Using A Flashrouter In A Dual Router Setup
A Dual Router Setup is a network configuration that uses a FlashRouter alongside your Xfinity router. This configuration allows for the use of your unprotected Xfinity network or your encrypted FlashRouter VPN network.
Using this set up gives you the option of staying with Xfinity as your ISP but also gives you the chance of protecting your home wireless network. Luckily, FlashRouters has the perfect devices for you!
How To Set Up A VPN
With Xfinity, you can set up a VPN through your home router. With your VPNs bridge functionality you can create a remote desktop Web connection and use the Internet securely anywhere.
Third-party applications and downloadable software may provide the same functionality, but using a company you already know and trust is the safest route. Xfinity can provide a VPN that is already in place all you need to do is download the software to access it.
Can Comcast Detect That Im Using A VPN
Depending on your VPN protocol, Comcast may be able to see your VPN usage. If you use IPSec protocol, your internet traffic will be visible to your ISP as encapsulated security payload packets. However, if your VPN is configured to use OpenVPN protocol, you can hide your OpenVPN traffic making it much harder for your ISP to see your VPN usage. If youre still concerned about VPN detection, we recommend using VyprVPN, or a secure VPN that also offers obfuscation technology.
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Ology For Assessing A VPN For Comcast Xfinity
Not all VPN providers can provide reliable protection for Comcast Xfinity users. Any VPN that you consider should protect your online activities from prying eyes, while also offering access to geo-blocked content from around the globe.
The factors listed below include the factors that I always consider when Im deciding on which VPNs works best for Comcast Xfinity customers:
Check out more information about my VPN testing methodology.
Are Xfinity Wifi Hotspots Secure
Comcast sets up two types of Xfinity public wi-fi connections, one of which is secure and one of which is not so secure. You can tell them apart by their network name, or SSID.
The first is called xfinitywifi and is open for public use, which means anyone can connect without a password or authentication. We strongly recommend using a VPN when connecting to any public wi-fi hotspot.
The second, XFINITY, is used to provide Comcast customers with encrypted connections, but they must first have the Xfinity WiFi secure profile on their device.
Although the XFINITY network is more secure, bear in mind that anyone could create a public wi-fi hotspot with that name and trick people into connecting to it. A hacker could set up a fake hotspot in order to redirect victims to phishing pages, steal information, or distribute malware. So it’s wise to use a VPN even when using the more secure XFINITY hotspot.We recommend that users install the Xfinity WiFi secure profile to connect to the secure XFINITY SSID.
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Installing Your VPN Onto Your Router
Installing a VPN on your new router can be done in 5 simple steps:
If you run into any issues, head over to our in-depth DD-WRT VPN installation guide for a more comprehensive breakdown of how to install your VPN and get the most out of it.
How To Protect Yourself From Xfinitys Security Flaw
The good news is that Comcast, Xfinitys parent company, took down the service and claims that it will take all necessary steps to ensure that this doesnt happen again. Nevertheless, this should cause customers to think twice about leasing devices from Xfinity.
One way to protect yourself from these types of router insecurities is to use a Virtual Private Network, or VPN, to encrypt your wireless network. Unfortunately, Xfinity routers do not support a VPN connection, but FlashRouters support VPN configuration natively.
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The Best VPNs For Comcast Xfinity
- Large network of servers, including 28 servers in the US
- DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak protection
- Kill switch
- No logs kept
Based in the British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN has proved in many situations that it is a sturdy and reliable VPN. Its advanced security features have easily ranked it one of the top VPNs among its peers.
ExpressVPN is always keen on protecting your online privacy through a suite of security features including a kill switch Network Lock, no user logs are kept, and it has DNS, IPv6 as well as WebRTC leak protection. In other words, your online information is fully secured with this VPN.
ExpressVPN is known for fortifying its network with advanced security and encryption levels. In addition, ExpressVPN is famous for having high speed and unblocking any website and streaming service. No wonder its so popular among millions of users.
ExpressVPN can unblock:
- 45-day money back guarantee
- Up to 7 simultaneous connections
Being based in Romania gives CyberGhost the advantage when it comes to privacy. Since its not part of the Five Eyes, you can be assured that your information is always secure.
CyberGhosts profiles let you pick and choose what you want to do with your VPN without touching any settings. Plus, their intuitive apps make it a great choice for those without a lot of VPN experience.
As for security, CyberGhost uses advanced 256-bit AES, so you can torrent, stream, or browse online without worrying about Comcast keeping tabs on you.
