How to Set Up a Router with NordVPN
Whether you’re in a large city or small town, connectivity is frequently an issue, particularly when you’re abroad. In locations where mobile coverage is sparse and prices are high, you might find yourself paying for expensive data packs just to have enough connectivity to browse the web and watch videos. Luckily, there’s an alternative: the VPN router.
A VPN router lets you connect to a VPN server before accessing the web. Whether you choose to access the internet through Wi-Fi or LTE, your traffic is encrypted and secured when connected to a VPN, protecting you from eavesdroppers. Most importantly, using a VPN router means that you no longer need to worry about connectivity issues. As long as you’re online, you have internet access, no matter where you are.
Features of a VPN Router
There are various features that you need to look out for when choosing a VPN router over traditional ones, like Firewall and Anti-Malware (anti-virus) built-in protection.
First off, look for a device with a dedicated VPN mode, rather than connecting to a web server via a conventional internet connection. The advantage of this is that your traffic is already encrypted and secure when connecting to the VPN server, so there’s no need to worry about intermediate encryption.
Similarly, you want a VPN router with advanced kill-switches and a secure router administration interface. A kill-switch prevents an internet-connected camera or smartphone from connecting to the network if the device is physically disturbed or damaged. A secure interface provides a safe way for IT administrators to administer the device remotely, protecting sensitive data from being accessed by unauthorized parties.
How to Set Up a VPN Router
Installing a VPN router is fairly straightforward. You simply connect the device to your modem, Wi-Fi network, or cell phone network, and then connect the VPN server to the router. For best performance, it is recommended to set up a dedicated Wi-Fi network for the router only. This minimizes potential network congestion and improves performance while also protecting your privacy.
You will then need to log into your internet service provider’s website and create a secure account. From there, you will be able to download the applicable VPN app and set up the device. For the best user experience, it is recommended to use the dedicated app that is pre-installed on the device.
You might also want to consider buying a second-level VPN router from a reputable company, such as NordVPN, to increase your security and maximize your network’s performance.