Most VPNs can handle lower quality. However, top VPNs can also handle high resolutions, and they are usually no more expensive than the competition. If you have an excellent provider, then you will also experience low latency and you don’t have to bother with buffering.

In the ideal case your VPN can bypass the so-called (and awful) geoblocking. This will unblock Netflix US or the BBC iPlayer as well as itv, Amazon Prime and so on. If you are abroad, you can also use it to unlock the content of the country you are living in. Many broadcasts are usually without restrictions, but there are also some that use geoblocking.

It is also desirable that several devices can be connected to the VPN simultaneously. Good VPNs also provide clients or apps for all major operating systems. For me personally, only vendors that also offer a Linux client are an option. Very welcome are services that have built-in protection against malware, trackers and phishing or an ad blocker.

NordVPN – superb for streaming*

Such services exist and they do not cost a fortune. For example, you can get NordVPN for about €3 per month and there is even a Linux client that works with the Raspberry Pi. This is convenient because you can easily build your own VPN router with it.

Sufficient speed for streaming

Of course, your internet speed must be fast enough to use the streaming providers. But the servers of the VPN provider must also be fast enough. Basically, the further away your location is from the VPN server, the more critical it could be.

It also depends on the VPN protocol. Some are faster than others. Meanwhile, NordVPN offers the very fast VPN protocol WireGuard in all apps. It is called NordLynx.

OpenVPN speeds are also sufficient with the provider, but speed tests have shown that WireGuard is even faster. Here is a test from Europe to Los Angeles – original speed is 50 Mbps.

This is easily enough for streaming in high quality. You could use it to unlock Netflix US from Europe, for example.

PIA is also a provider that meanwhile offers WireGuard in all apps.

That’s important: With NordVPN and PIA you get access to the WireGuard protocol on Linux, Android, macOS, Windows and iOS.

By the way: It is not that difficult to build a WireGuard server yourself. However, you are less flexible because you can’t just change the country. This means that bypassing geoblocking is not possible. This does not apply if you are abroad and want to connect to your home.

More streaming – bypass geoblocking

The streaming offers in Europe are excellent. Nevertheless, there is so-called geoblocking in every country and therefore certain contents are not available to you. The archive of Netflix US for example is the largest. If you want to access it from Europe, you need an IP address from the USA. So, you use your VPN and connect to a server in the USA.

Why does geoblocking even exist? This is of course about money. It has something to do with licenses. I find it bizarre, too. There is so much good stuff on BBC iPlayer and itv but you can’t watch it outside the UK – well Zattoo Switzerland offers BBC and itv. But if you are not living in Switzerland you need a VPN with servers in the country.

The thing is … not all VPNs can bypass geoblocking. It is a constant battle between streaming providers and VPN providers. IP addresses are put on blacklists and so on. VPN providers with few resources or smaller networks have problems to win this race. A good deal of give up and simply say that they cannot bypass geoblocking. Superb VPNs such as NordVPN can unblock almost all streaming providers.

Bypass geoblocking with NordVPN*

But also Surfshark* and Private Internet Access (PIA)* are very suitable for the task.

Streaming while travelling

By the way, there’s another reason why you might want to bypass that annoying geoblocking. If you travel to another country, you may not have access to your Netflix account, even if you pay for it – annoying, isn’t it?

Again, a VPN can help you bypass geoblocking. But that is not the only reason why you should take a VPN with you when you travel. I will explain further down how a VPN can help you when you travel (shh … it protects you!).

Streaming with multiple devices simultaneously

Now you may have several people in your household and everyone wants to stream something different. With a good VPN you are allowed to establish several simultaneous connections. NordVPN for example allows 6 simultaneous connections and also the installation on a router is allowed. A router counts as one device.

With PIA you can connect 10 devices simultaneously. Surfshark is best at this point because there is no limit to the number of simultaneous connections. These 2 providers also allow an installation on a router.

Surfshark – unlimited connections

You have to know yourself how many devices you want to connect to the VPN concurrently.

Apps and clients for all devices

Actually all good VPNs provide clients for Android, Windows, macOS and iOS. A good client for Linux makes all the difference.

For me, it is important how many devices and operating systems a VPN supports. In any case, I would like to have a client for Linux. Most VPNs on the market offer ovpn files, which you can use to manually connect to one server at a time. This is fine, but not practical if you want to change countries quickly.

Another difference is command line client or GUI. One of the most beautiful clients for Linux is from PIA (very nice client)*. It offers all functions, is clearly arranged and user-friendly.

However, there are many flavours of Linux. NordVPN offers a command line client, which is also available for the Raspberry Pi (Raspbian). So, this is my favourite because I can use my Pi as a VPN router and still change countries quickly. Therefore I can also quickly move the Chromecast virtually to another country.

PIA and Surfshark also work on the Raspberry Pi, but here you have to establish the connection manually using the ovpn file. Before you choose a VPN for Linux, you should check if the client is compatible with your distribution. Ubuntu, Linux Mint and Debian are supported by all three.

The three VPN providers also provide extensions or add-ons for Firefox, Chrome (and compatible ones like Brave*). These add-ons act as a proxy and only protect the traffic of your browser. If you want to stream via browser, this is completely OK. Please note that other internet traffic will not pass through the VPN connection.

Protection against Malware

There is another important feature I want to have in my VPN client – protection against malware, trackers, phishing and an ad blocker. At home, I normally route my Internet traffic through my Pi-hole. When I’m on the road, I gratefully use the VPN provider’s ad blocker, which also protects me from malware, trackers and phishing. Both PIA and NordVPN offer such protection.

NordVPN calls the function CyberSec and PIA names it MACE. The blocker is deactivated by default in both VPNs. The reason is that some websites do not work with CyberSec or MACE. I would simply activate the ad blocker, but keep in mind that this can cause problems.

On the other hand, I also think: If a website with activated protection against advertising, malware and trackers doesn’t work, I might not even want to visit it.

The ad blockers of PIA and NordVPN work well. As soon as I leave the house, I use such features.

Protection when using hotspots / free Wi-Fi

If you like to be on the road like me, you probably use free Wi-Fi, hotspots and so on. In most countries you can get mobile internet connections relatively easily and cheaply, but the data volume is often very limited. In other words, they are suitable for e-mail, messenger services and so on, but there is too little data for streaming.

If you use free Wi-Fi (Airbnb, hotel and so on), you never know who is on the same network or who is running it. Don’t let them spy on you and just use a VPN. This is the best protection in foreign networks.

Avoid censorship

But not only the operators of the free Wi-Fi are possibly nosy. Governments also monitor Internet connections or censor them to a greater or lesser extent. In some countries, such as Egypt, VPNs are legal, but blocked. NordVPN still works because the provider uses obfuscated servers.

Bypass censorship with NordVPN*

VPNs are not illegal in China either, but only state-approved VPNs are allowed. Thus, the point of a VPN is nullified. NordVPN can also bypass the Great Firewall of China. Many VPN providers cannot bypass such blocks – only the best ones can.

In some countries VPNs are illegal. North Korea is one of them. Just check before you start your trip if a VPN is legal or not.

But the thing is: In restrictive countries, access to VPN providers is often blocked. If you want to take a VPN with you, get one before you start your trip. If you are on the road for less than 30 days, you can even travel with a free VPN – just as a hint (30 days money-back guarantee) …

What is the best VPN for streaming?

As I said, there are many VPNs that are well suited. Of course, I can’t test all services that are on the market. But from my experience I can tell you that NordVPN (big discounts NOW)*, Surfshark (unlimited connections)* and PIA (very nice client)* work great for streaming. Thanks to WireGuard, PIA and NordVPN are very fast.

Both VPN providers offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can test both PIA and NordVPN before you buy.

Both providers also allow P2P, torrents or file sharing. Both providers have a strict no-log policy to keep your Internet activities anonymous.

As already mentioned, a high quality VPN only costs about €3 per month. That’s how much data protection, anonymity and privacy should be worth to you. Virtual Private Networks are really not expensive these days.

The post What is the best VPN for streaming? The answer is simple! appeared first on VPN Expert.

That is relatively easy to answer and also not. The simple answer is that there is none — but there is something better. NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and during the test phase all functions are available to you without restrictions. If you don’t like the service after this period, simply ask for a refund. You will get your money back.

Test NordVPN 30 day for free*

By the way, the refund works perfectly, I tested it with a friend. The NordVPN test version is therefore risk free.

NordVPN trial version – this is how it works

All you need to do is visit the VPN provider’s website and subscribe to a package. This will cost you money at first. However, as mentioned above, you can request a refund within 30 days if you are not satisfied. If you’re quick, you might even get the 70% discount that is currently available.

As soon as you have subscribed to a package, the provider will e-mail you with further instructions. Step by step you will be guided to the downloads for your device. NordVPN offers clients for all popular operating systems: Android, Windows, macOS, iOS and Linux. There is even a dedicated client for the Raspberry Pi! Not many VPN providers offer this.

Once you have installed the user-friendly client, all you have to do is connect to the country of your choice. That’s all. For example, if you like to unblock the BBC iPlayer you would connect to a server in the UK. For Netflix US you would use a server in the USA and so on.

The NordVPN trial version has no limits. You are allowed to use all features of the provider and also bandwidth is not throttled or limited. 30 days are also sufficient to build a VPN router. NordVPN allows the use on a router and this counts as one device. In total the provider allows 6 simultaneous connections.

What about the refund for the NordVPN trial version?

Let us assume that you dislike the service or it does not meet your expectations. In this case, just contact the support. Either you can do this by email or faster via the 24/7 live chat.

The support staff may ask you what your problem is. Just say that you want a refund and you will get it. It may take a few days (about 1 week) to get your money back.

What you should test in the 30 days

30 days sounds like a long time, but passes relatively quickly. I would make a small list of requirements that the VPN should fulfill or what you expect. Here are a few ideas.

Streaming with the NordVPN trial version

Most streaming providers rely on so-called geoblocking. They do this based on your IP address. With a VPN, you connect to a server in another country and change your virtual location — so you are digitally elsewhere. At least that’s how it looks to the streaming providers.

Geoblocking vs VPN is a constant race. The streaming providers block, the best VPN providers add and swap IP addresses.

