The Best 5 VPNs For Google Chromecast With Google TV In 2022
Not getting the full potential from your Google Chromecast With Google TV? In this article, I tell you how to use a VPN to get the most from your Chromecast and tell you about the 5 best VPNs for the task.
Google recently released a new version of their Chromecast HDMI dongle. While previous versions of the device limited users to casting streaming content from their other connected devices, the new Chromecast With Google TV dongle is a full-featured Android TV device. For just 50 bucks, its a great way to bring Android TV to your HD or 4K television.
The device offers HD and 4K streaming content from most popular video streaming services. It also offers apps and games from the Google Play library. Yes, the device will also run Kodi.
Unfortunately, just like other connected devices, the content you have access to from Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and other streaming providers is limited to what is available in your region of the world. This is because streaming providers geo-control their content to specific areas of the world thanks to contracts they sign with content providers.
Fortunately, there is a handy tool that can open up a world of geo-blocked content. Its called a Virtual Private Network .
A streaming provider will see your new IP address, be fooled into believing that you are connecting from another geographical area, and provide you with access to the geo-blocked content for that area!
Casting From A Different Device
With a smart TV it is also possible to cast content from another device to the smart TV. When you do this you must consider a few things. You will always need your other device nearby and if you switch between devices like your smartphone and tablet, you need to install a VPN on both of them. Moreover, the device you cast with will be protected with the VPN but your smart TV will not be protected. You only use the smart TV as an external screen for your other device.
Can I Use A Dns Proxy Instead Of A VPN
DNS proxy servers spoof your location, similar to a VPN. That being said, its very easy for sites to block proxies, and chances are, they simply wont work the way you want them to.
Whats more, many DNS proxies cant be configured with a smart TV or home router. Even if you can get it set up, proxies tend to have fewer location options, so you might not be able to access the region-specific sites youre looking for. One proxy that doesnt suffer from this problem is ExpressVPNs Media Streamer which can be set up to work with a smart TV.One more important area where proxies are lacking is security. They dont encrypt your traffic, so its possible that your activity will be monitored by your ISP or other snoopers. You may even be subject to monitoring by the proxy provider itself.
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Install Nordvpn On Your Router
Instead of just using an app, youll have to install NordVPN directly on your router. The process of installing a VPN on your router depends on its firmware, however most installations will have three steps:
Check out our guides for routers that support a VPN connection here. Read our blog post for more information about how to set up a VPN on a router and why.
Running NordVPN on your router comes with pros and cons.
Pros:
- Secures your Apple TV. Apple TV is incapable of running NordVPN on its own, so this is currently the only way to secure it. However, this also means that your VPN router will cover any other IoT devices you have at home, like security cameras or even smart toasters!
- Youre always secured. As long as your router is on, so is your VPN. Youll never forget to turn it on to secure your traffic.
- Covers everyone. Any device connected to your router will be secured. That includes guests, children, and any new devices connecting to your network.
- Expands device coverage. Ordinarily, NordVPN provides coverage for up to six devices. Thats already a lot, but putting NordVPN on your router will let you push that limit further. No matter how many devices connect to your VPN-enabled router, it still counts as one connected device! Be sure not to abuse this feature, however, as your connection speed and stability may suffer.
Cons:
Encrypt your traffic and stay private.
Which VPN Should I Use
Our roundups of the best VPNs and the best cheap VPNs are excellent places to research the top choices, but below is a quick list of our top picks if you just want to get started with online privacy protection right now.
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How To Set Up A VPN On A Samsung Smart TV
There’s quite a bit of conflicting information online about Samsung Smart TVs especially regarding which operating systems they use so I’ll try to clear that up before we go any further.
The two main ways to do so are installing a VPN on your router and sharing your computer’s VPN connection with your Samsung Smart TV
Samsung Smart TVs originally made use of the Orsay operating system, but since this was discontinued in 2015, all Samsung Smart TVs produced since then use Tizen OS. Operating systems such as Chrome OS for Chromebooks or iOS for iPhones sit between the physical hardware inside your computer and the software programs you’re running.
At present, there is no native VPN support for either Orsay or Tizen, which basically just means you can’t load VPN software directly onto them like you could on another device running an OS like Android, which VPN providers tend to have applications for on the Google Play Store. But fear not there’s still a way to connect your TV to a VPN without it.
The two principal ways to do so are installing a VPN on your router and sharing your computer’s VPN connection with your Samsung Smart TV. You can also use a Smart DNS to unblock content, see our guide on how to change smart DNS settings on Samsung Smart TVs for more details about this.
How To Install A VPN On Your Home Router
If youd prefer, you can install a VPN on your router to automatically protect all of your devices. However, you should note that this can be a fairly involved process unless your router already has compatible firmware. Further, incorrectly upgrading your firmware can effectively break your router.
For this reason, its vital that you follow the setup instructions exactly. Most major VPN providers provide detailed walkthroughs for the most common router types, and weve linked a few of these below:
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How Do I Setup A VPN On My Samsung Smart TV
Muhammad Hamza Shahid
Learn why it is vital to use a Samsung Smart TV VPN, how to setup one via 4 varied methods, along with suggestions on the 5 best VPNs.
Getting the right VPN for your Samsung Smart TV can unlock a whole new world of content, including the international database of titles for Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and Netflix. Even better, VPNs keep your streaming habits private, so that only you know what you watch.
Do you want to seamlessly stream your favorite content while sinking into the couch, instead of huddling around a computer screen? In this guide, Ill show you how to use a VPN on your Samsung Smart TV via 4 different methods, along with recommendations on the best VPNs!
Ways You Can Set Up A VPN On Your Smart TV
Hooking your VPN up to your smart TV can help you unlock a world of streaming options and keep your viewing activities private.
With a VPN on your smart TV, you can privately stream content from all over the world.
Even though most smart TVs aren’t compatible with virtual private networks right out of the box, basically any smart TV can be hooked up to a VPN. And even if your TV isn’t of the smart variety, you may still be able to hook your VPN up to it — if you have the right equipment.
Two of the main reasons you’d want to hook your VPN up to your TV are if you want to stream geographically restricted content or if you want to hide your TV watching activities from your ISP.
There are a couple of different ways to go about setting up your VPN to work with your TV, and which route you choose to take will depend largely on your personal preference, technical know-how, budget and what equipment you have on hand. In this guide, we’ll go through some of the ways you can set a VPN up on a TV and why you would want to do so.
Recommended Reading: How To Setup A VPN On Xbox 360
Changing Your Dns Settings
You can also access website unblocking features by setting up a SmartDNS on your Samsung Smart TV. SmartDNS are offered by VPN Providers themselves. Here is you can set it up on your Samsung Smart TV:
How To Share A VPN Connection Over Ethernet
The quickest and easiest way to share your VPN connection is to run an Ethernet cable from one device to another. This isnt the most practical method, but if you only use region-locked apps occasionally, its likely the best option. If youd prefer, you could also store a smaller device like a Raspberry Pi behind your TV, which would remove the need for long, trailing cables.
VPN over Ethernet on Windows 10
VPN over Ethernet on MacOS
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Purevpn: Budget VPN For Samsung TVs
One of the best and cheapest VPN, PureVPN may have had a rocky start in the industry. However, now the service is logs-free and endorsed by huge websites like Forbes.
It has amazing ratings on trust-pilot, due to the huge amount of features it offers. NAT Firewall, Split Tunneling, Ad/Tracker blocking, IPv6 Leak Protection, Port Forwarding, Kill Switch, DDoS Protection, dedicated IPs, and the list goes on.
Best part of all: $3.33/mo on a 5-year plan
- Trustpilot rating: 4.8
The Singapore-based provider has once again started gaining fame in the marketplace for its unmatched streaming, unblocking, torrenting, and gaming capabilities, proving its worth as a top VPN service, available for a reasonable price.
