Using public Wi-Fi, torrenting and accessing geographic restricted content online without protecting your privacy is extremely risky in 2024. Your personal data and browsing activity can be logged and tracked by hackers, government agencies and even your own ISP without your knowledge.
This is where a Virtual Private Network (VPN) comes in – it encrypts all information transmitted to and from your device when connected to the internet, creating a secure, private tunnel that hides your digital footprint.
As per GlobalWebIndex, already 25% of internet users leverage a VPN globally, and this number continues to grow exponentially every year.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about setting up a reliable VPN across desktop and mobile devices in simple, non-technical language even a complete beginner will understand.
Overview: Understanding VPNs
Put simply, a VPN client creates an encrypted tunnel from your device to a remote server operated by the VPN service. Instead of connecting directly to websites from your ISP-assigned IP address, all traffic first routes through the VPN server.
This provides a number of key benefits:
- The website or hacker monitoring traffic only sees the VPN IP address masking your real IP and location
- All data transmitted is securely encrypted and cannot be intercepted
- Your internet activity is hidden from your ISP as the traffic appears to be with the VPN service
- You can bypass regional blocks and access restricted content from anywhere
VPNs are supported across all major platforms today:
✅ Windows PCs
✅ MacOS Computers
✅ iPhone & iPad
✅ Android Mobiles & Tablets
✅ Linux OS
✅ Gaming Consoles like PS and Xbox
✅ Browser Extensions
✅ Routers
With hundreds of VPN services in the market, selecting the right one can be overwhelming. We will cover the top recommendations next.
5 Best VPN Services in 2024
| VPN Service | Speed | Servers | Connections | Money-back Guarantee | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 5500+ | 6 | 30 days | $3.29 |
| ExpressVPN | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 3000+ | 5 | 30 days | $8.32 |
| Surfshark | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 3200+ | Unlimited | 30 days | $2.49 |
| CyberGhost | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 7400+ | 7 | 45 days | $2.25 |
| ProtonVPN | ⭐⭐⭐ | 1,500+ | 10 | 30 days | $4 |
Based on extensive testing, we recommend NordVPN as the best VPN service for 2024 due its unbeatable combination of lightning-fast speeds, largest server network, watertight security, affordable pricing and intuitive applications catering to all user platforms.
Some key advantages of using NordVPN:
✅ Supports latest WireGuard protocol providing exceptional VPN speeds
✅ Strictly enforces no-logs policy across 5000+ global servers
✅ Encrypts traffic with AES-256, industry‘s highest encryption standard
✅ 6 simultaneous connections from a single account
✅ Works reliably to unblock geo-restricted platforms like Netflix, Hulu, BBC
✅ Lightweight, user-friendly VPN apps for Windows, iOS, Android & more
✅ 24/7 live chat support in case of any issues
Now let‘s get to the meat of this guide – setting up a NordVPN across all your devices.
Setting Up NordVPN on Windows
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Visit NordVPN’s website and create an account, subscribing to any plan. We recommend the 2-year plan for maximum savings.
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Download and install the NordVPN Windows client from their site. You may choose between OpenVPN and Wireguard protocols during install.
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Fire up the app and log into your account. The ideal server will automatically be recommended based on load and ping time.
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Click Connect to establish the encrypted VPN tunnel securing your connection. Minimal impact on speed is expected.
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Check your new IP address under the connection status icon after connecting successfully.
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Head over to Settings -> General to tweak auto-launch, auto-connect and other preferences.
And just like that, your VPN setup on Windows is complete! The quick connect function makes it a breeze to use NordVPN.
Pro Tip: Under ‘Protocol‘, try switching between OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols. WireGuard generally provides better speeds.
Setting up NordVPN on Mac
The process for setting up NordVPN on a Mac computer is quite similar:
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Create a NordVPN account if you haven‘t already and download the Mac client from their site.
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Install the app and log into it using your credentials. Grant necessary permissions if prompted by your Mac‘s security features.
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As soon as you log in, NordVPN will automatically activate connecting you to the fastest nearby server. Click the Connect button if it does not.
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Head over to Preferences -> General tab once connected to tweak configurations like Kill Switch, DNS settings, auto-launch etc.
The NordVPN macOS app provides one of the most visually appealing interfaces with a world map showing server ping times and loads dynamically. You also have finer control over features on Mac compared to Windows.
We recommend keeping CyberSec feature under ‘Threat Protection‘ enabled for blocking ads and malicious websites. Also enable the Kill Switch under ‘App Guard‘ which will immediately cut off internet access if the VPN connection unexpectedly drops to prevent any data leaks.
And that concludes setting up NordVPN on desktop platforms! Next we cover mobile devices.
