Meshnet allows users to create an encrypted tunnel between two devices. In a blog post, NordVPN said Meshnet essentially lets users set up “their own private VPN.” When you connect two Meshnet-enabled devices to access the internet, one device acts like a VPN server and routes traffic to the other device. To protect users’ privacy, Meshnet requires two-way consent. The biggest advantage of Meshnet over other private networking solutions is that it comes with NordVPN’s suite of privacy and security features, including AES 256-bit encryption and cutting-edge VPN protocols like NordLynx. “We believe that everyone should be able to access the security and convenience of a VPN. However, not everyone is ready to invest in a premium service like NordVPN. That’s why we’ve introduced Meshnet as a free feature,” NordVPN explained.
Potential Uses of Meshnet
Meshnet lets users set up their own VPN server. This makes it easy to access highly secure online platforms, like bank websites, while abroad without your IP address getting blocked. It also eliminates the need for an office VPN or firewall to work remotely. “Meshnet makes it possible for people to access resources and services on each other’s devices, both for personal and business purposes,” NordVPN explains on its website. The potential uses of Meshnet extend beyond routing traffic; it allows users to access files stored on a remote device, just like a local area network (LAN). Users can even share files easily between two Meshnet-enabled devices. According to NordVPN, users can share large files between two Meshnet-enabled devices without a restrictive file size limit or having the quality of videos and images downgraded due to compression. Meshnet is also useful for gaming; users can set up a virtual encrypted LAN without the additional port forwarding required for a gaming server. “Your data will flow between devices, moving along encrypted tunnels, for a safe and seamless gaming experience,” NordVPN said. Meshnet generally requires less maintenance and infrastructure, so it can release the feature for free without incurring any significant costs, NordVPN explained. The decision to release Meshnet for free is part of NordVPN’s efforts to give back to its community and “make the internet a safer, freer place.” While using Meshnet is “not as private as using NordVPN and does not rely on a massive network infrastructure, it provides flexibility and secure connection to anyone in need. And the same lack of vast infrastructure makes Meshnet easier to maintain, allowing us to make it available for everyone,” Vykintas Maknickas, product strategist at Nord Security, told VPNOverview.
Setting up Meshnet
To set up Meshnet, download the NordVPN app on your device and enable Meshnet in the settings. You can connect to other Meshnet-enabled devices using their IP address. “While the purpose of NordVPN is to ensure your privacy and security online, Meshnet allows you to develop your own secure network by connecting devices via peer-to-peer VPN tunnel,” Maknickas said. “Users can link up to 10 personal and 50 external devices to their own network.” This feature works cross-platform, so users can connect devices running on different operating systems. Check out the NordVPN Meshnet explainer page for more information. NordVPN is one of our top-rated VPNs. It consistently scores top marks in our tests. Interested in learning more about this CPN? Our in-depth NordVPN review contains everything you need to know.