It offers a nicely design Samsung Smart TV VPN app, which you download directly from the . It boasts a neat outlook with a location selection menu in the center and the connect button right below it.
2-year plan5 multi-logins.
30 Days Money Back Guarantee
Why Do I Need A VPN On My Samsung Smart TV
As was alluded to in the introduction to this article, having a VPN on your Samsung Smart TV can help you unblock media you wouldn’t otherwise be able to view without a Virtual Private Network.
But VPNs also have security and privacy elements to it as well VPNs are the only real, affordable way to step up your safety online in a quick and efficient manner. Having a VPN on your Samsung Smart TV will mean all your traffic will be sent down an encrypted tunnel before reaching the internet. Whether it’s your government or hackers you’re worried about, a good VPN provider will help you out. Check out our guide for more information about the pros and cons and a list of the best VPNs for Samsung TVs.
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Option : Casting And Mirroring
You can also share the screen of your VPN-enabled device across your Smart TV using casting or mirroring. These are both wireless technologies that essentially duplicate the screen of your VPN-enabled device, such as a desktop or a smartphone, onto your Smart TV.
The disadvantage, however, is that you will still need to access the other device every time you want to play a different video or interact with the screen in any way. Moreover, when mirroring, the screen resolution of the video footage will always be limited to that of the casting device but this isnt an issue when casting.
On a Samsung Smart TV, you can easily use casting or mirroring to duplicate the screen of your Android, Windows, iOS, or macOS device. If you own an LG Smart TV, however, you can only cast or mirror content from your Android or iOS devices. The process will be different depending on the device you are casting from and the brand and model of your Smart TV.
Why Can’t I Cast When Using VPN
When using a VPN on your Chromecast, the Chromecasts network connection is inside an encrypted tunnel, which means its hidden from the rest of the network, so it cannot connect to the device youre casting from. You can get around this by setting up the VPN on your wireless router, then all devices are protected by the VPN, but they can still see each other on the network.
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Installing A VPN On A Virtual Router On Your Pc Or Mac
If your router isnt suitable for flashing or you dont want to, you can create a Wi-Fi hotspot on your PC or Mac and set that up as a virtual router with a VPN connection. You can then connect your smart TV to the internet via the hotspot on your PC or Mac. Installing a VPN on your PC or Mac differs depending on the device and operating system. Look for a provider that matches well with your devices and it shouldnt be too difficult. Below you find a guide that will help you install a VPN on your virtual router.
Set Up A VPN Using Smartdns
SmartDNS has its benefits but it doesnt protect your device or encrypt your traffic the way a VPN connection would.
NordVPN supports SmartDNS feature. Heres how to set up SmartDNS on NordVPN for Apple TV:
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Tips For Using A VPN To Stay Safe
VPNs can add a layer of security and privacy to your web browsing, but its a relatively thin layer considering how good the tech industry has become at tracking people.
The most important thing to do about this is to use the safety steps I listed above, such as a password manager, multifactor authentication, and tracking blockers, and to follow standard safety advice to avoid online dangers that have nothing to do with your ISP or IP address. VPNs do not protect against most known online risks, such as phishing, tracking, malware, and ransomware, says Roya Ensafi, assistant professor at the University of Michigans computer science & engineering department and principal investigator of VPNalyzer.
White is quick to point out that theres ultimately no guarantee that a VPN provider is on the level, even when testing like Consumer Reports comes back with good results. The best we can do is to get an assessment for symptoms and hints of trustworthiness when we evaluate a VPN, he says.
That said, choosing a VPN that seems solid is much safer than one without those signals of trustworthiness. Not doing so could put you at risk. If you use a VPN with a default configuration thats insecure, it could allow for lateral movement, where an attacker can move through your home network and access all of your devices.
Yael Grauer