Latest news with #Aircove
Tom's Guide
2 days ago
- General
- Tom's Guide
Can you use a VPN with the Nintendo Switch 2?
The Nintendo Switch 2 is almost here. It's been a long time coming, but the highly anticipated console arrives on Thursday June 5. Protecting your data and online privacy might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you get your hands on the Switch 2, but it's more important than you might think. Like almost every other device, the Switch 2 connects to the internet and requires accounts, sign ups, and downloads. You'll be sharing a fair amount of personal data with Nintendo and fellow Switch gamers, and it might not always be totally secure. The best VPNs are a great tool for protecting your data online and they can be used with a variety of gaming consoles. The best gaming VPNs may also be able to unblock geo-restricted games, as well as protecting you from malware and hackers, and even improve performance. But can you use a VPN with the Nintendo Switch 2? Yes and no. Unfortunately it's not the simplest of answers, but we'll explain everything below. NordVPN: the best VPN overallIf you're looking for an all-round great VPN, then check out NordVPN. It can protect up to 10 devices and boasts post-quantum protection across all its apps. Its speeds exceed 900 Mbps so it won't slow you down and it's ideal for streaming. There's also a load of additional features, including Threat Protection Pro. 2-year plans start at $3.39 per month ($81.36 up front before tax). NordVPN is also currently including free Saily eSIMs with all plans, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee as standard. Unlike most devices – but similarly to most games consoles – the Switch 2 doesn't support VPNs as standard. This means you can't just download a VPN app onto the console and game away. However, there are other ways to benefit from VPN protection. If you only plan on using your Switch 2 at home then you could set up a router VPN. Most providers allow you to install a VPN on your Wi-Fi router, but there are a few steps to it and it may be tricky for beginners. If you plan on going down this route, we'd recommend ExpressVPN because it offers its own Wi-Fi router known as Aircove. You do have to pay for the hardware separately, but you'll get a Wi-Fi router pre-loaded with VPN software that you can set up in five minutes. ExpressVPN: the best router VPNIf you want the easiest router VPN experience possible, then consider ExpressVPN. Its Aircove router is pre-loaded with ExpressVPN software, meaning you can protect all the devices in your home in minutes. Lightway Turbo makes its speeds very fast and regular plans protect up to 8 devices with post-quantum encryption. The 2-year deal works out at $4.99 per month ($139.72 up front) for 28 months of protection. You'll also get a free 5GB eSIM and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Once set up, every device connected to your router is protected by the VPN – even devices that don't natively support VPNs like the Switch 2. The Aircove UI has just been redesigned so it's even easier to view your connected device, connect to servers, and create device groups. Aircove Go is a smaller, more portable version of the Aircove. It's perfect for travelling and staying protected on the go. Simply creating a hotspot, either on your phone or laptop, won't enable you to share your VPN connection. What you can do however, is set up a virtual router. The success of this varies between devices, but we found connecting on Windows to be the easiest. It's possible to share your VPN connection on a Windows 11 device. To begin, make sure you have your VPN app open, but not connected to a server. 1. Search for your system Control Panel. 2. Select Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings – you should see your Wi-Fi network showing a green "connected" bar. 3. Open your settings, head to Network & internet, then Mobile hotspot, and turn it on. You can edit the name and password of your hotspot connection. 4. A new adapter connection should then be created within your change adapter settings tab – make sure to note its name. 5. Now look for your VPN connection. If you're using ExpressVPN it'll be called ExpressVPN TAP Adapter. Other VPNs will vary, but look for something similarly titled. 6. Right click and select Properties. 7. Click the Sharing tab and check the box titled Allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection. 8. From the drop-down list, select the name of the mobile hotspot connection that was created earlier and press OK. 9. Head to your VPN app and connect to your desired server. 10. Your virtual router is now set up and ready to go. 11. Grab the device you want to protect, such as your Switch 2, navigate to the Wi-Fi selection screen and connect to your virtual router. 12. Your connected device will now benefit from VPN protection. It's worth noting that in our testing we did encounter some difficulties. We were successful in the end, but be prepared to troubleshoot or try more than once. It's quite complicated to set up a virtual router on Mac. Unlike Windows devices, Macs only have one Wi-Fi channel. This means it can either connect to or broadcast Wi-Fi – not both. This means you'll need an Ethernet connection and this isn't commonly available when you're out of the house. It is technically possible to do, but for a handheld, on-the-go console like the Nintendo Switch 2, we'd argue it's not really worth it. However, if you have an Aircove Go, you can utilise its Ethernet connection to set up a Mac virtual router. But it's simpler to connect directly to the VPN-enabled Aircove Wi-Fi. If you are interested in setting up a Mac virtual router at home, then this Comparitech guide is a good place to start. VPNs are very handy for protecting your device when you're connected to public or free Wi-Fi. Public Wi-Fi can sometimes be exploited by hackers. They can create fake hotspots to intercept your data, or infect your device with malware. A VPN encrypts your data, hiding it from hackers or third-parties. Even if you unknowingly connect to a fake hotspot, a hacker won't be able to see your information and your data remains secure. So if you're out and about with your laptop and Switch, and fancy a quick gaming session, make sure you're connected to a virtual or VPN router before you play. Connecting to a VPN can keep your latency low when gaming online and reduce ISP throttling. Your ping will stay at a usable speed and is unlikely to fluctuate in the same way a non-VPN connection might. With the fastest VPNs, your connection and performance shouldn't be affected and you might even have the edge over others in your lobby. In our testing, Surfshark, NordVPN, and Proton VPN all exceeded speeds of 900 Mbps, with ExpressVPN just below at 898 Mbps. As long as your internet connection is good, a VPN won't slow you down. Some people don't always join online lobbies for the right reasons. VPNs secure your data and can therefore protect your data from DDoS attacks and hacking. If you fall victim to an attack or hack like this, a VPN will ensure your data remains encrypted. You can change your location to access geo-restricted games or lobbies but be aware that this could breach the T&Cs of the game, developer, or device. It's unlikely you'll be caught, especially if you're only using a VPN to reduce throttling. But if you're caught cheating or breaching T&Cs you may find your account suspended, banned, or even something more serious. In summary, the Nintendo Switch 2 doesn't support a native VPN app. If you want to put the effort in it is possible to protect it with a VPN, but it's not the easiest. If you know you want router VPN protection, both at home and on the go, then ExpressVPN's Aircove router is worth considering.
