Nothing beats having a smart TV in your home. Besides the obvious picture quality, you enjoy Internet connectivity, gaming, and access to a larger number of channels. If you’re like other households, you’ve already upgraded to a smart TV. Generally speaking, Samsung TVs are the better choice because they provide versatility and can be found at a discounted price. As opposed to other devices, a smart TV has features that can be used on a daily basis.
Do you need a VPN for a smart TV? Quite possibly
When setting up a smart TV, it’s not enough to plug everything in. You must use a VPN to make it as secure as possible. You see, Internet-based devices are vulnerable to cyber-attacks, as well as security exploits. The VPN software re-routes your connection via an alternative server before it accesses online apps or websites. What happens is that you’re assigned a new IP address and the data is encrypted. Therefore, make sure that your connection is secure and watch out for potential hacking behavior.
You won’t have access to all the media content you want to enjoy because most of it is geo-restricted. Install the VPN on your Samsung smart TV and get access to the desired catalogs. You can watch TV shows and movies on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, and so on. Not only will your IP address be concealed, but also your Internet speed will be maximized. If you like experimenting with different server locations, a VPN is a must. You’ll bypass geo-blocking and access your favorite content whether you’re in the UK, Australia, Canada, France, China, and so on.
Setting up a VPN on your smart TV
We won’t talk about the best VPNs for smart TVs, but instead explain how you can connect your smart TV to a VPN. If you have a Samsung TV, you need to know that the device isn’t compatible with a VPN because it runs on Tizen OS, which means that the VPN will be configured on your router or set to enable a Wi-Fi hotspot via the computer. The gadget will work with the Smart DNS service without impacting speeds. Another option would be to connect the smart TV to a shared Windows VPN. All you have to do is to go to the connection menu, choose properties, and enable other network users to connect via the computer’s Internet connection.
Finding the best VPN service takes some time, so be patient. The biggest mistake you can make is using a free VPN with your Samsung smart TV. You don’t have to spend a dime to use the service, but you’re compromising your security. The vast majority of free VPNs contain malware, which is related to advertising. However, this isn’t the biggest concern. Someone may be tracking your online activity and sell it to the highest bidder. If you use a free VPN service, you can’t use streaming services such as Netflix. It may work, but it’s highly unlikely that it will.
Written by Scott Weathers
