NordVPN Finally Gets a Proper GUI On Linux (betanews.com) 34
BrianFagioli shares a report from BetaNews: For years, NordVPN made Linux users live in the terminal. Sure, the command-line interface technically worked, but let's not pretend it was ideal for everyone. Meanwhile, competitors like Surfshark and ExpressVPN had already given their Linux users full graphical interfaces. Now, NordVPN has finally caught up by launching its very own GUI for Linux. So, what exactly does this mean? Well, instead of typing in commands, users can now click their way through connection options, settings, and even theme preferences like light or dark mode. This will arguably make using the service on Linux much easier. [...]
Just like on Windows and macOS, the NordVPN GUI lets you quickly connect to servers, activate features, and monitor your connection in a clean, modern interface. And yes, those features include fan favorites like Dedicated IP, Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, Kill Switch, and Threat Protection. In other words, the features are the same, only easier to access now. That said, some advanced tools, like Meshnet, are still CLI-only for the time being. But at least now there's a choice. And if you want to stick to the terminal, don't worry, that option hasn't gone away.
Just like on Windows and macOS, the NordVPN GUI lets you quickly connect to servers, activate features, and monitor your connection in a clean, modern interface. And yes, those features include fan favorites like Dedicated IP, Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, Kill Switch, and Threat Protection. In other words, the features are the same, only easier to access now. That said, some advanced tools, like Meshnet, are still CLI-only for the time being. But at least now there's a choice. And if you want to stick to the terminal, don't worry, that option hasn't gone away.
So what does this mean? (Score:5, Insightful)
It means there are a lot of desktop Linux users now.
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Probably. Real linux users prefer the command line ...
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Absolutely *this*. I love the tinkering and granularity of my Gentoo system, all of which requires setting shit up through terminal. Doesn't mean I don't appreciate the convenience of a GUI for most things. And if Linux is ever truly going to break through into being a daily-driver for the average Joe, shit like familiar and easy-to-parse GUIs are going to be a requirement. it does NOT remove the ability to fall back to (or even lead with) shells and CLIs.
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The truth hurts! Now waste more mod-points on me...
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Really? Because my main desktop is a headless Ubuntu build with GUI apps. There's a reason aliasing is a thing.
I guess there's a difference between you and "real Linux users".
Re: So what does this mean? (Score:2)
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Linux Mint and NordVPN user here. TBH the command line stuff doesn't bother me that much. But I've spent my life in computers.
Linux doesn't suck any worse than Windows, and it's beginning (with Win11) to look like a better option.
(Linux user since the early 2000s)
Noobs (Score:3)
I wrote my own VPN. Real men write their own VPN. Nee nee nee nee
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That's great but you have to host it somewhere too.
Re:Noobs (Score:4, Funny)
Simple: With your own VPN you only talk to yourself for extra security!
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Just host it at home. Simple, secure, nothing could possibly go wrong.
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How will hosting your VPN at home address the main selling point of Nord that you can anonymously appear to be based in a whole list of other countries?
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Maybe he's a gypsy.
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\Sarcasm
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Hiding from your ISP and hiding among the crowd are distinct goals.
Sometimes you need one or the other and sometimes both.
Light/Dark mode ... (Score:3, Funny)
Yes that was the killer feature I was waiting for.
Wireguard import (Score:2)
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It can't yet do server selection or failover.
This would be great to standardize.
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VPNs are not useful for most people (Score:4, Informative)
The most common reasons people use public-commercial VPNs are not actually good reasons - the main valid reason is to get access to content limited to other countries.
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The most common reasons people use public-commercial VPNs are not actually good reasons - the main valid reason is to get access to content limited to other countries.
That is actually copyright infringement too. Not that I care, just sayin.
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No it's not, if you are paying for the service then it's not copyright infringement. However you are very likely breaching the terms and conditions of the streaming provider, and that might get you banned or similar.
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Members of the entertainment industry (including broadcasters and studios) have contended that the use of VPNs and similar services to evade geo-blocking by online video services is a violation of copyright laws, as the foreign service does not hold the rights to make their content available in the user’s country, thus infringing and undermining the rights held by a local rightsholder (Gallagher, 2014). Accessing online video services from outside th
Ads (Score:1)
Why? (Score:2)
A good VPN should integrate with the system network UI. Almost all VPN do this, as the Linux network manager can configure openvpn. No need for a vendor UI with unknown bugs in it.
Also: Don't use NordVPN. They raise a lot of red flags.
Re: Why? (Score:2)
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The flipside is the clients having security issues. Some providers give you for example just a zip with wireguard configs. You then unpack it and do "wg-up xyvpn-servers-france-123". At least for us nerds that's not more complicated than searching for a france server in an UI.