VPNUK - The Virtual Private Network Specialists

Latest VPNUK News

Posted by VPNUK 9 March 2010

You can download the pre-configured config files for use with OpenVPN from HERE

OpenVPN now available on all Shared IP servers

We are pleased to announce that we have introduced an OpenVPN solution to all of the Shared IP servers that will run alongside and in conjunction with our existing VPN service. Your now have the choice of connecting to the existing VPN Tunnelling setup over PPTP and L2TP with ipsec or you can now use an OpenVPN setup. Configuration files and setup instructions will be added to the website over the coming week.

New Connection Assistant Software Release

A new build of our connection assistant software has been released with a number of significant changes to the previous version. Changes on our build 7.0.1 version include;

1. The software now has the options to startup when the computer is started and auto connect.
2. Auto Reconnect has been added.
3. PPP Options have been included, you are now able to select and de-select LCP extensions, Software Compression and Multilinkk options.
4. Our recommended security setting has been included.
5. The software now has a System Tray icon when running.
6. The software now remembers which server you last connected to when you restart the software.

As always, you can download the new version of our Connection Assistant software from here: http://www.vpnuk.info/vpnuk-connection-assistant.zip

Dynamic IP Pool on all UK Shared IP servers

Internet connection cut between Europe, Asia and Africa

Millions of internet and telephone users across the Middle East and south Asia are struggling to get connections after damage to undersea cables linking Europe, Africa and Asia took down a major route for internet traffic.

As much as 70% of internet and telephone traffic between the continents has been affected by the outage, which was caused by damage to a string of cables that run under the Mediterranean between Italy and Egypt. The lines, which hit the Egyptian coast at Alexandria and go on to connect to Asia, were probably damaged either by a ship's anchor or a minor earthquake, according to officials. A repair vessel is expected to reach the damaged sector between Sicily and Tunisia by this evening.

Jonathan Wright, a director at telecoms company Interoute, said that the outage could have a devastating affect on business and communication around the world. "The potential impact of an outage of this size cannot be overestimated – it is like severing a major artery. Global internet connectivity is reliant on sub-sea cables connecting countries."

The incident comes less than a year after a similar outage brought a halt to communications between Europe, Africa and Asia. Those problems were believed to have been caused by anchors ripping through the same cables, and were exacerbated by simultaneous damage to lines through the Middle East.

As many as 75 million people were affected.

It is not yet clear whether today's outage is the same order of magnitude.

Despite widespread wireless internet and satellite connections, global communications still rely largely on the vast webs of fibre optic cables that cover the planet. The lines take years of planning to install.

The latest damage is to cables that are among the most vital information pipelines – and are responsible for the majority of all connectivity in the Middle East and south Asia.

According to Alan Mauldin, research director of communications analysis company TeleGeography, the problems in the region are only likely to be remedied by a series of new cables which are currently being planned. "Many new cable systems are slated to enter service between Europe and Egypt in the next few years," he said.

TV Catchup makes a welcome return

The highly acclaimed TVCatchup website relaunched last week after being in hiatus for the past 8 months.

TVCatchup (TVC) allows its registered users to view a selection of UK Freeview channels, for free.  Channels include  BBC1, ITV, 4, and Five.  It is currently still in beta testing.

Since its relaunch last week, new channels added include FiveUS, ITV2 and BBC3.  TVC’s administrator Daniel announced last Friday: “If you like those channels, you’ll love what is planned. Stay tuned, we’ll use the weekend to recover from a nail biting and sleepless first week, and next week should be interesting.”  Rumour is that new channels along with an unofficial downloadable application is also currently under development.

The quality on the website is, in one word, excellent.  The interface is simple, usage is intuitive and friendly.  Controls are easy to understand and use.  Videos are of great quality, at 640 pixels wide.

You’ll need a minimum 1 MB broadband connection (8MB is recommended) to view programmes without pausing for buffering.  The videos stream at 640 kbps, so should not be a problem for most people.  Non-updated versions of IE 6 don’t show things properly, and those using Flash 7 are also incompatable with the H.264 codec, so make sure you got the right plugins and updates.

Why are only 12 channels available when it said there are 15?

According to TVCatchup’s administator, Daniel, “the service is capable of offering all free-to-air channels currently provided on digital (about 50), however, as the service is in BETA we only have 15 channels setup in the web player, not all of which are accessible to all members…. the remaining channels being enabled over the coming month. We are working with numerous third parties and hope to further offer additional channels other than those on freeview.”  There you go.

In the mean time, entertain yourself by right clicking on the videos to get a full screen view option.  Great for those with their HDTVs hooked up to the laptop.

Is this really legal?

The owner of Media Resources Limited, David Taylor, sides with TVC, stating, “I am delighted that after eight months of delays and misunderstandings, the website is finally able to resume operations; providing high quality television on the internet, legally and for free. We further look forward to adding more channels to our existing line-up and the release of a mobile version.”

Mr. Taylor was referring to the initial launch of the website in January this year with 5,000 test users.  According to The Guardian, the site was subsequently suspended without warning in February, after apparently receiving complaints from the BBC,  Channel 4, ITV and Channel Five for its recording functions.  The TVC legal team is however challenging the truth of this publication, as according to TVC head administor Mason, there were misinformed quotes in the article by people not even employed by the company, and that the site was only taken down for maintenence purposes.

Adam Smith, the founder of TVCatchup, had also previously argued that the site is legal because it is covered by time-shifting exemptions in copyright law. But John Enser, media partner at legal firm Olswang, questioned whether the 1988 exemption covered TVCatchup’s service.

“The time-shifting exception only applies to a recording made in domestic premises,” he said. “TVCatchup allows recordings to be made wherever their servers are, which is unlikely to be in a private house. It is difficult to see how they can claim the service is legal.”

These functions, however, have since been disabled, and as the website currently only offers live streaming,  TVC also states on their website that as it does not use illegal P2P technology, everything is absolutely legal. “All services provided by this website have been scrutinised by some of the foremost copyright experts in the country, and have been unequivocally endorsed as being completely legal.”

VPN Tunnel FREE Accounts

VPNUK are pleased to announce the introduction of FREE trial accounts for anyone wishing to try out our VPN Tunneling service before commiting to a new subscription. Our 20 minute Shared UK, US and ca IP VPN Tunnel accounts are available on request. The 20 minute test start as soon as you make the first connection. For more information and asscess details contact our LIVE HELP support team.