Setting Up NordVPN on iPhone and iPad
The NordVPN iOS app makes setting up the VPN on iPhone or iPad very straightforward:
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On your device, install and open the NordVPN iOS app from the App Store.
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Create a free NordVPN account within the app if you haven‘t already.
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Input your username and password to log into the app. Accept any iOS permissions requested.
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Like the desktop apps, NordVPN mobile will automatically activate the best VPN connection in your region with one tap of the Connect button. Or you can manually choose a server too.
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You can verify you are protected by the active VPN connection from the status bar icon, current IP address, location and other details shown within the app.
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Go to Settings -> Protection and toggle on Kill Switch. This will safeguard you from data leaks if the VPN drops.
Additional functionalities like ad blocking, dedicated IP access, Onion over VPN for private browsing and whitelisting specific apps to bypass the VPN are also supported.
Using NordVPN on iPhone is a breeze thanks to the Star VPN app. You get cool extras like Dark Web monitoring, ability to whitelist apps & sites plus an integrated ad blocker.
Setting Up NordVPN on Android
As you might‘ve noticed by now, NordVPN makes setting up the VPN equally straightforward across platforms. Here‘s how to do it on Android:
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Install the NordVPN Android app from the Google Play Store. Open the app and create/login to your existing account.
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Review and accept the permission requests to allow VPN configuration.
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You will be automatically connected to the fastest VPN server – or tap Quick Connect to establish the secure VPN tunnel manually.
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Slide down notifications and verify NordVPN is active in the background. Tap the notification to view connection details like current location, IP and elapsed time.
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Open NordVPN app settings and toggle on useful features like Kill Switch to protect from data leaks if VPN drops, Split Tunneling to route specific traffic outside the VPN tunnel and more.
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Under ‘Advanced‘, you also customize connection protocols and choose specific server locations for consistent IPs if needed.
Additional NordVPN functionalities you get on Android include an ad/malware blocker, dedicated IPs, ability to whitelist sites & apps, Onion over VPN support and more.
And that‘s really all there is to it! NordVPN‘s apps make setting up the VPN extremely simple irrespective of your platform or tech proficiency levels.
With NordVPN encrypting your connection, you never have to worry about insecure public Wi-Fi, hidden tracker cookies, snooping hackers or ISPs monitoring and potentially throttling traffic like torrent downloads ever again.
Optimizing Your VPN Connection
Now that you have NordVPN setup, let‘s go over some expert tips to optimize performance:
Choosing the Right Server Location
Connecting to a VPN server geographically closer to your location will provide better speeds due lower latency. Manually selecting a server in a nearby country may yield improvements if the auto-recommend option seems slow.
Switching VPN Protocols
Try toggling between protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard to compare speeds, as this often makes a visible difference. WireGuard offers excellent speeds but verify OpenVPN works reliably with your ISP in case of issues.
Enabling VPN Split Tunneling
Productivity apps and VOIP calling rely on real-time connectivity without VPN latency. By only routing web traffic through the VPN but keeping other traffic outside the tunnel, you get the best of both worlds.
Using a Dedicated IP Address
VPNs generally provide shared IP addresses to keep costs low. But dynamically changing IPs cause issues occasionally with logging into accounts. Paying a small fee for a dedicated IP address with your VPN service can prove useful.
Beefing Up Authentication Mechanisms
Beyond the username/password mandated by NordVPN, consider setting up 2-step verification for your account. Also set a strong master password phrase that cannot be easily brute forced.
Securing Your Home Wi-Fi Network
Using a VPN only secures devices individually. We recommend installing VPN protection at the router-level in your home as well so that all connected devices are encrypted via the VPN by default.
Many cheaper router models support manual OpenVPN configuration these days. For an out-of-the-box VPN router solution with easy setup, check out the NordVPN mesh WiFi system called NordLynx.
And there are many more ways to optimize VPN performance including specialized gaming/streaming servers provided by premium VPNs like NordVPN.
Troubleshooting NordVPN Issues
Video Tutorial Covering Common VPN Errors and Fixes
While NordVPN is generally very reliable, here are some tips to troubleshoot potential error messages you may encounter:
Cannot Connect To Selected Server
Issue: Outage in this location
Fix: Select another server manually or via Quick Connect
Captcha Verification Needed
Issue: Unusual activity pattern flagged
Fix: Complete human verification prompt to continue
Connection Lost Frequently
Issue: High server load causing drops
Fix: Select less crowded server with lower user count
Still facing problems? Reach out to NordVPN‘s 24/7 live support via live chat or email. Their customer support team is very responsive in resolving issues promptly.
And that concludes our complete step-by-step guide on setting up a VPN across desktop and mobile!
We hope you found this VPN tutorial helpful. Be sure to take the right privacy precautions before going online. Stay secure!