NordVPN is known to unblock many streaming providers and to bypass geoblocking. The service can unlock all major streaming providers. These include Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, HBO Go, Disney+, Hulu, Pandora and BBC iPlayer and many more.

Streaming is possible with the NordVPN trial version, as there are really no restrictions. Maybe you want to watch BBC iPlayer, Netflix USA or Disney+ — stream much as you want.

Even if you are outside the UK, you can stream BBC iPlayer. Without a VPN you can’t.

Bypass geoblocking with NordVPN*

The VPN provider operates over 5500 servers in about 60 countries. The countries where you want to bypass geoblocking are most likely to be included.

Bypassing geoblocking is in most countries a grey area, by the way. Most likely you are violating the terms of use of the streaming provider. But I’ve never heard that they kicked anyone out for bypassing geoblocking. Most of the time, the streaming providers only show a notice that the content is not available in your country.

Activate CyberSec

What you should definitely know about NordVPN is CyberSec, which is a built-in ad blocker, but also protects against malware and trackers as well as phishing. By default, CyberSec is disabled because some websites and services may not work with it.

However, it is definitely worth activating CyberSec. The feature will block annoying adverts and therefore your connection will probably be faster if fewer requests have to be answered.

By the way, CyberSec is available in all clients of NordVPN, including the command line versions for Linux and Raspberry Pi. You activate it in Linux like this:

nordvpn set cybersec on

You can also use CyberSec if you use NordVPN on a self-made router. This would protect all devices connected to the router. Speaking of routers …

Using NordVPN trial version as a router

I have already mentioned that NordVPN allows the use on a router. You can easily build your own VPN router with a Raspberry Pi — it is less complicated than it sounds. If you have enough time, try it out — it’s fun.

A VPN router has several advantages. First of all, the VPN router is considered to be only 1 device. NordVPN is not interested in how many devices are connected to the VPN router. Of the allowed 6 simultaneous connections, 5 remain.

If you use the VPN router as an access point or hotspot, you can also connect devices for which there is no separate VPN client. A prominent example would be a Chromecast.

The Smart Home and IoT (Internet of Things) are also becoming more and more fashionable. Many of these devices have Wi-Fi (wireless network card), but there are no dedicated VPN clients. A VPN router with access point solves your problems in this case. You simply connect the devices to the access point and the VPN router routes the traffic through the VPN.

I currently use a Raspberry Pi 4 as my VPN router. A Pi 3 will work, but you can connect fewer devices because it is not as powerful.

Test different VPN protocols

The VPN provider also offers WireGuard as VPN protocol — for all operating systems. It is called NordLynx and is faster than OpenVPN.

If you have installed the client, feel free to change the protocol and experiment with it. The faster your internet connection is, the sooner you should feel the benefits of NordLynx.

NordVPN trial version for your next trip

If you are going on holiday, you can use this kind of NordVPN trial version for your trip. Very few people travel over 30 days. Taking a VPN with you on vacation is a good idea in many ways.

Especially in non-European countries you probably rely on free hotspots and free access points. But you don’t know who is on the same network or who set up the network. Not only the Wi-Fi operator can spy, but also authorities and so on are curious. Many governments are nosy.

In any case, you want to use a VPN when you check in at an Airbnb, hotel, the bus or even a plane.

In such cases the built-in kill-switch is very useful. This is an emergency switch that disconnects all internet connections as soon as your connection to the VPN drops.

In some countries there is also a lot of censoring. If you want to make sure that you have access to all your services in countries such as Egypt, then get a VPN before you start your trip. NordVPN can also bypass the Great Firewall of China and works in Russia and Turkey. For this, NordVPN offers special obfuscated servers.

Restrictive countries try to prevent access to VPN websites. For example, access to websites where you can trade cryptocurrencies is blocked. If you want to do this while on vacation, consider subscribing to a VPN.

NordVPN for your next trip*

As I said, you can use the VPN for 30 days and then cancel it after the trip if you no longer want the service. This is your NordVPN trial version for traveling.

Maybe you can save money with a VPN

By the way, it is quite possible that you will be given different prices depending on your location. This is no joke. It’s definitely worth checking out if you book a hotel in a different country or if you book a flight.

It’s not guaranteed that you will get different prices at hotels or flights depending on the location — but I would give it a shot. However, not only the location is important here, but also the browser cookies. The best way to check prices is to use the private mode of your browser and maybe different browsers in the different virtual countries you connect to with your VPN.

NordVPN trial version also contains browser add-ons

The VPN provider also offers add-ons for browsers. More precisely, there are add-ons for Firefox and Chrome or Chrome-based browsers such as Brave*.

With the extensions you can change the country directly in the browser very fast. But you have to be careful that the add-ons work as a proxy only for the browser. So, they protect the browser traffic, but not the traffic of the whole device.

The browser add-ons also provide CyberSec and an option to block WebRTC.

If you block WebRTC, various services may no longer work. You should keep this in mind.

What else does the NordVPN trial version offer?

As said before, there are no restrictions at all while you are in the first 30 days of your subscription. So, you also benefit from the strict no-log policy of the provider. NordVPN is also working on operating all servers in RAM only. If a server is seized and disconnected from the power supply, all data is deleted from RAM.

There are special P2P servers that allow you to download torrents and share files.

If you need additional privacy and anonymity, use the Double Encryption servers.

If you use Onion Over VPN, the service will also route you through the Tor network (The Onion Router). This prevents the authorities from seeing that you are using Tor or visiting the so-called dark net. While Tor protects your anonymity, the authorities can see that you are using Tor, but with Onion Over VPN, they can’t see that. You can get the same effect by using a VPN with the Tor Browser, by the way.

Money back guarantee is better than the regular trial

Quite a few VPN providers offer test versions in the true sense of the word. However, these are often associated with serious limitations. Maybe you only have a few days, and they are not enough for an extensive test.

Furthermore, it is quite possible that the allowed data volume is strongly limited. This is not the case with the NordVPN test version. The provider does not throttle and does not limit the data volume in any way. Therefore, a comprehensive test is possible.

I don’t want to even address the problem with free VPNs. Many providers have shady business models and finance themselves by selling your data to third parties. Somehow they have to finance the infrastructure and then the VPN does exactly the opposite of what it should do — protect you and your data. NordVPN costs only about €3 per month — for such little money I don’t risk my privacy — do you?

Test NordVPN – 30 days risk free*

If you are a VPN newbie and want more information about Virtual Private Networks, you find more information in my guide for beginners.

NordVPN accepts all major payment methods such as credit cards as well as Google Pay and Amazon Pay. In some countries you can also pay with PayPal. Furthermore, the provider accepts Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies via CoinPayments.

The post NordVPN trial version — does it exist? Sort of … this is how it works appeared first on VPN Expert.

Important note: The function will be rolled out step by step. Not everyone will get the new VPN (Virtual Private Network) clients simultaneously and you may have to wait a few days until NordLynx arrives. The goal is to have all new apps distributed April 24th.

Nordlynx / WireGuard for everyone!*

It is not difficult to use the new protocol.

On Android you find the new option in the settings.

What about the security and NordLynx?

WireGuard is fast, but there are concerns about anonymity. NordVPN protects the privacy of the users by using double NAT (Network Address Translation). The double NAT system creates two local network interfaces for each user. One of them is used by all users connected to the server. So, you will be lost in the crowd as before.

The second IP address is only assigned to you during the session and no data is stored on the server. You are therefore not identifiable. In the end, the endpoint will not see your WireGuard IP address, but a general one from the NordVPN network. At least that’s how I understood it.

NordLynx / WireGuard is faster – much faster – good for streaming

My speed tests have shown that NordLynx is faster than OpenVPN. However, I could only test it under Linux so far. During the release of NordLynx for all apps the provider wrote that they did 256.886 internal speed tests. According to NordVPN the new VPN protocol has left the established IKEv2 and OpenVPN far behind.

This is valid for connection times as well as download and upload were constantly faster than a connection with OpenVPN. This does not mean that OpenVPN is slow, but better performance is always welcome. You can also switch at any time, if you feel like using a different VPN protocol. The others won’t be removed.

WireGuard is roaming capable by the way. So, you can switch networks without disconnecting from the VPN server. Now it can always happen that a VPN server fails completely. But for this, the client of NordVPN additionally offers a so-called kill switch. If this function is active, it will cut off all connections to the Internet as soon as your connection to the Virtual Private Network is disconnected.

If you use your VPN primarily for streaming, a higher speed will also be handy. The minimum requirements of streaming providers are relatively low, but you will only get the lowest quality. Especially if you want to avoid geoblocking, you want to have high speeds so that you can stream hassle-free.

Lower latency with NordLynx is an advantage for VoIP, video calls and so on. So, all real-time applications benefit from lower latency and faster response times.

Does NordLynx have disadvantages?

The only small disadvantage I can see at the moment: There are fewer sites that are equipped with WireGuard.

It is possible that these countries will also be equipped with WireGuard at some point. Especially for Finland, I cannot imagine that there will be no improvements. In any case, this is a disadvantage that I can live with at the moment.

Further advantages of NordVPN and NordLynx

NordVPN is one of the most user-friendly VPNs on the market. Except for the CLI Linux client, the clients for the other operating systems are similar. You just type or click on the country you want to connect to and the software does the rest. It does not get much easier. But you can also connect just like that and the client takes the server that responds fastest. This is usually a server that is located near you.

If you only want to protect your traffic and maintain your anonymity, you don’t need to worry about the server. With geoblocking, however, it becomes more specific.

Of course, you can build your own WireGuard VPN server using a Raspberry Pi. This is not that difficult. However, you won’t be as flexible in bypassing geoblocking as you would be with a global VPN provider like NordVPN*. Besides, anonymity is most probably also not given with your own server.

If you only want to protect yourself in free Wi-Fi hotspots, hotels, Airbnb, on the bus and so on, then a self-made solution is certainly a good idea. But if you want to beat geoblocking, connect to other countries and so on, then you are better off with a VPN provider. The packages are no longer expensive. NordVPN only costs around €3 per month if you take a three-year subscription.

Short overview of the functions of NordPVN:

Take advantage of the 30-day money back guarantee and test NordLynx without risk. If you dislike the service, you will get your money back.

Test NordVPN risk free*

The provider usually does not ask questions and refunds your money rather quick.

