Hey guys, so yesterday, I turned a new router into a VPN router and couldn’t be happier!
My question now… my router is secured with the same VPN my phone and laptop have installed.
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Is it a waste to run it on my phone and laptop (laptop particularly) while connected to the router, or is that better and why?
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If it’s exactly the same thing and offering no protection, it’s there a way I could double VPN using the same subscription, or would I (I think I probably should) use another VPN provider? If so, what, physically, does that look like?
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I’m an aspiring writer/jounalist and want an above average level of protection from those who may feel threatened by my work, but on a budget. I just received the Raspberry Pi5 I bought specifically to help with this, I just don’t know what that looks like or the next path forward. I also have a good AV and password manager.
Thank you guys.
Technically it’s more secure, the first server knows your IP but not your activity, the second knows your activity but not you IP.
In practice though it’s going to add a lot of latency.
If both devices are running the same VPN (same provider, technology, and same keys) then nested VPN tunnels buys you nothing except less throughput. I cannot think of a situation where you would want nested tunnels terminating with the same provider.
Nested VPNs only buy you more security when the two VPNs are substantially different (in terms of the provider and technology).
That’s not how it works, if you configure the VPN client on your router + VPN client on OS level, only the OS level vpn will do something. The router will just let the tunneling go through.
The only way to have double tunneling is if the VPN you use propose that option, or alternatively use Tor alongside the VPN.
I’m seeing the latency and it’s manageable. Haven’t tried streaming yet but 95% of that’s done on my Xbox, which I do NOT have VPN protected, and don’t know if I should.
So that dual VPN thing works even if it’s the same company? Also, would I have to ensure my devices and router are connected to different servers for that to work? And do you feel a second VPN provider would increase or decrease my protection level?
Thanks
Thank you. Could you elaborate on the “different technologies” aspect? Hadn’t even considered that a determining factor in making my choice.
Thanks
If your Xbox is connected to that router then its traffic is going through the VPN as well. You may have issues with NAT.
It will work if it’s the same company. I don’t know about many others but my VPN provider has a double VPN option in the app to do this without having to envelope your traffic this way. Above all make sure that that company doesn’t keep logs.
I don’t think there’s any upside or downside to using 2 different providers as long as they don’t use logs.
Try to visualise what is happening, think of it like tubes, all designed to stop people seeing what’s inside, the VPN setup on your router is one tube that goes to location A, but inside that tube you’ve got a second tube which goes to location B location B the connects the tube to whatever you’ve requested.
Location A knows where the tube is coming from, and that it’s going to location B, but doesn’t know what will be in the tube.
Location B knows the tube has come from/to location A, but not your original location, and it knows what you want the tube to connect to.
It makes no difference if location A and location B are run by the same company, even if they weren’t, locations A and B would still know this information about each other.
The only benefit to using 2 different companies is if a bad actor was to gain control of all servers belonging to 1 provider… This I suppose could be technically possible but very unlikely.
They would need to be 2 different servers though, you’re right.
second vpn does absolutely NOTHING but increase latency; what illegal activities are you doing that you even think about 2 or 3 VPNs??
Thank you for the break down. So my router has a setting where I can pick and choose which devices use the VPN, so the Xbox is disallowed. I’m getting 800 download, but only 40^ though, as compared to 800/800 with the previous router, so next I’ll see if there’s a way to free some of that back up, but if not, I’ll be alright.
And yeah, mine supposedly doesn’t keep logs, and thanks for confirming the different servers thing. It made sense in my mind, but idk what I’m talking about! lol 
I clearly stated my lawful intent, there guy. I don’t want to piss off someone whose bestie owns my ISP/email provider/phone company whatever.
But now I’m curious what illegal activities YOU are up to that you needed a VPN? Since, clearly that’s all they’re good for.
I bet you got a RAGIN’ mustache!
