How to Set Up ExpressVPN on a Router to Secure All Your Devices at the Same Time

In recent years, virtual private networks (VPNs) have gone from sophisticated systems used only by IT professionals to consumer-friendly tools that many people are familiar with. Many people now use VPNs, or at least know about the security and privacy benefits that the best VPNs bring.

As a brief reminder, VPNs route your internet traffic through encrypted and secure servers on the web. Speeds may be slower when using a VPN, but it makes it much harder for anyone else to see what you’re doing online, be it your internet provider, government agencies, or the person sitting at the next table sharing the same. coffee shop Wi-Fi.

Most users connect to their VPN through an app on their phone or laptop. But what’s not so well known is that you don’t need to use the app on your device: You can install it on your router instead. It means that every device in your home connected to the router goes through the VPN when accessing the rest of the web, so you don’t have to worry about turning options on or off, or setting up new devices from scratch.

This also means that devices that don’t necessarily support VPNs by nature—like your smart TV or your home security camera—can still reap the benefits of VPN protection. Everything on your Wi-Fi network is covered.

Choosing a router

This is not something you can do on any router. It should be a model that supports VPN installation, and now there are very few on the market. A quick web search will lead you to several options, but if you already have a VPN provider you’re committed to, be sure to check the router and the provider will cooperate. It may help to narrow down your hardware choices as well.

Once you have your list of routers that will work with your VPN of choice, all the usual considerations come into play: how much you should spend, what features you want, and how your existing setup is configured. If you think you might want to expand your network in the future, or have an existing Wi-Fi network you want to connect to, make sure this is supported.