CyberSec briefly explained

The CyberSec function is one of the best features of NordVPN. It is an ad blocker, but it also blocks trackers and malware and protects against phishing. The function is included in all clients of NordVPN, including the extensions for Firefox and Chrome.

However, the function is not activated by default. There is a good reason for this. Some websites don’t like active CyberSec. If you activate the function, keep this in mind.

As soon as I leave the house, the VPN with CyberSec is active on my smartphone. At home, my traffic runs through a Pi-Hole and/or the VPN router with CyberSec active, so I usually don’t need a VPN on the individual clients at home.

NordLynx also for Windows

The Windows version now also offers WireGuard as a protocol.

All you have to do is set it up and you can use it immediately.

I was there from the beginning

I was one of the early testers of NordVPN’s WireGuard implementation. In the very beginning (2018) there were only two servers and I had to set up WireGuard manually. With NordLynx for Linux (July 2019) testing became a lot easier. The Linux client certainly had major quirks in the beginning, but the developers reacted quickly to my bug reports. They still do that today.

Compared to the first versions of the Linux client it has improved a lot.

The Linux client has been improved and is still under active development. On its website NordVPN offers the Linux client for Debian-based (Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Raspbian) and RPM-based (Red Hat, Fedora, openSUSE) Linux distributions. By the way, the client is also available for Manjaro or Arch – it is located in AUR and is called nordvpn-bin.

Tip: After the installation via AUR you have to activate the daemon first. Otherwise, the client does not work like in the other linux distributions:

sudo systemctl enable --now nordvpnd

It works really well and the thing is fast. In Linux you can change between OpenVPN and NordLynx like this:

nordvpn set technology nordlynx

or:

nordvpn set technology openvpn

Using the command

nordvpn set cybersec on

you activate CyberSec, if you would like to use it.

Why do I need a VPN?

There are several reasons why you want to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). As already mentioned, some people only want to protect themselves in public networks.

If you are travelling, you might like to use the open WLANs in restaurants, cafés and so on, just like me. First, I don’t know who else is on the same network, nor who set up the network. I have also seen compromised routers in countries like Egypt or Indonesia (DNS redirections).

By the way, VPNs are blocked in Egypt, but not illegal. But thanks to the stealth function, NordVPN works very well there. The service also works in other countries with censorship like Russia and China (can crack the Great Firewall). If you want to know if a VPN is illegal in a country, you should do your own research. Laws can change. In most countries VPNs are legal. In North Korea, for example, it would be illegal.

Others want to circumvent geoblocking. You can use your VPN to watch Netflix US or BBC iPlayer.

Others don’t want to put up with the stress of having to manage their own VPN server because of €3 per month. I do this for fun or because I am interested. But since I can now use NordLynx / WireGuard on Android, my own VPN server might get less attention. But I will keep it running because a backup can never hurt.

The post NordLynx: NordVPN introduces WireGuard for all apps (also Android / Windows) appeared first on VPN Expert.

Such premium VPNs may sound expensive, but they are no longer. A long-term subscription for NordVPN (big discounts NOW)* costs only a few bucks per month. Not only does the VPN protect up to 6 devices simultaneously, but it is also one of the best services if you want to beat geoblocking or censorship. The VPN is more than fast enough for well-known streaming services. NordVPN has a built-in security suite called CyberSec. More on this later.

NordVPN for your home office*

NordVPN offers clients for Linux, Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. There is even a client for the Raspberry Pi.

When I talk about VPN for the home office, I have to differentiate.

Private VPN or company VPN for the home office?

If you are employed by a larger company, you will most likely need access to the company’s network. Of course a lot can be done in the public cloud, but many services are still provided internally. In this case, your company will probably provide you with a VPN that allows you to connect to the company’s network.

If all the traffic goes through your company’s network, you’ll also benefit from other protection measures. But even smaller companies can use VPNs. Setting up your own WireGuard server and connecting the people from the home office via VPN it is not that difficult.

If you need access to your company’s network, contact your system administrator.

No access to the company network necessary

Another scenario would be, for example, if you and your employees collaborate via a publicly accessible Nextcloud. In this case, the data traffic would not have to go through the company network and you would theoretically not need a VPN in your home office. But it does no harm either.

Good VPNs offer various security mechanisms. For example, the security suite for NordVPN is called CyberSec.

How does CyberSec help in the home office?

CyberSec is an ad blocker integrated in NordVPN. The function can be found in all clients of the VPN. It can even be found in the browser extensions. However, the function is not active by default. If you want to use it, you must activate it manually. This is how it looks like in the browser extension, for example.

But CyberSec does not only block advertising. The security function also protects against harmful websites, malware and phishing.

As already mentioned, you may use 6 devices simultaneously. If that is not enough for you, I recommend you to build your own VPN router with a Raspberry Pi. This is not difficult.

You can test NordVPN before buying it because it provides a 30-day money-back-guarantee.

Test NordVPN 30 days risk free*

If you dislike the service, you can ask the 24/7 customer service for a refund.

NordLynx for Linux – WireGuard

The Linux client, including the one for the Raspberry Pi, offers an additional feature called NordLynx. This is the implementation of the lightweight WireGuard VPN protocol. You have access to fewer countries with it, but the protocol is faster than OpenVPN as speed tests show. But OpenVPN is not slow either.

WireGuard is a relatively new protocol that has just reached version 1.0.0. It has also been included in the Linux kernel 5.6 and is back ported to Ubuntu 20.04. With this, WireGuard has finally arrived in the mainstream.

PIA – Private Internet Access for the Home Office

The only criticism of NordVPN might be that the Linux client is only available for the command line. With Raspberry Pi this is not bad, because this method is more resource-saving.

If you are looking for a VPN with a graphical client for Linux, then PIA (very nice client)* is recommended. Another great option is Surfshark (unlimited connections)* – it’s the most affordable VPN you can trust.

Private Internet Access offers a smart graphical client for Linux as well as a function to block advertising, trackers and malware. In terms of price, the PIA and NordVPN do not differ that much. PIA is somewhat cheaper.

All three mentioned VPN offer a kill switch shown. It ensures that your device is disconnected from the Internet if the connection to the VPN fails for any reason.

With PIA you can even connect 10 devices simultaneously. Surfshark has unlimited connections. All provider offer a 30-day money-back-guarantee.

If you take out an annual PIA subscription at the moment, you will get 2 months for free because of the Corona crisis — completely free!

PIA – 2 month for free*

That’s quite a nice offer.

Will the VPN get me anything after the Corona crisis?

If you work from abroad, it has even more advantages. At home in your network you have control over it. In a foreign Wi-Fi or public hotspot, you don’t know who is using it. A VPN protects you in such cases.

This also applies to the vacation you deserve after the crisis is over. We all like to use the everywhere available Wi-Fi. It doesn’t matter if it’s in a hotel or in an Airbnb.

If you travel to countries with strong censorship, you can still keep in touch with friends and family via VPN. For example, North VPN can bypass the Great Firewall of China. VPNs are legal in most countries, including China. In Egypt, VPNs are also legal, but blocked and only Premium ones work. Good VPNs can bypass such blocks and are usually not more expensive.

Both VPN providers mentioned here allow P2P activities, also called file sharing.

If your priority is streaming, I would recommend to use NordVPN. You can use it to unblock the major streaming providers such as Netflix US and BBC iPlayer. In the end, the VPN changes your IP address and it looks like you’re in a different location.

Which is the best VPN for the home office?

In the end, any VPN that works well and has no leaks is good. Both PIA and NordVPN run several thousand servers spread around the globe. Surfshark has a somewhat smaller network but is an excellent choice as well. All providers provide clients for the most commonly used operating systems.

A VPN is generally not a bad idea. The world is becoming more mobile and after the Corona crisis some companies might keep the use of home office. Therefore, it is a good idea to start working with a virtual private network.

The post Best VPN for home office — depends on the use case appeared first on VPN Expert.

This is how you watch Paris Saint-Germain vs Borussia Dortmund live

It is really not difficult, but the order is important:

• Get a good VPN with servers in Switzerland — I take NordVPN (big discounts NOW)* — definitely one of the best VPNs for streaming.
• Connect to a server in Switzerland
• If you use Zattoo, then register at Zattoo Switzerland. You will also be able to watch many other channels, including the BBC and itv for rugby. You can also access the live stream of SRF2 directly.
• Have fun with Paris Saint-Germain vs Borussia Dortmund live!
• The only catch? Ccommentary is in German.

Why do I need a VPN for Paris Saint-Germain vs Borussia Dortmund?

The problem are licenses. In other words, it’s all about money. SRF has the rights to broadcast the game in Switzerland, but not in other countries. That’s why the broadcaster is using so-called geoblocking to block viewers from other countries.

SRF checks your IP address and if it is not from Switzerland, you are out of luck. Furthermore, you need a VPN that has proven it can bypass the geoblocking of the broadcasters. Not all VPNs work. NordVPN can handle even the strongest geographical blocks. You can also unblock BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Amazon Prime and so on.

Paris vs Dortmund with NordVPN*

You can only register with Zattoo Switzerland if you are visiting the website from Switzerland. Therefore, you have to log in to a server in Switzerland before you register.

SRF is also great if you want to watch winter sports. If you are abroad, you may need a VPN to unlock other streaming providers. Whenever there is geoblocked content a VPN might help — it’s that simple.

I also had good success with Surfshark (unlimited connections)* to avoid geoblocking in Switzerland. But I use Linux a lot and I prefer the client from NordVPN. Especially NordLynx (WireGuard) is perfect for me because it is simply faster than the protocol OpenVPN. You can read that in my speed test.

NordVPN offers clients for all devices

I recommend NordVPN for several reasons. The provider provides clients for all major operating systems. On Android and Windows the apps are very user-friendly. In Windows you can search for the desired country or just click on Switzerland.

The interface for Android looks similar. For Linux there is a command line client. This sounds complicated, but it is not. The fact that the client is not graphical also has advantages.

For example, NordVPN is one of the few providers to offer the client for the Raspberry Pi as well. This makes it easy to build your own VPN router. It’s useful for devices on which no VPN client can be installed — a good example at this point would be a Chromecast. If you also connect your smartphone to the VPN router, you can stream geoblocked content to the Chromecast. Both devices are now in the same country and have the same IP address from the location of your choice. This works 100%, I use it myself.

