Lazza · September 20, 2025 00:34 · Nov 26, 2022 · Jun 29, 2017 · May 20, 2016 · May 17, 2016
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,15 @@
+# This script is NOT MAINTAINED
+
+This snippet of code was posted in 2014 and slightly revised in 2016 and 2017. It was more of a quick'n'dirty script than a polished tool. It is made **only for Linux** and in Python 2, which has since become outdated.
+
+I currently do not use it, and I suggest you avoid it as well. **Please do not expect support for using this script.**
+
+🔥 If you need an alternative, [@glaucocustodio](https://github.com/glaucocustodio) has kindly suggested [EasyVPN](https://github.com/rodrigogs/easyvpn) in [this comment](https://gist.github.com/Lazza/bbc15561b65c16db8ca8?permalink_comment_id=4381847#gistcomment-4381847).
+
+The rest of the README is left for historical purposed.
+
+----
+
 # vpngate.py
 
 This script allows to use the free VPN service provided by [VPNGate](http://www.vpngate.net/en/) in an easy way. The user just needs to provide the desidered output country, and the script automatically chooses the best server.

diff --git a/vpngate.py b/vpngate.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 supported = [s for s in desired if len(s[-1]) > 0]
 print str(len(supported)) + ' of these servers support OpenVPN'
 # We pick the best servers by score
-winner = sorted(supported, key=lambda s: s[2], reverse=True)[0]
+winner = sorted(supported, key=lambda s: float(s[2].replace(',','.')), reverse=True)[0]
 
 print "\n== Best server =="
 pairs = zip(labels, winner)[:-1]

diff --git a/vpngate.py b/vpngate.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
 
 f = open(path, 'w')
 f.write(base64.b64decode(winner[-1]))
-f.write('\nup /etc/openvpn/update-resolv-conf\ndown /etc/openvpn/update-resolv-conf')
+f.write('\nscript-security 2\nup /etc/openvpn/update-resolv-conf\ndown /etc/openvpn/update-resolv-conf')
 f.close()
 
 x = subprocess.Popen(['sudo', 'openvpn', '--config', path])

diff --git a/vpngate.py b/vpngate.py
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@
 
 f = open(path, 'w')
 f.write(base64.b64decode(winner[-1]))
+f.write('\nup /etc/openvpn/update-resolv-conf\ndown /etc/openvpn/update-resolv-conf')
 f.close()
 
 x = subprocess.Popen(['sudo', 'openvpn', '--config', path])

diff --git a/vpngate.py b/vpngate.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
     i = 5 # long name for country
 else:
     print 'Country is too short!'
+    exit(1)
 
 try:
     vpn_data = requests.get('http://www.vpngate.net/api/iphone/').text.replace('\r','')

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Description
+# vpngate.py
 
 This script allows to use the free VPN service provided by [VPNGate](http://www.vpngate.net/en/) in an easy way. The user just needs to provide the desidered output country, and the script automatically chooses the best server.
 

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ Moreover, the script allows to input countries with **any case** (`Italy`, `ital
 
 Here is a short Youtube video showcasing an example usage:
 
-[![YT video](http://img.youtube.com/vi/3OFwxkxN_HI/0.jpg)](http://youtu.be/3OFwxkxN_HI)
+[![YT video](http://i.imgur.com/WxbOiOT.png)](http://youtu.be/3OFwxkxN_HI)
 
 # Requirements
 

diff --git a/vpngate.py b/vpngate.py
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@
 
 
 if len(sys.argv) != 2:
-	print 'usage: ' + sys.argv[0] + ' [country name | country code]'
-	exit(1)
+    print 'usage: ' + sys.argv[0] + ' [country name | country code]'
+    exit(1)
 country = sys.argv[1]
 
 if len(country) == 2:
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 found = len(desired)
 print 'Found ' + str(found) + ' servers for country ' + country
 if found == 0:
-	exit(1)
+    exit(1)
 
 supported = [s for s in desired if len(s[-1]) > 0]
 print str(len(supported)) + ' of these servers support OpenVPN'
@@ -71,6 +71,6 @@
         x.kill()
     except:
         pass
-	while x.poll() != 0:
-		time.sleep(1)
-	print '\nVPN terminated'
+    while x.poll() != 0:
+        time.sleep(1)
+    print '\nVPN terminated'
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+# Description
+
+This script allows to use the free VPN service provided by [VPNGate](http://www.vpngate.net/en/) in an easy way. The user just needs to provide the desidered output country, and the script automatically chooses the best server.
+
+After this step, OpenVPN is launched with the proper configuration. The VPN can be terminated by pressing <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>C</kbd>.
+
+# Usage
+
+Run the script by providing the desired output country:
+
+    vpngate.py US
+
+Both country codes and country names are supported, as listed on the VPNGate website, e.g.:
+
+    vpngate.py "United Kingdom"
+
+Moreover, the script allows to input countries with **any case** (`Italy`, `italy`, `ItALy` all work) and with **partial names**:
+- `Korea` will work for `Korea Republic Of`
+- `Russia` will work for `Russian Federation`
+- ... and so on
+
+# Demo
+
+Here is a short Youtube video showcasing an example usage:
+
+[![YT video](http://img.youtube.com/vi/3OFwxkxN_HI/0.jpg)](http://youtu.be/3OFwxkxN_HI)
+
+# Requirements
+
+OpenVPN needs to be installed.
+
+The script should run on any Linux distribution with the Python [Requests](python-requests.org) module installed. The user running the script must be able to run `sudo` commands in order to start `openvpn`.
diff --git a/vpngate.py b/vpngate.py
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+"""Pick server and start connection with VPNGate (http://www.vpngate.net/en/)"""
+
+import requests, os, sys, tempfile, subprocess, base64, time
+
+__author__ = "Andrea Lazzarotto"
+__copyright__ = "Copyright 2014+, Andrea Lazzarotto"
+__license__ = "GPLv3"
+__version__ = "1.0"
+__maintainer__ = "Andrea Lazzarotto"
+__email__ = "[email protected]"
+
+
+if len(sys.argv) != 2:
+	print 'usage: ' + sys.argv[0] + ' [country name | country code]'
+	exit(1)
+country = sys.argv[1]
+
+if len(country) == 2:
+    i = 6 # short name for country
+elif len(country) > 2:
+    i = 5 # long name for country
+else:
+    print 'Country is too short!'
+
+try:
+    vpn_data = requests.get('http://www.vpngate.net/api/iphone/').text.replace('\r','')
+    servers = [line.split(',') for line in vpn_data.split('\n')]
+    labels = servers[1]
+    labels[0] = labels[0][1:]
+    servers = [s for s in servers[2:] if len(s) > 1]
+except:
+    print 'Cannot get VPN servers data'
+    exit(1)
+
+desired = [s for s in servers if country.lower() in s[i].lower()]
+found = len(desired)
+print 'Found ' + str(found) + ' servers for country ' + country
+if found == 0:
+	exit(1)
+
+supported = [s for s in desired if len(s[-1]) > 0]
+print str(len(supported)) + ' of these servers support OpenVPN'
+# We pick the best servers by score
+winner = sorted(supported, key=lambda s: s[2], reverse=True)[0]
+
+print "\n== Best server =="
+pairs = zip(labels, winner)[:-1]
+for (l, d) in pairs[:4]:
+    print l + ': ' + d
+
+print pairs[4][0] + ': ' + str(float(pairs[4][1]) / 10**6) + ' MBps'
+print "Country: " + pairs[5][1]
+
+print "\nLaunching VPN..."
+_, path = tempfile.mkstemp()
+
+f = open(path, 'w')
+f.write(base64.b64decode(winner[-1]))
+f.close()
+
+x = subprocess.Popen(['sudo', 'openvpn', '--config', path])
+
+try:
+    while True:
+        time.sleep(600)
+# termination with Ctrl+C
+except:
+    try:
+        x.kill()
+    except:
+        pass
+	while x.poll() != 0:
+		time.sleep(1)
+	print '\nVPN terminated'