How to Create a Truly Anonymous Website (Step by Step)

Do you want to create an anonymous website?

Some users may need to create a website anonymously to protect their privacy and additional security.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you how to easily create a truly anonymous website. We’ll also talk about protecting your identity online.

Creating an anonymous website

Why Create an Anonymous Website?

An anonymous website conceals the identity of who runs or owns a particular website.

Some users may want to remain anonymous for a number of reasons.

  • Whistleblowers trying to expose corruption.
  • Journalists under authoritarian regimes
  • Citizen watchdog groups
  • Or users who just want to remain anonymous for privacy reasons

Creating an anonymous website makes it difficult to find out who created and runs the website.

Important: Please keep in mind that there is no guaranteed way to remain completely anonymous. While you can make it difficult to trace, there is still a chance that it can be tracked.

What Do You Need to Create an Anonymous Website?

You’ll need the following items to create a basic anonymous website.

  • Anonymously purchased domain name and hosting
  • A separate encrypted email account
  • A secure and reliable VPN service

Now, let us explain why you’ll need those things.

First, you will need to create a new separate email account. You’ll be using that account to manage your website.

To remain anonymous we recommend creating an email account using privacy-focused email services like Proton Mail.

Next, you will need to hide is your IP address. The easiest way to do that is by using a VPN service. We recommend using IPVanish.

IPVanish

Once you have created an email account and turned on the VPN on your computer, you can go ahead and buy a hosting plan.

Normally, you can just go to any of the top hosting companies and start a website in a few minutes.

However, many of these companies require credit card information. This means your personal information will be stored and can be traced back to you.

That’s why we recommend using Hostinger.

Currently, they are giving WPBeginner users a generous discount and a FREE domain name. Basically, you can get started for $2.78 per month.

→ Click Here to Claim This Exclusive Hostinger Deal ←

Hostinger is one of the best WordPress hosting companies on the market and allows you to pay using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to keep your purchase as anonymous as possible.

Buying Hosting and Domain Name Anonymously

First, you need to make sure you have VPN turned on whenever you are working on your anonymous website.

After that, you need to visit the Hostinger website and click on the ‘Start Now’ button.

Hostinger start now

This will bring you to the pricing and plans selection page.

We recommend choosing a 48-month plan which gives you the best discount. Plus, you wouldn’t need to worry about future payments for a long time.

Choose your hosting plan

Click to select the plan you want to buy, and then go to the payment section.

From here, first, you need to provide the anonymous email account you created earlier.

After that, you need to select ‘Coingate’ as the payment method and then click on the ‘Submit Secure Payment’ button.

Choose payment method

This will take you to the payment wizard.

First, you need to select a cryptocurrency that you want to pay with and click Continue.

Choose cryptocurrency

Next, you need to enter your anonymous email address and click on the ‘Continue’ button.

Note that you don’t need to create a Coingate account to pay using this method.

Provide email address

On the next screen, you’ll see the QR code to make the payment through your Bitcoin wallet app.

You can also pay manually, by sending the amount to the Bitcoin wallet address mentioned on the screen.

Pay with BitCoin

Upon completion of the transaction, you will be redirected back to the Hostinger website.

You will receive an email from Hostinger with a link to log in to the hosting control panel.

Once you log in to your hosting account control panel, you’ll see a notification to claim your free domain name.

Claim free domain

During domain registration, ICANN requires website owners to provide their personal information such as name, address, email, and phone number.

You need to provide at least the email address you created earlier so that you can be reached for verification.

During the registration, you may also see an option to turn on Domain Privacy.

This feature hides any information you provide during domain registration from WHOIS searches. Anyone who checks will see Hostinger’s proxy info.

After domain registration, you may receive an email to verify your registration.

Installing WordPress to Make Your Anonymous Website

Now that you have completed the domain name and hosting setup, it is time to install WordPress.

Hostinger allows you to easily create a WordPress website. Click on the ‘Manage’ button next to your URL under the hosting panel.

Manage hosting

This will bring you to your back-end dashboard.

From here, you need to visit the Website » Auto Installer page and then click on the ‘Select’ button under WordPress.

Hostinger auto installer

This will launch the auto-installer wizard.

Simply follow the on-screen instructions to finish the setup.

After that, you will see your new website options under the Hostinger control panel.

From here, first, you need to click on the ‘Install’ button next to the ‘SSL Certificate’ option.

Turn on SSL

After that, you need to click on the toggle next to ‘Force HTTPs’ option.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) allows your website to use secure HTTPs. Using it improves your WordPress security by encrypting all traffic to and from your website.

Having an SSL certificate is also a factor in ranking well in search engines and a part of a solid website SEO plan.

Finally, click on the ‘Edit Website’ button to launch and start editing your new WordPress website.

Edit website

Working on Your WordPress Website Anonymously

By design, WordPress is privacy-conscious software to the extent that you can choose what information you want to share on your website.

First, you may want to visit the Users » Profile page and choose a pseudonym for the default admin or author of your website.

Change name

Don’t forget to click on the ‘Update Profile’ button to save your changes.

Next, you need to decide whether you want to allow users to comment on posts and pages across your website.

Simply go to Settings » Discussion page to configure comments. Uncheck all options under the ‘Default Post Settings’ section to disable comments, trackbacks, and pingbacks.

Disable comments

Don’t forget to click on the ‘Save Changes’ button to store your settings.

Adding Content to Your WordPress Site

WordPress comes with two default content types called posts and pages. Posts are part of a blog and are displayed in reverse chronological order, meaning that newer posts appear first.

Pages are standalone pages that are not part of a blog. They are used to create a website structure and layout. See our list of must-have WordPress pages for all types of websites.

To add a page, simply visit the Pages » Add New to create one.

WordPress block editor

WordPress comes with a powerful editor called the Block Editor. See our complete WordPress block editor tutorial to familiarize yourself with the interface.

Similarly, to create a post you will need to visit Posts » Add New page.

Choosing a Theme (Template) For Your Website

WordPress comes with a powerful templating engine that allows you to change the appearance of your website by installing themes.

There are thousands of free and paid WordPress themes available. You can choose one that looks closer to what you have in mind for your website.

WordPress Theme Stats

You can look for themes under the Appearance » Themes page. It will show you a bunch of default themes that come with your WordPress install.

For more themes, click on the ‘Add New’ button at the top to find more free themes.

Add new theme

For premium or paid WordPress themes, you can try trusted WordPress theme shops like SeedProd, Thrive Themes, Astra, Elegant Themes, and more.