With NordVPN you are allowed to connect 6 devices simultaneously and the VPN router is considered as 1 device, even if there are several attached to it.

It’s great that you can test NordVPN for free. There is a 30-day money-back-guarantee. If you don’t like the service, you can apply for a refund and simply get your money back.

Test NordVPN 30 days*

However, a subscription over 3 years is worthwhile if you are a sports fan. Firstly, the month costs just under €3 and secondly, SRF has the rights to broadcast the Champions League for the next few years.

CyberSec – built-in adblocker

One of the best features of NordVPN is certainly CyberSec, which is a built-in ad blocker, but it also blocks trackers and malware and protects against phishing.

CyberSec is available for all clients, including Linux. You can also activate it in the add-ons for Firefox and Chrome.

By default, CyberSec is not active. If you want to use the ad blocker, you have to turn it on manually.

By the way, it can happen that CyberSec blocks a bit too ambitiously. Doesn’t often happen, but I’ve seen it happen. In this case, just disable it temporarily.

If you have installed NordVPN for Linux, macOS, Windows, Android or iOS, you don’t need to install an additional ad blocker. This is very convenient. I really don’t want to miss CyberSec anymore.

All advantages of NordVPN at a glance

Here is a brief overview of what makes the provider so attractive.

Test NordVPN risik free!*

So, there are plenty of reasons to use the service besides football.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Borussia Dortmund will be an exciting match

Dortmund won at home and defeated Paris 2:1. However, the star ensemble around the former coach of Borussia Dortmund Thomas Tuchel should not be underestimated. The away goal could be decisive. I estimate that Paris will score a goal in their stadium and Dortmund will need at least 2 goals to reach the next round.

But that is easily possible. After all, Dortmund has the new wonder weapon Erling Haaland. The striker just keeps scoring. I am looking forward to the game as it should be a really good one. I am really curious if Dortmund makes it to the quarterfinals.

Leipzig vs re-live

The game Leipzig vs Tottenham will take place on Tuesday and as far as I know there is no possibility to watch it for free on Free TV. However, SRF is repeating the game just before Paris vs Dortmund. The broadcaster calls it re-live and it will be shown in full length.

Maybe you can arrange not to know the result. Then you will have a CL Wednesday with two exciting matches.

Lots of football, which you can watch on Free-TV with a VPN!

Is that legal?

That’s a good question and it may be in some countries. So check yourself, please. Bypassing Geoblocking will most likely violate the terms and conditions of the respective streaming provider. If he finds out about you, he could block your account.

I am not aware of any cases where this has happened. Usually there is only an error message or a hint that a VPN is not allowed.

The post Paris Saint-Germain vs Borussia Dortmund live on free TV — it’s possible! appeared first on VPN Expert.

How to watch Real Madrid vs Manchester City for free

Here is a summary of how you can watch Real Madrid vs Manchester City live (the order is important):

• Get a good VPN — [North VPN] works great
• Connect to a server in Switzerland
• Open Zattoo Switzerland and register (you have to do this via a server in Switzerland!)
• Watch Real Madrid vs Manchester City on 26/02/2020 — it will be broadcast on SRF2
• Have fun!

There is a catch however. You will have Swiss-German commentary. If you don’t mind that, it’s a great way to watch the game live.

NordVPN for UEFA Champions League

SRF has the rights to broadcast the top match of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday and will continue to do so for the next few years. But the top match is decided by the channel and it doesn’t necessarily have to involve your team. However, there are almost no more bad matches in the last sixteen of the Champions League.

You need a VPN and have to register with Zattoo via a server in Switzerland because the streaming provider uses so-called geoblocking. If you don’t have an IP address from Switzerland, the provider SRF won’t let you in.

As mentioned, it is critical that you register with Zattoo Switzerland. NordVPN is more than fast enough to stream Zattoo. If you’re interested, you can read my speed test. In SD, streaming via Zattoo is already possible from 3 MB/s.

Why do you need a good VPN?

VPN providers with few servers often can’t bypass the geoblocking of streaming providers. NordVPN has proven over and over that is capable of doing so. The VPN provider operates more than 5000 servers worldwide and that’s important.

Streaming providers like Netflix or BBC iPlayer fight VPNs and put servers on blacklists again and again. The more servers or IP addresses a VPN provider has, the more likely it is that it will be possible to bypass geographical blocks.

Do other VPNs work for Real Madrid vs Manchester City?

Yes, they do. I don’t know exactly how many other VPNs work, but with Surfshark (unlimited connections)* you unlock Zattoo Switzerland as well. Surfshark currently costs less than 2 Euro per month if you take out a long-term subscription. It is the most affordable VPN you can trust at the moment.

Surfshark awesome value

I know it works because I tested it myself on Android TV. I don’t like the NordVPN app on Android TV, but I like the Surfshark app. But the Linux client of NordVPN is much better. With it and a Raspberry Pi you can quickly build a powerful VPN router.

By the way, the best thing about such a VPN router is that you can control the bandwidth usage of streaming apps. With the small, free additional program wondershaper I determine the maximum bandwidth myself. Such a VPN router has even more advantages. You can use it to place devices behind a VPN for which there is no native client. A good example at this point is a Chromecast.

Chelsea vs Bayern Munich re-live just before

On Tuesday Chelsea vs Bayern is on and to my knowledge you can’t watch it on free TV. But you could make a great football Wednesday. Before Real vs City, the top game will be shown as a replay. SRF calls it re-live and on 26/02/2020 Chelsea against Bayern will be shown in full length.

Maybe you will manage not to find out the result and then the replay would even have a certain tension.

Do you like Rugby?

I also love watching rugby. The BBC and itv very often broadcast prominent tournaments like the Six Nations on public television. Both channels are on Zattoo Switzerland as well.

Often the two channels share the rights and the matches are broadcast alternately. You just have to check who broadcasts which game and when.

Is it legal to watch Real Madrid – Manchester City like this?

It’s definitely a grey area and depends on the laws of the country you are in. In any case, it is most likely a violation of the streaming provider’s terms and conditions. If he catches you, he might kick you out. I am not aware of any such case. But it’s no drama either, just sign up again. I don’t see any problems if you watch Real Madrid vs Manchester City on free TV as described here.

I find it alarming that football disappears completely behind paywalls. Public order my ass, it’s all about money. If at some point there is no possibility anymore to watch good games on free TV, I won’t take part in this nonsense anymore.

By the way, VPNs are legal in most countries. This is true for the technology VPN, but that doesn’t give you the freedom to do illegal things with it! NordVPN and Surfshark both support torrent downloads. But that doesn’t make it legal to download copyrighted content. You must be aware of that.

But there are also countries where VPN technology as such is prohibited. North Korea is an example. In China, as you know, there is the Great Firewall. But VPNs are not forbidden in China. However, you are only allowed to use one that is officially registered. But that is monitored and is therefore obsolete. Good VPNs like NordVPN can still crack the Great Firewall of China because they have Stealth Servers.

Further advantages of VPNs

A VPN is of course not only suitable for streaming football matches like Real Madrid vs Manchester City. It also protects you using public hotspots or unknown Wi-Fi. You have certainly used such a service before in a café, an Airbnb, hotel, train or bus. Even in airplanes you get Internet now and some airlines recommend VPNs in their in-flight magazines.

In short, you encrypt your internet traffic and people within the same network cannot see what you are doing. This also applies if you use a VPN at home. Then the internet provider or the nosy government has no insight into your internet activities. If you are interested in the topic VPN, I” explain in detail in this post.

NordVPN and Surfshark have a lot in common

If you use Windows, Android or iOS and want to watch some Champions League games via SRF, then Surfshark and NordVPN are not that different. Surfshark is more affordable and allows unlimited simultaneous connections. With NordVPN you get 6 simultaneous connections (that’s enough), but the provider is more established and known for its ability to bypass geoblocking like Netflix and BBC iPlayer. During my test, both worked with Zattoo Switzerland and therefore SRF.

When it comes to Linux as operating system, NordVPN is clearly ahead of the game for me. The Linux client can do much more, including CyberSec (blocks advertising, malware and phishing). Furthermore, the Linux app offers access to the WireGuard servers, and they are faster. But they are available in fewer countries.

You can test both providers because they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Also, both Surfshark and NordVPN are outside the 5/9/14-Eyes alliance and have a zero-logs policy. So, what you do on the internet is not recorded.

In terms of security, NordVPN is currently converting its servers so that the operating system runs completely in RAM. Should a server be seized, it must be turned off and RAM only works with power, right?

Both providers have no limitations in terms of bandwidth. This is useful if you are a Torrent fan. Surfshark allows torrenting on all servers and NordVPN has certain servers (many) where you can share files via P2P. The Torrent technology is legal by the way — at least in most countries.

NordVPN for Real vs City

The post Real Madrid vs Manchester City watch for free — it’s possible! appeared first on VPN Expert.

Perhaps I will explain briefly the Six Nations’ point system, which can be a bit confusing:

• A team gets four points for a win.
• Two points are given to each team in case of a tie.
• A Try bonus point is awarded when a team scores 4 or more tries in a match.
• A loser bonus point is also awarded if the team loses with 7 or fewer points.
• If a team wins a Grand Slam, i.e. every 5 games, it receives 3 additional points.

The system is clear. It should encourage the teams to play as attractively and offensively as possible and never give up.

How to watch Six Nations Rugby for free from everywhere

I won’t beat around the bush here. In the UK the tournament will be on free TV, but for streaming you need a good VPN, otherwise you’ll run into geoblocking. I always use CyberGhost for bypassing geoblocking. The VPN provider is known to be able to bypass even the toughest blocks. I am sure that CyberGhost will serve me well again in the Six Nations.

VPNs are no longer expensive. For long-term subscriptions you only pay about 3 € per month. The technology is not only good for streaming, but you can also protect your devices with it. I will go into this further down.

Can’t I watch the Six Nations in other countries? Yes, but that most probably costs money … Let me explain for example in Germany.

Rugby Six Nations — not on public TV in many countries

If you want to watch the Rugby Six Nations for example in Germany, this is only possible via DAZN. You need a subscription for that.

