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Our smart devices are more and more embedded in our daily lives. The Internet of Things (IoT) devices we use every day significantly improve our comfort and greatly increase the overall comfort factor of our homes.
From smart toasters crisping our bread to optimal toasting levels, to smart refrigerators alerting us when we run out of things and to smart speakers that control them all without lifting a finger, we're more connected than ever. And with 5G on the horizon, connectivity possibilities for smart devices will become virtually limitless in the future, with some experts predicting 50 billion IoT devices connected to the Internet in ten years.
The problem is, however, that IoT devices are notoriously insecure, so much so that the term “IoT security” is widely regarded as an oxymoron in cybersecurity circles. If they are not secure, IoT devices can often have alarming security breaches that can seriously endanger your privacy. That's why it's extremely important to use an IoT VPN to protect your privacy and give your smart devices much-needed security enhancement.
In this article, we will describe the best VPNs for IoT on the market today and give you an in-depth look at the benefits you can expect from a quality IoT VPN.
What are the best VPNs for IoT devices?
Below you will find a list of the best VPNs for IoT devices. We have tested all of these services on IoT devices to make sure they are secure and do not slow down your Internet connection. If you need more information about these services, check out our detailed VPN reviews.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN consistently ranks among the best VPN providers in many categories and is the first choice for IoT
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ExpressVPN is one of the best full VPN providers available today, and it is certainly also one of the best in the industry when it comes to protecting IoT devices. You'll find step-by-step guides on the company's website for how to configure the service on virtually any VPN-enabled router you have. ExpressVPN is also partnering with FlashRouters to provide customers with custom routers preconfigured with ExpressVPN custom router firmware.
On top of that, ExpressVPN offers superior connection speeds as well as airtight security and excellent customer service. With your ExpressVPN subscription, you will enjoy exceptional security via military grade 256-bit AES encryption, super-fast server speeds and 24/7 live chat support. The best part is that you you can try ExpressVPN completely risk-free with its 30-day money back guarantee without asking questions.
2. CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost VPN offers excellent connection speeds and is easy to configure for IoT devices
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CyberGhost is a high-end VPN provider based in Romania. Some of the things that make CyberGhost a great IoT VPN include its commitment to user security and privacy, the speed and reliability of its server network, world-class customer support, and overall value for money.
CyberGhost also offers detailed configuration guides for several different router configurations, making it easy for smart device users to get started with this VPN provider.
When you use CyberGhost, your IoT devices will be protected by strict encryption standards and none of your activities will ever be recorded due to the company's strict no-logging policy. The company even publishes an annual transparency report that gives anyone interested a detailed overview of how the company protects the privacy of its users. It is certainly reassuring to know that CyberGhost really takes your privacy seriously, especially knowing how much sensitive data is at stake when using smart devices.
If you buy a subscription plan of 6 months or more, CyberGhost gives you 45 days to recover your money if you find yourself dissatisfied for any reason.
3. Private Internet Access
PIA is ideal for IoT thanks to its strong commitment to confidentiality and airtight security
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Private Internet Access (PIA) is a US-based VPN provider that provides excellent security for owners of smart devices. PIA offers router compatibility to automatically cover all your IoT devices and secures your connection using the best encryption standards. Your privacy is also fully protected thanks to PIA's strict non-journaling policy which guarantees that none of your online activities will ever be collected or given to third parties. Additionally, you can pay anonymously via various cryptocurrencies or even by transferring the balance of 80 different retail gift cards.
PIA's world-class server speeds also ensure stable and uninterrupted video streams on your smart TV. Benefit from friendly and competent customer support as well as a network of more than 3000 servers around the world at a very affordable price, and it is not surprising that PIA is one of the best VPN providers on the market. You really can't go wrong with PIA securing your IoT devices.
4. Surfshark
Surfshark is relatively new to the scene but is already one of the best choices for IoT users
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Surfshark is one of the new VPN providers on the market, but it has already caused a sensation in the industry due to its strong focus on privacy and the impressive nature of its offer. Surfshark secures your connection via strong AES 256-bit encryption standards and guarantees your confidentiality with its non-journaling policy and its mode of camouflage (obfuscation) which hides the fact that you are using a VPN even from your ISP.
Surfshark offers several easy-to-follow guides on how to configure the service on a variety of router platforms to help you get started and protect your devices from the start. If you're looking for an unmatched streaming experience, you'll surely be pleased with Surfshark's ability to unlock 15 unprecedented different Netflix libraries, including the American library. It's pretty impressive considering the aggressiveness of Netflix to block access to its content from VPN connections.
In addition, you will have access to a vast network of ultra-fast servers in more than 63 different countries around the world, a friendly and responsive live chat customer service 24/7, and unlimited bandwidth. To top it off, Surfshark is one of the most wallet-friendly options available, so you'll really get the best value for money when you pick up Surfshark as the IoT VPN provider of your choice.
