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trailofbits/algo

📈 Trending★ 30,232PythonAudience · developerComplexity · 3/5ActiveLicenseSetup · hard

TLDR

Automation scripts that set up your own private VPN server in the cloud with one command, encrypting your traffic through a server you control.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Spins up VPN server
      Encrypts your traffic
      Generates config files
      Blocks ads optionally
    How it works
      IKEv2 protocol
      WireGuard protocol
      Ansible automation
      QR code setup
    Use cases
      Secure public Wi-Fi
      Avoid data sharing
      Personal privacy
      Network-level blocking
    Setup
      Cloud provider account
      Terminal command
      Config import
      Auto updates

Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Set up a personal VPN server on AWS, DigitalOcean, or another cloud provider in minutes.

USE CASE 2

Encrypt your internet traffic on public Wi-Fi networks without trusting a third-party VPN company.

USE CASE 3

Block ads and trackers at the network level for all devices connected to your VPN.

USE CASE 4

Create SSH tunnels for secure remote access to your own infrastructure.

Tech stack

PythonAnsibleIKEv2WireGuard

Getting it running

Difficulty · hard Time to first run · 1day+

Requires cloud account credentials, VPN server provisioning, and network configuration across multiple infrastructure components.

Use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you keep the copyright notice and license text.

In plain English

Algo VPN is a collection of automation scripts that set up a personal, private VPN server in the cloud with a single command. A VPN (virtual private network) encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a server you control, so your internet provider or anyone watching the network cannot see what you are doing. The difference here versus a commercial VPN service is that you own and run the server yourself, it belongs to you, not a third-party company. The scripts handle everything: they spin up a virtual machine at your chosen cloud provider, configure the VPN software using secure modern encryption standards (IKEv2 and WireGuard, two well-tested protocols), generate configuration files and QR codes you can scan directly into your phone, and set up automatic security updates. Once the server is running, connecting a device is as simple as importing a config file or scanning a QR code. The tool also optionally blocks ads at the network level and can set up limited SSH tunnels for users. You would use Algo if you want a private VPN for personal use, for example, to stay secure on public Wi-Fi or to avoid handing your browsing data to a commercial VPN provider, and you are comfortable setting up a cloud account and running a command in a terminal. It explicitly does not promise anonymity or censorship circumvention. The tech stack is Python with Ansible, an automation framework for configuring servers.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
How do I use Algo to set up my own VPN server on DigitalOcean? Walk me through the steps.
Prompt 2
Show me how to generate QR codes with Algo so I can connect my phone to my VPN without typing anything.
Prompt 3
What are the differences between IKEv2 and WireGuard in Algo, and which should I choose?
Prompt 4
How do I configure Algo to block ads at the network level for all connected devices?
Prompt 5
Can I use Algo to set up multiple VPN servers across different cloud providers?
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Generated 2026-05-18 · Model: sonnet-4-6 · Verify against the repo before relying on details.