How to Setup a Personal Private VPN With NordVPN

You may be familiar with the concept of a virtual private network (VPN), which creates a private network within the internet for you and your devices, protecting all traffic that goes through while giving you the convenience of having a permanent IP address. As the name suggests, a VPN is a private network within the public network—in other words, it is a place where only you can connect, and all of your internet activity is encrypted, safe, and private. While there are many great reasons to have a VPN, from protecting your privacy to enabling restricted content, setting one up can be quite difficult. Luckily, NordVPN has you covered with this detailed tutorial explaining how to set up a simple yet powerful personal VPN with NordVPN.

Why NordVPN

As previously mentioned, a VPN is a great tool for many reasons, and one of the biggest selling points of NordVPN is that it is extremely easy to setup and use. Additionally, as a relatively new company, NordVPN has managed to secure themselves a spot in the top tier of VPN providers, offering great speeds, excellent security, and an excellent customer experience. If you are looking for a one-stop-shop for all your VPN needs, NordVPN is the company you need to look into.

Step one: Select the plan that is right for you

NordVPN offers three different pricing plans, all of which are reasonably priced, allowing anyone to enjoy the benefits of a VPN without having to break the bank. The best plan for most users is the Gold package which costs just $2.95/mo and gives you access to all of the features of the service, allowing you to connect to networks, surf the web privately, and maintain a secure connection even when using public WiFI. This is also the cheapest plan offered by NordVPN, making it a great choice for those on a budget or are simply just looking for an inexpensive solution. If you can find a cheaper monthly rate, the Silver plan which costs $5.45/mo may also be a viable alternative. For those who are looking for an even cheaper option, the Bronze plan which costs just $2.45/mo and also does not include some features may be a cheaper option to consider. It is always best to look into the details of the plan you have selected before making a decision, as some VPNs are simply more expensive than others, regardless of how much data you use.

Step two: Install the NordVPN app on your smartphone

Installing the NordVPN app on your smartphone is quite easy. Simply search for the app in your app store or download it from the Google Play store, depending on which one you use. Once you have installed the app, you will need to log in with your email and password to set up your account. You can then click on the Connect button to authorize the app to access your subscription from that point onward. You can also choose to set up automatic notifications to receive pop-ups when you are connected to a new network, enabling you to connect without having to remember to manually check the app every time you use it—great for those who use the app frequently as part of their job or for those who travel a lot and want to ensure they are always connected to a VPN when they need one.

Step three: Configure your computer or laptop to connect to the internet through VPN

Once you have installed the app on your smartphone, you can easily setup your computer and/or laptop to connect to the internet through VPN. There are two ways to do this: manually or automatically. If you choose to do this manually, you will need to follow the steps below, which will ask you to input your login information on your computer or laptop. Once you have entered this information, click on the Connect button to connect to the VPN and ensure all your internet traffic is encrypted and secure whenever you use this connection. To disconnect from the VPN, click on the Disconnect button, inputting your password when prompted.

To setup this connection automatically, you must first identify your computer or laptop and establish it as part of your home network. Within your home network, you will then need to identify the local IP address of your PC or laptop. This can be found by pressing CTRL + F5 on your keyboard, opening a new terminal window (or running ipconfig in the command prompt window on Windows). If you are on a Windows machine, you can use the Get IP menu in Networking to easily identify your local IP address. Once you have your local IP address, you can use this knowledge to connect to the VPN.

Step four: Enjoy your personal VPN!

Now that you have configured your computer or laptop to connect to the internet through a VPN, you can enjoy all the benefits of a private network connection without having to worry about your data being intercepted by hackers or being visible to the public. When you use public WiFI at airports or coffee shops, you can prevent any snooping by connecting to a VPN and ensuring all of your internet activity is secure and private. Additionally, when you use public WiFI at hotels, you can prevent any snooping by connecting to a VPN and ensuring all of your internet activity is secure and private. You can also use a VPN when you are using public WiFi at casinos, preventing any hackers or third-parties from collecting or using your personal information. The list of scenarios where you may want to use a VPN goes on and on.

Hopefully, this tutorial has helped you understand the importance of a VPN and how to set one up on your own. In closing, it is important to always remember that a VPN is only as good as you use it. Ensure that you only connect to trusted sites and whitelist your favorite social media channels, adding them to your VPN’s SafeSites list to ensure you are always connected to trusted and secure sites when you use them. Additionally, make sure you update your software and firmware regularly, keeping your device up-to-date and secure at all times—you may also want to consider buying hardware that is specifically designed for security, such as a VPN router or a VPN-enabled hotspot.