5. VyprVPN
VyprVPN Delivers Ultra-Fast Server Speeds And World-Class Security For Smart Device Users
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VyprVPN is a Swiss-based VPN provider that offers some of the fastest connection speeds and ensures total security for your connection as it owns and operates its entire network of servers located in over 70 countries around the world.
You can purchase a pre-flashed router with VyprVPN, or you can follow practical router configuration guides or contact customer support anytime day or night for help with configuring your router. VyprVPN really makes it easy to install on a router to help protect all of your IoT devices at all levels.
In addition, you will benefit from first-rate security and confidentiality thanks to the robust encryption standards and the non-journaling policy of VyprVPN. In addition, VyprVPN is independently audited to guarantee the overall security of the service. Even better, you can try this feature-rich and highly secure IoT VPN without any risk as it offers a 30 day money back guarantee.
How to secure IoT devices with a VPN?
The vast majority of IoT devices that you use are generally not compatible alone with VPN client software. However, if you have a VPN compatible wireless router, you can configure your VPN to connect via your router and, therefore, automatically protect all devices connected to your network with the encryption offered by your VPN provider. .
If you don't have a VPN router, you can buy a pre-flashed one with VPN compatible firmware on Amazon or on [[type=”gotolink” provider=”flashrouters”]]FlashRouters[[/post-object]].
Once you have acquired your VPN compatible router, go to your VPN provider's website for how to establish a VPN connection through your router. Each of the providers we list in this article offers easy-to-follow guides on how to set up and connect through your router.
After establishing a successful VPN connection on your router, all devices connected to it, including computers, phones, tablets and all smart home devices, will be protected by the VPN.
What should you look for in a good IoT VPN service?
- security – Above all, the overall security of your VPN will be the most important aspect to watch out for when choosing a VPN for the IoT. Your smart devices will need to be properly secured with strong encryption protocols to ensure that none of the data sent or received by your devices over the network can be compromised.
- Non-journaling policy – The privacy offered by your IoT VPN service is also an important consideration. A truly privacy-focused VPN provider will use a strict no-logging policy to ensure that the provider never collects data related to your online activity while connected to its network of VPN servers. It also means that this data cannot be provided to third parties or law enforcement either.
- Speed – When you take into account strong encryption, as well as the physical distance between you and the remote VPN server through which you connect, you are likely to suffer some degradation in the speed of your Internet connection. It is important that your IoT VPN service provides fast speeds, to ensure that your Internet connection suffers only a negligible loss of overall speed. Maintaining fast connection speeds is especially important if you're streaming unblocked content to your Smart TV via your IoT VPN connection.
- Router support – Since you will need to connect your VPN through a router to secure your IoT devices, it is essential that the IoT VPN service you use is well equipped to support router configurations. If you are not a super technician to begin with, it may seem overwhelming to properly configure your VPN router. But if the VPN provider you're using offers simple to follow guides, or even offers preconfigured routers for their service, the process can be much easier.
- Quality customer service – If you are having problems setting up a VPN router to protect your IoT devices, it is always helpful to have competent and timely assistance from the customer service agents of your VPN provider. The best IoT VPN providers will have professional technical support agents on call to answer your questions and help you get set up and running as quickly and easily as possible.
Why use a VPN with IoT / smart home devices?
There are several reasons why it can be beneficial to use a VPN for your IoT devices. Most importantly, a VPN can help you prevent unauthorized parties from intercepting the data that you communicate to your smart devices. This means that hackers, government authorities, your ISP, advertisers, or anyone else trying to spy on your Internet activity will not be able to.
Protect yourself
A VPN protects you from different types of attacks and prevents scary third parties from spying on you
Smart devices, equipped with their cameras, microphones and sensors, can certainly collect a multitude of detailed and intimate information about our personal life. When you protect your smart devices with an IoT VPN, no one will be able to discover any of your interactions with your smart devices. Essentially, using a VPN keeps spies from spying on you, knowing when you're at home, or rolling around by asking Alexa to play Rick Astley's “Never Gonna Give You Up” seventeen times a week .
In addition, since your VPN will modify your IP address and encrypt your Internet traffic, masking both your online activity and where it comes from, man-in-the-middle attacks, Botnet and DDoS against your network or your smart devices can be effectively avoided.
Unblock websites
If you are a passionate content streamer, you can use your IoT VPN to unblock geographically restricted content from around the world via your Smart TV, smartphone, or whatever you use your videos for. All you need to do is choose a VPN server on your router based in the country from which you want to access the content.
For example, if you want to launch the U.S. Netflix library from outside the country, connect to a VPN server in the U.S. and you're ready to go. Likewise, if you want to catch up on content only available on BBC iPlayer, you can connect to a server in the UK and access all the iPlayer content you want without any restrictions.
Remember that not all VPNs work with these streaming services, so it's important to take a look before subscribing. Our pick of the best VPNs for IoT devices should do the trick for US Netflix, but some offer more regional libraries than others.
Faq
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about using a VPN for IoT.
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