VPN is an acronym for ‘Virtual Private Network’, historically used by private organizations to seamlessly link geographically diverse locations via the Internet. A VPN ‘tunnels’ traffic between two devices by transmitting it over a secure network. There are also clearly identifiable benefits to individual Internet users accessing a VPN.

• A VPN provides you with top-level security and privacy for all your Internet downloading, streaming and browsing. As long as you are signed into your VPN account, all data you transmit over the Internet is encrypted.
• A VPN encrypts your device by hiding the IP address assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and replacing it with the IP address of your choosing from the list of server locations belonging to your VPN provider. This masks your identity when visiting sites that geo-restricted content, and helps you avoid devious local Internet marketing and advertising schemes that track you through your IP address.

FlashRouters are relatively new models that may enhance data transfers across your home network or extend the range of your Wireless signal. However, the speed at which you download or stream content can not exceed the speed of the connection you pay for through your ISP. Purchasing a FlashRouter or signing up for VPN service WILL NOT transform your regular connection into a high-speed broadband connection.

At the same time, if you do have a broadband connection, a FlashRouter with a VPN connection may slow down your transfer speeds due to the processor encrypting all of your data. In certain cases a FlashRouter with a VPN can also prevent throttling by an ISP of specific service like Netflix or Amazon Video.

A FlashRouter will work as a standalone router by connecting your modem to its Wide Area Network (WAN) port, or using it in a Dual Router Network by connecting it to your existing router through a Local Area Network (LAN)/Ethernet port. Either way a FlashRouter can be configured to tunnel all traffic through the VPN server of your choosing.

If you would like to set up your Home Network so that some devices are being tunneled through a VPN server, and others are connecting to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) within your home country, then using your FlashRouter as an auxiliary device is recommended.

YES! The countries that you can change your IP address to depend on the offerings of your specific VPN providers. Prices and server locations vary across all VPN providers.

If you choose to purchase a FlashRouter then you will not have to install any VPN client software on your computer to change your IP address; the VPN will already be configured within the router. Therefore, any device you plug into this FlashRouter is automatically assigned the IP address of your selected VPN server.

In order to make sure that the connection on your FlashRouter is being rerouted appropriately through your VPN service, visit What is my IP address and make sure the location listed is the one you have chosen in your VPN settings, NOT your actual location.

If you wish, there is an Internet Kill Switch available as well for your router which will block the internet whenever you disconnect from VPN.

A FlashRouter can be used with any operating system, be it Windows, Mac OS or Linux. A FlashRouter can also be used as a wireless access point for iPhones, iPads, and Android devices.

Our routers also work in conjunction with any other brand of router of ADSL or DSL modem/router combo from ISPs across the world.

An IP (Internet Protocol) Address is a numerical assignment for each device (cell phone, iPad, laptop computer, printer etc) inside a network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. Internet Protocol is responsible for routing information packets across network boundaries. It is the main protocol establishing the Internet.

An IP address serves two predominant functions. First is to host or network interface identification. Second, it provides location addressing. To put it bluntly, an IP address tells wherever you are connecting, to whom you are visiting, and where you are located.

DNSMasq is a local DNS server that speeds up host-name searches from your computer/Internet connection after pressing enter.

Basically, DNSMasq gives the router some advanced enterprise functionality – caching DNS records locally so you have a faster browsing experience. Your computer only has to go to the router instead of repeatedly scouring the web for a commonly visited site.

PPPoE stands for Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet, a network protocol for encapsulating Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) frames inside Ethernet frames. It is used mainly with DSL services where individual users connect to a DSL modem over Ethernet.

With PPPoE, users virtually “dial” from one machine to another over an Ethernet network, establish a point-to-point connection and then data packets are securely transported through the connection.

PPPoE offers an Internet service provider (ISP) an easier way to track exactly how much bandwidth you are using in case they want to charge for it in the future.

No.

According to our in-house testing and multiple DD-WRT community reports, we have found that the Shellshock vulnerability will not work on with DD-WRT or TomatoUSB installed router. The vulnerability is based on a shell called BASH (Bourne Again Shell) but DD-WRT & Tomato firmware use BusyBox which is confirmed to not have this issue.

Please be advised that if you are using Optware on your DD-WRT router there is a chance that implementation is BASH based. Only used trusted optware on your router.