If You Have A Comcast Xfinity Router You Need To Install A VPN
If you lease an Xfinity router from internet service provider Comcast, you need to install a VPN as soon as possible.
According to security researchers Karan Saini and Ryan Stevenson, the telecom giant, which operates in 40 states as well as the District of Columbia, leaked router login informat through a website designed to allow users to activate their Xfinity devices. The news was first reported by ZDNet.
Saini and Stevenson found that the Xfinity router activation site had several security flaws. First, it sent the users SSID and password over the internet in plain text, making it readily available to anyone spying on the network. Second, it allowed users to activate accounts that had already been activated. Even worse, users only needed an account number and street address number to access the service.
In other words, someone could obtain your routers SSID and password with nothing more than a Comcast bill pilfered from a mailbox or trash can, enabling them to gain unauthorized access to the device and use it to monitor unencrypted traffic on your wireless network.
Following the release of the explosive initial report, Comcast took down the service and said that it will take all necessary steps to ensure that this doesnt happen again. However, the fact that it happened it all is one time too many, which should give users pause about continuing to pay to lease these devices from an ISP.
Featured Image from Pixabay
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Privacy Issues With Comcast
In 2017, privacy regulations that would have made ISPs get customers permission to sell their data were repealed. That means that ISPs can continue to track your online activities and sell the information on to other companies. By using a VPN, Comcast and other ISPs cannot see what youre doing, and so there is no data to sell on.
Also, in 2018, a bug was found in Comcasts user activation site. The site is used by Comcast users to set up their internet and cable service, but it was found to have security issues. Router login information was not encrypted, and simple information such as a house number and street name could be used to access the service.
The number of flaws meant that anyone could easily access your router and spy on your internet traffic. Comcast took the service down to rectify the issue, but a VPN would protect you from snoopers if the problem occurred again.
How Does A VPN Router Work
A VPN creates an encrypted and secure connection between the device its installed on and the internet. It gathers all of that devices requests to access the internet and directs them through its encrypted tunnel and VPN server so they cant be read or redirected.
Thats easy to understand when youre on a device with a user interface. Want to visit a website? You go through the tunnel. Want to video call your BFF? Through the tunnel. But what happens on a device with no user interface, like a router?
Once youve set up a router VPN, every single device connected to your router will have its traffic sent through the encrypted tunnel. Your PC, your laptop, your home entertainment system, and even your smart IoT toaster.
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Set Up The Best VPN Router
Install ExpressVPN on your router and enjoy the benefits of a VPN on every device on your home Wi-Fi network. With the ExpressVPN app for routers, you can
Jun 15, 2021 The Best VPN for Comcast Xfinity · ExpressVPN Excellent security and privacy, ultra-fast, many U.S. servers, easy to use · NordVPN Top-
Unblock Xfinity from anywhere using a VPN and get around Comcasts connection it easy to bypass all of the geo restrictions and throttling that Xfinity put in place. Ive already had a new comcast router put in, changed physical phones, ran
13 posts · 11 authorsSolution: and this is very easy to answer, call comcast and verizon or log into the with both Verizon and Comcast to see if the routers are VPN tunnel capable. I would highly doubt its possible, my guess is he is going to put something
What A VPN Can Do For Your Xfinity Internet
Other than enhancing your security, VPNs allow you to stream and access content online anonymously. What that means is you are protected from hackers and cybercriminals at all times. VPNs also allow you to browse the internet without being throttled and with added security measures.
A VPN can also be used to access geo-blocked content, masking your IP address, allowing P2P sharing, improving your connection speeds, and aiding in online anonymity.
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Comcast Xfinity VPN Testing Methodology
Comparitech rates and reviews VPNs on a number of criteria that we assess using expert analysis, real-world experience, and a battery of tests. Our methodology is designed to produce the most accurate, useful, and comprehensive VPN reviews and recommendations on the web. When it comes to Comcast and Xfinity VPNs, we specifically look at:
- Security: All of our recommendations meet our standards for encryption and secure data transfer. We assess the encryption scheme and test for a number of leaks to ensure your data never escapes the VPNs secure tunnel.
- Logging policy: A VPN that spies on you is no better than an ISP that spies on you. We sift through each VPNs terms of service and privacy policy for any language or lack thereof that could indicate the logging of user activity or personally identifying information.
- Speed: We measure connection speeds to servers around the world to ensure you can get the bandwidth you expect.
- Streaming: Weve run thousands of real-world tests to find out which VPNs can securely access popular streaming services.
