#vpn guide

I’ve been asked to put together a VPN guide, especially since Emmerdale episodes are being uploaded to YouTube. This guide will also works perfectly well for accessing ITVX and the BBC iPlayer.

What is a VPN?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a service that helps you stay private and secure online by creating a secure, encrypted connection between your device and the internet. For this purpose, we're interested in the fact that VPN's can bypass geo-restrictions and allow you to access things you wouldn't normally be able to.

Which VPN should I use?

There are plenty of VPNs out there. I'll be giving three options. Everything I mention here is something I’ve personally used or that my partner's used and tested. While there may be other great options available, I won’t recommend anything I can't vouch for.

As far as I'm concerned, if you can afford to invest in a VPN, I would because I think it's worth the money. I use it alot while out in public, when accessing public wifis, such as in cafe's and airports to protect my data. It does a lot more than just bypass geo locations.

ExpressVPN

I've been using ExpressVPN since 2014, long before I moved to the UK. This is the VPN I used during 2014-2019 era to watch Emmerdale. While it's not the cheapest option out there, I think it's worth every penny because the customer support is great.

Pricing: Starts around €6.40/month (billed annually)

Pros: Fast, reliable, great customer service

Cons: Pricier than others

ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN offers both a free and paid plan. While the free version is useful, it's very limited, you can't choose your server location, which makes it tricky if you're trying to access specific content. For streaming or location-specific browsing, you'll need the paid plan.

Pricing: Paid plans start around €4.99/month

Pros: Strong privacy reputation, has a free option

Cons: Free plan is very restricted

Surf Shark

My partner swears by Surf Shark. It’s the most affordable of the three, with plans starting at just €1.99/month. Despite the low cost, he’s never had a single issue with it so far.

Pricing: From €1.99/month (with long-term plans)

Pros: Budget-friendly, reliable performance

Cons: Slightly fewer server options than premium VPNs

** add on **

Windscribe

@srtazombie has recommended Windscribe, which has a free version, that let's you use up to 10GB monthly.

Tutorial

For this tutorial I'm going to use Surf Shark because it is the cheapest of the three options.

Open your browser and go to: https://surfshark.com

Click on “Get Surfshark” on the homepage.

You’ll see 3 plan options. The 2-year plan (€1.99/month) is the cheapest.

Click “Select” under your preferred plan.

Enter your email address.

Choose a Payment Method. You can pay with: Credit/debit card, PayPal, Google Pay and Apple Pay.

Enter your payment details.

Click “Complete Purchase”.

You’ll get a confirmation email right after purchase.

After payment, you’ll be directed to a page to download the Surfshark app.

Choose your device: Windows / Mac / Linux, Android / iOS or browser extension (Chrome, Firefox, Edge). You can also find Surfshark in the App Store or Google Play Store.

Open the Surfshark app.

Enter the email and password you used when signing up. If you didn’t set a password during checkout, check your email, Surfshark will have sent you a link to create one.

Connect to a Server. Inside the app, click “Connect” to use the fastest server. Or choose a country from the list (e.g., US, UK, Germany, etc.).

For the UK you can pick from: London, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Then try it out and go to YT and see if it works. If one server is down, just change between them until one works.

Personally, I haven’t come across any free VPNs that work well for changing your geo-location to stream regularly. Most either don’t let you choose the country, or they have extremely limited monthly data, making it impossible to watch shows like Emmerdale, which airs five days a week. For that reason, free VPNs just don’t cut it for daily streaming.

Free Wi-Fi is everywhere — in airports, hotels, and coffee shops. But what most people don’t know is that public networks are the easiest way for hackers to steal your data. From stolen passwords to compromised bank details, using unsecured Wi-Fi can be risky. A VPN solves this problem by encrypting your internet connection, making it impossible for snoopers to see what you’re doing online. Whether you’re working remotely, checking emails, or streaming videos while traveling, a VPN ensures your browsing stays private and your accounts remain secure. If you’re a digital nomad, frequent traveler, or just someone who values privacy, a VPN is no longer optional — it’s essential.

Explore how to use a VPN for enhanced online security and privacy using step-by-step instructions.

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