In England the BBC and itv Hub broadcast the competition on public TV. The games are shown alternately, as you can find on the website of the organizer.

BBC and itv stream the matches live, free of charge and on public TV, but only in the UK. If you come from another country, the providers will block you. They use geoblocking technology and that prevents watching from other countries.

The streaming providers can tell which country you come from by your IP address. If you use a VPN to connect to a server in another country, it looks as if you are at another location. Now the streaming provider will no longer block you. If you are connected to a server in the UK, you seem to be at the right location.

But you need a good VPN with many servers. Streaming providers work with blacklists and if a server will be added on one of these, you will also be blocked.

However, you have to register with the BBC — you need a television license. But the BBC only asks for a postcode. So, any postcode in Britain… all right?

Are there any other possibilities?

Yes, of course, Zattoo! But only Zattoo Switzerland and Zattoo UK, and they work with geoblocking again. Now we have the same problem again. You need a good VPN with servers in Switzerland or the UK. But there is more to it. I explain what you have to do:

• Get a good VPN
• Connect to a server in Switzerland or the UK
• Set up a free account for Zattoo Switzerland or Zattoo UK
• Have fun with the Six Nations!

There are other VPN providers that offer servers in Switzerland and the UK. They are not bad either. CyberGhost is one of the cheapest providers you can trust. There are currently no limits for simultaneous device connections.

Can I watch the Six Nations on free TV from anywhere?

Yes! However, you will have to use a VPN if you are not in the UK or another country where the event will be broadcasted on free TV. I’m glad that I can unblock BBC and itv Hub with my VPNs.

I have tested both CyberGhost and ExpressVPN. Both deliver enough speed for a hassle-free streaming of the Six Nations. With my little trick you can watch your favorite sport for free and from anywhere.

Is that legal?

VPNs are legal in the UK and most other countries as well. However, this does not mean that you can do illegal things with it. It’s your responsibility what you do with it. Even with a VPN, you have to abide by the laws of the country you are in.

Bypassing geoblocking is not illegal, but it probably violates the usage guidelines of the operators. Broadcasters block viewers from other countries for licensing reasons – so it’s all about money and broadcasting rights.

For this reason, streaming operators use technology to detect VPN usage. Only the best VPNs can bypass this technology because they constantly change IP addresses, use camouflage modes, and so on.

if you download copyrighted torrents or other protected media with a VPN – that is illegal. With youtube-dl, it’s probably quite a grey area.

Can I watch the Six Nations with a free VPN?

Possibly – however, it is not advisable. Providers of free VPNs often limit bandwidth and data usage. You don’t need that much bandwidth for streaming, but if you only have a few hundred MB of data, the fun ends rather quickly.

Some free VPNs have also been caught selling users’ data. Others show advertisements and so on.

Services like CyberGhost* or ExpressVPN* are really not expensive and cost less than a beer per month. If you consider all the other advantages of the services, then such a VPN is absolutely worth the money. So, I’d rather pay 3 bucks per month for unlimited bandwidth plus infinite data and know for sure that I won’t run out of juice in the middle of a game.

Many free VPNs also throttle the speeds so much that trouble-free streaming is not even possible. I don’t bother with such things because of the few bucks – you probably don’t either.

There is a little trick that allows you to use high-quality VPNs for free. Most providers have a money-back guarantee of 30 days. This is also true for CyberGhost and ExpressVPN. In this case, you can use the service free for 45 days. If you don’t like the service, you can request a refund. Note, however, that you have to do this in time. You will usually get your money back within a few days. I have tested this with both and it worked. No annoying questions were asked, and they didn’t try to upsell me anything.

Can I watch the Six Nations on my phone or tablet?

The services presented here also offer excellent apps for Android and iOS. You can also use your smartphone to connect to a server of your choice and watch Six Nations Rugby.

If you have enough mobile data, you can watch Six Nations Rugby on the go with your smartphone or tablet. Of course, you can access BBC and itv on mobile devices. Watch Rugby as much as you want and where you want. When you want is limited to the live games, of course. I probably didn’t need to mention that, did I?

In any case, have fun! Six Nations Rugby is always a great show. I’m already very curious to see who will take the crown this year.

The post Six Nations Rugby 2023 Live / Public TV – watch from everywhere! appeared first on VPN Expert.

The provider has made a name for itself to be one of the best VPNs for streaming. The provider always manages to get around the strong geoblocking of providers like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Zattoo and so on. You can unlock almost every popular streaming platform from abroad with this VPN. I travel a lot and know that.

For streaming you need speed, as you know. The provider delivers here (Speedtest: OpenVPN — WireGuard / NordLynx). Starting point was a line with 50 Mbps.

The speed is high enough to allow streaming in very high quality. But the VPN provider has much more to offer and I will introduce you to all the features.

A quick overview of the best functions

A short, clear summary at the beginning seems appropriate to me. This will give you an overview of what the VPN provider has in its portfolio.

Test NordVPN risk free*

Now that we have a rough overview, we will take a closer look at the goodies the VPN has to offer.

General information about NordVPN

The provider has its headquarters in Panama. This means, of course, that NordVPN is outside the legislation of the USA and the EU and therefore not within the 5/9/14 eyes alliance. That’s why the provider does not have to adhere to any data retention laws and can offer a strict zero-logs policy.

NordVPN has started to change the servers so that the operating system only runs in RAM.

NordVPN currently provides way over 5000 servers in about 60 countries. You will find a suitable VPN server in your area. There are about 1500 servers in the USA, roughly 600 in the UK and hundreds in the rest of Europe.

NordVPN offers user-friendly clients for Linux, Android, Windows, macOS and iOS. Furthermore, there are plug-ins for Firefox and Chrome. Installation on a router is allowed.

Another highlight of NordVPN is that you can connect up to 6 devices simultaneously and protect them.

NordVPN offers a 30-day money back guarantee. If you dislike the service, you can apply for a refund and you will get your money back.

CyberSec is one of the best features of the service. You find it in every client the provider has to offer. It is an integrated ad blocker. CyberSec not only blocks annoying advertisements, but also protects against malware, trackers and phishing. You have to activate it manually.

NordVPN in detail

As mentioned above, installation on your router is allowed, as long as your router supports it. However, you can easily create your own VPN router with a Raspberry Pi. With that setup you can control the bandwidth if you want to. This method would protect your entire network with NordVPN. Furthermore, you can also provide a VPN to devices for which there is no client. Examples at this point would be a Chromecast or a Smart TV on which you cannot install apps.

For devices with Android TV you don’t really need a router because the Android app works perfectly.

Money-back guarantee – 30 days!

Various service providers offer a money-back guarantee but it’s a pain in the ass to apply for the refund. You might be asked annoying questions, why you want to quit and so on. Maybe they also offer you extras to convince you to stay. In any case, it is not that easy to get your money back.

NordVPN does not ask questions. You decide to take advantage of the money-back guarantee? So be it and the provider lets you go. I know that because a friend of mine did ask for a refund. He wanted to watch BBC iPlayer and he could unblock it. But was watching less than he thought. Meanwhile, he got hist Nord subscription again because he really likes his BBC iPlayer. At least that tested the refund policy for me.

Test NordVPN 30 days*

In any case, during the test phase you will get your money back without any problems if you ask for a refund.

Security functions, data protection and privacy

Of course the provider masks your IP address. All serious VPNs do this. But this is not only good for streaming Netflix US, BBC iPlayer and so on. It also hides your location from other data collectors. Data is the new gold and if the big companies know your location they can create personalized advertising.

Because we’re on the subject of advertising and trackers. CyberSec is one of the best features of NordVPN. It is a built-in ad blocker. CyberSec blocks not only ads but also trackers. It also protects against malware, phishing and other threats from cyberspace. In my home I use Pi-hole to protect my network. But as soon as I leave the house, CyberSec is activated. The function is available in all NordVPN clients even in the extensions for Firefox and Chrome.

The zero-logs policy is the promise of the provider that no traffic, data, DNS queries, IP addresses and so on are stored (Panama → you remember?). Even if authorities come with court orders, the provider cannot release anything because he has nothing to hand over. This of course greatly improves data protection and privacy.

The automatic kill switch (emergency switch) comes into action if the connection to the VPN server fails for any reason. The VPN client immediately interrupts the connection to the Internet and protects you from data leaks. The kill switch therefore ensures that no data traffic leaves the encrypted VPN tunnel.

The kill switch is optional and you have to activate it manually if you want to use it.

DNS and data leaks

Once you are logged into the VPN, you use the DNS servers of the service. This has two advantages. First, it protects you from so-called DNS leaks. If you are using the VPN, but the DNS servers of your ISP (Internet Service Provider), they still know which websites you are visiting. In addition, your Internet provider cannot intercept the DNS queries and thus block certain websites. Some countries censor the Internet in this way, even in Europe. DoH (DNS over HTTPS) will bring improvements here, but this will take time.

A brief explanation of DoH: With DoH, DNS queries are processed and encrypted via the HTTPS protocol. So far, this works unencrypted via UDP. So, with DoH the ISP or the authorities can no longer sniff or censor DNS because they do not know that it is a DNS query (DoH uses port 443). DoT (DNS over TLS — port 853) also encrypts and would be faster, but DoH leaves fewer traces — port 443 is blocked nowhere because almost all HTTPS requests won’t work anymore.

Security functions – even more data protection and privacy

NordVPN uses on state-of-the-art encryption. The VPN encrypts with AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) 256-bit. This is encryption is military standard by the way. The VPN provider also offers a function called Double VPN. If you activate it, the VPN client routes your traffic not only through one, but through two VPN servers — so it is double encrypted. You should know that this reduces the speed a bit. Most people won’t need this feature, although it increases privacy.

Protect your privacy*

You also have the possibility to use Onion Over VPN. This is basically like using the Tor Browser or a private Tor Tab in the web browser Brave* via NordVPN. What’s the point of that? Your ISP or a government agency can see that you are using Tor (The Onion Router), but of course not for what. If you connect to NordVPN, the spies won’t know you’re using Tor. Tor is slow but secure. If you want to hide the fact that you’re using Tor from the authorities or ISP, this is an excellent option.

