How to Set NordVPN on a D-Link Router

Many of us use the internet for streaming our favourite shows, checking up on the latest news stories and connecting with other people. Being on the move doesn’t stop us from enjoying all these things, but it does make it a bit more difficult to do. Thanks to the development of virtual private networks (VPNs), connecting to the internet while out and about doesn’t have to mean risking your personal data. NordVPN is a popular choice among VPN users, helping them to protect their personal information while they’re online. In this guide, we’ll discuss how to set up and use NordVPN on a D-Link router to ensure you have a safe and private internet connection wherever you roam.

Before You Begin

Before you start, it’s important to note that NordVPN’s servers are based in Switzerland, which means that you may notice a small delay when accessing websites and other online services. This is due to the fact that the servers sync with the internet through a channel in the Swiss Alps, meaning that sometimes, data can be a little bit slow to arrive. However, because of the unique location of the servers, this should not pose a problem for most people. If you do experience speed issues, you can either choose to change your location to an ISP that’s based in a different country, or you can change the channel that the servers are connected to. The former is preferable as it will ensure that you always have fast and reliable internet access, while the latter is a temporary workaround until you update your router’s software.

Set Up Properly

NordVPN requires that you either have a Pro version or the Basic version of their software. If you already have the latter, you can head over to their website and download their mobile app. For the sake of this guide, we will be using their Basic version, which is completely free. Just note that the Basic version doesn’t allow for all the features that their Pro version offers. Once you’ve downloaded the program, launch it and click on the link to create an account. The account creation process will ask you for some basic information, including a password and username. You will be asked to create a strong password to ensure that nobody gets access to your account, and you should choose a combination of letters and numbers because it’s considered very secure when compared to the simpler alphanumeric codes. After you complete the account creation process, you will see the VPN client on your desktop. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the set-up process. You will need to specify the country in which you’re located and click on the ‘Create’ button.

Once you’ve done that, it’s time to click on the ‘Connect’ button to connect to one of NordVPN’s servers. You will see a list of available servers with a map showing the country codes. Choose one of the country codes that your ISP doesn’t block, for example, ‘Sweden’ or ‘Norway’, and then click on the ‘Connect’ button to connect to that server.

Now, you will see a splash screen informing you of the server’s IP address. You can use this address to log into your NordVPN account (if you created one) via the website or the app. If you want to access your VPN account from a different device, you can either use a different IP address or you can change the server you’re connected to using the ‘Client Configuration’ option in the app. However, if you decide to use a different IP address, make sure that you enter it correctly or your connection may become unstable and even broken. Once you’ve entered the correct IP address, log into your account and click on the ‘Settings’ button to access the ‘Client Configuration’ screen. Here, you can adjust various options, including the authentication type (username and password or two-factor authentication), encryption protocol (AES-256, PerfectCrypt or ChaCha20-Poly1305), VPN server address and port (this is the number of the port on your router through which your VPN connection is made) and many more.

Testing The Connection

Once you’ve set up your NordVPN account and connected to your chosen server, it’s time to test the connection. Launch the app and click on the ‘OpenVPN Connect’ button in the top-right corner of the screen. A dropdown menu with different country codes will appear. If everything is set up properly, you will see Sweden or Norway in the dropdown menu.

By default, the app will connect you to a server in Sweden. However, you can choose any country code from the dropdown menu and the app will connect you to one of the servers in that country. Once you’ve chosen your country code, it’s time to enter your password for this server. Make sure that you type it accurately or use the ‘Password Checker’ option on the app to verify that it’s correct. If everything is set up properly, you will see a green padlock next to the server’s name in the status bar at the top of the screen. If you’re not seeing a green padlock, it may be that your ISP is blocking or throttling VPN traffic, so try a different server or connection setting.

Behind The Scenes

NordVPN operates on an opaque model, which is partly why we love them. They don’t mess around when it comes to security and privacy, which is why we want to talk to them about setting up our own personal VPN. While we were going through the process of setting up our NordVPN account, we were given the option to opt out of having our email contacted by the company, however, we decided to proceed. Once you’ve created your account, you will receive an email containing a confirmation link. You can also follow the link in the email to confirm your account. From then on, you will receive periodic emails containing information about new features and offers from NordVPN.

NordVPN also operates a bug bounty program, which rewards those who find and report security vulnerabilities. If you become the finder of a serious bug, you will be credited with a bounty that you can cash in. All of this adds up to make NordVPN one of the most trustworthy and private providers of VPN services, which is important to keep in mind if you’re planning to use the service.

In summary, if you’re looking for a dependable and secure VPN solution, take a look at NordVPN. While their service is mostly free, it costs money to maintain the servers that protect your privacy when you use the service. If security is your main concern, you should pay for the service to ensure that you’re always protected whenever you use it.