Secure public Wi-Fi

I quite often use 'free' wi-fi in coffee shops, pubs etc and it has not escaped my attention that anyone with a port scanner etc could capture login details of any sites I visit.

I know that I could subscribe to a VPN but I quite fancy having a go at "rolling my own" as I have a spare PC at home, running ubuntu 14.04, which could make a nice VPN server. I also have an HP Proliant N54L running a version of the Synology DSM (Xpenology) which has VPN server capabilities.

However.... once I connect (securely) to my home LAN, I guess I would need some form of DNS running on the LAN so as to serve requests to the 'net and to then relay them, once received, back across the VPN to whichever device I am using (phone, iPad, laptop, netbook etc) in the coffee shop.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best way to achieve this. Although I used to do a lot of unix system administration, it has been over 20 years since I edited any config files in anger and what knowledge I did once have has faded in line with the receding of my hairline - hence something simple under ubuntu would be the preferred solution, but NOT using a commercial package such as log-me-in if at all possible.

Thanks, in advance, for your help......

I think the VPN would use the same DNS on the server automagically

Edited by deleted (Mon 08-Sep-14 22:52:11)

Great link in your sig BatBoy

Thanks.

I mean my router just seems to work. I can't imagine all the VPN software writers haven't solved that problem already.

I'll reply to you rather than the OP as this is a bit naughty but...

DirectAccess - who has time to click the connect button?

I'm sure Ubuntu offers some me-too functionality. Funnily enough my router runs on Debian.