Soon everything will run in RAM

The provider is currently preparing to convert all servers so that the operating system only runs in the main memory aka RAM. However, RAM can only store information if it is powered. If a server is switched off, for example, the entire operating system is deleted. In other words, the server does not store sensitive data on a permanent mass storage device. So if a server is seized and taken away, the authorities would have to shut it down. You see what I’m getting at.

NordVPN provides several VPN protocols for you to choose from. By default, the provider uses OpenVPN. But NordVPN also supports IKEv2/IPsec, WireGuard and SOCKS5. The browser extensions act as proxy. Most devices support any of these protocols or there is a native client available. If you want to configure the VPN manually, you can connect almost any computer to the network of the provider. With OpenVPN you can choose between UDP and TCP.

Special servers – Stealth server, P2P, dedicated IP address

NordVPN offers some special servers. Talking about privacy I have already mentioned Double VPN and Onion Over VPN. But there are more special servers.

The provider allows P2P file sharing / torrenting and provides special servers for this. There are a lot of them. So if you are a friend of file sharing, you will surely like this feature.

Dedicated IP servers are also available. With this you get a special IP address — always the same because it is a server just for you. This is not to be confused with the feature dedicated IP address, which is only used for you during a session moment. In the latter case, there are dedicated IP addresses for the USA, Germany, Great Britain and the Netherlands. You can order the function in the customer area when you log in. It is not really cheap but that is somehow understandable. Most people won’t need a dedicated IP address, if I’m honest.

There are countries where VPNs are illegal and some governments block Virtual Private Networks. If a country blocks VPNs, they do not necessarily have to be illegal. That’s a fact. Egypt, for example, blocks VPNs, but a VPN in itself is not illegal. This is annoying, especially if you want to avoid geoblocking or use PayPal.

Bypass censorship with NordVPN*

For such situations NordVPN offers stealth servers or obfuscated servers. These are special servers that are made not to be detected or recognized. With these special servers you can bypass VPN blocks like you find in China and Russia.

It works, I have tried it myself several times.

NordVPN apps and clients for several operating systems

The provider offers clients for all major operating systems. You get apps for Android, iOS, Windows and macOS. I will go into the Linux client in more detail further down.

The apps are very user-friendly, so even VPN newbies will get used to them rapidly. The client offers a map with which you can quickly connect to the desired location. This is obvious, as you can see in the following screenshot. It’s the client for Windows.

The app looks very similar on other operating systems — included mobile devices. Therefore, it’s the ideal companion for your smartphone, tablet, iPhone or iPad as well.

Similar usage on different systems is convenient. If you have several devices in use, you won’t get confused.

But there are a few small differences between the apps and clients. In Windows, you can automatically connect to the VPN if an insecure WLAN is detected. With the Android version you can be automatically connected as soon as you use the mobile internet, Wi-Fi or in general. Of course, you can choose a preferred location for the connection.

Android App and Split Tunneling

The Android app also offers a feature called split tunneling. This allows you to route certain applications and traffic through the VPN. Sometimes you just don’t want certain apps to run through the VPN. So, you configure exceptions that are routed past the VPN. Yatse is such an app on my device. I use it to control my Kodi on LibreELEC or even stream content to my Android device. This traffic always stays in my local network and therefore I can exclude it from the VPN.

Some services don’t like VPNs and in this case you could configure an exception (or better try obfuscated servers first).

Client for macOS: be careful, there are two versions!

If you want to use the VPN with macOS, you have to be careful. There are two versions. The version from the App Store uses the VPN protocol IKEv2/IPsec.

If you have problems with that client, download the OpenVPN version. A friend of mine did and somehow the software from the App Store did not work well. Since he alternatively uses the OpenVPN version, the problems are solved. Don’t ask me why — just keep it in mind.

The client for Linux is a bit different, but that has its advantages. Let’s take a closer look at the special client.

Client for Linux

My main operating system is Linux and that’s why I am very interested in a good Linux client. NordVPN offers a Linux client for the command line. This has advantages, especially if you want to use a VPN on a Linux system without a graphical user interface.

But the fact that there is no graphical client is also no problem. You can configure the client to automatically connect to a specific country at system startup. If you want your computer to automatically connect to the UK, the command is as follows:

nordvpn set autoconnect enabled UK

The Linux client still offers all the functions you find in the graphical versions, including CyberSec, obfuscated servers and a kill switch. Furthermore, you can switch the CLI client to NordLynx. This allows you to use the fast and slim WireGuard protocol instead of OpenVPN.

The client is actively developed and NordVPN reacts rapidly to bug reports. I reported a few bugs in the early days of the client, and the developers have been ironed out rapidly. For a few months there are no issues with the command line client. That’s very pleasant.

NordVPN for Raspberry Pi – the client also works here

If you have Raspbian installed on a Raspberry Pi and you want to use a VPN, NordVPN is one of the best options. The command line client does not need many resources.

Many also use a Raspberry Pi headless and completely without GUI. Most VPN providers offer OpenVPN configuration files and you can connect to a server manually. But you have to watch out for DNS leaks at this point.

With the client of NordVPN on the Raspberry Pi you can connect to the desired country quickly and without complex configuration. Furthermore, the software uses the provider’s DNS servers by default and automatically prevents DNS leaks. NordLynx / WireGuard also works on the Raspberry Pi.

I explain at the end of the blog post how to install NordVPN under Linux and Raspberry Pi.

NordVPN extensions for Firefox and Chrome

First I would like to mention that the add-ons work not only for Chrome, but for all Chromium-based browsers. This includes Brave, Vivaldi and so on. I installed the add-on in Brave and it works perfectly.

NordVPN also offers extensions or plugins for Chrome and Firefox. But this is a proxy and not a pure VPN. In this case only the browser is routed through the VPN and not all network traffic. You can quickly and comfortably choose in the browser which country you want to be connected to. That is really nice.

Using the browser extensions, you must be aware that only the browser traffic is routed through the VPN. The rest of the traffic goes through the network you are currently connected to.

Although the add-ons act like a proxy, the provider still provides you with CyberSec. This is very convenient because it gives you an ad blocker in your browser without having to install additional add-ons. By default, CyberSec is deactivated. If you want to use it, do not forget to activate it.

The add-on for the browser has another advantage, as you can see in the screenshot above. You can easily block WebRTC. WebRTC can be a potential data leak. But some applications will not work without it. Maybe you have a multi-browser strategy like me. One has WebRTC active and the other has no WebRTC.

SmartPlay and Geoblocking

The VPN provider has a reputation for being superb in terms of streaming. I can confirm that. To be perfect for streaming, several factors are necessary. Of course, Internet speed is one of the most important factors. At this point, however, NordVPN is delivering.

The quality and requirements of the streaming providers define how fast your Internet connection has to be. Netflix for example has a minimum recommendation of 0.5 Mbps. But for Ultra-HD 25 Mbps are required.

Other providers only work reasonably from 2 Mbps and so on. At this point it is best to inquire at the streaming provider you want to use. If the basic speed of your connection is fast enough, NordVPN will definitely deliver high enough speeds to stream even in Ultra-HD.

Unlimited bandwidth is another important point. It is of little use to you if your connection is very fast, but only provides small amount of available data per month. The first two points here are the biggest problems of free VPNs. Either they are very slow or there are limits to the amount of data you can use. This is not ideal for streaming.

Bypassing geoblocking is important when:

• You want to watch foreign channels, programs, series and movies that are subject to geoblocking. For example, Netflix has different libraries in different countries. This is due to licensing laws. If you want to watch Nextflix US from Germany, you need a VPN that can unlock the service. BBC iPlayer only broadcasts in the UK. The BBC is known to broadcast great shows so you want to unlock it. The ITV Hub is also interesting for people with a preference for British television. Apart from that, BBC and ITV also broadcast live rugby on free TV and so on. SRF (Swiss Television) for example broadcasts Formula 1 almost ad free and also various matches of the UEFA Champions League and Europa League on free TV. In many countries you need an expensive subscription for this.
• A second option is if you are abroad and want to watch television from back home. You are a British expat but want to watch BBC, ITV and so on? You most likely need a VPN. Geoblocking always has something to do with licenses. That’s why almost all sports broadcasts in all countries are geoblocked.

NordVPN offers a function called SmartPlay. This is basically a combination of VPN and SmartDNS technology. With a Smart DNS you can also bypass geoblocking, but your connection is not protected. You also have to manually change the DNS server every time. That can be annoying.

Streaming with NordVPN*

The client of NordVPN automatically configures DNS for you. As soon as you connect to a server, SmartPlay does the heavy lifting. You save time and don’t have to worry about it.

Internet speed could even increase — if the ISP throttles

Talking about the speed of the Internet, which is critical for streaming. Even today, some ISPs still throttle the Internet connections based on your activities.

But if the ISP can’t see what you’re doing, it can’t throttle you because of your activities. Sure the ISP could throttle the whole connection but it can’t justify it. So, most ISPs don’t throttle at all in this case, and your Internet connection may even become faster with a VPN.

Support and customer service at NordVPN

The customer service is available around the clock or 24/7. You can contact NordVPN in several ways.

The fastest way to speak to a support representative is to use the Live Chat. Usually the waiting times are short and you will get help quickly.

As mentioned above, I have also communicated with the support team via email due to initial problems with the Linux client. I usually had an answer within 1 hour.

If you prefer to take things into your own hands, you can also have a look at the FAQ on the website. But itanswers only very general questions. If you have a more specific problem, save yourself the detour via the FAQ and contact the customer service immediately.

For a refund within the first 30 days you also contact a member of the support team.

Accepted payment methods

You can pay the provider in different ways. Of course all major credit cards are accepted. This includes Visa and Mastercard. Sofort is also an option.

Nice is that you can also pay NordVPN with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. This is handled via CoinPayments. PayPal still works, but not in all regions. It depends on where you are living and you need to check.

There are other payment options like Amazon Pay, Alipay, UnionPay and so on. It is like everywhere else: Getting rid of money is usually no problem.

Just over €3 per month!*

A long-term subscription for NordVPN is really cheap. At the moment it only costs just over $3 per month. That’s a bargain for the features provided.

Save money with a VPN

If you pay for a VPN, you may save money elsewhere. If I want to buy a monthly pass at Eurosport, it costs me for example €6.99 Euro in Germany. I connect to NordVPN in to another country I suddenly was offered a subcription for only €4.99. Of course the content is different and you might want to check that. But with Eurosport Romania you get the games of the Premier League and FA cup. It is a bit trial and error I have to admit but it is worth it.

