How to configure NordVPN on an Internet box? Return home Clubic

Jérôme Cartegini October 26, 2020 11:07 am

In addition to many devices and operating systems (Windows, macOS, Android, iOS…), VPN services can be installed directly on an Internet box or a router in order to protect the entire network. Here is an example of installing NordVPN on a Freebox Revolution.

Before considering installing a VPN service behind an Internet box or ideally a real router (Asus, D-Link, Netgear, etc.), you should know that this manipulation is much more complex than on a computer system. operating like Windows or macOS benefiting from a dedicated client. First of all, you should make sure that your router (or internet box) is well supported by the provider. Depending on the models, the VPN configuration may require downloading specific utilities and gathering certain connection information. Fortunately, NordVPN makes the process much easier by providing VPN configuration files for each of its servers. Many tutorials on the subject are also available on the provider's site.

The advantages and disadvantages of installing a VPN on an Internet box

Installing NordVPN on an Internet box (or a router) presents a lot of advantages, but also some important disadvantages to take into account. The main interest is to be able to protect and anonymize all the traffic of the home network. New devices added to the local network are automatically protected with no additional configuration required. Another advantage: even if many devices are connected to the VPN via the router, the service counts only one of the six devices that can be used simultaneously with a subscription. It is also the only solution to protect certain devices that do not support VPNs such as connected objects, smartTVs or certain TV boxes. The installation of NordVPN on a router is for example required to be able to secure access to AppleTV which is not in the list of supported devices by the provider.

However, it is better to weigh the pros and cons before starting, because the installation is quite complex and the management much less simple than with a dedicated VPN application. The simple fact of changing server and location requires reconfiguring the VPN via the management interface of the box and can cause slowdowns in bandwidth. Since a VPN is designed to block unauthorized incoming connections, it is no longer possible to remotely access (outside the local network) certain unsophisticated equipment such as a camera, or a lock, by example. Only certain devices such as computers or mobile terminals are able to circumvent this problem to access the network remotely. You should also know that the encryption is only done at the router level, and not between the devices and the router. If the home network is not sufficiently secure, all devices become potentially vulnerable. For greater security and efficiency, NordVPN and most major VPN players recommend going through a real router rather than a more limited and less efficient Internet box to manage a VPN.

Install NordVPN on the Freebox

Because of its stability and speed, NordVPN is undoubtedly one of the best VPNs to install on an Internet box. First of all, it is essential to ensure that your Internet box is compatible with VPNs. If necessary, the only solution is to acquire a router compatible or preconfigured with the VPN service (see the recommended models on the NordVPN site). The installation procedure on a box or a router varies completely from one model and from one brand to another. Unlike the operating systems supported by NordVPN (Windows, macOS, Android…), there are no dedicated clients to install and manage the VPN. You have to go through the interface of the Internet box (mafreebox.freebox.fr for Free for example) and its VPN client to be able to configure it.

The Freebox (Revolution, mini 4k, Delta, Pop) supports VPNs with some limitations. It is indeed not possible to encrypt all traffic, but only downloads via the eponymous application and its Torrent client. As with most boxes and routers, you must indicate the "OpenVPN" configuration information of one or more of the provider's servers in order to be able to install the VPN on a box. To do this, you must retrieve the “.OpenVPN” configuration file, which can be more or less complicated to obtain depending on the service. NordVPN greatly facilitates this task since it provides a list of links on its website to download these files (.OpenVPN UDP or TCP) of your choice for all its servers.

Configure the VPN client

Before downloading an “.OpenVPN” file, you must choose a server. Given the very large number of NordVPN servers, it is advisable to launch the service's desktop or mobile application, select a location and the fastest ("Fastest") server. Simply note the server number and its location to find it in the list (eg: fr640.nordvpn.com) and download the corresponding OpenVPN configuration file.

Go to the Freebox OS management web interface and indicate its identifiers. Then click on “Settings” and “Advanced Mode” to access the “VPN Client”. In the menu that appears, click on “VPN configuration” then on “Add a connection”. All you have to do is fill in the different fields:

•Description: the name of his choice (ex.: NordVPN FR)•VPN server type: OpenVPN•Host name: email address used for the NordVPN account •Password: NordVPN account password• Configuration file: download the “.OpenVPN” file

Click "Save" to save the VPN configuration. Repeat the same procedure to add one or more other servers and locations. Then expand the drop-down menu in the "VPN Configuration" window to select a server, then click on "Apply" to start the connection. Select this same drop-down menu and click on "None" to stop the VPN connection. As its name suggests, the "Connection Status" tab allows you to check whether the VPN connection is active or not.

In the "Applications" tab, check the "Download manager" box to be able to redirect download traffic over the VPN. This only works with the torrent client and the Freebox "Downloads" app. Accessible on the FreeboxOS homepage, the download manager allows you to download “.nzb” and “.torrent” files from a file or URL in complete safety.

If the VPN connection becomes unstable or too slow, it may be necessary to change the server. Do not hesitate to install several to easily change them if necessary. In use, the connection to a NordVPN server based in France is particularly efficient. On the other hand, we regret that Free does not offer more applications compatible with its VPN client and the possibility of encrypting all traffic.

To learn more about NordVPN, also check out: