A VPN or Virtual Private Network, is a necessity for anyone who wants to keep their online activity private and secure. It allows you to create a secure connection by connecting to a server in another location. This means that your data is encrypted and your IP address is hidden.
One of the best VPNs on the market is Surfshark. In this guide, we’ll tell you how to install Surfshark on Ubuntu and Debian-based Linux systems with step-by-step guidelines.
Once you have installed Surfshark on your computer, you can easily geo-spoof your location and appear to be in another location to use the geo-restricted services.
Surfshark also offers handy feature like a built-in kill switch, Multi-Hop, and WhiteLister. What these are and why do you need them, we’ll talk about them in this guide later.
So without further ado, lets get started with installing Surfshark on your Linux Ubuntu.
Short on time? Here’s a Short Summary of How to Install Surfshark On Ubuntu
- Download the Linux app for Surfshark on your computer and install it.
- Enter “sudo apt-get update” in Terminal.
- Then enter “sudo apt-get install surfshark vpn“.
- Run the Surfshark app by entering “sudo surfshark vpn“.
- Choose a server of your preference or use “sudo surfshark-vpn attack” to connect to the default server.
Still confused? Check out the step-by-step process below (Method 1)
To know more about Surfshark, visit our dedicated guide: How Does Surfshark VPN Work
How to Install Surfshark On Ubuntu?
You can use these two methods to install Surfshark on Ubuntu or Debian:
Method 1: Install the VPN app from the Surfshark website and configure it on your Linux system.
Method 2: Use the manual configuration method to install Surfshark OpenVPN on your Linux system.
Method # 1: How to Install Surfshark On Ubuntu By Downloading the VPN App?
For your Ubuntu or Debian-based Linux system, you can download the Surfshark VPN app easily and run it on your computer.
Make sure you have an active Surfshark VPN subscription plan.
Follow the steps to complete the setup process:
Step 1: Go to Surfshark’s page for Linux and download the Surfshark app.
Step 2: Once the file is downloaded, open it.
Step 3: Click on the “install” button.
Step 4: Your computer will need authentication to install the software, enter your root password and click on “Authenticate“.
Step 5: Once the installation process completes, open Terminal.
Step 6: Enter the command:
“sudo apt-get update“
This will update the list of packages in your system’s repositories.
Step 7: Now install the Surfshark app by entering the following command:
“sudo apt-get install surfshark vpn“
Step 8: Now enter this command to run Surfshark:
“sudo surfshark vpn“
Step 9: You’ll be required to enter your Surfshark VPN credentials. Enter your registered email and password then press Enter.
Step 10: Now you’ll see a list of server locations with numbers next to them. To choose a server, type the number next to it in the terminal and press Enter.
For example, if you want to connect to a Tampa server, type “95” in the terminal and then press Enter.
Step 11: Surfshark uses the OpenVPN protocol on Linux so it’ll ask you whether you want a TCP or a UDP connection. Enter 0 for TCP or 1 for UDP and press Enter.
The recommended connection for better speed is UDP.
Minimize the terminal window and start using Surfshark.
That’s it. You are now connected to Surfshark VPN on your Ubuntu or Debian-based Linux system. You can check your IP address to verify by visiting whatismyipaddress.com.
To disconnect, open the terminal window and enter “sudo surfshark-vpn down” and you’ll be disconnected from the VPN server.
Some Other Useful Commands
You can use some useful commands to control your Surfshark VPN app from the terminal.
- For all the useful commands to print, use this command:
“sudo surfshark-vpn help“
- To check the status of your Surfshark connection, enter the command:
“sudo surfshark-vpn status“
- To use the Quick-Connect feature and connect to the fastest available server, use the command:
“sudo surfshark-vpn attack“
- To use the Multi-Hop feature, use this command:
“sudo surfshark-vpn multi“
- To disconnect from Surfshark, use the command:
“sudo surfshark-vpn down“
- To sign out of the VPN, enter the command:
“sudo surfshark-vpn forget“
- To remove Surfshark VPN, use this command:
“sudo apt-get remove surfshark-vpn“
Method # 2: How to Install Surfshark On Ubuntu Manually With OpenVPN?
You can also install Surfshark with the OpenVPN protocol manually on your Linux device. Here’s how you can do it:
Step 1: Go to this Surfshark page and log in with your VPN credentials.
Step 2: Click on the “VPN” tab on the left panel and select Manual Setup.
