FAQ: Everything you need to know about VPNs and VPN routers

If you’ve run across a video or social media post recommending that you use a virtual private network, or VPN, you’re not alone. It’s extremely common these days for folks to talk about VPNs whenever the subjects of security and privacy come up. Before you subscribe to a VPN service and buy a VPN router, let’s catch you up on the basics. Here’s everything you need to know about VPNs.

What is a VPN?

A virtual private network, or VPN, is a service that creates a secure, encrypted internet connection. When a device uses a VPN, its data is routed through a server operated by the VPN provider before it reaches its destination.

What are the benefits of using a VPN?

VPNs can provide users with improved privacy when they connect to the internet. When you connect to a VPN, your IP address is masked, making it more difficult for websites and online services to trace your internet activity back to your location. For this reason, VPNs can be a lifeline for users who need to access online resources that have been blocked in their region.

Many users turn to VPNs for an additional layer of security. Businesses often establish a VPN for their remote employees, for example, to ensure that these workers can securely access company resources.

VPNs can be especially valuable for people who make regular use of the free WiFi networks in hotels, airports, cafes, libraries, and other public spaces. These networks are rarely set up for robust security, and even fewer are managed and updated by a networking professional. Data thieves can use these non-secure networks to capture digital information that we send to the internet. Since VPNs establish an encrypted connection between your device and the VPN, they mitigate the risks of using these networks.

Do I need to use a VPN?

A VPN is a tool made for a specific set of situations. Outside of those scenarios, a VPN isn’t necessary for secure internet connections.

That said, VPNs are invaluable for many people today. Remote and hybrid workers need secure connections to company resources. Travelers and digital nomads need to be able to use public WiFi networks without compromising their data. Gamers might need a VPN if their internet service provider throttles their bandwidth during gaming sessions.

How do I access a VPN?

To take advantage of the benefits of a VPN, you’ll need to connect to a VPN server. There are several ways that people do this:

• An employer-provided VPN. Your employer may require you to connect to a private, company-operated VPN server when you access company resources remotely.
• A paid VPN service. With a subscription to a VPN service like NordVPN, you’ll be able to establish an encrypted connection on any device that can run the company’s VPN app.
• A VPN router. Select ASUS routers offer integrated support for services like NordVPN, allowing you to access the VPN through your router. Any device connected to this network would use the VPN.
• Build your own VPN server. With a spare computer and a router that’s compatible with your preferred VPN protocol, you can establish your own VPN server.

Should I pay for a VPN service or build my own VPN server?

For some users, building their own VPN server makes the most sense. When you manage your own server, you don’t have to worry about the risk of sharing your internet activity with a VPN provider. You get full control over the security settings, and you can avoid paying an ongoing subscription fee.

Establishing a VPN server does require some technical know-how, and you’ll need to take on the responsibilities of applying updates and maintaining server security. If a concern pops up, the responsibility for troubleshooting will fall on your shoulders. That said, if you know enough about networking and computer hardware to build your own PC and set up your own network, you should have sufficient expertise to build your own VPN server, especially with the step-by-step guidance that you’ll find online.

Still, many users opt for the convenience of a VPN provider. Within minutes, you’ll have an encrypted VPN connection, and you’ll have the provider’s support for any troubleshooting that might arise.

One of the challenges of getting started with a paid VPN service is that you have to choose which provider to trust. A VPN provider might choose to log your browsing data, IP addresses, connection times, or other information, and then share that data with third parties. It’s quite likely that the operator of a reputable worldwide VPN service is more trustworthy than whoever is running that free WiFi network at the airport — but you’ll have to make that judgment call for yourself.

What is a VPN router?

A VPN router provides robust support for VPN protocols and services, minimizing per-device setup and minimizing the need for additional hardware.

The latest ASUS WiFi 7 routers offer exceptional VPN support, all without requiring an additional subscription fee. Here are some of the ways that you can use your ASUS VPN router:

• VPN Client: ASUS routers can act as VPN clients, connecting your entire home network to a VPN service. This provides VPN protection for all connected devices without needing to configure VPN individually on each device.
• VPN Server: An ASUS router can function as a VPN server, allowing remote devices to connect securely to the home network from anywhere. When you’re away from home, you can use this server to securely access home network resources.
• VPN Network: The latest ASUS routers allow you to establish a separate network apart from your main network just for VPN connections. This allows you to pick which devices will connect to the VPN by selecting the right WiFi network.
• VPN Fusion: This is an advanced version of VPN client. It allows users to connect to multiple VPN servers simultaneously and assign different devices to use different VPN tunnels as needed. It provides flexibility in managing VPN connections for various devices on the network.
• Site-to-site VPN: If you have two networks in different locations, you can use site-to-site VPN functionality to have devices on each network communicate with each other as if they were part of the same physical network. This requires two ASUS VPN routers, one working as a VPN server and the other as a VPN client.

VPN support and features vary by model, so visit the product and support pages for your router for the most specific information.

What is the best VPN router?

Right now is a fantastic time to upgrade your home network. WiFi 7 has arrived, and it offers an incredible speed boost over last-gen WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E. So if you’re buying a VPN router today, you’ll get the most long-term value if you select a model that supports WiFi 7.

The ASUS WiFi 7 router lineup includes a wide range of options, but we’ll highlight two here for convenience. The ASUS RT-BE86U is easy to recommend to a wide range of users thanks to its rock-solid performance, excellent wired Ethernet options, and wallet-friendly price. If you have a larger home and many wireless devices to connect, you might be better off with the ZenWiFi BT10. This mesh WiFi system makes it easy to get great coverage to every room of your house, and it provides high-speed, low-interference connections over the 6GHz band.

If your bandwidth needs are more modest, and you don’t yet have WiFi 7 devices compatible with the next-gen standard, you could consider a WiFi 6 VPN router instead. The ASUS RT-AX82U isn’t as fully loaded as the others we’ve listed here, but it has a balanced feature set that will meet the needs of users who need more versatility than they’re getting from the router provided by their ISP.