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As a tech journalist, I’m surprisingly fanatic about limiting the number of smart and Internet-enabled devices in my home. Mostly because I firmly believe that no one should be able to post on social media from their refrigerator, and an oven doesn’t need to integrate Alexa to bake a cake.
But another big reason for me to be cautious is that the more smart devices you have connected to your network, the easier it will be for hackers to access your data. This is a huge security risk that is more prevalent than you think.
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While many new smart TVs and Internet-enabled devices offer some level of data protection, whether through dedicated chipsets or integrated malware detection, these measures are weak at best and completely ineffective. Thankfully, if you’ve already subscribed to a VPN or are considering one, adding protection to your smart TV is quick and simple.
Why should you use a VPN on your TV?
A VPN will encrypt your streaming, web browsing, and download data from end to end. This means that unless they have very sophisticated software and eternal patience, a hacker will have a very difficult time accessing your activity and personal data.
Even if your TV has built-in cybersecurity hardware or software, a VPN can help close any potential gaps that bad actors could take advantage of. This is especially the case if you have ACR turned on, as the VPN actively hides your TV’s real IP address and encrypts its traffic. The same behavior happens with ISP-based content throttling, with the VPN blocking your provider from seeing what you’re streaming.
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And on a more fun note, a VPN can also open up a whole new world of streaming options by giving you access to content that isn’t available in your home country. With one click, you can set your virtual location anywhere in the world to let streaming services show you movies and shows that are otherwise unavailable for you to browse.
Should you use a free or paid VPN?
Installing a VPN on your router lets you protect multiple devices with just a few clicks in the Control app. Many VPN services allow you to protect up to 10 devices simultaneously, providing 24/7 whole-home cybersecurity.
There are both paid and free VPN services available, but be wary of free options, as they may still keep logs of your online activity, which could potentially be leaked in a company data breach. Here’s a breakdown of the main differences between the paid and free options.
| free vpn | paid vpn | |
| data limits | Strictly limited (usually 2GB to 10GB per month) | unlimited |
| streaming speed | Throttled or heavily congested servers | Optimized high-speed servers (4K capable) |
| TV app availability | There are rarely dedicated Android TV/Fire TV apps | Native apps in almost all major TV app stores |
| privacy model | Sell frequent browsing data to third parties to make money | Funded by subscription; Strict “no-logs” policies |
| router setup | almost never supported | Fully supported for Samsung/LG TV network integration |
How to Protect Your Smart TV with a VPN
The process of setting up a VPN on your smart TV is virtually the same for all brands and operating systems. Since most new TVs may not support a VPN app themselves, you’ll need to install your chosen VPN service through your router:
router installation
- Select and subscribe to your chosen VPN
- Download the official app and configuration files from the brand’s website
- Access your router’s IP settings with the credentials present on the sticker that shows the model and serial number for your router
- Follow your brand’s step-by-step instructions to install the configuration files
- Restart your router if necessary
- connect to the Internet
- Sign in to VPN
ground level
Your smart TV is prone to the same security risks as your smartphone or computer, so it never hurts to protect your activity with a VPN, whether paid or free. The best part is that you can set up a VPN on virtually any smart TV, as the installation happens at the router level. And you’ll also see benefits in your content consumption, as VPNs allow you to browse streaming service catalogs from other countries.
