The 7 Minute Server: Build Your Own VPN

*** Updated for 2019, latest versions of OpenVPN, Apache, and OSSEC ***You've heard the hype about using a VPN to keep your online communications private...now get ready to build your own VPN server! With this guide, you'll be able to install and connect to your own inexpensive, secure, private OpenVPN server in the cloud in minutes (we say seven minutes...but clocked it at 5:59 when running the whole process from a smartphone!).Along the way, we'll tunnel even deeper as you install, harden, test, and secure your own OpenVPN server on Amazon Web Services and configure it to work with an array of operating systems and mobile devices. You'll also learn how to install and harden Apache HTTP server to host your configuration files, configure your system to block advertising networks for any connected device, and will install and customize intrusion detection software to monitor your system. You'll gain familiarity with Amazon Web Services, network and command line tools in Linux, and basic networking concepts. While this guide is geared towards the novice, anyone looking to kickstart their own OpenVPN deployment should find something worthwhile here!