AuTron VPN Setup Guide

Step 1: Install DietPi

Grab an old computer or single-board device you’re not using. This will become your VPN server. Download the official DietPi image from their website:

👉 Download DietPi

Flash the image to a USB stick or SD card using a tool like Balena Etcher. Then boot the device and follow the on-screen setup.

        # Example command to flash DietPi (Linux/macOS)
        sudo dd if=DietPi.img of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress
      

Step 2: Connect to Internet & Update DietPi

Make sure your DietPi device is connected via Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Then run the update tool:

sudo dietpi-update

Step 3: Install Tailscale

Tailscale is a zero-config VPN that makes your device securely accessible from anywhere.

        curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh | sh
        
        sudo tailscale up

Follow the login link and sign in with your Tailscale account.

Step 4: Enable Exit Node

This lets other devices route their internet through your server.

        echo 'net.ipv4.ip_forward = 1' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
        
        echo 'net.ipv6.conf.all.forwarding = 1' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
        
        sudo sysctl -p
        
        sudo tailscale up --advertise-exit-node

Then go to Tailscale Admin Console and approve the exit node.

Step 5: Install Pi-hole (Required)

Pi-hole blocks ads, trackers, malware, and phishing across your entire VPN.

sudo dietpi-software

In the menu, select Pi-hole and follow the prompts. Access Pi-hole at:
🔗 http://your-device-ip/admin

To maximize blocking, add these blocklists in Pi-hole → Group Management → Adlists:

https://adaway.org/hosts.txt

https://v.firebog.net/hosts/AdguardDNS.txt

https://v.firebog.net/hosts/Admiral.txt

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/anudeepND/blacklist/master/adservers.txt

https://v.firebog.net/hosts/Easylist.txt

https://pgl.yoyo.org/adservers/serverlist.php?hostformat=hosts&showintro=0&mimetype=plaintext

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/FadeMind/hosts.extras/master/UncheckyAds/hosts

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bigdargon/hostsVN/master/hosts

https://v.firebog.net/hosts/Easyprivacy.txt

https://v.firebog.net/hosts/Prigent-Ads.txt

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/FadeMind/hosts.extras/master/add.2o7Net/hosts

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/crazy-max/WindowsSpyBlocker/master/data/hosts/spy.txt

https://hostfiles.frogeye.fr/firstparty-trackers-hosts.txt

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/DandelionSprout/adfilt/master/Alternate%20versions%20Anti-Malware%20List/AntiMalwareHosts.txt

https://v.firebog.net/hosts/Prigent-Crypto.txt

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/FadeMind/hosts.extras/master/add.Risk/hosts

https://bitbucket.org/ethanr/dns-blacklists/raw/8575c9f96e5b4a1308f2f12394abd86d0927a4a0/bad_lists/Mandiant_APT1_Report_Appendix_D.txt

https://phishing.army/download/phishing_army_blocklist_extended.txt

https://gitlab.com/quidsup/notrack-blocklists/raw/master/notrack-malware.txt

https://v.firebog.net/hosts/RPiList-Malware.txt

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Spam404/lists/master/main-blacklist.txt

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AssoEchap/stalkerware-indicators/master/generated/hosts

https://urlhaus.abuse.ch/downloads/hostfile/

https://lists.cyberhost.uk/malware.txt

After adding these, update Pi-hole’s gravity to apply the new blocklists. You can do this in two ways:

        # Option 1: Use the command line
        pihole -g
      

Option 2: Use the Pi-hole web interface
1. Go to http://your-device-ip/admin
2. Click Tools in the left sidebar
3. Select Update Gravity
4. Click the Update button

Step 6: Connect Other Devices

Install Tailscale on your phone, laptop, or tablet. Log in with the same account and enable the exit node in settings.

Step 7: Test Your VPN

Visit whatismyipaddress.com from a connected device. It should show your server’s IP address if routing through the VPN.