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An increasing number of homes are creating smart networks.
It enables all your electronic devices to connect to a router, allowing you to see and control them from anywhere.
Of course, to get the very best from your network you’ll need to have multiple routers, ensuring all appliances have a good internet signal.
Multiple Google Nest wi-fi routers are a popular choice as they are affordable and very easy to set up.
However, they don’t support VPNs and you won’t find 3rd-party firmware for these routers.
That should mean you can’t use a VPN to protect yourself while surfing and even access local sites when you’re not local.
Fortunately, once you discover how to use a VPN with Google wifi you’ll realize that it’s surprisingly simple.
Google WiFi & VPNs
One of the biggest issues with Google wi-fi is that it doesn’t support VPNs.
The most likely reason for this is that Google wants to know your real location and access as much of your data as possible.
A good VPN makes this impossible.
As Google doesn’t support VPNs the obvious alternative is to use third-party firmware.
That means a separate business has created a program that adjusts the Google wi-fi settings and allows it to connect to a VPN.
Unfortunately, there is currently no third-party solution. No one has created software that will allow you to create the necessary link.
It’s easy to think that getting another wi-fi router may be the best solution.
However, Google is one of the best on the market and it can be costly to replace your existing routers.
Instead, you simply need to learn how to use a VPN with Google wi-fi.
How To Use A VPN With Google WiFi
There are numerous routers on the market that do work with VPNs.
You don’t need to change your current setup; instead, purchase a router that works with VPN and pair it to your Google router.
The routers need to be hardwired together and the VPN-enabled router should provide the connection to the internet.
In short, your Google becomes the secondary router.
This will allow your Google router to connect to the internet through a VPN-enabled device.
1. Connecting A Second Router
The first thing you’ll need to do is invest in a router which allows you to use a VPN.
This router will be connected to your internet. Just plug the internet cable in like normal.
But, although you will have chosen a VPN, you mustn’t install this yet.
The majority of routers use the same range of subnet addresses. These will generally be 192.168.1.xxx.
However, your VPN router cannot use the same subnet addresses as your Google router, this will cause connection issues.
You need to change the subnet in the Google router.
- Go to your Google IP address and log in. The details will be on the side of the router unless you’ve changed them
- If you have the Google home app you can simply open it and go to the wi-fi section, followed by settings, then select the advanced networking feature
- You can go to the same place in your router if you have logged in via the IP address
- Once you’re in the advanced network settings, choose the LANB option and change the IP address next to it. Instead of being 192.168.1.xxx, set it to 192.168.2.1
- Save this change and then locate the DHCP in your router, and set it to on. This will ensure your router provides unique IP addresses based on its subnet, effectively preventing it from using the same IP addresses as the VPN-capable router
You can now connect your two routers with an ethernet cable. Simply plug it into the LAN port of your VPN router and the WAN port on your Google router
It should now be possible on any device to connect to your Google wi-fi and connect to the internet.
You can also verify what your local IP address is, it will be within the Google subnet range, 192.168.2.xxx.
2. Configuring The Routers
You have internet but you don’t yet have the VPN set up.
Your next step is to choose your desired VPN provider. One of the best currently available is NordVPN.
- NordVPN is the industry leader (by a long way)
- 30-day risk-free trial
- Superfast speeds
- 5,442+ servers in 60+ countries
- Strict no-logs policy
- Next-generation military-grade encryption
- DoubleVPN, double privacy
- 6 simultaneous device connections
- Great for: Safety, security, anonymity & peace of mind
- Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, iPad & iOS, Linux, routers, Apple TV, FireFox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and more
It’s advisable to avoid any free VPNs, they are likely to use your data instead of securing your connection.
Once you’ve chosen a VPN provider you’ll need to go to their website and create an account.
This will allow you to log in and register for a specific subscription plan.
You’ll then be able to download the VPN firmware directly onto your router. Simply access the router administrative settings and select the tab that says ‘VPN’.
You’ll then be able to choose the VPN client and add a profile. This will allow you to install and start using your selected VPN.
All you have to do is follow the on-screen instructions.
You will need your login and password for the VPN, as well as the .ovpn config file and the CA certificate. These are provided when you register for a VPN.