However, there is such an abundance of WordPress themes that it may become difficult for beginners to decide which theme they want to use.

We recommend choosing a minimalist design with plenty of white space. This provides you plenty of room to customize the theme and make it your own.

For more details, see our guide on how to choose the perfect theme for your website.

Install Privacy Friendly WordPress Plugins

Plugins are like apps for your WordPress website. They allow you to add new features and extend the functionality of WordPress.

There are more than 60,000 free plugins available in the WordPress.org plugin directory alone. Plus, there are premium WordPress plugins sold by third-party developers with priority support and guaranteed updates.

WordPress plugins

However, you also need to consider which plugins you need to use to keep your WordPress website secure, private, and anonymous.

Following are our top picks for the best WordPress plugins to install on your anonymous website.

  • WPForms – It is the best WordPress contact form plugin and allows you to easily create forms for your website.
  • All in One SEO for WordPress – It is the best WordPress SEO plugin on the market and helps your anonymous website get more traffic from search engines.
  • SeedProd – It is a powerful WordPress page builder that allows you to use a drag-and-drop interface to create any type of page for your website.
  • OptinMonster – It is a conversion optimization software, which helps you convert website visitors into email subscribers and customers.
  • MonsterInsights – The best WordPress Google Analytics plugin which helps you see where your visitors and coming from and what they see on your website.

For more plugin recommendations, see our full list of essential WordPress plugins for any kind of website.

FAQs About Running an Anonymous Website

Following are some of the most commonly asked questions about creating an anonymous website.

1. Is it possible to create a fully anonymous website?

Yes, it is possible to create a fully anonymous website. However, you’ll need to be very vigilant about it. Each internet activity creates an information trail leading back to the person who initiated the activity. This trail can be traced by hackers, government agencies, and ISPs. As an anonymous website owner, it will be your job to anonymize all activities.

You can do this by minimizing the activities around your website and using a VPN to hide your IP address. Be careful about any social interactions as they may reveal personally identifiable information.

2. What is anonymous offshore hosting?

Anonymous offshore hosting is a website hosting service that allows users to purchase hosting and domain name without providing real name or credit card information.

Some of these lesser-known companies host their servers in countries with stricter privacy laws. These companies also promise to not store user logs or share them with third-country agencies.

However, these anonymous offshore hosting companies often have very bad customer service and outdated technology.

3. Can a website owner be traced?

Yes, a website owner can be traced even if they are trying to remain anonymous. However, an anonymous website owner can use privacy tools to make it harder to be traced.

Even then if someone is determined to figure out and has the technology, tools, and resources, then they may be able to find out who is running an anonymous website.

4. Can I buy a domain name anonymously?

Yes, you can buy a domain name anonymously from a domain name registrar that accepts cryptocurrencies as a payment method.

Hostinger, also allows you to register additional domain names using cryptocurrencies. During the registration, you can use a separate anonymous email account as the contact address for your domain name.

We hope this article helped you learn how to create a truly anonymous website. You may also want to see our guide on how to create a private blog or take a look at our complete WordPress security guide to keep your anonymous website secure.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Create a Truly Anonymous Website (Step by Step) first appeared on WPBeginner.

How to Easily Fix This Site Can’t Be Reached Error in WordPress (8 Ways)

Are you looking for the easiest way to fix the ‘this site can’t be reached’ error in WordPress?

You can get this error on any website, including third-party sites and your own WordPress blog. If this error shows up on your own site, then it’s a big problem as it can stop you from accessing the admin area.

In this article, we will show you how to easily fix the ‘this site can’t be reached’ error.

How to easily fix this site can't be reached error in WordPress

What Is the ‘This Site Can’t Be Reached’ Error in WordPress?

There are lots of common WordPress errors, but ‘this site can’t be reached’ is especially frustrating because the message is vague, and it doesn’t tell you what to do next.

The Chrome 'site can't be reached' error

In the worst-case scenario, this error can stop you from visiting your own website. That will make it difficult to test your WordPress site, add new content, install security updates, and make other important changes.

Usually, the error means that something is stopping the browser from accessing the destination website. This could be anything from an internet outage, to a misconfigured network, or even an issue with your DNS settings.

In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at why you may be seeing this error, including exploring the different error codes. When you encounter a problem, you’ll typically want to solve that problem as quickly as possible.

With that being said, we have 8 ways to troubleshoot this WordPress error, so you can fix the ‘site can’t be reached’ problem quickly.

If you’re unsure what’s causing the issue, then we recommend starting with step one since it’s the easiest. However, if you prefer to jump straight to a particular step, then you can use the quick links below.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

When troubleshooting an error, it’s smart to try the simplest fix first. To start, check that you’re currently connected to the internet.

If there is no obvious problem with the connection, then the next step is restarting your internet connection. Similar to switching your computer off and on, resetting your entire connection can fix all kinds of small problems and get you back on track.

We recommend disconnecting your router from its power supply and then waiting at least 1 minute before reconnecting it. You can then try visiting the website again to see whether this has removed the error message.

2. Clear the Browser Cache

Downloading files from a WordPress hosting server located far away can take a lot of time.

To solve this problem, most modern web browsers store files, data, and other content from the websites you visit. The browser can then simply load this cached content from the local computer, rather than re-downloading it from a remote server.

This helps websites to load faster, but it can sometimes cause problems. For example, cached content can become outdated or get corrupted over time.

Thankfully, it’s easy to clear the browser cache. If you’re using Google Chrome, then simply click on the three-dotted icon in the upper-right corner.

Then, select ‘More Tools,’ followed by ‘Clear Browsing Data….’

How to clear the browser cache in Google Chrome

In the popup that appears, check the box next to ‘Cached images and files.’

Google Chrome will clear the entire cache by default. Another option is to open the ‘Time Range’ dropdown and tell Chrome to only clear content that was cached during a particular time period.

Fixing the site can't be reached error in WordPress

Once you’ve done that, you can check or uncheck any of the other options. For example, the ‘Browsing History’ checkbox is selected by default, but you can uncheck this box if you want to keep your browsing history.

When you’re ready, click on ‘Clear data.’

Emptying the Chrome cache

Google Chrome will now empty the browser cache. Once it’s finished, try revisiting the website to check whether you’re still getting the ‘this site can’t be reached’ error.

For all other browsers, see our beginners guide on how to clear the browser cache in any browser.

3. Disable Your Firewall or Antivirus Software

Antivirus and firewall plugins can keep you safe, but they can also block websites that are perfectly trustworthy.

This might be a problem with how your security plugins and software are configured. For example, your settings may be too strict.

