How to Port Forward With NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the most popular VPN services around at the moment, due to its effective privacy features and its accessible app. Offering a no-logging policy and a kill switch, users can rest assured their personal data will be kept secure whilst browsing the web – a necessity given today’s ever-evolving digital landscape.
Whether you’re using NordVPN to access Netflix, stream music, or download software, it’s vital you know how to forward ports to ensure you can always connect to the content you desire. Below we’ve gone through the process of port forwarding with NordVPN, so you can easily adopt the same methods for your own VPN.
The Basics
First up, let’s tackle the most basic level of port forwarding. To forward ports you must have a router that supports Port Forwarding, which most decent home and business grade routers do. For further information on what exactly port forwarding is and how it works, check out this informative guide from Tech Radar. Basically, when you forward ports you are allowing outside devices to connect to your computer via a specific port. This is normally a simplistic task, however, you must remember that once you have port forwarded, any device (even the one you used to connect to the internet) can become a potential attack vector. That is why it is highly advisable you practice safe browsing whenever possible.
NordVPN
NordVPN is available on several platforms including mobile phones and tablets. In terms of speed and reliability, we rank it near the top of its class along with VyprVPN and ExpressVPN, due to its effective open-source platform and strong focus on user-friendliness. NordVPN also offers a no-logging policy, meaning their customers’ browsing activity remains completely anonymous.
To get started with NordVPN you’ll need to download the app from the Google Play Store or the App Store. After that, you will have to log into your account (if you haven’t already created one) and add your payment information. As a new user, you will be presented with five different server locations to choose from, which is more than enough to cover your basic internet browsing needs. If you reside in a region that is not yet served by NordVPN, but would like to try out their service, you can click here to get a free 30-day trial.
Netflix
Speaking of Netflix, one of the first places you’ll encounter port forwarding when installing the Netflix app is the Authentication page. To get started you must enter the port number for your router (usually either port 80 or 443) and then click the blue button to continue. After that, you can select your country, time-zone, and display language and begin enjoying Netflix in your own home. If you already have Netflix, you can go into the settings menu and select which region and language you’d like to use.
Amazon Prime Video
One of the best things about Amazon is the sheer number of films and TV shows available for instant streaming. Thanks to the Prime Video app you can access all of this content, entirely free of charge, by connecting your device to the internet via WiFi or 3G/4G mobile data. After that, all you have to do is log into your Amazon account, select the country you’re in, and then press play. You can also pause the video and resume using the content’s dedicated buttons throughout the video as you would on an offline device.
Chromebooks
Chromebooks are a great choice for students and people who need a lightweight device for daily use. Their sleek looks and lightweight design make them perfect for anyone who spends a lot of time on their device. As we mentioned above, you can use the Netflix app to stream content to your Chromebook. After that, all you have to do is install the Chromecast app and you are ready to enjoy your favorite TV shows and films on your big screen TV via Chromecast Ultra.
DLNA
If you’re familiar with the Apple TV, you might know that it is able to function as a file sharing server, storing pictures, music, and movies in the cloud and making them available to other devices on the network. That is exactly what the DLNA network protocol does too. It is built on top of UDP and achieves its goals by allowing devices to discover and connect to shared resources (e.g. photo albums, music libraries, and so on) residing on a network. So, if you have a DLNA server in your house already, you can take advantage of it by setting up your Apple TV to share folders with other devices on your network, including your smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
How to Port Forward with a Router
So far we have covered the basics of how to forward ports with a simple router, but in case you want to read more, here is a great guide on port forwarding with a router from Netgear. Basically, in order to forward ports with a router, you must firstly connect your device to the internet and then power it up. After that, you can go into your device’s settings and find the IP address that is automatically assigned to it by your ISP (internet service provider). This is normally presented in the form of a web address ending in.123 (e.g. http://192.168.0.123/).
Substitute the IP address (in this case,http://192.168.0.123/) with the corresponding port number (in this case, 80) and you have created a secure connection (i.e. a VPN tunnel) between your device and a selected server. Now you can access the content you want, without fear of hackers trying to grab your personal details.
If you are stuck for ideas on what to forward to create the perfect little private hotspot, here is a comprehensive list of IP addresses for various services you can use to easily find the right one for your needs: