Router Ports
0 Facebook x.com Reddit
You can protect more than one Mac or iPhone with a VPN. Here's how to protect all your internet-connected devices at once by setting up a VPN on your router.
VPNs typically work at the device level. Typically, you need to set it up on each device to use the service, usually by installing an app.
This works pretty well if you have a relatively small number of devices. The problem comes when you need to install a VPN app on a lot of devices, as it can take a lot of time and effort.
There is also the issue of installing it on hardware that simply cannot install the app. Not every console will allow users to install a VPN app locally.
The same problem applies to gaming consoles. You can’t install a VPN directly on them, and they usually don’t have options to set up access to it in their operating systems.
VPN Router
One solution to all this is to set up your router to access the VPN. Once implemented, this method means that all equipment that connects to the internet through it will have its traffic routed through the VPN.
This applies to every device on the network, including when your iPhone or iPad connects to the router over Wi-Fi. Gaming consoles and other items are also equally protected through the router.
Using your router as a VPN gateway also saves you time, since you only have to set up the VPN on one device, rather than on every device.
Remember that you will have to choose which server and which country the connection will go through when you set it up. Unlike an app that allows you to change the server whenever you want, you cannot change this on the router.
Also, remember that all connections through the router will go through the VPN. If you need to turn the VPN on and off regularly, need infrequent VPN access, only need it for one device, or need to change servers frequently, this is probably not a good idea for you.
Finally, keep in mind that your connection is encrypted between the router and the VPN provider, and it is not encrypted between your device and the router. This is not an issue for home setups, but if you allow other people to connect to your network, they will still be able to monitor your traffic.
Surfshark VPN
Monthly Plans 1 Year Deals 2 Year Deals
Setting Up the VPN on a Router
First, keep in mind that not every router can be used in this way. In many cases, the router provided by your ISP will likely not support VPN at all.
There is no guarantee that a third-party router will support VPN either. Before purchasing a new router, check its online support documentation to ensure that you can set up VPN access on it in advance.
You can also check your existing router by going to its admin pages and checking for any mentions of VPN. Usually, if it is available, you will find sections in the advanced settings menu to configure it.
Setting up a VPN connection on an Asus router
Keep in mind that while some routers will have the ability to connect to a VPN service, some may also allow you to set up a VPN that gives outside users access to your network. You will need to set up the former, not the latter.
Once you have confirmed and are able to access the VPN configuration menu on your router, you will need to check the settings with your VPN provider. The VPN service will often have instructions, or at least the configuration details needed to get into your router’s settings page.
You will also need to select the server that your router’s VPN connection should go through on the VPN account pages. This is because you cannot change the country or server in your router’s menu system.
The VPN service may use a specific protocol to establish the connection between the router and itself. For example, this could be OpenVPN or WireGuard, to name a few of the more popular ones.
You can set everything up manually if you want, but this can be time consuming and error prone. Using protocols like OpenVPN makes the process much easier.
Once the details for your chosen VPN have been found, enter them on the router page.
Be careful when entering information from your VPN provider on your router’s settings page. For example, you may need to enter service credentials in your account profile for a VPN using OpenVPN, but the credentials are specific to OpenVPN, not the regular account username and password you’d normally use.
OpenVPN may use configuration files created by the VPN service, which you can download and then install on your router using the settings menu.
When in doubt, consult the support pages of your chosen VPN. Many major VPN providers provide instructions for popular router manufacturers.
Once configured, all traffic passing through the router will automatically go through the VPN provider of your choice.
If you’re looking to sign up for a VPN service, here are the best VPN deals for Black Friday.
Follow AppleInsider on Google News