- Customer support: We contact each VPN providers customer support as secret shoppers to gauge response times and quality.
- Apps and features: All of our recommended VPNs make apps for all major operating systems, and some have apps for more niche platforms as well. We prefer the features be present in all versions of the app, such as split tunneling and kill switches.
How To Set Up A VPN On Your Router
The first thing you need to do is select a VPN that supports router connections, and if you want the best VPN on the market, then NordVPN is a safe choice.
Next, youll have to see if your router supports VPN functionality. To find out if your router can run NordVPN, check out our tutorial page and find your routers brand and model. Some routers there will also include NordVPN router setup instructions. It’s possible to find a pre-configured VPN router if you look hard enough.
The specifics for NordVPN router installation will vary between brands and models, but the general steps will be as follows:
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How To Prevent Comcast From Secretly Spying On You
If you dont know, Comcast is known to collect and sell the browsing data of its users. In fact, through the browsing data associated with your internet traffic, Comcast can determine the websites you visit, products you purchase online, and even the text and emails you send online.
That said, a VPN can help you deal with this issue. Since a VPN can actually encrypt your network traffic, Comcast wont be able to determine any of your online activities. No matter what you access or share online Comcast wont be able to secretly spy on you.
Why Do I Need A VPN For Comcast Xfinity
Comcast Xfinity is an extremely popular ISP in the US, but its customers have been complaining about various problems VPNs can help with:
- Collecting online activity and other user data. Comcast Xfinity has spent a lot of money lobbying for the right to collect user data and sell it to advertisers. This is a serious privacy and security risk, especially considering how common data leaks and breaches are in this day and age. One of the main benefits of using a VPN is that it hides your online activity from your ISP and government. It works by routing your traffic through a VPN server so your ISP cant know what you’re doing.
- Speed throttling. Another problem you may have experienced if you are a Comcast user is having your speeds throttled, particularly if you are streaming or torrenting. Luckily, a VPN will help you get around this too! It does this either by disguising what IP address you are connected to or obfuscating the protocol you are using.
- Website blocking. ISPs can also censor or block specific sites you might want to access. Most of them do this by blocking sites at the IP or DNS level. Connecting through a VPN server, rather than directly to the blocked website, means you can.
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Can Comcast Detect A VPN
Theoretically, yes, it may be able to tell based on the IP address you are connected to or the type of traffic it detects. However, while there are some reports of Comcast blocking VPNs, there is no concrete evidence that this is the case. Provided you are using a reputable VPN for Comcast, such as NordVPN or Surfshark, you should be able to bypass all the restrictions.
Many Kinds Of VPN Routers
Today, while some routers support connecting to VPN services via OpenVPN or the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol , you probably won’t find this feature on most consumer-oriented routers. It’s also not a lightweight chore to configure. Some of the more expensive routers will support VPNs using those features, especially if the manufacturer is looking to sell them into small businesses as well as homes.
There are also a few number of VPN providers who’ve taken on the task of making sure you can install their VPN client on a router’s firmware . But those clients usually aren’t universal, so you’ll need a router from the VPN provider’s compatibility list. While that’s great, you’re probably happy with your current router and dropping the bucks for a whole new router just to get a VPN client might not be an attractive option.This leaves you to hunt for an alternative firmware that’ll support either OpenVPN or your chosen VPN provider’s client. The most popular of these is DD-WRT, though another option is Tomato if you have a Broadcom-based router. DD-WRT is the more mature of the two and works on many routers, both old and new. You can check to see if your particular router is supported here.
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Setting Up The VPN Client
First get your router talking to the Internet on one side and your local area network on the other. Then set up any more advanced network settings you need, such as Quality of Service or access controls. Only once the router is fully humming should you consider installing your VPN client.
To do that, you will need to navigate to the VPN tab under Services. From there, check the Enable Bubble next to “Start Open VPN Client.” At this point, there is no single set of instructions to make this work. The settings will be completely unique to the VPN provider. However, there are ready-made instructions for setting up your VPN client on DD-WRT for several of PCMag’s top VPN players. For example, NordVPN has DD-WRT setup instructions here, and Private Internet Access VPN has the same thing for its VPN here. Some VPN brands will want to install their own software, some will want to use OpenVPN. Just follow the instructions for your VPN brand, and you’ll be right on track.
How To Install A VPN On An Asus Router
Asus routers come with VPN encryption support. Heres how to set up a VPN on your router on the ExpressVPN example:
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