How To Install A VPN On A Router

In today’s world of the internet, there is a big need for internet security and VPNs are the best way to protect your privacy. Adding VPN on a router will help you to protect an entire network by connecting all your devices to it such as PCs, laptops, smartphones, smart TVs, and even consoles.

VPNs serve as a tunnel that enables you to build a strong and safe connection between your devices.

VPNs enhance your security services and it is capable of unblocking regional internet restrictions. It protects your device from hackers and other unauthorized activities. Installing VPN on a router is better than using VPNs individually on your devices.

What Is A VPN Router?

A VPN router will be defined as a wifi network device entitled with a virtual private network that supports traffic of all connected devices through a carefully encrypted and completely secure tunnel. A VPN router act as a VPN client and it has the ability to connect itself with a VPN provider.

However, not all VPNs are capable of becoming VPN clients, using your router for VPN doesn’t involve different types of hardware than a normal router.

Moreover, a router running a VPN enhances the security of all connected devices. This applies not only to laptops, PCs, smartphones, and tablets but also to devices like Smart TVs and other smart home gadgets. The only significant difference between a common device with a VPN and a VPN router is that the latter solution cannot be managed via a standard user interface.

Optimizing your VPN router

The distance between your VPN and connected servers can create problems in the performance of the VPN. You can follow these steps to improve your connection speed:

• Choose the closest server to you that your VPN offers.
• If that doesn’t help, test a couple of nearby servers.
• Try switching between internet protocols, if your VPN allows. If it does, you’ll find a toggle between TCP and UDP in your router’s advanced settings. TCP and UDP are two internet protocols that transmit data across a network. UDP is generally faster, while TCP is often more reliable in terms of security.

Step-By-Step Guide To Set Up VPN On A Router

Although the installation process varies for different types of routers based on their brand and configuration software they follow the same basic steps.

• Access your router’s administration menu.
• Open the VPN client.
• Configure your VPN connection.
• Check whether the VPN connection has been established.

Before you set up the VPN on your router, you’ll need to verify a few things:

• • It is necessary for the router to support acting as a VPN client. So you will have to figure out its works, you can do it by checking the manufacturer’s website, searching Google, or looking through the configuration interface.
• If it doesn’t, you’ll need to install third-party firmware. OpenWrt is a popular option with tons of useful features, including VPN support. Installing it can be an in-depth process, so set aside some time to do this.
• So your router has to work with VPN and support other firmware, otherwise, you need to purchase a different one.
• It is important for the router and VPN provider to use the correct protocol. If your router only speaks OpenVPN but your VPN provider doesn’t offer that option, then it will not work.
• Make sure that your VPN data cap is high enough to support all your devices. An entire home network can use thousands of gigabytes of data per month. Streaming video services is particularly bandwidth intensive.

Let’s take a look at the process of setting up a VPN in detail.

1. Open your router’s configuration interface in your web browser. You can usually find it at the first IP address on your internet network. Try 10.0.0.1 and 192.168.0.1 to start; those are common options.
2. You can set your admin password if you don’t remember it, Sites like routerpasswords.com contain lists of default admin passwords for common home routers.
3. Look for the VPN option in the setting. This might be considered an advanced option.
4. If your router demands third-party firmware, then it is important to install it. Otherwise, if OpenWrt works on your router
5. Update your router’s software if you can’t find the router’s default firmware option.
6. Choose the option for a VPN client, not a VPN server. Your router will be connecting to a separate VPN service, not hosting its own service.
7. Enter the correct settings. You can usually find these options from your VPN provider. If your provider offers an OpenVPN config file, upload that instead of entering the details manually.
8. Complete any necessary post-setup steps. For example, you might need to make a change to your router’s firewall configuration.

After you’re done setting everything up, make sure that common websites load on a device connected to the router like your computer or smartphone.

Best VPNs For Routers:

Picking the right VPN for your router is necessarily very important. A good VPN which offers fast and brilliant services with security makes your connection much easier. How well a VPN work depends on its features. Most premium VPNs have extensive tutorials on the subject. Here are a couple of the best VPNs for home routers.

• NordVPN
• Surfshark
• ExpressVPN

1. NordVPN:

NordVPN is one of the most popular VPNs which supports many platforms including home routers. You can also set Nord VPN manually on your router. If you’re using Asus, Synology, or QNAP models, chances are you won’t have any problems with them, as they have pretty extensive tutorials on how to set them up.