Other times, the website may be set up in a way that triggers your security software even if that website doesn’t pose a real threat.

For instance, if you’re still building your WordPress website, then you might not have an SSL certificate yet. Many firewalls will stop you from visiting a site that doesn’t have a valid certificate, so this may trigger the error.

To test whether a firewall or antivirus program is blocking the connection, simply disable that software. Then, visit the website that was showing the ‘this site can’t be reached’ error.

If the site loads without a problem, then you’ll know that the antivirus program or firewall was to blame.

If this is the case, then we don’t recommend disabling it completely.

Instead, it’s smart to check the software’s settings to see whether you can whitelist a particular website. In this way, you can access the site while still protecting yourself against hackers, viruses, and other digital threats.

If you’re not sure where to find these settings, then try checking the software’s official documentation, forums, or social media pages for more information. Depending on your software license, you may also be able to contact customer support or the developer for help.

For more tips on protecting yourself against hackers without triggering the ‘this site can’t be reached’ error, please see our ultimate WordPress security guide.

4. Reset Your Virtual Private Network

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can protect your privacy, keep your information secure, and allow you to visit sites that are blocked or censored in your location.

However, if you’re using a VPN then your connection may drop, or the VPN may not recognize the IP address that you’re using. Some VPNs will reconnect automatically if they encounter a problem, but you may have to reconnect manually.

If you get the ‘site can’t be reached’ error when using a VPN, then we recommend checking your provider’s website or documentation for instructions on how to reset your VPN.

5. Disable Your Proxy Server

A proxy server sits between you and the websites you’re trying to visit. Many people use these ‘middle-man’ servers as an extra layer of security, or to cache data.

If your proxy server can’t connect to a website, then you’ll see the ‘site can’t be reached’ error. You may also get this error if you can’t connect to the proxy server in the first place.

In this case, the easiest fix is to simply disable the proxy server. If you’re on a Mac, then go ahead and click the ‘Apple’ icon in the toolbar.

The System Preferences settings on macOS

Then, select ‘System Preferences…’

In the popup that appears, click on ‘Network.’

Fixing the 'site can't be reached' error in WordPress

In the left-hand menu, select the network where you want to disable the proxy settings.

Once you’ve done that, click on the ‘Advanced…’ button.

The Advanced network settings on Mac

In the popup, simply select the ‘Proxies’ tab.

You can now uncheck all of the protocols listed under ‘Select a protocol to configure.’

The proxy server settings

Finally, click on the ‘OK’ button to save your changes. You can now try visiting the website to see whether you can access it without any problems.

6. Flush Your DNS cache

Similar to the browser cache, your computer stores the IP addresses of all the websites you visit. This means the browser doesn’t have to look up the same IP address multiple times.

This helps websites to load faster, but the cached DNS information can get outdated. This may trigger a ‘site can’t be reached’ error, particularly if the site has moved to a new domain name or you’ve moved WordPress to a new host.

By flushing your DNS cache, you’ll get the very latest information about a website, including its new domain name or address.

To help you out, we’ve created a complete guide on how to clear your DNS cache for Mac, Windows, and Google Chrome.

7. Change Your DNS Server

DNS is like the internet’s phone book. Instead of listing people’s names and phone numbers, the DNS lists domain names and their corresponding IP addresses.

Your internet service provider assigns you a DNS server automatically. However, sometimes this server may be unavailable, or it might have the wrong information.

If your browser doesn’t have a site’s correct address, then you’ll get a ‘this site can’t be reached’ error.

You can solve this problem by switching to a different public DNS server, such as Google Public DNS. You can use any public server you want, but just be aware that the DNS provider will be able to see all the websites you visit.

Many providers also collect personal information, such as your business email address, name, and phone number.

With that being said, it’s smart to research your DNS provider carefully.

Once you’ve found a DNS server that you want to use, it’s time to switch to that server. On Mac, this means selecting the ‘Apple’ icon in the toolbar and then clicking on the ‘System preferences…’ option.

The macOS System preferences...

In the popup that appears, select ‘Network’ and then click on the ‘Advanced…’ button.

Once you’ve done that, open the ‘DNS’ tab.

Fixing the site can't be reached error by changing the DNS server

In the bottom-left corner, click on the ‘+’ button.

This adds a new DNS server with the address 0.0.0.0.

Switching the DNS server settings

You can now go ahead and type in the numbers for the public server that you want to use.

After that, simply click on the ‘OK’ button to save your changes.

Switching to a public DNS server to fix the site can't be reached error

This takes you back to the previous popup.

To start using your new DNS server, click on the ‘Apply’ button.

How to switch to a different DNS server

Finally, you’re ready to visit the website to see whether this has removed the error message.

8. Reset the TCP/IP Settings

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is a set of protocols that control how data is sent and received over the internet.

If there’s a problem with how your internet connection is configured, then renewing your TCP and IP protocol will return the connection to its default settings, which may solve the problem.

To reset the TCP/IP settings on Mac, select the ‘Apple’ icon in the toolbar and then click on ‘System Preferences…’

In the popup that appears, select ‘Network’ and then click on the ‘Advanced…’ button. Once you’ve done that, open the ‘TCP/IP’ tab.

Changing the TCP/IP settings

On this screen, go ahead and click on the ‘Renew DHCP Lease’ button.

That’s it. You can now try visiting the website or blog, to check whether you still get the same ‘site can’t be reached’ error.

What Causes ‘This Site Can’t Be Reached’ Error in WordPress?

There are a few different reasons why you may get this error message, but the code that appears next to the message can help you pinpoint the cause.

Let’s take a closer look at these codes and what they mean for your WordPress blog.

  1. ERR_CONNECTION_RESET

Sometimes, you’ll see an ERR_CONNECTION_RESET code next to the ‘site can’t be reached’ error. Most of the time, this means there’s a problem with your internet connection.

The most obvious problem is an internet outage, but there’s also software and settings that can interfere with the connection and trigger an ERR_CONNECTION_RESET. For example, VPNs and proxy servers can sometimes cause this error code.

  1. DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN

Domain Name System (DNS) lets you connect to websites by matching a user-friendly domain name such as www.wpbeginner.com, with the ID of the server where this website is stored.

You’ll get this error code if Google Chrome can’t resolve the domain name or address for the website that you’re trying to access.

Since it can’t connect, the browser assumes that the domain name doesn’t exist. It then shows a DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error code, where the NXDOMAIN part of the error stands for ‘non-existent domain. ‘

If you see this error code next to the ‘site can’t be reached’ message, then it usually means there’s a problem with how your DNS settings are configured.