Tom's Guide
28-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
ExpressVPN's Aircove update brings faster speeds and UI improvements
ExpressVPN, one of the best VPNs, has released a significant update to its Aircove Wi-Fi routers. The upgrades include speed improvements, and a more intuitive UI and dashboard experience, cementing the provider's status as the best router VPN. Installing a VPN on your Wi-Fi router is an ideal way of protecting a household's worth of devices, and allows smart devices that don't have native VPN apps to connect to a VPN-protected network. AircoveOS 5.3.0 can be downloaded now. For ExpressVPN users with auto-updates enabled, your Aircove router will update automatically. Those who have auto-updates disabled will have to install the update manually. ExpressVPN: the best router VPNExpressVPN is the best router VPN out there. It's super simple to use, and its Aircove router means there's no complex set up. There's lightning fast speeds thanks to Lightway Turbo and ExpressVPN has adopted post-quantum encryption across the board. You'll need an active ExpressVPN subscription and the 2-year deal works out at $4.99 per month ($139.72 up front). Including the four months free, that gets you 28 months of protection and there's a 30-day money-back guarantee as well. You can now set a VPN location when creating a device group. Simply adjust your advanced protection settings, choose your server location, and connect. Devices can then be added to the group. Horizontal scrolling is no longer required on the dashboard. Its layout has been optimized so you can now see all five device groups at a glance on most screens. Drag-and-drop has been improved, but moving devices between groups has become simpler. A dropdown menu has been added, meaning you can quickly change a device's group – something that is particularly useful on smartphones and tablets. Smoother connection transitions and animations have also been added, along with helpful tips. First-time users will now see guidance on router setup, connecting to Wi-Fi, and device organization. ExpressVPN has made some system-level updates to Aircove. Improving stability and reliability was the goal, especially for Wi-Fi and streaming. Key system components, including Linux kernel and Wi-Fi drivers, have been updated. This aims to reduce dropped connections and improve overall stability. Non-VPN traffic should now run faster and more efficiently, while internal hardware component management has been improved. A rare issue with long-running VPN connections has also been fixed. ExpressVPN has said it is already working on the next update to Aircove. Enhancements to Wi-Fi Link and parental controls are both coming soon. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Tom's Guide
27-05-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
ExpressVPN has significantly redesigned its mobile apps – here's what's new
ExpressVPN's mobile apps have undergone a significant redesign, making them faster, smarter, and more user-friendly. Known as one of the best VPNs for beginners, ExpressVPN has created a simpler, cleaner app, as well as adding new features. The update is being rolled out now across ExpressVPN's mobile apps, and will become fully available to all users on 30 May 2025. ExpressVPN: the best VPN for beginnersExpressVPN's new UI update makes it even easier to use than before. It's great for VPN beginners and it boasts a very simple mobile app. It's Lightway protocol makes it super fast, it can protect up to 8 devices on one plan, and it secures your devices with the highest standards of post-quantum encryption. The 2-year deal works out at $4.99 per month ($139.72 up front for 28 months of cover). There's also a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test it out before you commit. ExpressVPN already had a very simple and easy-to-use UI, but this redesign has made it cleaner and provides quicker access to settings. The giant on/off button ExpressVPN is known for remains, but you'll now see selected server information and your IP address on a small map – meaning you can physically see where you're connected to. Maps on mobile devices can be tricky to navigate, but you can't interact with this one. It's simply there to make things more visual. You can also now, and easily change, the VPN protocol you're using, as well as seeing your "time protected" across the week. The "Options" tab has become "Profile" and means you can quickly and easily access your VPN settings. Advanced protection features, the Keys password manager, and eSIM and Aircove router paid add-ons can now be found under the "Add-ons" tab. Smart Location is now even smarter, using speed, latency, and distance to suggest the best servers for you. You can see the top three or five fastest servers, your recent locations, and the most popular servers in your country. You can still browse all ExpressVPN locations and search for specific servers. It was already very easy to connect to an ExpressVPN server and go – now it's even easier. A speed test feature has also been added to the app's home page. You can test your internet connection speeds, both with and without a VPN, as well as determine which ExpressVPN server is fastest at the time of the speed test. Thanks to the Lightway Turbo protocol, ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs out there. If speed is your number one priority, you can easily select the fastest and most appropriate server for your needs. Although many VPNs and their users focus on the WireGuard protocol, OpenVPN is still around and has its uses. OpenVPN is now available on iOS, in addition to the already present Lightway and IKEv2. We already rate ExpressVPN as the best iPhone VPN and this addition will do no harm to that claim. However, if advanced protection features – such as tracker and ad blocker – are enabled, OpenVPN cannot be selected. Android users already benefitted from OpenVPN support prior to this update and ExpressVPN sits at number two on our best Android VPN list. These are great and welcomed updates to ExpressVPN, and it has said more mobile updates are coming in the future. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
