How to Use NordVPN on Tails

If you are looking for a way to secure your home network and prevent unwanted guests from using your Wi-Fi connection to access your sensitive data, then you’ve probably considered trying out NordVPN. The tool allows you to encrypt your internet connection using military-grade encryption protocols and establish a secure connection with all the websites and platforms you visit.

The problem is that while NordVPN is a solid choice and offers a free version, it can be hard to use if you are new to the tool. Luckily, there is a solution. Called Tails, this open source operating system is completely free, anonymous, and resilient to threats. It also offers all the functionality of a traditional operating system plus a ton more. If you’re looking for an alternative to Windows, then Tails is certainly worth a look.

Here, we will discuss how to use NordVPN on Tails. While the process is not as straightforward as connecting to a network provided by NordVPN, setting up your own private network with Tails makes connecting to the VPN simple and secure.

Install Tails

Tails is a complete operating system designed to offer the best of both worlds: the convenience of a native application plus the security and privacy of a virtual machine. In short, the tool allows you to run untrusted apps and browse the web in a secure and private manner.

To get started, simply visit the project’s website and download the appropriate ISO image for your computer. For best results, use a USB flash drive to install the operating system. Once you boot from the installation media, you will be presented with the Tails login screen. Simply type in the password specified to log in.

Now that you’re logged in, you can access the project’s site to download and install the VPN client. Open the app’s menu and select the Connect option. On the next screen, you will be asked to select a location for the VPN server. Once connected, you will be able to browse the web and use other apps without being tracked.

Configure Your VPN Connection on Tails

Like many other VPN tools, NordVPN comes with a handful of predefined servers that you can use for free. To connect to a different server, you will need to modify the VPN settings manually. Fortunately, NordVPN’s configuration menu is very user-friendly and simply requires you to pick a server from a drop-down menu. You also have the option of generating your own unique VPN key, which you will need to do if you want to log in to the service without being re-prompted.

After you have picked a server from the drop down menu and generated your unique key, you will be brought back to the configuration menu. From here, you can select the payment method you wish to use to connect to the VPN. You can either sign up for a free account or use an existing PayPal account to make the payment. After the payment is complete, you will be given a confirmation code that you can use to log in to the VPN. 

Now that you’re connected to the VPN, you can browse the web in a secure manner and install apps from official app stores without worrying about your data being intercepted. Since your computer is acting as a VPN endpoint, any communication with the VPN server is end-to-end encrypted. This means that even if someone is listening in on your network, they will not be able to decrypt the data. Once you have set up your VPN connection, it will be remembered for the next time you log in. You can also set it to automatically connect whenever you start up your computer or mobile device.

Use NordVPN on Tails

Now that you have your VPN connection configured and working, you can use the tool to access content restricted to certain countries, monitor your bandwidth usage, and unblock censored websites. To log in to NordVPN, open a new browser tab and enter the site’s IP address. After you log in, you will be presented with a menu of all the servers available. Simply pick the one closest to you and click the Connect button.

Since your computer is now an extension of the VPN, all your internet traffic, including that from your favorite apps, will be routed through the encrypted tunnel. This means your personal information, including your traffic pattern, will not be visible to anyone, including the service’s administrators. If you want to keep your personal information private, then NordVPN is the tool for you.