To learn more about this error code, please see our guide on how to easily fix the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error.

We hope this article helped you learn how to easily fix ‘this site can’t be reached’ error in WordPress. You can also go through our guide on the difference between domain name and web hosting and the best email marketing for small businesses.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Easily Fix This Site Can’t Be Reached Error in WordPress (8 Ways) first appeared on WPBeginner.

Need help from programmers, experience in V2ray, Flutter, VPN in the develo

this project requires experience in the development field of VPN This project needs to connect to V2board through a VPN application developed in Flutter language to obtain V2board node information and user information. The V2board project has been connected to 70% (project address https://github.com/losgif/sail), we still need to complete the docking of the V2ray protocol or the docking of xray (choose one) to finally realize the VPN function, I hope someone can provide help , of course paid help

The Influence of VPN on Software Development

Software developers enjoy having free access to resources when developing software programs. It is, however, a high level of concern having to deliver the right amount of security and privacy during that process.

Nevertheless, it is of high importance to note that software development is usually prone to security issues due to the peculiarity of developers using their preferred devices. Through the process of using their preferred devices, your local network gets connected to another unrecognized computer that probably has different software applications installed and even a different anti-virus policy.

We All Are Ukraine 🇺🇦

This is not a regular Smashing article. But these aren’t regular times either.

I was born and grew up in Minsk, Belarus. That’s where I spent nights playing Prince of Persia. That’s where I’d wait in front of a bakery nearby for the smell of freshly basked Narochansky bread. That’s also the place where our family went to peaceful protests on the streets, even then back in the 90s heavily suppressed by an armed regime with a brutal force.

I was surrounded by incredible friends from all over. Nobody cared if it was Belarus, Ukraine or Russia, or any other friendly countries in the world. We didn’t have much, but what we did have, we valued enormously. From the collections of wrapping paper of chocolates to huge snowballs we were building all together when it was freezing outside. I remember us reading dictionaries and encyclopedias together, discussing books in book clubs, playing hockey outside, dreaming about the bright future while looking at the sky, together.

Today, people in Ukraine can’t do that. I’ve been dozens of times in Ukraine, and I have very close friends in this wonderful country — incredibly kind and passionate people who want nothing but a better world for their families and the people around them. Some of us here at Smashing have Ukrainian origins, and we have close connections to our Ukrainian friends and colleagues.

What’s happening right now in Ukraine is deeply personal to all of us. It’s shocking and horrifying to see the streets of Ukraine being shelled, civil homes being bombed, people hiding in shelters, people leaving their homes, families torn apart. It’s unimaginable to realize that it’s happening right here, in the heart of Europe, right now.

I strongly believe that there are wonderful people everywhere in the world, and I truly believe that most people are good and kind and supportive and empathetic. And I won’t believe for a moment that any reasonable, decent and honest person can support the actions happening today.

As a design community, we all can’t be silent in these times. We need to be united in our fight against the war, for democracy, for those dreams that children are entitled to have when they are growing up. It’s our obligation to help as much as we can. This should be personal to all of us. And Ukraine needs our help, now.

How Can You Help?

Everybody can make a huge difference:

  • As a merchant, set up a product and donate funds to Ukraine.
    If you run a store, set up a product and allow people to set their own price, then donate funds to Ukraine. A point in case: BackStage Roasters from Lithuania, selling coffee at “you-pay-what-you-want” price, with all collected funds going to Ukraine. Here are some ways to donate.
  • Speak up in your company and organization to support Ukraine.
    Speak in your Slack channels about what your company and organization can do to help Ukraine today. Think about campaigns you could launch to collect funds or donate money.
  • Publish posts showcasing organizations and companies supporting Ukraine.
    Let the voice of the kind people helping out be heard; share the stories of how companies help in these times and share on social media. A great example is Wix.com, with team members driving all the way to the border of Poland-Ukraine, and along with the Polish team helping the Ukrainian co-workers and their families across the border and bring them to safety.
  • Support Ukrainian refugees in your city or country.
    Talk to people around and find out what is needed and donate clothing, shelter, old phones, or anything else that might be of help.
  • Support your Ukrainian friends, loud and clear.
    Make your position clear. Ask your Ukrainian friends and colleagues what they need, and what you can do to help.
  • As a VPN service provider, create special plans for Russian people.
    As social media are being blocked and censored in Russia, we need to help Russian people learn the truth about what’s happening in Ukraine today. You could also write posts explaining how to set up a VPN or use Telegram proxies in Russian.
Donate And Support Ukraine We are donating all proceeds of the Smart Interface Design Patterns PDF to support Ukraine. You can select as many PDFs as you wish when making a purchase.

We all are Ukraine. And we all can make a difference — however small it might appear to be at first. 🇺🇦 ❤️

6 Best Credit Monitoring Services for Small Business (2022)

Are you looking for the best credit monitoring service for your small business?

Credit monitoring is an important topic of discussion among website owners and entrepreneurs because of all the recent data breaches that’s been happening. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), there were 4.7 million identity and credit fraud incidents reported in 2020.

In this article, we have hand-picked some of the best credit monitoring services for your small business that you can use along with your WordPress site.

Best Credit Monitoring Services for Small Business (Compared)

Why Do You Need a Credit Monitoring Service?

With everything going on in the digital security world, it’s absolutely critical that every small business owner and entrepreneur have a credit monitoring service, so you can quickly detect and prevent identity theft and digital fraud.

A good credit monitoring service allows you to do the following:

  • Track your credit reports from all 3 major credit-bureaus and get near real-time alerts for suspicious activities.
  • You can setup bank account monitoring from a single dashboard. Their AI-powered algorithm helps you avoid becoming a victim of bank / credit fraud.
  • The dark web monitoring reports alert you if any of your passwords, social security number, or bank accounts were compromised as part of any data breach, so you can act fast.
  • You get device & wifi security which helps you browse safely wherever you are, and some services also gives you secure password management tools.
  • Easily get help from trained professionals with fraud resolution in case an unfortunate event occurs where any of your financial accounts are compromised.
  • Most credit monitoring services will also offer up to $1 million dollar in insurance to help protect you and your business.

If you are running an online store or a small business website, then adding a credit monitoring service can help you protect your business and bring peace of mind.

Credit theft can significantly hurt a small business’ ability to open bank accounts, borrow money, get a credit card, and even accept online payments.

While it’s easy to think this would never happen to you, in 2020, WPBeginner founder Syed Balkhi, nearly lost $1.4 million dollars due to a digital fraud. 