The process should only take a few moments.
You can then configure your VPN. This involves going to the main navigation interface and choosing the setup option.
Follow this by selecting the basic setup and then choosing the DHCP. You’ll need to set the static DNS.
The exact numbers for these will vary according to which VPN you have chosen.
Simply look on your VPN provider’s website to locate the right DNS addresses.
Once inputted, save the DNS and apply the settings. The change will be completed in moments.
It’s worth going back into the settings and setting the IPV6 to disable. This will prevent your router from leaking your real IP address.
To finish the setup you’ll need to go into the VPN service and choose the start VPN client in the open VPN settings. Simply change it to enabled.
The VPN will suggest a server, it’s okay to say yes to this, it’s based on your physical location but can be set to any location you desire.
3. Testing Before Use
Now that your Google wifi is connected you’re ready to test the connection!
To do this you’ll need to log into your VPN account and turn it off.
You can then verify that all your devices are connected to your Google wi-fi network. Make sure you check their wi-fi connection and that they can access the internet.
Once you’ve done this you can visit one of the many websites that confirm your IP address, a quick search will show you plenty of great options, such as ‘whatismyipaddress’.
It will show you your IP address and your current location, it should be close to where you actually are.
After this, turn on the VPN and give it a minute to boot up and update all your connections. Refresh the web page that shows your location and IP address.
Both should have changed and will now reflect the location you have chosen for your VPN, along with a different IP address.
You can check this on several devices although, if it works on one it should work on all of them.
That’s it, your VPN is working with your Google wi-fi.
Why You Need A VPN For Your Router
You may be wondering why you need to connect via a VPN, it’s certainly a little more hassle than connecting directly to the web via your Google wi-fi.
There are several reasons why a VPN for Google Wifi should be considered an essential part of any internet connection.
Security
You may not think about it but you send plenty of personal information via the internet every day, especially if you use social media.
Without a VPN, every piece of data can be read by cybercriminals and they can quickly create a detailed file on your online and offline behaviour.
This allows them to target you in phishing campaigns and other ways, the aim is to get your money.
A VPN makes it impossible to see your data and, therefore, protects you and all your devices from being hacked.
Allows Connectivity
The truth is not all devices can connect to a VPN, that’s why you need to go through Google wi-fi first.
This applies to most smart devices, they connect via Google and then the secondary router ensures they are protected against malicious individuals and hackers.
Privacy
Although you may post your life story on social media, that doesn’t mean you want everyone to know all your details.
That’s why social media accounts have privacy settings.
Hackers and other dubious online characters can access your personal information, even when you have set a social media account to private.
But, they will struggle to access any of your information if you use a good VPN. In other words, you’ll have privacy.
Geographic Access
A VPN allows you to access data, even when it is restricted due to geographical location.
For example, if you’re in Europe but want to keep up with the latest US shows you can subscribe to a streaming service, like Netflix.
The VPN will tell Netflix you’re in the US, allowing you to access US content.
Unlimited Devices
Most VPNs will allow you to assign a set number of devices to a VPN account. This can be frustrating if you have more devices than they allow.
However, using Google wi-fi with the VPN router allows you to reduce the number of connections you’re effectively only connecting to the internet via one route.
That means your VPN account will cover every member of the family, perhaps more.
Public Accessibility
A great reason to have a VPN is that you can access the internet safely from anywhere, even on a public wi-fi connection.
The VPN will encrypt and protect your data, helping to keep you safe, no matter where you are and what you’re doing.
Summing Up
Using a Google wifi network makes it easy to connect the many different devices in your home to the internet.
It’s essential if you want to access your smart devices from anywhere in the world.
However, it’s also risky as hackers can get into your network and cause you a lot of issues.
But, once you know how to use a VPN with Google wifi you’ll be able to improve your online safety and secure your data, without losing the ability to connect to your smart devices.
In many respects, pairing a VPN router with your original Google router is the best way to get online.
You have everything you need to get started, try pairing your routers today.
Don’t forget, adopting this approach will also allow you to add third-party firmware to your VPN router, increasing the options available to you and your wi-fi network.
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Written by Trevor Cooke
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