Header-based authentication in a virtual private network

A user device, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the memory and the processor being configured to:
• transmit a connection request to a VPN service provider for obtaining VPN services;
• receive a response to the connection request, the response including a custom digest header containing identification information that identifies an existing association between the user device and the VPN service provider;
• determine, based at least in part on the identification information, that the response is received from the VPN service provider;
• authenticate the VPN service provider based at least in part on determining that the response is received from the VPN service provider;
• and
• transmit, to a VPN server associated with the VPN service provider, a service request for obtaining the VPN services based at least in part on authenticating the VPN service provider.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store instructions, which when executed by a processor associated with a user device in a virtual private network (VPN) environment, configures the processor to:

• transmit a connection request to a VPN service provider for obtaining VPN services;
• receive a response to the connection request, the response including a custom digest header containing identification information that identifies an existing association between the user device and the VPN service provider;
• determine, based at least in part on the identification information, that the response is received from the VPN service provider;
• authenticate the VPN service provider based at least in part on determining that the response is received from the VPN service provider;
• and
• transmit, to a VPN server associated with the VPN service provider, a service request for obtaining the VPN services based at least in part on authenticating the VPN service provider.