After months of stress and countless hours, he recovered vast majority of the money with the help of Department of Homeland security, but all of that could have been prevented if everyone involved was using a comprehensive online security solution.

That being said, let’s take a look at the best credit monitoring services for small business owners & entrepreneurs.

1. Aura

Aura Identity Theft Protection Service for Small Business

Aura is the best credit monitoring and identity theft protection service when it comes to features, ease of use, and price.

They offer an all-in-one financial security platform with an easy setup and reasonable pricing. Their user interface makes it easy for small business owners to setup credit monitoring, manage their identity protection, financial protection, and device protection from one single app (mobile or desktop).

Their credit monitoring service includes near-real time credit report monitoring for all three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) which allows you to get instant fraud alerts sometimes up to 4x faster than competition.

The dashboard also includes the ability monitor your credit score, ability to lock your credit profile, financial transaction monitoring, bank account monitoring, 401k & investment account monitoring, and more.

Aside from their credit monitoring service, you also get all the powerful security features like A.I. powered dark web monitoring, identity verification monitoring, personal information and social security number (SSN) monitoring, criminal and court records monitoring.

All plans include a $1 million dollar identity theft insurance policy to cover eligible losses and any fees due to credit fraud or identity theft. Their expert resolution team is U.S. based, and they work 24/7 to help you recover your identity and assets if you’re a victim of fraud.

Pricing for Aura’s credit monitoring service starts from $9 per month for the Individual plan. Their Family group plan costs $25 per month for up to 10 people, and it includes all credit monitoring features as well as VPN + antivirus. These are special pricing for WPBeginner readers and let you save up to 50% off.

Note: We use Aura on WPBeginner as our credit monitoring service. In our experience, Aura is the best credit monitoring and identity theft protection service in the market from both features and pricing point of view.

As a small business owner, we really like that Aura offers a free VPN and Antivirus software to boost our device & wifi security. This really makes them a comprehensive credit monitoring service + digital security solution.

Their VPN (virtual private network) helps secures your internet connection with military-grade encryption wherever you are. It’s very useful when you’re traveling or working from a public place like Starbucks.

Aura Wifi Security - Identity Theft Protection

Expert Review: We believe Aura is the best overall credit monitoring service and identity theft protection solution for small businesses with affordable individual and family plans.

2. Identity Guard

Identity Guard - Identity Protection and Credit Monitoring Service

Identity Guard is another popular credit monitoring service for entrepreneurs, individuals, and families.

Their credit monitoring and identity theft protection platform includes all the standard functionality you would need in their Value plan such as data breach notifications, dark web monitoring (powered by IBM Watson AI), risk management report, high risk transaction monitoring, safe browsing tools, and $1 million insurance with stolen fund reimbursement.

Their Total and Ultra plans include advanced credit protection features as well such as bank account monitoring, credit & debit card monitoring, 401k & investment monitoring, address change monitoring, social media monitoring reports, monthly credit score report, 3-bureau credit monitoring, and 3-bureau annual credit reports.

Identity Guard pricing starts at $7.50 per month for their Value plan and goes up to $25 per month for the Ultra plan.

As a small business owner (employer), you can also purchase credit monitoring services for your team members and make it part of your overall employee benefits package.

In our research, we found that Identity Guard is a very affordable credit monitoring service that also include premium identity theft protection on their higher plans.

However, they currently do not offer Device and Networking protection services like Aura does such as free VPN, antivirus, or a secure password manager.

Expert Review: Identity Guard is the best credit monitoring service for employers.

3. IdentityForce

IdentityForce - Identity Theft Protection Service by Transunion

IdentityForce is a credit monitoring service by TransUnion which is one of the 3 major credit bureaus in the United States. They are consistently rated as a top identity theft protection service on TrustPilot.

As a major credit bureau, TransUnion have advanced credit monitoring and identity theft service solution for consumers, small business owners, as well as large enterprise and government agencies.

While they offer identity theft protection features in their UltraSecure plan, you need to get their more expensive UltraSecure + Credit plan to get the credit monitoring features which includes credit monitoring service for all 3-bureau, credit score tracker, quarterly 3 bureau credit reports and credit scores.

With Identity Guard, you get all the powerful identity theft protection features like smart SSN tracker, bank and credit card activity alerts, dark web monitoring, pay day loan monitoring, social media identity monitoring, medical ID fraud protection, identity threat alerts, and more.

They also have online protection tools to proactively help you fight phishing and keylogging attacks. Their mobile app gives you access to a secure VPN, so you always have a secure internet connection anywhere you go. Other digital securitytools include two-factor authentication, online identity vault, and a secure password manager.

All plans include a $1 million dollar identity theft insurance for stolen fund replacement, and white-glove customer service that can help you resolve any identity fraud case.

Expert Review: IdentityForce is the best credit monitoring service with FICO scores.

4. LifeLock with Norton 360

Norton360 Lifelock - Identity Theft Protection Service

Norton is one of the most popular internet security companies in the world. In 2017, they acquired LifeLock, a well-known credit monitoring service and identity theft protection solution.

Since then they have created a bundle Norton 360 with LifeLock to include all the standard credit monitoring features like dark web monitoring, credit monitoring (across 3 bureaus), SSN & credit alerts, ID verification monitoring, data breach notifications, fictitious identity monitoring, ability to lock your identity, suspicious bank & credit card activity alerts, 401k & investment account monitoring, and more.

Along with credit monitoring, you’ll get the Norton AntiVirus and online threat protection software that includes smart firewall, cloud backup, parental controls, privacy monitor, and a secure VPN service.

Their plans include identity theft protection insurance ranging from $25,000 to $1 million depending on the plan you choose.

Norton360 with LifeLock select plan starts at $9.99 per month, but it offers credit monitoring for only 1 bureau. To get comprehensive credit monitoring service from all 3 bureaus, you’ll need the Ultimate Plus plan which costs $29.99 per month.

You could also purchase LifeLock as a standalone credit monitoring service, but it will cost $8.99 per month for one-bureau credit monitoring and $23.99 per month for three-bureau credit monitoring. Also these plans will not include any of the advanced device security features that Norton offers.

If you’re already a Norton user, then upgrading to Norton360 with LifeLock offers the best value for the money.

Expert Review: If you’re already a Norton customer, then LifeLock is the best credit monitoring service for you because you can upgrade for a small premium.

5. IdentityIQ

IdentityIQ - Identity Theft Protection Software

IdentityIQ is another popular credit monitoring service for small business owners that also include anti-virus software and VPN for online privacy.

