VPN support Wi-Fi equipment

VPN

— the ability to use the device to create a VPN connection.

Initially, VPN technology was developed in order to create closed networks based on open communication channels — for example, to combine several offices in different cities into a single virtual network using the Internet, encrypting traffic to protect against unauthorized access. Such an application is also possible in Wi-Fi equipment, but much more often this function is used in a different format — in order to “hide” the router and the entire network it serves behind the so-called VPN server, so that all external traffic goes through this server. This format of work has a positive effect on security (due to the mentioned encryption), but the main point of the VPN server is that it replaces the IP address of the router with its own address. This makes it difficult to track user activity, and also allows you to bypass regional restrictions — just select a VPN server with an IP address corresponding to the country you need to work with.

Note that VPN can also be “raised” on individual user devices (for example, such tools are available in some Internet browsers); however, if you configure this feature on your router, the VPN will work for all network subscribers, regardless of whether they natively support this feature or not. This is particularly useful on smart TVs (to access certain video services like Netflix) and on PS and Xbox consoles (to bypass region restrictions in certain games). On the other hand, note that setting up such a connection can be quite difficult, the connection speed can noticeably drop when working through a VPN, and enabling and disabling this feature on a router is usually more difficult than on user devices.