What is a VPN and why should I care?

During our first year at USC, we are introduced to many resources and services that are quite useful; thankfully, we can use them no matter where we are located in the world during our program. Among them is a well hidden service - a free VPN.

So… what is it?
VPN is short for Virtual Private Network. It secures your internet connection and encrypts the data that you’re sending and receiving across a network, making it a safe way to transfer private information. USC’s VPN also provides you with a USC IP Address, and you know what that means. All those applications that deny you access because you are out of the US? No more. The USC IP address serves as a gateway for you to access all those services freely, regardless your location. That’s right: Netflix, HBOgo, Hulu+, Pandora, will all work once you set up that VPN - until you graduate. WatchESPN let’s anyone who’s on a college network to watch live feed for free. Trojan football games anyone?

How do you get this VPN?!

Go to USC’s VPN overview website, there you’ll find all the information you need.

HOWEVER, the tutorial for using USC’s VPN on iOS devices is outdated, so I’m going to show you how to do it right here.

Go get your iPhone or iPad right now and follow these steps (don’t worry, it will take you only a minute):

1. Open your device, and go to Settings
2. Scroll down to General
3. Scroll down to VPN
4. At the bottom, press on “Add VPN Configuration…”
5. Now a window will pull up. At the top make sure you highlight IPSec, which is the integrated cisco client on the device
6. Now time to input information:
1. Description: (Put whatever you want to identify this VPN)
2. Server: sslvpn.usc.edu
3. Account: your USC username (i.e. ttrojan)
4. Password: your associated password
5. Group Name: Wireless
6. Secret: GoTrojan
7. Save your configuration!

If you put in the information correctly, the VPN should turn on after a few seconds. You may be prompted for your password every time you turn the VPN on.

That’s it! Now just open your location-restricted app, and have fun.

If you have any problems, feel free to post a comment below and I’ll do my best to help you out.