How to Install NordVPN on Kodi Forestick
NordVPN is one of the most popular VPN services on the market, especially in countries like the United States where it is often referred to as a ‘goto’ VPN. If you’re unfamiliar, a VPN provides a secure connection between your computer and the internet, allowing you to browse the web anonymously and circumvent ISP restrictions on your favorite apps and services. With so many benefits, it’s not hard to see why so many people would want to install a VPN on their devices.
While there are many ways to install a VPN on your device (discussed below), one of the most popular options is to use a VPN app. If you’re looking to install NordVPN on your device, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll discuss the hows and whys of using a VPN app to install NordVPN on your Kodi instance, as well as how to utilize all the beneficial features that come with the app.
Why Use A VPN App To Install NordVPN On Kodi?
The most obvious reason why you would want to use a VPN app to install NordVPN on your device is because it saves you the effort of setting up the VPN connection manually. Let’s face it, not every computer is built with the technology needed to establish a secure connection to a VPN server (aka PPTP or L2TP), and even when it is, it can be a hassle to set up the VPN connection manually (especially if you’re not familiar with VPN concepts).
In other words, unless you’re a tech-savvy person who happens to know how to set up a VPN connection manually, it’s generally easier to go the app route. You can download countless VPN apps for all popular platforms like iOS, Android, and Windows, and many of these apps are perfectly suited for use with Kodi.
Now, you don’t necessarily need to use a VPN app to install NordVPN on your device. You can certainly manually establish the connection and use the VPN as discussed below, but using a VPN app makes the process a whole lot easier and more convenience-focused. So, if you’re looking to install NordVPN on your Kodi instance, let’s discuss the best options available.
Kodi-Only VPNs, PPTP And L2TP
If you’re only planing on using your Kodi instance to stream content (e.g. BBC iPlayer, Netflix, etc.), you may not need to opt for the more complex and secure methods of establishing a VPN connection (i.e. PPTP or L2TP). In this case, you can use one of the many Kodi-only VPNs (i.e. NordVPN, CyberGhost, VyprVPN, etc.) to encrypt all of your traffic and prevent any third parties from eavesdropping or viewing your activity. This type of VPN is essentially what Kodi uses by default, so if you’re planning on just using Kodi to stream content, go for a Kodi-only app and save the effort of setting up a VPN connection manually.
However, even if you’re already using a VPN on your other devices (e.g. your computer, mobile phone, etc.), you may still want to utilize the additional security provided by a VPN in conjunction with your Kodi instance. After all, the fewer devices you have that are susceptible to attacks, the safer your data will be. In this case, use one of the more complex VPNs listed above to connect to a VPN server, allowing you to access all of your devices (including your Kodi instance) while ensuring your activities remain secure. For example, if you have a computer at home that is not protected by a VPN, you can connect to a server to ensure its safety while utilizing the device for a limited amount of time (e.g. while streaming content).
Once you have your NordVPN, VyprVPN, or other similar app installed on your device, open the app and click the Menu button (top-right corner of the screen). From there, you can connect to a VPN server and activate ‘Trusted Mode’. This feature allows you to connect to a VPN server whenever you want and prevents the app from seeking out its own VPN settings when you reconnect (which can help prevent any security issues if anything goes wrong).
The Pros And Cons Of Using A VPN App To Install NordVPN
Let’s discuss the pros and cons of using a VPN app to install NordVPN on your device.
On the plus side, you get the convenience of using a VPN app to connect to a VPN server and secure your activity on the go. Furthermore, many of these apps allow you to connect to multiple servers, offering you greater flexibility (e.g. if you want to connect to a Dutch server if the one located in your area is down, etc.).
On the downside, installing a VPN app prevents you from using the internet (or specific apps) as discussed below unless you actively ‘uninstall’ the app and re-install it (taking away all the security it provides). Furthermore, it’s always a good idea to maintain multiple computers and phones, which can make it more difficult to keep track of your personal data if your device is ever infected with malware or worse.
Manual Setup Of The VPN Connection
While using a VPN app to install NordVPN is a popular option, you would still need to set up the VPN connection manually if you choose this route. This is because most VPN apps do not include the ability to connect directly to a VPN server without going through a ‘gateway’ device first (e.g. a router).
In other words, if you have a specific VPN server you want to connect to (and remember, to get the most benefit out of your VPN you will need to connect to at least three different servers – one for the United States, one for Europe, and one for Asia), you will need to set up the VPN connection manually on your device. From there, you can connect to the VPN server and utilize all its benefits.
Now, while this is a bit of a hassle (especially if you’re not tech-savvy and don’t know what a VPN is or does), it is important to remember that it is still considerably more secure than simply using the unencrypted internet. So if you’d rather install NordVPN manually, you may as well use the most secure method possible (and remember – it’s still much easier to set up the VPN connection manually rather than using a VPN app).
In either case, setting up the VPN connection is a one-time process and you can connect to the server whenever you want (assuming of course you still have internet connectivity). This makes it ideal for travelers, especially those that use public Wi-Fi while abroad, as connecting to a VPN server will prevent them from being tracked by hackers or other malicious actors.
How To Use All The Benefits Of NordVPN On Kodi
Now that you have a VPN server established and connected to via a ‘gateway’ device (e.g. a router), it’s time to maximize the benefits of your newfound knowledge and enjoy all the content you can on Kodi.
From the start, we should mention that NordVPN’s Android App does not include the ability to create VPN tunnels, which is something you can do on the desktop version. Therefore, you’ll need to use one of the many third-party VPN apps that are optimized for use with Android. Still, that shouldn’t discourage you from trying out NordVPN as these apps are still much more convenient to use than establishing a VPN connection manually (especially if you’re not tech-savvy).
With all the pros and cons out of the way, let’s dive into the how-to’s! A lot of information can be found online, but for the sake of convenience, we’ll provide additional details regarding each step below.
Step One: Install The App
As mentioned above, not all VPN apps are created equal (or safe for that matter), so it’s important to download a trusted and reputable app before attempting to use it to secure your data. Luckily, installing a VPN app is a fairly straightforward process that doesn’t require any technical expertise (for the most part).
On your mobile device, you can find the app in the Google Play Store or in the App Store (for Apple users). Once the app is downloaded and installed, launch it and log in with your Google account (or iTunes account if you’re using an iPhone).
On the desktop, you can also find the app in your favorite search engine’s results (e.g. Google, DuckDuckGo, etc.). Once the app is downloaded and installed, launch it and log in with your Google account (or your email account if you use the desktop version frequently).