The smart age changed the ways through which entertainment was consumed. There are now smart TVs available that can be streamed with streaming platforms, social media apps, and even online gaming. With more and more devices getting interlinked to the internet, privacy and security are becoming a cause of concern. Among the best steps toward making sure your online activities are safe and secure while using your Smart TV is a Virtual Private Network. But how does a VPN work on a Smart TV and why do I need one? Let’s understand.

This VPN essentially serves for privacy and security as it encrypts your internet connection. Most common these days are computers and smartphones, but it’s just as helpful with Smart TVs. Here’s how to help you decide on a VPN for your Smart TV:

1. Privacy and Security: A smart TV is essentially a connected device, meaning it can collect and share data. Some models can track your viewing habits, store personal data, and also share it with third parties. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it much harder for anyone, hackers or even the TV manufacturer, to track or access your information.

2. Geo-location: Most of the online streaming services available on the market such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer operate on geo-based accessibility. Therefore, some pieces or movies you are interested in viewing are blocked due to a user’s region. Using VPN makes it impossible for your computer or device to tell where your computer is accessing from, therefore giving you access to content not initially available within a particular geographical region.

3. Evade Bandwidth Throttling: Internet service providers, sometimes on purpose slow down your connection when streaming, more so for high-quality content. With a VPN, you are able to evade this throttling since your traffic will be encrypted and your ISP won’t be able to know that you are streaming videos.

4. Safe Streaming: Data is protected on public Wi-Fi network. Any secret data that gets streamed is safeguarded by a Smart TV VPN even if not from the home network.

5. Safety: Public Wi-Fi is usually an open door to hackers. The VPN will create a secure tunnel for your internet traffic and make your data secure.

How to use a VPN on your Smart TV

Setting up a VPN on your Smart TV might seem complicated, since many models do not have built-in VPN support.

However, there are a few methods you can use, and here’s a step-by-step guide to help you set up a VPN on your device:

Using a VPN-Compatible Router

If your Smart TV does not natively support VPN apps, you can install a VPN on your router. It will route all network traffic through the VPN, including your Smart TV. Here’s how to do it:

1. Choose a VPN provider that supports router installation.
2. Access your router’s admin panel and follow the VPN provider’s instructions to install the VPN.
3. After configuring your VPN, connect your Smart TV to the Wi-Fi. From now on, the TV will use the VPN connection.

This method works really well with many devices in a household since it secures all internet traffic and not only the TV.

VPN App on Android TV

If your Smart TV has the Android system, most VPN providers have separate applications that are ready to be installed directly from the Google Play Store. Using a VPN on an Android TV

1. Launch the Google Play Store.
2. Write the name of the VPN app you want to download in the search bar.
3. Install the desired app.
4. Launch the application, sign into your account and connect to the server of your choice.

Upon connection, internet traffic from your TV will go through the VPN.

Using a VPN on Apple TV through macOS or Windows PC

Apple TV doesn’t have a native VPN app, so you’ll need to use your macOS or Windows PC as a middleman.

This involves either sharing your VPN connection from a Mac/PC or using a screen mirroring service.

1. Set up a VPN on your PC or Mac.
2. Share your VPN connection over Wi-Fi.
3. Connect your Apple TV to the shared network.

This process will make sure your Apple TV uses the VPN, although the feature isn’t natively available.

Using a Smart DNS Service

If you feel that a VPN installation is too complicated, you can use a Smart DNS service. This is an easier way to bypass geo-location restrictions without encrypting your entire connection. A Smart DNS service will not offer the same security as a VPN, but it can be useful if your main goal is to access restricted content.

1. Sign up for a Smart DNS service.
2. Installation of your Smart TV by the provider.
3. Stream content from different regions.

Conclusion

Inshort, VPN on your Smart TV will add to your entertainment, improve your viewing experience, make your privacy secure, and enhance your streaming security and freedom. Surfshark is easy to use, has a huge server network, offers great security, and the price tag is competitive. A great option for unblocking streaming content, increasing online privacy, and protecting your internet connection.

About Author