How to set up a VPN (VPN) on a home router | Lesson | Computer technology

VPN is a modern technology with which you can create a secure Internet connection. In this case, the user’s location is changed. This is the ability to connect to various resources that are blocked in a certain region, but available in another. We learned how to set up a VPN on a WiFi router (router), and compiled a whole guide.

Answers to popular questions
Where to get VPN for router
Netmap VPN
ExpressVPN
How to set up a VPN (VPN) server on a home router
How to understand if the router supports configuration
How to set up a VPN through a router that does not support such a function
How to choose a router to work with VPN
Asus RT-AC68U
Linksys WRT3200ACM

Answers to popular questions

Is it possible to set up a VPN (VPN) on a router? Yes, you can. The connection principle is similar to that used to connect a computer or telephone.

Need:

• buy access (IP address, login, password);
• enter them in the appropriate fields in the router settings;
• save everything and start using the Internet. Now all gadgets connected to this network will work through VPN.

Can I set up a VPN on any device? No. It must support such a function or be included in the list of devices that can be reflashed.

Is it possible to reflash any router? No. There is a big risk that in the end the router will stop working altogether. Therefore, there are 2 options:

• buy another, additional router (supporting the function, for example, Asus RT-AC68U);
• take the device to a service center. There, the wizard will be able to determine whether it is possible to reflash it. And, if possible, will carry out this procedure.

What to do with an old router if you bought a new one with a VPN? The old one can also be used. For example, to visit blocked sites, you can connect through a router with a VPN. For visiting others — the usual.

Is there a similar solution with location spoofing, but easier to implement? Yes. Ways to configure VPN on a smartphone, on a computer and in a browser, we have previously described in the blog. These options are simpler, they will definitely work. And you do not depend on the model of the router, computer and provider.

What can not be done through VPN? It is not recommended to use a free VPN when making online payments. It is not known who can access the traffic, find out the card details. There is always a danger, but when using a regular Internet connection or a paid VPN, the risk of data leakage is less.

Where to get VPN for router

Important: connect this connection (on any device) only if the user knows the special data. These are “accesses” (IP Address, login, password). But where to get access? To do this, you need to use the services of a VPN provider. These are companies that provide all the necessary data for free or for a fee. We will now list some of them.

Netmap VPN

The company offers a turnkey solution: it provides the necessary access and settings that are relevant for your router. Before buying, we recommend that you make sure that this VPN will work on your router. You can do this on the Netmap VPN website. If you did not find your model in the list, you can write to the chat for more accurate information.

Advantages:

• one subscription can connect 3 routers;
• all requests are encrypted, there is no way to track which sites you visit;
• after setting up on the router, you do not need to additionally install something on each device.

In addition, the company offers VPN for browsers (Chrome or Firefox). This is a special extension that you can install in your browser and enable as needed. There is a free version. It includes one location. You can get access to all possible locations (for example, you are not satisfied with the current speed, or some sites are blocked) for a fee.

ExpressVPN

Another example of a paid provider. In this case, you also need to first familiarize yourself with the models that are compatible with ExpressVPN. The price for a month of using VPN is from $6.

Advantages:

• by subscription, you can connect up to 5 routers at the same time;
• own development — Lightway protocol. Thanks to this, the connection is faster than when using other services;
• simple interface;
• There is an emergency shutdown function Network Lock. If the VPN connection suddenly breaks, Internet traffic is blocked until the secure connection is restored. This means that if someone tries to hack into your network and turn off the VPN connection for a while, he will not be able to intercept the data.

The company claims there are even routers with ExpressVPN built-in. It is enough to turn on such a router and do not have to configure it additionally. But this is optional. You can also use ExpressVPN on your device, if it’s eligible. The recommended list is on their website.

How to set up a VPN (VPN) server on a home router

Important: Not all routers support this connection. For example: there are old models where this is not provided at all, gadgets with outdated firmware, etc. We will tell you what to do with them further.

You need to check if this function works at the same time as choosing a VPN provider. On the sites that we cited as an example above, there is a list of models that support customization. This makes the job easier.

Another plus of such companies is that they themselves provide setup instructions for specific models. This is the right move. Why? The thing is that routers differ in interface. There is no universal connection instruction that is relevant for everyone.

For example, now we will show how to set up a VPN on MERCUSYS AC12.

• The first step is to go to the router settings.
• Open the Advanced tab.
• From the list that opens, select VPN Server and PPTP VPN.
• Enter the desired (received from the provider) client IP address, username and password.
• Check the box next to Enable VPN Server.
• Click «Save».

Setting up a VPN on a TP-link, D-link, ASUS router will not work in the same way (due to a different interface). Moreover, the interface of one manufacturer in different models may differ. The names of the tabs, their location, etc. differ. Therefore, we cannot give a universal setting. It can be obtained from the provider who sold the access.

If the provider of your choice did not provide instructions, or you want to check in advance whether such a connection is possible, you can use the following instructions.

How to understand if the router supports configuration

• Step one is to connect to the router. To do this, its local IP must be entered in the address bar. You can find out the local IP in different ways. For example, it is often written on the body of the device itself.
• Step two is to enter your username and password. They should be in the instructions for the router.
• Step three is to find the «VPN / PPTP server» or «VPN server» tab. If they are not there, most likely the router does not support VPN.

How to set up a VPN through a router that does not support such a function

Sometimes the problem can be solved by flashing the device. This is the installation of a different version of the software. If it installs successfully, then the gadget can be used.

How to understand that there is a new firmware on the device? Refer to the site for help. For example, advancedtomato.com. It lists the models of routers on which you can install new software. After installation, VPN connection will be available.

Important: We do not recommend installing firmware on routers on your own. Even if they are downloaded from trusted sites. Incorrect installation, incompatibility of software and device — all this can lead to a breakdown. After it, it will be impossible to restore the device.

How to choose a router to work with VPN

If you are planning to buy a new device, it is better to immediately pay attention to models that support such a secure connection.

Asus RT-AC68U

Multifunctional router with a simple and intuitive interface. High performance provides a dual-core processor. A useful feature is ASUS AiRadar. This technology allows the gadget to increase the coverage radius of the wireless network and find devices connected to it.

For example, the only phone connected to the network is in the back room. As a result, the signal is weak. The technology allows you to convert it and make it unidirectional. As a result, this device increases the data transfer rate. The model is suitable for servicing 4-7 devices.

Linksys WRT3200ACM

The gadget has a stylish and unusual case made of durable plastic. Linksys WRT3200ACM is designed to connect 10-15 devices. Suitable for large home or office. The router has a dual-core processor, which is responsible for speed.

Main advantages: OpenVPN support, convenient mobile application, detachable antennas (the number affects the speed).

It is interesting: It is advisable to change routers every 3-5 years. During this time, performance decreases, the software becomes obsolete. If you are looking for a new fast, modern gadget for the home, we recommend that you check out our selection.