I tested a VPN-ready router to secure my Wi-Fi connections – and I’m nearly sold on the idea
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Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are excellent tools for improving online privacy and security. Most people sign up with a VPN provider and then install their accompanying native applications on their PCs, tablets, and smartphones.
However, there’s another option: installing a VPN on your router. This method provides blanket coverage for any device connected to the router’s Wi-Fi, allowing you to circumvent connection number restrictions and saving you the legwork of installing a VPN app on every device you want to protect.
It’s not always a quick task, though. Many routers on the market support third-party VPNs, but you may need reasonable technical knowledge and be willing to tamper with internal settings to make everything work.
Alternatively, some VPN providers offer VPN-ready hardware; one such model is the subject of this review. The Privacy Hero 2
Charlie Osborne/ZDNET
The Privacy Hero 2 comes with an A/C power supply, Ethernet cable, and installation guide. The size of the four external antennae seemed odd, probably because they were somewhat bulky compared to the router’s tiny body. Overall, the build is reasonable, and my only real complaint is the short length of the Ethernet cable.
Installation process
I’ve tested a variety of Wi-Fi routers — traditional, mesh, and VPN-supporting — over the years and found that installation complexity varies. The Privacy Hero 2 was very easy to set up. The router comes with a booklet and online installation guides, including a short video that helps users with the hardware side of the installation. After I plugged the router in, it took about 10 minutes to update.
Once the router is ready, you must sign up for a free Privacy Hero account, which gives you web access to the router’s dashboard.
You can see the status of your new router on the Home screen as well as change its name or timezone.
Screenshot by Charlie Osborne/ZDNET
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Once you have the access token, you must submit it in the Privacy Hero dashboard. Due to timeout failures, my token was not accepted until after three attempts.
NordVPN then launched on the router with a UK server as default. If you want to change your country, click on the connection and change the server yourself. Visit NordVPN’s OpenVPN configuration file list and copy and paste the server name you want to connect to.
Screenshot by Charlie Osborne/ZDNET
I spent several hours testing which geo-blocked streaming libraries I could access through my new Wi-Fi connection. I tested the Privacy Hero 2 with Disney+, Netflix, and the anime streaming service Crunchyroll.
My first test was accessing my home UK libraries, which I could do without a problem. I then enabled Privacy Hero 2’s relocation feature for the aforementioned streaming platforms while keeping the initial connection on a UK server, where I faced several challenges. At first, I had no success — only my UK library was available. I powered down the TV, Sky satellite TV box, ISP-issued router, and Privacy Hero 2 and waited for everything to reboot.
I then tried to access US streaming service libraries on Disney+, Netflix, and Crunchyroll. Despite the relocation options, this didn’t work directly through the Samsung TV’s Tizen hub when the UK was set as the central server. However, it worked for Netflix and Disney+ when I tested three US-based servers instead with relocation enabled.
Accessing these libraries through a third-party app, in this case, Sky, worked best on my TV for Netflix and Disney+. When I chose this route, it didn’t matter what country my initial connection was set to.
When I tested Netflix and Disney+ on my laptop, I could access US libraries without issues. (I received a login email from Netflix confirming that an account was being used in the US; the relocation function was working correctly.) Unfortunately, Crunchyroll did not work on my smart TV, but I could access its US library on my laptop.
, the company should improve the build quality and be more generous with the Ethernet cable’s length. However, installation is easy and user-friendly. This VPN router is the best I’ve tried to date, and it will be a long-term fixture in my household.
I have previously installed VPNs on third-party, supporting routers, but the Privacy Hero 2 is far less complicated to set up and requires very little technical knowledge. The dashboard is easy to navigate and keeps technical jargon to a minimum.
If you want to change the initial server connection, you’ll need to work out the OpenVPN configuration file names. I would like to see NordVPN provide a streamlined list of servers that identifies which server belongs to which country. A dropdown list right in the dashboard would be useful.
My favorite feature is the streaming location option. While many streaming channels are currently limited to the UK, US, and Canada (something I would like to see expanded where possible), toggling between them without finding servers yourself is highly convenient.
If you want to try out the Privacy Hero 2, you can buy it from Flashrouters for $199