2. Surfshark VPN:

Surfshark VPN is another good choice for home routers due to its high efficiency and low costs. It is perfect for home routers for its exceptional speed. If you have Asus, DD-WRT, or Tomato router, they have clear guidelines for setting it up on your device.

This will protect every device connected to your home network. Plus, bypassing geo-restriction will become possible even with device types, with which it was previously impossible. It’s a perfect VPN for a home router.

3. ExpressVPN:

ExpressVPN is the most recommended VPN in the market due to its router app. While most other services are relying on third-party router firmware, ExpressVPN has come up with its own. Its performance is similar to its desktop apps to manual router configuration.

Protocol settings and swap locations can be customized. At the same time, all other router functionalities are there: you can tweak your router and other connection settings.

Working of VPN On Your Router:

• A Wireless access point, or AP, creates a Wi-Fi network from an Ethernet network.
• The router forwards Internet Protocol (IP) packets to the correct destinations.
• Firewall software prevents unauthorized incoming connections from reaching internal devices.
• Router/modem combos from Internet service providers include a cable modem as well, which communicates over TV cables using a protocol called DOCSIS.
• The configuration interface or control panel, usually web-based, lets you change settings for all the other components.

After you configure the wireless router’s client functionality, it establishes a connection with your VPN provider. Your router continues to run its wireless network, firewall off traffic, and connect to your ISP’s network. However, it makes sure that all of your traffic travels through the VPN tunnel instead of directly to the internet.

How to check if VPN is working on your router?

In order to ensure the working of the VPN you can check if your traffic is coming from your VPN and not directly from the internet.

• Search Google for “what’s my IP” and verify that the output shown is not your home IP address.
• Change your VPN location and check to see that region-blocked streaming content is now available.
• Run the traceroute command on your computer to see the “hops” your connections take before arriving at their destination. This way, you can figure out what intermediaries are between you and your destination, including your VPN.

Best VPN routers for home

Getting a router with VPN functionalities that supports Third party firmware is always a better option. Although it requires a little tech savviness when you set up third-party firmware, but it gives you complete control over your router’s functionality.

There are lots of benefits to using third-party firmware:

• Your router will get a huge set of features that the manufacturer wouldn’t normally include.
• Additional functionalities can be installed by packages
• You’ll be able to update your router and fix security issues, long after the manufacturer stops supporting it.
• If you’re unwilling to do the flashing process yourself, there is even a cottage industry around providing pre-flashed routers.

Serious Wireless Power: Linksys WRT3200ACM

This fast, feature-packed router includes guaranteed support for OpenWrt and DD-WRT. You’ll get great wireless performance and functionality for years to come. However, its price tag might be a little steep to swallow for many households.

Maximum Ease of Setup: FlashRouters Netgear R6700

Unlike the previous router, which can be bought from Amazon, this model comes from a company called FlashRouters. They purchase existing products and do the potentially fiddly and time-consuming flashing process for you. As a result, you’ll get a router that comes with all of the features you want without any time investment.

Advantages of VPN Router:

1. Security And Privacy:

Whenever you go online on any of your devices you have to turn on VPN manually. On another hand when your VPN is Installed in your router it will be active all the time. The always-on connection will encrypt all your devices including those from your Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

2. Protects Unsupported Devices:

Not all devices are capable of adapting VPNs such as smart TVs, streaming media players, gaming consoles, and IoT devices such as smart speakers and security cameras. However, once you set up a VPN on your router, every other device that connects to that router will have that extra layer of security

3.  Protect Unlimited Devices With Just A Single License:

Some companies like Surfshark allow unlimited simultaneous connections, but most others impose a limit. ExpressVPN allows only five (5) simultaneous connections while NordVPN allows seven (7). Since a router counts as only one connection, you can run unlimited devices through it on a single account.

4.  It Will Save You Time And Effort:

Once you have installed VPN on a router, you don’t have to install VPNs one by one on each device so it is beneficial for you to save time and effort.

Disadvantages of VPN Router:

1.  Customizing Settings Or Changing Servers Is Hard:

Routers can be accessed through another device such as a PC or mobile phone because they don’t have a dedicated user interface. So it is a little bit difficult for the routers to perform basic VPN functions like switching between servers or changing to a different connection protocol.

