This article is meant for people, like me, who are On-The-Go (OTG) whereby preventing MITM attacks in the use of unsecured public WiFi network is important. Before we discuss the PROS and CONS of the two(2) devices let’s discuss some issues the OTG user faces when surfing at public WiFi hotspots
I do not own a portable VPN router for now so I can only review their specs, gather info from net reviews and put up answers by the VPN router providers. I might consider having one in the near future.
1) Why the need to use a portable VPN router when you can just use a normal VPN service?
If you use a VPN service you should be aware that when you make a WiFi connection with your laptop/tablet it’s the WiFi that’s connected first before your VPN gets connected. The VPN may take a few seconds to some minutes to connect. During this small window of time when you are not protected many things can take place like
a) Software phoning home to check and auto download latest version and definitions
b) Emails auto downloaded to your desktop email client
c) Auto-syncing between your computer and to the cloud/home
However, if you have a portable VPN router you’ll be isolated from the public WiFi network before the VPN gets connected. Here’s how the connection being made
First, you connect the portable VPN router to the public WiFi network to establish the VPN connection
Portable VPN router ==> public WiFi network
After the portable VPN router made its VPN connection then you tether your laptop/tablet using WiFi to the portable VPN router
Laptop/tablet ==> portable VPN router
If the VPN is NOT connected the portable VPN router acts as a Kill Switch for your laptop/tablet will not be able to connect to it and, therefore, no connection being made to the public WiFi network. Hence, you are isolated from the net in this manner as compared to having a normal VPN service and protected from MITM attacks when your VPN is not connected.
Even with a VPN, open Wi-Fi exposes users
2) Is it worthwhile to buy a portable VPN router?
The greatest advantage in using a portable VPN router is that it sits between and provides a means to isolate the laptop/tablet from the public WiFi network and protects the user from MITM attacks.
However, there are caveats in using a portable VPN router.
Firstly, there are not many such VPN routers in the market to choose from. Keezel, InvizBox Go, Anonabox, Betterspot, Flter, Tiny Hardware Firewall Client etc are some and not all are available for purchase now.
Secondly, their max speed is about 25Mbps (due to the use of a less powerful ARM CPU) and with its overhead it suffers a greater speed drop so they are not meant for heavy downloading, fast speed, online gaming etc. Simply put, they are not designed for the aforementioned uses.
Thirdly, you’ll need to pay for the device and its VPN subscription. In addition, you’ll have to carry one more device on-the-go.
Fourth. Good privacy VPN service will depend on which VPN provider(s) it uses and, likely, you are also not able to use ALL the servers of the VPN provider(s).
The fifth thing is the limited features in the hardware itself like no support for WiFi ac, no dual-band WiFi support, non-replaceable battery, not able to connect to all public WiFi hotspots due to the way signing-in is done like using password/username+password/handphone number etc
The Truth about Portable VPN Routers - Best 10 VPN Reviews
3) Are there other ways to protect from MITM attacks when using public WiFi network?
Yes, there are if you don’t require such a portable VPN router. However, a VPN is still required to protect you when surfing at unsecured public WiFi hotspots. Below are some ways you can do it
a) Tether your laptop to connect to a portable mobile MiFi hotspot modem(or use your smartphone) using 4G LTE. This is a safer alternative to using an unsecured public WiFi network i.e. can surf from anywhere vs at fixed WiFi hotspots which are targets for eavesdropping and hacking. But this consumes your mobile data.
b) Start up in a virtual environment to protect ALL data/apps and leave the host OS, which has nothing to leak, to connect to the public WiFi network
c) Use of a software firewall and configure to default-deny all incoming/outgoing connections and only allow those you want to connect in/out. However, monitoring outbound access and creating rules are not easy, time-consuming and tedious.
d) Stop using services which automatically connects to the net when WiFi is connected like
i) Use web-based emails instead of desktop email client
ii) Use cloud-based AV/AM with no signatures to download instead of AV/AM which requires signature downloading
iii) Disable automatic updating in OS/software and do manual update instead
iv) Disable automatic syncing in software and do manual syncing
v) If not using a software firewall then can consider using Hacker Deterrent Pro to block/allow outgoing connections
Lastly, one point to note in the use of public WiFi network. Some public WiFi has time limit usage which cuts off the WiFi and requires the user to re-log in after a specified time period. Some will not play well if you are connected using a VPN and will try to cut you off. If you experience frequent cut offs by the provider of the public WiFi network you can try using the free Netcut Defender software or similar software.
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I do not own a portable VPN router for now so I can only review their specs, gather info from net reviews and put up answers by the VPN router providers. I might consider having one in the near future.
1) Why the need to use a portable VPN router when you can just use a normal VPN service?
If you use a VPN service you should be aware that when you make a WiFi connection with your laptop/tablet it’s the WiFi that’s connected first before your VPN gets connected. The VPN may take a few seconds to some minutes to connect. During this small window of time when you are not protected many things can take place like
a) Software phoning home to check and auto download latest version and definitions
b) Emails auto downloaded to your desktop email client
c) Auto-syncing between your computer and to the cloud/home
However, if you have a portable VPN router you’ll be isolated from the public WiFi network before the VPN gets connected. Here’s how the connection being made
First, you connect the portable VPN router to the public WiFi network to establish the VPN connection
Portable VPN router ==> public WiFi network
After the portable VPN router made its VPN connection then you tether your laptop/tablet using WiFi to the portable VPN router
Laptop/tablet ==> portable VPN router
If the VPN is NOT connected the portable VPN router acts as a Kill Switch for your laptop/tablet will not be able to connect to it and, therefore, no connection being made to the public WiFi network. Hence, you are isolated from the net in this manner as compared to having a normal VPN service and protected from MITM attacks when your VPN is not connected.
Even with a VPN, open Wi-Fi exposes users
2) Is it worthwhile to buy a portable VPN router?
The greatest advantage in using a portable VPN router is that it sits between and provides a means to isolate the laptop/tablet from the public WiFi network and protects the user from MITM attacks.
However, there are caveats in using a portable VPN router.
Firstly, there are not many such VPN routers in the market to choose from. Keezel, InvizBox Go, Anonabox, Betterspot, Flter, Tiny Hardware Firewall Client etc are some and not all are available for purchase now.
Secondly, their max speed is about 25Mbps (due to the use of a less powerful ARM CPU) and with its overhead it suffers a greater speed drop so they are not meant for heavy downloading, fast speed, online gaming etc. Simply put, they are not designed for the aforementioned uses.
Thirdly, you’ll need to pay for the device and its VPN subscription. In addition, you’ll have to carry one more device on-the-go.
Fourth. Good privacy VPN service will depend on which VPN provider(s) it uses and, likely, you are also not able to use ALL the servers of the VPN provider(s).
The fifth thing is the limited features in the hardware itself like no support for WiFi ac, no dual-band WiFi support, non-replaceable battery, not able to connect to all public WiFi hotspots due to the way signing-in is done like using password/username+password/handphone number etc
The Truth about Portable VPN Routers - Best 10 VPN Reviews
3) Are there other ways to protect from MITM attacks when using public WiFi network?
Yes, there are if you don’t require such a portable VPN router. However, a VPN is still required to protect you when surfing at unsecured public WiFi hotspots. Below are some ways you can do it
a) Tether your laptop to connect to a portable mobile MiFi hotspot modem(or use your smartphone) using 4G LTE. This is a safer alternative to using an unsecured public WiFi network i.e. can surf from anywhere vs at fixed WiFi hotspots which are targets for eavesdropping and hacking. But this consumes your mobile data.
b) Start up in a virtual environment to protect ALL data/apps and leave the host OS, which has nothing to leak, to connect to the public WiFi network
c) Use of a software firewall and configure to default-deny all incoming/outgoing connections and only allow those you want to connect in/out. However, monitoring outbound access and creating rules are not easy, time-consuming and tedious.
d) Stop using services which automatically connects to the net when WiFi is connected like
i) Use web-based emails instead of desktop email client
ii) Use cloud-based AV/AM with no signatures to download instead of AV/AM which requires signature downloading
iii) Disable automatic updating in OS/software and do manual update instead
iv) Disable automatic syncing in software and do manual syncing
v) If not using a software firewall then can consider using Hacker Deterrent Pro to block/allow outgoing connections
Lastly, one point to note in the use of public WiFi network. Some public WiFi has time limit usage which cuts off the WiFi and requires the user to re-log in after a specified time period. Some will not play well if you are connected using a VPN and will try to cut you off. If you experience frequent cut offs by the provider of the public WiFi network you can try using the free Netcut Defender software or similar software.
....continue
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