Their credit monitoring service include all the standard features you would expect such as 3-bureau credit report monitoring, dark web & internet monitoring, lost wallet assistance, synthetic ID theft protection, up to $1 million dollar identity theft insurance to cover stolen fund reimbursement and offer coverage for lawyers and experts expenses.

The SecureMax plan also offers additional features like enhanced credit report monitoring, alerts on crimes committed in your name, credit score tracker, credit score simulator, and family protection with ID fraud restoration.

One of the big reasons for credit fraud is lack of device & network security, so IdentityIQ includes Bitdefender premium VPN for up to 10 devices as well as Bitdefender total security anti-virus and anti-spyware to help protect your computers. They also offer a password manager for Windows OS, but doesn’t have it for Mac.

Expert Review: IdentityIQ the best credit monitoring service if you’re looking for Bitdefender total security software to be included. Their pricing is a bit on the higher end with SecureMax plan starting at $30.99 per month.

6. Experian IdentityWorks

Experian IdentityWorks - Credit Monitoring Service

Experian is one of the 3 major credit bureaus in the US, and they offer a premium credit monitoring service called IdentityWorks.

Their credit monitoring platform has built-in dark web surveillance that does daily scans of over 600,000 web pages to detect if any of your information is stolen.

You will get near real-time credit fraud alerts through their system if they notice any suspicious activity around your social security number, financial accounts, payday loans, false identity validations, social network monitoring, and more.

As one of the 3-bureaus that issue a FICO credit score, Experian will send you daily FICO scores from Experian and quarterly credit score updates from the other credit bureaus. This makes it easy for you to track your actual credit score without any extra cost.

Experian credit monitoring service also makes it easy to lock and unlock your Experian credit file within few clicks. This is a huge time saver because locking credit file is the ultimate credit protection.

IdentityWorks Premium pricing starts at $19.99 per month, and it includes the $1 million dollar identity theft protection insurance which is underwritten by AIG.

You can also get a family plan for $29.99 per month that includes two adults and up to 10 children identity protection.

The downside of Experian is that it does not offer any device or network security features.

Expert Review: Experian’s IdentityWorks platform offer a reliable credit monitoring service with standard identity theft protection features. However they are lacking the modern digital security features that you get with Aura or Norton360.

Which is the Best Credit Protection Service? (Expert Pick)

After carefully research all the top credit monitoring services, we believe that Aura is the best credit monitoring service for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

They offer the most affordable pricing with the most advanced credit monitoring and identity theft features.

The best part is that aside from comprehensive financial fraud protection features, they also include robust device & WiFi security apps to better protect you against cyberthreats.

At WPBeginner, we believe that security is all about risk reduction. Using the Aura smart digital security app, you get military-grade encryption for your online data, so you can have maximum online security.

That’s why, we use Aura in our business, and rate Aura as the #1 best credit monitoring service in the market.

We hope this article helped you find the best credit monitoring service for your small business. You may also want to see our comparison of the best business phone services and best website builder for small business.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

Source: We got our identity theft statistics from the U.S. FTC 2020 Consumer Sentinel Network report.

The post 6 Best Credit Monitoring Services for Small Business (2022) first appeared on WPBeginner.

Creating Secure Private Networks With ZeroTier VPN

Introduction

Connecting remotely to computers remains a challenge.  The industry’s response to that is VPN.  ZeroTier is a popular VPN platform for creating secure private networks.  It helps safely connect to your machines from anywhere in the world and safely access servers in the cloud. It enables intranet applications for external users. Last but not least, it can be used to provide remote assistance to family and friends, while keeping them safe from bad wolves out there.

Best of all, ZeroTier is free for up to 50 connected machines. Ability to manage it with REST API and scripts makes it particularly interesting for advanced users.

Theory on the VPN

Hi DW.

I'm a bit confused and lost on how this App is working called Ha Tunnel Plus (You can check it on Playstore, and have a look on YouTube for the configuration file). Basically it somehow uses the internet connection of the server, it tunnels it to your Android device and you can be connected to the internet without having data on your mobile network sim card, but you can use internet just like you would normally do except that this is not limited on how much data you as a user is using.

I tried playing around with the bunch of source codes I found on github but they don't connect, so since I was trying to connect using on of the IP address that worked on Ha Tunnel Plus, I thought it would also work in my App but it didin't, and I thing that .hat configuration file is the certificate because I found some encrypted data but it just text.

In my case I want to be able to limit this internet access only to my App, also be able to dynamically change this so the entire phone can use it. I don't want a user to select the countries nor see it rather randomly do that at the background, but first thing first. for this kind is it reversing internet connetion or what? How does this work exactly because others I saw they work only if you have data otherwise it doesn't connect. Another that I saw from YouTube to be working is NPK Tunnel, TLS Injector. Anyone know how these Apps work?

Thank you.

Best Network Security Software

Is your malware protection service not cutting it? Do you want more than basic protection for your network?

Poor security for your devices can lead to disaster. You need network security software that defends against all kinds of attacks.

Network security software gives you way more than just virus protection. It comes with features from ransomware protection to VPN access to ensure you don’t get caught with your guard down.

Different providers offer different features, and not all of them will benefit you. But you can still get software within your budget that has everything you need.

To help you choose, check out the best network security software of 2020.

The Top 7 Best Network Security Software Solutions

  1. Kaspersky Total Security-Best for Adaptive Security
  2. Bitdefender Total Security-Best for Comprehensive Features
  3. Webroot Internet Security Plus-Best for Fast Performance
  4. Norton 360 Deluxe-Best for Protecting Multiple Devices
  5. ESET Smart Security Premium-Best for Configurable Settings
  6. McAfee Total Protection-Best for Identity Theft Monitoring
  7. Trend Micro Maximum Security-Best for User-Friendly Security

Finding the right network security system for you means knowing what each one does best. Check out our reviews of these solutions to help you make a decision that protects you.

#1 Kaspersky Total Security—Best for Adaptive Security

  • Stop attacks in real time
  • Keylogger protection for Windows
  • GPS child locator
  • Starts at $44.99
Try it today!

Kaspersky is one of the biggest names in network security, and for a good reason. It has adaptive protection that can tell you when you have a weak password and stops network attacks in real-time.

Kaspersky’s keylogger protection for Windows helps you guard your sensitive data, like banking and financial information. With a VPN to encrypt data using a 128-bit AES cipher, it hides your IP address so that no one can track your browsing habits. Plus, the anti-hacking feature prevents ransomware from getting into your network.

Kaspersky Total Security updates your software, protects you from unauthorized webcam use, and backs up your files. The software comes with a firewall, but it won’t bother you with popups. You can even use the Safe Kids module to set up parental controls if you need them.