2. Routers May Limit a VPN’s Encryption Power:

All top virtual private network services support multiple connection protocols that combine with solid encryption standards to ensure that hackers and online spies cannot decrypt your internet traffic. OpenVPN is currently the most trusted protocol. Unfortunately, some older network devices may not support it. Instead, they use the outdated PPTP and L2TP/IPSec protocols which only guarantee basic encryption.

3. Encryption Only Happens at the Router:

When you use a VPN on the router, your internet traffic is unencrypted when it moves from your device to the network. It will also be unencrypted while it moves from the router back to your device. So there is a little chance that somebody can steal your data or spy on you by penetrating your network. So it is important for you to keep your networks secure and allow only trusted devices to connect.

4.  Blocks Some Incoming Connections:

VPN protects you by blocking unauthorized connections which request to your connection. However, not all blocked connections are harmful and unfortunately, it’s more difficult to allow these connections through when the encryption is performed on your router as opposed to when it’s on your device.

What is flashing? How does it help install a VPN on routers?

You can check if your VPN supports your router or not by logging in to your router account, adjusting its settings, and installing additional firmware.

This process takes the following few steps:

• To prepare VPN on a router, the router’s IP address will be required.
• Enter your router’s IP address in the browser like a regular URL. The router’s admin panel will open
• Provide the username and password combination.
• If you have not changed the username and password, find them on your router.
• Now, you can get the DD-WRT firmware and set it up for use.

Additional Tips On How To Use A VPN On Your Router Properly:

Once you have set VPN on your router, your network is carefully protected with VPN. However, you might want to consider a couple more tips on using a VPN router. These tips would help to prevent unwanted downsides and pitfalls of a WiFi router connected to a virtual private network.

Prioritize the nearest VPN servers

If there is more distance between your VPN and connected servers then it will slow down connection speed. VPN act as a tunnel from where encrypted data is running through. And covers additional journeys which result in slightly slowing down the connection speed. This slowdown is unnoticeable if your router is connected to a nearby VPN server.

Avoid doubling the VPN connection

If you are using VPN on any device such as a smartphone or a laptop You have to switch it off when connecting to your home WiFi if it also runs a VPN. Running two VPNs can cause problems with internet speed. This issue can be solved by adopting two routers for different needs. The network without a VPN will be used for devices with native VPN apps, while your VPN router will cover your Smart TV and other connected gadgets.

Keep your router settings nearby

Not to waste your time looking for your router’s IP address every time you need to change something in your settings, bookmark this page in your browser. Of course, it will not be as convenient as using a native VPN app. But at least you will be able to access the settings right away when required.

Pick the most reliable encryption protocols

Make sure that the VPN you use empowers traffic encryption with WireGuard, Open VPN, and IKEv2 protocols. It is important for your VPN router to support the most up-to-date protocol in addition to its VPN compatibility. These types of VPNs are powerful enough to cover your home WiFi security.

Secure your home network with VPN

Setting a VPN on a router is quite more beneficial than installing it on a regular device with a user interface. As it is capable of protecting more devices with VPN encryption Once you’ve configured a virtual private network for your router, your entire network will be safe from cyber attacks and the prying eyes of third parties.

Conclusion:

Connecting a VPN to a router is slightly more challenging than one might expect. The variety of service providers involved in this process inevitably results in going back and forth between different platforms in the hope that all parts would magically sync together. But if you stick to the process and follow the steps carefully, you can significantly improve your network security, and that’s totally worth the effort.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. How do I know if my router is VPN-compatible?

You can check your VPN’s compatibility with the router through its settings. You will need to type your router’s IP in your browser. Once you enter the settings, look for a VPN tab. If you couldn’t find it then your router doesn’t support VPN.

2. Do all routers allow VPN?

No, unfortunately, only some routers are VPN-compatible. Many routers, including those you get from Internet service providers, do not support VPN.

3. How to change my router firmware?

Installing or replacing the firmware on a router is called flashing which must be done correctly otherwise it can cause permanent damage to your router’s hardware. In most cases, it is as simple as installing a program on your computer. However, there is one huge difference. Before you replace the current firmware, you must upgrade your router’s control panel first.

4. Why Should You Set Up a VPN on Your Router Instead of Your Laptop or Mobile Device?

When you install a VPN client on your router, you don’t have to worry about who has VPN and who doesn’t. Any activity on the network will be routed through encrypted channels automatically and keep devices anonymized.

5. Do I need a special router to use a VPN?

Yes, you need a router specially configured for a VPN. Many routers are ready to work with a VPN out of the box, but it is also possible to configure a router to connect to a VPN manually.