Step 3: Under “Setup Methods“, select Manual.
Step 4: Now click on the “Credentials” tab and note down the username and password or just keep this tab open. We’ll need these credentials later.
Step 5: On your Linux system, launch the terminal window by using CTRL+ALT+T or just launch it from your apps.
Step 6: Enter the following command to install the Surfshark OpenVPN package:
“sudo apt-get install openvpn unzip“
Enter your computer password if it asks.
Step 7: Now enter this command to access the OpenVPN directory:
“cd /etc/openvpn“
Step 8: Enter this command to download Surfshark’s OpenVPN configurations:
“sudo wget https://my.surfshark.com/vpn/api/v1/server/configurations“
Step 9: Then enter this command to unzip the configurations file:
“sudo unzip configurations“
Step 10: To view the list of servers, enter the following command:
“ls“
Step 11: You’ll see the list of available servers in your terminal, choose a server of your preference and copy the hostname.
Step 12: Now enter this command to connect to the server:
“sudo open [paste the hostname here]“
Step 13: Now open the tab from Step 4 and paste your Surfshark username and password in the correct fields.
That’s it. The terminal should now display “Initialization Sequence Completed” on a successful connection.
If you want to disconnect from the VPN server, just use CTRL+C while you’re in the terminal.
Why Use Surfshark On Ubuntu?
Surfshark is one of the few VPNs that work on Linux. It’s also one of the most feature-rich VPN apps with handy qualities like:
Encryption & Security: Surfshark uses the most powerful VPN protocol on Linux like OpenVPN. AES-256-GCM cipher is used for encryption which makes it virtually impossible to hack Surfshark.
Kill Switch: A kill switch feature immediately cuts off your internet when your VPN connection suddenly drops without warning, this makes sure that your IP address and location are not revealed.
Multi-Hop: Multi-Hop feature routes your traffic through two VPN servers instead of one for double the security and anonymity. You can use this feature on Surfshark’s Linux app as well.
Quick Connect: This is a timesaving feature that automatically connects you to the fastest available server with just a click.
WhiteLister: This feature allows you to select specific apps that should bypass the VPN tunnel and connect directly to the internet. This is handy if you’re facing speed issues with a particular app.
Streaming Support: You can use Surfshark to unblock Netflix or Hulu and other major streaming platforms like HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC IPlayer. All you need to do is connect to a location where the content you want to watch is available.
24/7 Customer Service: Surfshark offers excellent 24/7 customer support through live chat. The agents are quick to respond and very helpful.
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Surfshark offers a hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try the service risk-free. If you’re not satisfied with the services then you can just generate a refund request by using the live chat button and you’ll get your money back in no time.
Unlimited Simultaneous Connections: Surfshark allows you to connect an unlimited number of devices with a single account. This is great for families or businesses that need to protect multiple devices.
Smart DNS: Surfshark comes with a Smart DNS feature that can be used to unblock geo-restricted content without affecting your internet speed. It can be used as a tool to unblock games and stream geo-blocked content on your Smart TV, streaming device, or game consoles like PS4 or Xbox.
Surfshark Pricing & Plans
Surfshark offers three plans:
- One-month plan: $12.95
- One-year plan: Billed $47.88 for the first year and then billed $59.76 annually.
- Two-year plan: Billed $59.76 for the first two years and then billed $59.76 annually.
All the plans require upfront payment and all of them are covered by the 30-Day Money-Back guarantee offer so you can try them risk-free.
Surfshark supports a variety of payment methods including credit cards, Google Pay, PayPal, Amazon Pay, and cryptocurrency.
To compare the prices with other providers, visit our guide: How Much Does a VPN Cost
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best Surfshark plan for Ubuntu?
How do I get a refund from Surfshark?
How do I cancel my Surfshark subscription?
How many Netflix libraries can Surfshark unlock?
Does Surfshark work with Disney+?
How many servers does Surfshark offer?
Does Surfshark offer a free trial?
Conclusion
Although Linux is a secure operating system, it’s always a good idea to use a VPN for added security and privacy. We hope that this guide has helped you understand how to install Surfshark on Ubuntu and Debian-based Linux systems.
Surfshark is one of the best VPNs on the market and it offers great features like unlimited simultaneous connections, Smart DNS, 24/7 customer support, and more. And with its 30-Day Money-Back guarantee, you can try it risk-free.
If you have more questions, feel free to ask them below in the comment section.