With proactive detection as part of a three-layer defense, Kaspersky identifies and locates your device’s vulnerabilities and potential threats, then blocks cyber threats and removes immediate dangers.

Kaspersky Total Security is their best protection, starting at $44.99 with features like:

  • GPS child locator
  • File protection
  • Password manager

You can use this package for up to five devices with Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android operating systems.

The Total Security package doesn’t cost much more than Kaspersky’s regular anti-virus package, and it lets you configure your protection. The small bump in price makes it worth the premium protection.

#2 Bitdefender Total Security—Best for Comprehensive Features

  • Up to 56% off
  • Firewall + virus & ransomware protection
  • Uses AI to detect threats
  • Starts at $39.98
Try it today!

If you’re looking for tons of features, you can stop here.

Bitdefender Total Security gives you a more comprehensive range of them than any other network security system available, including:

  • Antivirus
  • Ransomware protection
  • Firewall
  • Wi-Fi security advisor
  • Safepay for online banking
  • File shredder
  • Password manager
  • Vulnerability scanner
  • Webcam and microphone protection
  • Parental controls

If you’re not impressed yet, Bitdefender uses AI to anticipate and detect threats, and then it blocks them before you even know they exist. It even keeps its resource use low, so you won’t notice any lag when using your device.

Bitdefender’s VPN encrypts internet traffic, so you can browse anonymously and keep your data away from prying eyes. Its anti-phishing software also makes sure no one can steal your information in disguise.

You can cover up to five devices with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android for $39.98. And if you don’t want any interruptions, just set it to work, gaming, or movie mode. Bitdefender will talk to you when you’re ready.

#3 Webroot Internet Security Plus—Best for Fast Performance

  • Simple software
  • Master password encryption
  • Firewall and anti-ransomware
  • Starts at $44.99/year
Try it today!

Webroot Internet Security Plus with antivirus gives you super lightweight software for your devices. It barely affects performance and may even speed up your device when security threats don’t weigh it down. Its speedy scan times protect you without the wait.

With real-time anti-phishing, Webroot’s software blocks threats online instantly. Combine that with its firewall and anti-ransomware, and you have comprehensive protection for your device. With the LastPass password manager and constant identity theft protection, your personal information stays secure in your network.

Webroot operates with Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, but check the features that come with each operating system. The iOS app is a little more limited than the rest in that it doesn’t come with malware scanning.

You get protection for three devices with Internet Security Plus for $44.99 per year, or you can upgrade to Internet Security Complete for 5 devices for $59.99 per year. The Complete package includes a few additional features, such as eliminating traces of your online activities and giving you 25GB of secure online storage.

If you’re not satisfied, the company offers a 70-day money-back guarantee.

#4 Norton 360 Deluxe—Best for Protecting Multiple Devices

  • Protect up to 5 devices
  • Integrated VPN
  • School Time setting
  • Starts at $39.99/year
Try it today!

Norton 360 Deluxe comes with many of the features you’d expect of a high-quality network security system. But it gives them an upgrade.

While its protection for up to five devices isn’t unique on its own, its integrated VPN is. You keep everyone on your network safe while saving money when you don’t have to buy a separate VPN. This protection works for all your devices, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

Norton 360 Deluxe has SafeCam webcam monitoring, dark web protection for US users, and some of the best parental controls on the market. You can track your kids’ device usage with in-depth monitoring and mobile device GPS tracking. The parental controls even include a School Time setting, which minimizes distractions so that your child can study in peace.

With a 50GB cloud backup, you can make sure none of your data gets lost. The smart firewall detects and predicts threats, so you don’t have to worry about anyone invading your network. Norton 360 Deluxe comes with online threat protection, including Wi-Fi, to fill in any holes in your network.

You can get Norton 360 Deluxe for $39.99 per year. Norton does have more advanced packages with credit monitoring, fictitious identity protection, and court records scanning. But unless you’re exceptionally concerned about your protection, Deluxe gives you more than enough.

#5 ESET Smart Security Premium—Best for Configurable Settings

  • Password manager
  • Protect from phishing
  • Anti-theft on laptop
  • Starts at $59.99
Try it today!

ESET looks out for you even when you’re not using your device. With exceptionally secure data protection and password management, you have everything you need to keep your information safe.

ESET Smart Security Premium has antivirus software that protects you from phishing and ransomware to secure your confidential information. It encrypts your files and removable media, and it comes with an anti-theft system for your laptop.

If you’re a network security software geek, you’ll like ESET’s flexible configurations. You can choose what you want to protect and how. Set it up to tell you what you want to know and leave out what you don’t.

Though the Advanced Protection is the most popular (and a little cheaper), the Smart Security package goes the extra mile to keep you safe with features like:

  • Password safety
  • Storage features
  • Photo encryption

If you have kids and need parental controls, ESET might not be your top choice. The controls are there, but they’re pretty basic.

With 110 million users worldwide, ESET is a trusted name in the network security system industry. Its Smart Security Premium works on Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux.

You can get this package for $59.99 per year for one device, though you’ll have to pay an extra $10 for every additional device you plan to cover. If you want to see whether it’s worth it, you can try the software free for 30 days.

#6 McAfee Total Protection—Best for Identity Theft Monitoring

  • Creat private connections
  • Identity theft monitoring
  • Wi-Fi protection
  • Browse safely
Try it today!

With no VPN usage limit, McAfee Total Protection turns any unsecured network into a private connection. It offers some of the most high-class anti-virus software on the market. With over 500 million customers, McAfee is one of the oldest and most trusted names in the network security business.

This Individual & Couples package comes with identity theft monitoring, which many other reasonably priced network security systems don’t. This multi-layered protection tells you if your information gets leaked on the internet and stores your passwords to make sure you and your personal data aren’t vulnerable to fraud.

McAfee keeps cookies and temporary files out with award-winning performance and even pauses annoying auto-play videos for you. You can configure its firewall to keep out the right stuff and only alert you when you want it to.

This software has tools designed to boost your device’s performance and prevent any slow-down that comes with extra protection. It even makes it easy to see potentially dangerous sites by color-coding links.

You can get protection for up to five devices for $24.99 per year with a two-year subscription on the Individual & Couples plan. Don’t limit yourself to the single-device version, as this one is only $5 more per year, and you get more devices and features. However, for just $29.95 per year, you could also go with the Family plan for 10 devices, and includes their Safe Family feature for mass protection.

#7 Trend Micro Maximum Security—Best for User-Friendly Security

  • User-friendly interface
  • Protect up to 5 devices
  • 50% discount
  • Starting at $39.95
Try it today!

