based on original and identifiable inputs. They are then compared to authenticate a user. Eliminating the need for data retention or persistence removes the risks associated with keeping data on the service provider's storage as can be maliciously accessed.

Abstract: A method in a virtual private network (VPN), the method including configuring a VPN server to receive, during a VPN connection, a local content request requesting local content; configuring the VPN server to transmit, to a local exchange point that is capable of obtaining the local content, at least a portion of the local content request to enable the local exchange point to provide the local content; configuring the VPN server to receive, during the VPN connection, a remote content request requesting remote content; and configuring the VPN server to transmit, to a remote exchange point that is capable of obtaining the remote content, at least a portion of the remote content request to enable the remote exchange point to provide the remote content. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method for rotating internet protocol (IP) addresses in a virtual private network (VPN), the method comprising receiving, at a first VPN server, a first data request and a second data request during an established VPN connection between a user device and a second VPN server; retrieving, during the established VPN connection, first data associated with the first data request using a first exit IP address; and retrieving, during the established VPN connection, second data associated with the second data request using a second exit IP address, different from the first exit IP address. Various other aspects are contemplated.