Hey everyone! Are you looking for the safest way to work remotely and keep your location information private? You've probably come across dedicated IP VPNs from many popular VPN service providers during your search. But will a dedicated IP VPN work for your particular use case? Let’s find out!
Be sure to watch the video, where I’ll demonstrate both solutions and show you how to set up a dedicated IP on your VPN travel router. Let's dive in!
Understanding VPN Services
VPN services offer their clients a different IP address than the public IP address of their Internet service provider by encrypting the traffic between their server and the client’s device. The new encrypted tunnel allows the client device to appear to be in the location of the VPN server. Sounds good, right? However, VPN services share IP addresses among all their clients on a particular server. This means any clients connected to a server will appear to be communicating from the same device. But why is this a problem?
The Problems with Shared IPs
One issue arises when a client tries to access a website and is constantly prevented from doing so without having to verify they are not a robot. The reason the website needs verification is that it detects many connections from the same IP address.
Another example is when a client tries to access any of the popular streaming media sites and receives a message that they must be using a proxy or VPN. The streaming site knows you are using a VPN because it sees multiple users logged into its service with the same IP. So, how do public VPN service providers solve this problem?
Dedicated IP Addresses
Dedicated IP addresses, or static IP addresses, are one tool VPN service providers use. The primary distinction of a static or dedicated IP is that it is not shared among the users of a public VPN service’s servers. Each client is given their own dedicated IP address, so all communication between that client and the Internet will appear to be from a static IP address. This largely solves the issue of captchas and streaming service detection.
But how well does this work in preventing your company from determining the location of your computer? The answer is, it works just as well as a non-dedicated IP address. The one benefit of a dedicated IP from a public VPN service provider is that the IP is unique to a single user. However, the address still comes from a public data center, and there are public databases that list the IP networks of VPN service providers and data centers. These databases make it easy for systems and websites to determine if a user is using an IP, dedicated or not, from a public VPN service.
Best Option for Remote Workers
So, what’s the best option for remote workers who want to keep their location private? As I’ve discussed in previous videos, the answer is still a personal VPN system. The personal VPN system is a combination of a server router and client router using VPN encryption software like WireGuard or OpenVPN. The personal system is owned by you and does not have recurring fees. Because you own the system, which is set up at your house or the residence of a family member or person you trust, your IP address is not shared with anyone outside of that location. Furthermore, no database exists for residential IP addresses of internet service providers.
Advantages:
• Greater privacy since no public databases list residential IP addresses.
• Complete control over your VPN setup.
Challenges:
• Requires technical knowledge to set up and use. But don’t worry, I have helped hundreds of clients in 21 different countries set up their personal VPN systems. You can find the link to get started in the description notes below and also above.
Overcoming Single Point of Failure
To avoid having a single point of failure, set up multiple servers at different residences in the same city. This ensures redundancy and continuous operation even if one location is down.
Demonstration
Now, let’s see how to set up and use a dedicated IP with NordVPN.
Next, we’ll run some speed tests and visit a couple of websites to check our connection.
Finally, we’ll compare this with my personal VPN system set up in Atlanta.
Conclusion
There you have it! As I stated earlier in the video, using a dedicated IP is one tool to maintain your location privacy. However, for working abroad, it’s better to use a dedicated personal VPN system.
I’ve made several videos on this subject and would invite you to check out the "7 Secrets No One Talks About When Using a VPN" before you get started. Also, I would love to work with you on protecting your location information. You can schedule a call at the link in the description.
Mexitplans Monte,
I’m out.