It is not uncommon practice for service providers to query your location based on your IP address and then charge you accordingly. It is not guaranteed that you will save money. But it’s worth a try. Try it for flights, hotels and so on. But never forget to delete your cookies in your browser first. Even better, use the incognito mode (Chrome) or a private mode (Firefox). Maybe use different browsers for requests from different countries.

Does my Internet speed suffer from NordVPN?

As with all VPNs, the Internet speed may decrease. How much depends on several factors. A rule of thumb is: The closer the VPN server, the higher the speed (unless the server has some problems).

But this is of little use if you are in the UK and need a server in the USA because of geoblocking. But even here, NordVPN delivers sufficiently high speeds. As mentioned at the beginning, I have speed tested NordVPN. It primarily examines whether OpenVPN or WireGuard (NordLynx) is faster. But you can still see that the speed is sufficient for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Zattoo, Amazon Prime and so on.

A few more tips & tricks

Like everywhere else, it can happen that a server has problems or is simply temporarily overloaded. If you find one server extremely slow, just switch to another. In most cases the problem is solved. The fastest way to notice low speeds? During streaming! The app is buffering and lags. For normal surfing, social media and email, it doesn’t matter if the speed drops temporarily.

This also applies to problems with geoblocking, by the way. The streaming providers and VPN providers are in a constant fight. If a server has landed on a blacklist, you probably can’t use it for bypassing geoblocking anymore. Just take another server and try again. If it doesn’t work at all, please contact the support. The support staff will tell you a server that should work. The provider is also honest and will tell you if a certain service does not work at the moment. Especially because of geoblocking it is crucial that the VPN provider operates many servers. NordVPN currently provides more than 5000!

Is there actually a free trial version of NordVPN?

No, there is no longer. The provider used to provide a free trial version. However, the VPN provider no longer offers such an option.

But that is not so bad. As I said, there is a 30-day money-back guarantee and that is as good as a trial version. Of course, you have to pay the money first. If you don’t like the service, you will get you cash back without any problems.

In some ways, such a version is even better than 3 or 7 day trial versions that other providers offer. You have a full month to test the VPN thoroughly and all features are unlocked.

Protected using public Wi-Fi or hotspots

As soon as you use a public Wi-Fi or a hotspot, you should protect your device. It does not matter which VPN provider you use for this. Important is that your device is protected.

Protect your devices!*

You don’t know who created or maintains the public Wi-Fi or who else is on the same network. After all, you don’t know everyone in the train, Airbnb, holiday apartment or hotel. Especially when it comes to holidays, we all like to use free Wi-Fi. But they can be insecure. With a VPN you encrypt your connection and hackers can hardly attack you from the same network. Especially in a public Wi-Fi a kill switch like the one from NordVPN is crucial.

Install NordVPN in Linux

Since there is no graphical client, the installation in Linux is done in a few, uncomplicated steps.

It doesn’t matter if you want to install the Linux client in Ubuntu, Linux Mint or Raspbian (Raspberry Pi). All three systems are based on Debian and use the package manager of it. For these systems you need the .deb file. You find in the download area of the vendor. For Fedora, openSUSE, Red Hat or CentOS you need the .rpm file.

You install the .deb file as follows:

sudo dpkg -i /Pfad/zur/Datei/nordvpn-release_1.0.0_all.deb sudo wget https://repo.nordvpn.com/gpg/nordvpn_public.asc -O - | sudo apt-key add -

After the first steps you update the package list:

sudo apt update

Now you install NordVPN:

apt install nordvpn

NordVPN and .rpm file it works like that:

sudo dnf install /Pfad/zur/Datei/nordvpn-release-1.0.0-1.noarch.rpm

Update package list:

sudo dnf update

Install the client:

sudo dnf install nordvpn

Now you can log in and connect. From this point onward it doesn’t matter if you use the .deb or .rpm version.

nordvpn login
nordvpn connect

The NordVPN client connects you to a server selected by the client. You get all possible options if you use this command:

nordvpn

you get all possible options:

Open the documentation — or man page — for more information. That’s easy:

man nordvpn

You swap between OpenVPN and NordLynx (WireGuard) like that:

nordvpn set technology NordLynx
nordvpn set technology OpenVPN

This also applies to the Raspberry Pi. NordLynx is faster, but there are currently fewer locations available.

While you are typing use the Tab key on your keyboard for auto completion. Try nordvpn [space] and press Tab twice. That’s great, isn’t it? Now try nordvpn set [space] and a double Tab.

That also works with c, cities and so on. Play a bit around as it speeds things up.

NordVPN for Linux!*

Don’t be scared of the command line. It’s a lot easier than it seems at first.

Other Linux systems: Of course you can also use the service with other Linux systems that are not based on Debian or Red Hat. However, you have to configure OpenVPN connections manually. NordVPN provides the necessary files. If you are using a Linux system like Arch Linux, you can certainly establish an OpenVPN connection manually. But watch out for DNS leaks!

NordVPN: Conclusion

NordVPN is an excellent universal VPN. VPN beginners will quickly get along with it and for professionals there are many advanced features.

The VPN is very versatile, since it runs on all major operating systems. Support or the native client for Raspberry Pi is one of the best options. Why? I have explained it. It allows me to build a VPN router relatively easily and thus connect several devices to the VPN without having to install any software. Only few VPNs offer a client for the Raspberry Pi.

You may connect 6 devices simultaneously, but at home I use my VPN router. That is more convenient. I also use it to connect devices like Chromecast or Smart TV with a VPN.

You get enough speed to stream content in very high quality. If you use Linux and switch to NordLynx you get even more speed.

For what the service offers, it is really cheap. The longer you subscribe to the VPN, the cheaper it gets. For a 3-year subscription you pay just over €3 per month* — that’s more than 70% discount. The protection of your data and your privacy should be worth that little money.

The post NordVPN Test 2023 — Security, Speed, Advantages — DISCOUNT! appeared first on VPN Expert.

How does it work with the data packet and the IP address?

Let’s take a closer look at how important the IP address is. Let’s assume that you have your smartphone in your hand and open vpn-expert.info in your browser. The website is also has an IP address. But it is harder to remember than the name vpn-expert.info. Therefore, a DNS server resolves the address to the name. I will explain how a DNS server works in a separate article. The website vpn-expert.info even has a static IP address (80.241.216.24), so it is always the same. Your device knows now where to send a request.

So, your smartphone requests the content of vpn-expert.info and also sends its IP address with the request. That’s why our server knows whom to answer. This is the basic principle of IP addresses and it’s actually simple, isn’t it? Now let’s dive a bit deeper into the topic.

What the deal with IPv4 and IPv6?

IPv4 stands for Internet Protocol version 4 and the IP address is represented as a 32-bit number. That’s about 4.3 billion IP addresses and that amount was more than enough in the early days of the Internet. But the pool of IPv4 addresses is already exhausted and the so-called Internet of Things (IoT) is not even in full bloom yet. According to surveys, around 31 billion IoT devices are expected to be active by 2020 and by 2025 more than 75 billion. Let sink that in!

A typical IPv4 address looks like this: 192.168.1.1

Of course, there are already more than 4.3 billion devices, but so far, NAT (Network Address Translation) has been able to solve that problem. I explain NAT further down when it comes to internal and external IP addresses. In any case, a solution with more IP addresses was needed. It is called IPv6 or Internet Protocol version 6.

IPv6 is represented by 128 bits and there are about 3.4×10³⁸ IP addresses. That’s 340 sextillions or 340,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000!

Shall I illustrate the number? I try. IPv6 provides more than 650 quadrillion IP addresses for every square inch of the earth’s surface. That should last for a while, right?

For example, an IPv6 address looks like this: 2001:0db8:0a0b:12f0:0000:0000:0000:0000:0001. There are different notations, but a precise explanation would go too far. At this point, you might want to note that RFC 5952 advises you to use the compressed notation. In this case, you would, for example, convert 2001:db8:0:0:0:2:1 to the shortened version 2001:db8::2:1.

Internal IP address, external IP address and NAT

Since addresses are scarce with IPv4, NAT was one of the ways to help. This technology is used on most home routers. The router has an IP address assigned by the Internet Service Provider (ISP). This one is public. Your smartphone, notebook, tablet and so on that are connected to the router. They get internal IP address from the router. Visually it looks like this

If you open a website with your smartphone, the external IP address of your router is given as the return address. The router in turn knows which of the internal devices made the request and forwards the data packet accordingly. This is why you need far fewer public IP addresses than actually necessary. With IPv6, this wouldn’t really be necessary anymore, would it?

NAT is still important with IPv6

Because IPv6 provides so many IP addresses, all communication on the Internet could be direct. Maybe you have heard of the end-to-end principle. This would have advantages. If, for example, the NAT server fails, communication with the entire internal network is no longer possible. P2P applications based on end-to-end are sometimes slowed down by NAT.

However, from a security perspective NAT is still necessary. The problem is that in direct communication, your device is uniquely assignable. Let me explain this in an example using a VPN connection.

If you connect to a VPN server, you communicate via its IP address. Your real IP address is hidden, your identity is protected and anonymity is maintained. But with IPv6 this is no longer the case. Therefore, it is important that VPN providers support IPv6 and protect against the so-called IPv6 leak. You can (at least for now) disable IPv6 in your device.

Security experts even advocate that IPv6 should keep the assignment of IP addresses dynamic. Since there are so many addresses, it is of course no problem to give every device connected to the Internet a static IP address. This would make data retention easy and that is scary. It all comes down to protection of your data, privacy and anonymity.

IP address and location

The IP address can usually also be used to determine the location / country of your device. This is how streaming providers like Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime manage the so-called annoying geoblocking.

You will be surprised that various websites and services also determine the prices via the IP address. In my basics post about VPNs I have already shown you that the price can actually vary depending on the IP address. Here once again the proof. I use NordVPN (big discounts NOW)* to appear to be from 2 different countries. The same Eurosport package is more expensive in one country. Interesting, isn’t it?