Trend Micro Maximum Security’s user-friendly interface makes it easy for anyone without deep tech knowledge to get the protection they need. It’s streamlined and easy to configure, so it works well for beginners who want to tailor their security without complication.

With multi-layer anti-ransomware and above-average URL filtering, this software makes you feel safe while you browse. And social network protection lets you interact online without worrying about someone stealing your information.

Trend has countermeasures to guard against data theft and a vault that lets you safely store confidential or personal files. Its integrated password manager means it remembers your passwords, so you don’t put your information at risk. It even gives you parental controls, so your kids stay safe, too.

If you’re looking for something more advanced, Trend Micro Maximum Security might not be your thing. While you can configure its features to work for you, it doesn’t have the low-level flexibility that some tech gurus want. That’s the trade-off for beginner-friendly software.

You can cover up to five devices for $39.95 per year. If you want to try it before you buy, you can test it out with a 30-day free trial.

How to Find the Best Network Security Software for You

When you need network security software, it helps to know what makes it perform better. Protection varies between packages and companies, so make sure you do your research before you buy. Consider these security features when you look.

Access Control

Access control lets only authorized users you choose into your network. It also gives you the ability to limit access for other users as much as necessary.

This feature ensures that even people you want to access your network can’t become potential security threats. With it, you can allow certain users access only to specific parts of the network to avoid any disasters.

Anti-Malware Protection

Anti-malware protection guards against viruses, trojans, spyware, and other threats trying to infect your system. Anti-malware software identifies the threats before they get into your device and corrupt files or steal your information.

Malware infections can render your device useless over time, making it all the more important to have a high-quality anti-malware feature.

Data Loss Prevention

Data loss prevention helps guard against human error—yes, even yours. It makes sure that your data stays protected so that you don’t lose it by mistake. It also keeps a watchful eye to ensure no external threats compromise your personal information.

Firewalls

Firewalls manage traffic so that authorized traffic has the access it needs, and unauthorized traffic can’t get through. In other words, it protects the border between your network and the internet.

Firewalls ensure you don’t experience any unwanted network traffic and block threats from unsecured websites early, so your device keeps running the way it should.

Virtual Private Network

A virtual private network (VPN) is one of the most essential features when upgrading your security from a basic package. It authenticates all devices within the network, as well as the people accessing them.

VPNs make sure no one else can see what happens within your network without permission. That also prevents you from becoming a target of online threats.

Web and Wireless Security

You need access to the internet, but you want to make sure your device is safe while you’re online. Web and wireless security ensure that you can access the internet without risk through your network.

This type of protection prevents threats from using your browser to target you. And since wireless networks are generally less secure than others, a network security system should give you extra protection.

Summary

Whether you need a network security system package that keeps your PC running at top speed or your smartphone on its toes, each of the tools on this list has something to offer. Your software should give you the most comprehensive protection possible. Plus, you want great value for your money.

Consider how the options stack up against the basic and more advanced features you want. Before you buy, test the software and research its strengths and weaknesses.

Then, choose one based on the protection you get for the number of devices you need.

The best network security software should guard your devices at their most vulnerable, no matter where that is.

Ping a server on a VPN network.

Hello All,

I've only just started to develope some code in VB.net and i have very little experience in it and some of the "instructional" web pages are very confusing to my dyslexic mind.

The scenario is as follows: -

I am connected to a server via VPN, but the connection speed to the server is kind of erratic. The CAD software I use in my day job, is quite processor hungry/dependent and sometimes the CAD software will stop working as it processes work/commands. Sometimes the issue is not the CAD software, but the latency of the VPN connection (this is not at my end, but the server connection). When the CAD stops working, I start a command prompt window and ping the server and get something like the following.

Ping.jpg

I would like to do something similar in vb.net.

I have a user form with a button on it to ping the cad server and this works and I can get a single result.

This uses the following code (which I have borrowed from somewhere):

    Private Sub OnePingCadSvr_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles OnePingCadSvr.Click

        Dim host As String = "0.0.0.0"
        Dim pingreq As Ping = New Ping()
        Dim rep As PingReply = pingreq.Send(host)
        Dim SingleRoundtripTime As Long

        Console.WriteLine("Pinging {0} [{1}]", host, rep.Address.ToString())
        Console.WriteLine("Reply From {0} : time={1} TTL={2}", rep.Address.ToString(), rep.RoundtripTime, rep.Options.Ttl)
        PingHost.Text = "Reply From: " & rep.Address.ToString()
        PingHost.Refresh()
        PingRoundTrip.Text = "Round Trip Time: " & rep.RoundtripTime & "ms" ' & rep.Options.Ttl
        PingRoundTrip.Refresh()
        System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(1500)

    End Sub

If I try to run this 4 times in a FOR loop, the round trip time is exactly the same time for each iteration of the loop i.e. If I get 27ms for the first iteration, it will be the same value for the remaining iterations, whereas manually repeating a single ping, 4 times, I get slightly different speeds (as I would expect) and more inline with the cmd ping.

It almost feels like I need to reset something before each iteration of the FOR loop starts, but I dont have a clue.

I have tried using google and I've gone through lots of different web sites and not come up with a solution, this is mainly because I don't really understand the syntax

Can anyone help?

I also realise that my code is probably not the best, but Im trying to learn as I go.

Thanks in advance, Steve

How to Make a Raspberry Pi VPN Server

The Raspberry Pi has a ton of different uses. Since it's small and energy-efficient, uses such as a network-attached storage (NAS) device, media server, game server, smart home hub, or any number of Internet of Things (IoT) projects run extremely well on the Raspberry Pi. Since the credit-card-sized Raspberry Pi sports a tiny footprint and sips power, it's ideal for an always-on device. And with superb internet connectivity, whether running on a wireless network or via a wired Ethernet port, the Pi is suitable for handling network traffic. Learn how to build a Raspberry Pi VPN (virtual private network) server!

What Is a VPN and Why Should You Use One?

Ok, so what is a VPN? It's a virtual private network, a means of connecting to the internet with a secure, private connection. Rather than using your IP address, network traffic is routed through a gateway server, so you'll have a public-facing IP address of another location. For instance, you might be located in New York City, but with your VPN, making it look as if you're connecting in London, UK.

5 Best ERP Software for Businesses of All Sizes

Software abbreviations are typically easy to understand. CRM (customer relationship management), CMS (content management system), VPN (virtual private network), and the many other software available are fairly simple to dissect from their names. But what about best ERP software?