Do I Need a VPN On All My Devices?

Ang.Petrova
Oct 15, 2019
2 min read

Updated: Dec 26, 2019

YES, you need a VPN on all your devices.

For the most part, VPN clients are the same for both Windows and macOS. But that's not always the case, and we have found marked performance differences depending on the platform.

For mobile devices, the situation is a little thornier. Most companies offer VPN apps for Android and iPhones, which is great because we use these devices to connect to Wi-Fi all the time. VPNs don't always play nice with cellular connections, but it takes some serious effort to intercept cellphone data. That being said, law enforcement or intelligence agencies may have an easier time gaining access to this data, or metadata, through connections with mobile carriers or by using specialized equipment.

Do you use a less common OS? That won't necessarily protect you online. People spying on network traffic don't care what kind of computer it's coming from.

Note that you can skip client apps altogether and connect to the VPN service simply using your computer's network control panel. In some situations, this is the only way to use a VPN, but it comes with major drawbacks. For one thing, it's tedious. For another, client apps give you access to more features. Since you're paying for the bells and whistles VPN companies offer, you may as well be able to use them.

Unfortunately, not all devices can run VPN apps. Your smart fridge, for example, isn't a likely candidate for convenient app use. If this is a concern for you, you can configure your router to use a VPN connection, or purchase a pre-configured router from some VPN companies. This encrypts data as it leaves your safe home network for the wild web. Information sent within your network will be available, and any smart devices connected to your network will enjoy a secured connection. We haven't tested this kind of setup, but we've come to believe it's impractical for most people.

There are plenty of situations, where you'll have to switch off your VPN, and that's a bit trickier on a router than on a computer or mobile device.

See more about our VPN-Monster Plans here.