With a VPN you can connect to a server in another country. This seems to change your physical location. The IP address of the VPN server makes it look like your device is located in another country. You can use this method to get around the geoblocking. It does not always work because Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime in particular have a reputation for blocking VPNs or their IP addresses. It’s a hit-and-miss but good VPN providers keep changing IP addresses to stay ahead of the streaming providers.

NordVPN with big discount now!

Your IP address can actually expose a lot about you. If you want to protect your data and hide your IP address, a VPN helps. Of course, it is important at this point that the VPN provider does not store any logs. A small bonus of a VPN is that it can even save you money. This is called a win-win situation!

The post What is an IP address and why is it important for VPN? appeared first on VPN Expert.

The right question however must be: What is the cheapest VPN that is trustworthy!

Surfshark – cheapest, trustworthy VPN!*

If you are very picky you could actually start an argument about cheap and affordable. What we don’t want to argue about is trustworthy and secure. You are sending your data through the network and the server of the VPN provider you have chosen. The VPN must be trustworthy. It must protect your privacy, your data, and keep you anonymous.

Only if those conditions are met you should consider a provider for your choice as the cheapest VPN. Let’s make a longer story short and I’ll present the cheapest VPN I would recommend. That is Surfshark (unlimited connections)*.

Why is that my choice? Because it has all the features that a premium VPN needs for about half the price! Read on and I’ll explain.

Features of Surfshark

Because Surfshark is so cheap you might think that it doesn’t offer a lot of features. Wrong! The VPN provider has plenty to offer.

For a start you can connect unlimited devices! Most premium VPNs allow 5 or 6 connections simultaneously. Surfshark hast no restrictions here. Equip your whole family with Surfshark! This offer might not be here forever, and they probably change it at some point. So be quick and get this great deal now.

Surfshark – unlimited devices!*

With CleanWeb Surfshark provides an integrated ad blocker. But there is more. CleanWeb also blocks tracker and stops malware and phishing attempts. You basically get a little security suite with Surfshark.

Whitelister ist a feature that other VPNs call Split Tunneling. With Whitelister you determine apps that don’t use the VPN connection. Why is that important? Some banking apps don’t like VPN connections. You decide which apps are using your local IP address and which the IP address of the VPN server. Choice is always good.

Different security protocols

Per default the VPN uses the protocol IKEv2/IPsec for all apps. But you can choose OpenVPN as well if you like to. There is a third choice and that’s called Shadowsocks. It’s designed that people in countries with VPN blocks can also use it. You might have heard of the Great Firewall of China. Other countries censor the Internet as well and block VPNs. Russia or Egypt would be examples. Surfshark can go around VPN blocks — I have tested it!

There is even an option in the apps that’s called NoBorders. It’s specifically designed to bypass censorship and blocks like the Great Firewall of China.

What about WireGuard? The VPN provider is of course aware of the new kid on the block. They test it at the moment and if found secure enough they will implement WireGuard in the apps.

Your connection is of course encrypted with the highest standard of AES-256-GCM.

Not Logs, Camouflage Mode, Leak Protection and a Kill Switch

You value your privacy, right? Here are some great news! Surfshark is located in the Virgin Islands and that is outside the 5/9/14 eyes alliance. On the website you find a warrant canary and it looks like that.

Switching on the camouflage mode means that your ISP (Internet Service Provider) cannot see that you are using a VPN. That is actually good for additional privacy.

So-called footprinting you can avoid with the MultiHop feature. Instead of 1 VPN server the data will move through 2. That is a bit slower but better for privacy.

Surfshark provides DNS leak protection. That means that your DNS queries are private and the ISP or other prying eyes cannot track your activities.

A kill switch is another layer of protection if you switch it on. In case your VPN connection drops the kill switch will cut all traffic to the Internet. No data can leak. That is essential if you are a privacy conscious user.

Geoblocking and P2P with the cheapest VPN!

With Surfshark you can unblock the best streaming portals as well. It provides unlimited data and bandwidth. Why is that important? Streaming uses a lot of data and it would be a shame if your series or movie suddenly stops.

For streaming, you also need high speed. Don’t worry with Surfshark. It’s the cheapest VPN you can trust but it doesn’t cut corners on speed. I guarantee you that. Streaming in high definition is possible.

P2P file sharing and torrenting is allowed! All servers of Surfshark allow torrent downloads and P2P. Not every provider is that generous!

Support for all major operating systems — even Linux

This affordable VPN provider offers clients or apps for the most popular operating systems and devices. Of course macOS, Windows, iOS and Android are supported. But you also get a client for Linux. It’s a command line client and that’s not a bad thing. But for now you only get support for Debian based systems (64-Bit) like Ubuntu or Linux Mint.

If you want to use the VPN on a Raspberry Pi you need to set it up manually using the .ovpn files. As an alternative you can get the slightly more expensive NordVPN (big discounts NOW)* as they provide a client for Raspberry Pi. A VPN on a Raspberry Pi is great because you can easily build your own VPN router!

The cheapest VPN also works with Amazon FireTV, Apple TV. Xbox and Playstation. That’s great news!

Chromecast and VPN works, but you need a VPN router. In this post I explain how to do that.

For the browsers Firefox and Chrome you get extensions. With those not all traffic is going through the VPN but only the one from your browser. But that’s OK if you need to switch fast within your browser.

Awesome! Can I test it?

Yes, you can! Here is another great thing about this VPN provider — Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on the 2-year subscription. If you don’t like the VPN you ask for a refund. It is really that simple.

As you see in the screenshot, you get an 82% discount on a long-term subscription. For as little as €1,79 or $1,99 you protect your privacy, bypass censorship and beat geoblocking on as many devices as you like! P2P and torrents are a nice extra on top!

Test Surfshark 30 days risk free!*

Surfshark has over 1000 servers in 61 countries. That is plenty of options and especially important for beating the geoblocking of the big streaming providers.

By now you have to agree that Surfshark is the cheapest VPN you can trust. If not — I really can’t help you, sorry!

Cheapest VPN but awesome customer support

In case you run into problems, Surfshark provides support via 24/7 live chat.

You can also contact the customer support via email if you like and have more time.

The website provides an FAQ as well but you only find the most common problems. In doubt contact the customer support because you are paying for it, right?

Let’s recap the cheapest VPN

• Unlimited devices and connections
• CleanWeb ad blocker — also block tracker and stops malware and phishing attempts
• Whitelister — control what apps are using the VPN connection
• IKEv2/IPsec and OpenVPN
• Shadowsocks for restrictive countries (China, Russia, Egypt) — NoBorders mode to bypass censorship
• Encryption with AES-256-GCM
• Beat Geoblocking — watch BBC iPlayer, Netflix and other streaming portals from everywhere in the world!
• Unlimited bandwidth — binge-watch BBC iPlayer and Netflix from everywhere.
• Strict no-logs policy — the provider does not log your activities at all.
• Camouflage mode — your ISP will not know you are using a VPN!
• Protect your privacy even better with the MultiHop feature.
• DNS leak protection
• Supports all major operating systems and devices like Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Amazon FireTV, Xbox, Playstation and has extensions for Chrome and Firefox.
• 24/7 customer support via live chat and email.
• Torrents and P2P file sharing is allowed.
• Over 1000 servers in 61 countries.

What do you think by now? For under 2 bucks all those features! You won’t find a cheaper VPN that you can trust.

Get Surfshark while the price is low!*

What about free VPNs?

Wouldn’t a free VPN not be the cheapest VPN? That is actually a really good point and money wise you are of course correct. But there is a big catch with free VPNs: most of them are not trustworthy! Let me explain.

Things cost money, that’s how the world is working. The more servers a VPN provider has the higher the costs. Of course, you also want the latest security features and so on. Developing and maintaining thins also cost money.

Premium VPNs make this money because you pay a monthly fee. For Surfshark that’s as little as under 2 bucks a month. That’s nothing.

Free VPNs come with a catch — always. I don’t know any free VPN that hasn’t some sort of restriction. Some throttle the Internet speed and some give you only a tiny data allowance. But it can get a lot worse!

Free VPNs also need money to run their infrastructure. Because nobody pays them some of them are very creative to generate an income. They might even sell your data to third-party advertising companies!

If they don’t do this, they will show ads in their apps. That’s not much better because you normally find tracker in ads and in worst-case adverts carry malware.

So instead of protecting your privacy and security some free VPNs compromise it! That’s the opposite of why you want a VPN!

Let me ask you a question now: Would you rather use a free VPN or you opt for the cheapest VPN that is trustworthy?

Surfshark — awsome value!*

How to install Surfshark?

The installation is straightforward. After you subscribe to Surfshark you download the app for your operating system and install it. On an Android smartphone you get the app on Google Play Store for example. That makes it even easier.

After the installation open the app and log in. Now choose the country you want to connect to. That’s handy if you want to bet geoblocking. If you are searching for a maximum of protection, take the fastest server.

As a rule of the thumb you can say that the nearer a server is the faster the connection. It makes sense because the data has less distance to travel.

Install the cheapest VPN on Linux

Installing Surfshark on Linux is a bit more effort. Linux users know how to deal with .deb files and it’s not that hard to be honest.

Download the .deb file and open a terminal. Navigate to the folder where the file has been downloaded to. Most probably the folder is called Download.

Now install the file and the command looks like that:

sudo apt install /path/to/surfshark-[file-name].deb

Once that is finished you need two more commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install surfshark-vpn

You connect to the VPN (best / fastest server) using this command:

sudo surfshark-vpn attack

You want to disconnect? No problem:

sudo surfshark-vpn down

To get all the possible commands call for help!

sudo surfshark-vpn help

It is really not that hard to run Surfshark on Linux. But to be absolutely fair the cheapest VPN is not the best option for Linux. NordVPN offers a much better Linux client and you get WireGuard for Linux as well — that’s faster than OpenVPN!

Save money with a VPN!

Did you know that you can save money using a VPN? It’s true!

Some websites and vendors check your IP address. If you visit from a country where the income is higher, they give you a different price. I can show you. Check Eurosport player for example. Two countries — two different prices. The 2 Euro you save on a subscription here already pays for the cheapest VPN.

This method sometimes also works for hotels, flights and so on but not all the time. It is definitely worth a try!

The post What is the cheapest VPN? That’s the wrong question … appeared first on VPN Expert.