How to Route Facebook Traffic by VPN in MikroTik RouterOS

Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms worldwide. It is known for its distinctive yellow and blue colors that symbolize safety and friendship.

Though the site itself is a safe place to explore, being a social media platform, it is not always safe to visit. Especially when you consider that Facebook can log your every move and piece of information, from your likes and interests, to your friends and the things you share with them. This can leave you vulnerable to hackers or governments that are trying to gain leverage over you.

Keeping yourself protected when using Facebook is quite simple. All you need to do is set up a VPN before you log into the platform. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) enables you to connect to a server that is physically located elsewhere. This “elsewhere” can be set up as a secure enclave within an unsecure network, protecting your information while online.

What is more, by using a VPN you effectively route all your internet traffic through this secure connection. So whatever site you visit, whether it is Facebook or another social media platform, Google, or even a simple online store, all your traffic will pass through the VPN server.

Because this is such a useful feature, VPNs are commonly found on routers and other devices connected to networks. When you set up your VPN, you typically need to provide the server’s address, login information, and optionally, a password. There is also the option to automate the connection process by creating a VPN profile and loading it with your credentials. When you connect to a WiFi network that is protected with a VPN, your router will automatically establish a secure connection and direct all your internet traffic through it, encrypting and securing all your data while in transit.

VPNs and RouterOS

Let’s connect the dots between VPNs and MikroTik RouterOS. In general, when you set up a VPN, you need to determine which type of networking you will use to connect to the internet: Wired or Wireless. This will determine what type of router you will need. You also need to decide whether you will use a static IP or DHCP. These are simply questions of configuration and should not impact your decision to use a VPN.

If you choose Wired, you will need to have a dedicated physical connection to the internet as well as an Ethernet cable. Your internet service provider (ISP) will also need to provide you with the appropriate connection. Though most ISPs sell these connections as part of their package, it is still preferable to have an additional connection (either wired or wireless) just for the purpose of networking. This is because if you decide to cancel your VPN service at any time, all your network settings will be lost. Static IPs are stored in a specific type of data structure called a “hosts file” on every device connected to the internet. Changing this file requires advanced technical knowledge and should not be undertaken by a typical user.

If you choose Wireless, you will need to have either an 802.11n WiFi adapter or a USB Wi-Fi dongle connected to your computer or mobile device. You will then need to set up your WiFi network with a strong password and ensure that it is protected by a VPN. If you do not have a WiFi adapter or dongle, you can use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer or mobile device to a WiFi router. In either case, you will need to ensure that your network is properly configured and protected by a VPN. Most WiFi adapters and USB WiFi dongles come with settings that are already configured for connecting to a VPN, so you will not have to manually configure them. They will automatically connect to the VPN provided that your computer or mobile device is connected to the internet via WiFi.

Why Should You Use a VPN On Your Router?

In the previous section, we discussed how to set up a VPN using various physical connections. But why should you set up a VPN on your router? A VPN provides you with several key features that make it useful and beneficial for security purposes.

Let’s run down the list:

• Full Encryption. All your internet traffic is encrypted as it travels from your device to a website you visit. This means that nobody, including your ISP or the government, can read your data as it travels over the internet. A full encryption VPN also scrambles your web traffic before it is sent to its destination, preventing anyone, including your ISP, from being able to intercept and read your communications. When you use a VPN, even your ISP cannot see your online activities. This is because they will see only encrypted traffic leaving and entering your device.
• Randomized. Your VPN server generates a randomized IP address for each connection it makes. This ensures that no matter how many people are connected to the VPN at any given time, all IP addresses are unique and can be traced back to a specific user. Your ISP will not be able to associate your computer or mobile device with any of these IP addresses, making it more difficult for them to identify and track your activity. In addition, the unique IP addresses protect you from hackers and other third parties that might be trying to gain access to your network.
• Anonymity. When you use a VPN, you can access the internet anonymously and remotely, without having to identify yourself to the sites you visit. This makes it much harder for websites to identify you as an individual and target you with advertising. Additionally, you can access banned websites or regions of the internet if you are unable to do so directly from your country or region. Anonymity is also useful when you are on public Wi-Fi. Since your VPN is intercepting and re-routing all your internet traffic, nobody will know what site you are visiting or what you are doing online. This makes it highly unlikely that you will be subject to surveillance or hacking.
• Multi-platform. Most VPNs support multiple platforms so that you can use the same login credentials on your computer, tablet or mobile device. The advantage of this is that you do not have to set up a VPN for each individual device. This makes it simpler to use and ensures that you do not lose access to your accounts if you forget to log out of one device.
• Bandwidth Control. When you use a VPN, you can limit how much data is being transferred to and from your device. This is useful for mobile data connections where you do not want to consume too much and become charged for excess data usage. The benefit of bandwidth control is that it helps you manage your internet costs effectively. If you are on a weekly basis using a lot of data, you can limit how much you use by setting a limit of how much data you will use in a particular time period. This way, you will not exceed your data cap and be automatically charged for excess data usage. However, if you set this limit and do not use all the data you are allotted, you will not be able to log back in to your VPN and will not be able to access the internet through this connection. So it is important to ensure that you use this feature responsibly and do not abuse it by setting ridiculously high limits. Otherwise, you could find yourself in a situation where you cannot log in to your VPN and you lose all access to the internet. This could leave you vulnerable to hackers or even the authorities, who might want to monitor your activity.

In light of all these benefits, we strongly recommend that you set up a VPN on your router. This will not only ensure that you remain protected while on the internet but also simplify your online experience by ensuring that you are always connected to the internet via a secure connection. With a VPN, being online simply becomes normal again.

Of course, we cannot stress enough how important it is to ensure that your VPN is up-to-date with the latest security measures. This way, even if a hacker manages to break into your network, they will not be able to access your sensitive information without being detected.

The best way to ensure that your VPN is always kept safe and up-to-date is by regularly updating its contents. The most effective way to do this is by connecting to a reputable VPN provider’s web server once a week and updating your hosts file on your computer or mobile device. This ensures that your VPN is always protected and that you do not have to worry about losing access to your accounts if you forget to update it once a week.

In summary, VPNs provide you with numerous benefits, making them a worthwhile investment for your security. We recommend that you connect to a VPN on your router to ensure that you remain protected and simplify your internet experience. In addition, be sure to update your VPN on a regular basis to ensure that your accounts remain secure.