How many Internet devices do you have? Probably more than your first guess. The typical family has multiple desktop or laptop machines. Probably every member has a smartphone. Also, you might have tablets, smart TVs, and gaming consoles. Which of them should use a virtual private network? Why not all of them?
Several VPN services let you set up multiple devices with one account, but Surfshark is the one that lets you use unlimited tools. You can have a VPN for many devices — as many as you like — so that your privacy is fully protected.
Having full VPN client coverage is valuable for both households and small offices, and a Surfshark license covers either one. Hiding all of the offices’ devices behind a VPN makes it harder for cybercriminals to probe them for software vulnerabilities. Their data is more secure.
Smartphones and Tablets
When you think about setting up a VPN, you probably think about your smartphone first. It goes everywhere, and you want to avoid the risks of connecting to the Internet in a strange place. Public Wi-Fi hotspots are dangerous to privacy, and you want a consistent experience when you travel. If they could protect just one device, most people would pick their phones first.
Some people prefer Android tablets and iPads for their more giant screens. The idea is the same. Wherever the device goes in your briefcase or backpack, you want it to connect securely and consistently.
Most families have more than one phone or tablet. Each one needs protection. A VPN plan that covers them all is the best choice.
Laptop and Desktop Computers
Full-sized computers don’t travel as much, but they need the benefits of a VPN too. Movies are more enjoyable to watch on a big computer screen than a pocket-sized one. Connecting to a server in another country gives you access to movies and TV series that aren’t available in your home country.
Your desktop machine is tied to your ISP, and you may be worried that it’s collecting information on you or playing favorites in the access quality of websites. A VPN connection makes the sites you visit opaque to your ISP.
All the major operating systems include VPN support. Whether your operating system is Mac, Windows, Linux, or an assortment of different machines, you can install the client for your choice and connect. Once it’s set up, you can generally forget it’s there and use your machine the way you usually would.
Smart TVs
The devices you may have don’t stop with computers and mobile units. You may have a smart TV box, such as Apple TV and the many Android models. If you do, it’s almost certainly your first choice for watching Internet series and movies. Having a VPN for your smart TV makes a lot of sense.
What you can watch depends on your location, and with a VPN, you can change the location which the content provider sees. In addition, applications on these devices sometimes have regional restrictions. An appropriate VPN server may let you use apps that otherwise don’t run.
Your smart TV contains viewing history, subscriptions, and other information that you wouldn’t want dishonest people to get hold of. A VPN provides an extra level of protection from data breaches by hiding your IP address.
Gaming Consoles
Have you listed all your Internet devices yet? Don’t forget any PlayStation or Xbox consoles in your home. As specialized devices, gaming consoles are generally more secure than general-purpose computers, Malware isn’t common, but they’re subject to denial-of-service attacks like any other machine. Seriously competitive gamers don’t want their connection slowed down during a tournament. If your rivals don’t know your IP address, they can’t quickly attack you.
Some people have reported their ISP slows down gaming connections, giving priority to other traffic. It’s not clear how often this happens, but a VPN for your gaming console keeps your ISP from knowing how you use your Internet connection.
A VPN allows access to online game stores in different regions. This clears the way to games that otherwise aren’t available, and it lets you shop around for the best price.
Setting up a VPN in your Router
Installing and configuring a VPN client isn’t a huge deal, but it gets tedious if you do it for a dozen machines. An alternative is to install a VPN client on your router. Not all routers support it, and the process is more complicated than installing on a personal machine, but it covers all the devices that don’t leave your home or office.
This is an attractive option for a small office. It saves you from managing client software on every machine employees use. Just by going through the router, they all get the added privacy of the VPN. If your existing router doesn’t support VPN-compatible firmware, it could be worth upgrading to one that does.
When you go shopping for a VPN plan, make sure it covers all the devices you use. There’s no need to restrict yourself to one phone or computer when you can have it all.
Corey Atk says
That’s indeed true, and the best part is that for all devices, you can find dope use cases that can actually help you out. Although the main struggle I faced is that most of the VPNs have up to 5-7 different device connections. Hence, one account is usually sufficient for 1, max 2 people. I’m delighted I did some research through which I stumbled on Surfshark, which has unlimited device connections. Now my whole family can use one account on all PCs, tablets, phones, etc.