A VPN (virtual private network) on an iPad is a tool that hides your IP address and encrypts the connection between your iPad and the internet.
With a VPN on your iPad, data from that device will be routed through an encrypted tunnel to a VPN server, shielded from prying eyes. When it exits the VPN server, it does so using the server’s IP address, which means that the websites you visit will receive less information about you and your location.
Some VPNs, like NordVPN, come with a variety of extra features to make your activity on your iPad safer. We’ll cover these additional security tools later in this article.
Using a VPN on your iPad provides a range of benefits, from enhanced cybersecurity to greater levels of control over your data.
Every VPN has different merits, so choosing the right one for your iPad is important. What key features should you look for?
If you connect your iPad to the internet, you should use a VPN. With a VPN on your iPad, you can use public Wi-Fi without risking data exposure, and your overall privacy will be much stronger. If you don’t like the idea of strangers being able to watch what you do online, then you should probably be using a VPN.
Of course, your iOS device comes with some preinstalled security tools. For example, you can turn on parental controls on your iPad or iPhone. However, using a VPN will make sure your connection remains encrypted and secure wherever you go.
The best VPN for you will depend on your specific needs. The most important element is the level of security offered by a VPN — that’s why choosing a premium service is a must. Paid VPN services can afford better infrastructure and are not incentivized to monetize users in underhanded ways.
The best premium VPN for iPad will be one that uses strong encryption protocols, maintains fast internet speeds, and offers a wide selection of server locations. NordVPN ticks these boxes, which is why Independent Adviser and Forbers Adviser consider it the best overall VPN.
When choosing a VPN for iPad, you might be tempted by the wide array of free services available, but free VPNs usually come with a catch.
Free VPNs might seem like a good idea, but their business model has some negative consequences. The companies behind these services still want to make money, and to do so they might log and sell your data. Your ISP may not be able to view your online activity, but that doesn’t mean your privacy has actually improved.
Free VPNs are also unlikely to maintain a large server network because that kind of infrastructure requires a lot of financial investment. With fewer servers, you’ll have fewer locations to choose from and your connection speed may be noticeably reduced by internet traffic jams.
When comparing free VPNs with paid VPNs, premium services come out on top across almost every metric. If you’re going to protect your iPad with a VPN, it’s always worth investing in a paid option.
Your iPad can be configured with a VPN but does not come with any preinstalled VPN applications. You can set your iPad up to send and receive data through a server using IKEv2 and L2TP/IPSec protocols, but Apple does not provide VPN servers.
In practice, this means that you’ll either need to set up another device to act as the server or connect to the server of a third-party VPN provider like NordVPN. If you choose the latter option, your iPad can be configured to route data through a NordVPN server even if you don’t have the NordVPN application installed on your device.
When deciding where to download your VPN application for iPad, the most important thing is to avoid unofficial, high-risk websites. Make sure you’re getting your VPN app from Apple’s App Store or the official website of the VPN provider.
If you download the NordVPN iOS app from NordVPN’s website or the App Store, you can be confident you’re getting a safe product. When people install apps from elsewhere on the internet, the risk of accidentally downloading malware is much higher.
Not all Apple products work with VPN apps, though. While iPads, iPhones, and Apple computers are all compatible with the NordVPN app, older models of Apple TVs are not. If you want to use a VPN on your Apple TV, the best option is to configure your router with NordVPN and then connect your Apple TV to that router. With a VPN configured on your network, all data moving between your router and the VPN server will be encrypted, and your public IP address will stay hidden.
You can set up a VPN on your iPad using one of the following two methods:
While you can set up a VPN on your device manually, this is a slightly more complex process. For most users, just downloading the NordVPN app, logging in, and connecting will be enough to supercharge security and protect privacy.
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You should keep your iPad VPN turned on whenever possible. Instead of only protecting your security and privacy when engaging in specific activities — online banking, for example — you can raise your internet safety baseline by maintaining VPN protection at all times. It’s usually best to avoid pausing your VPN, but there are a few instances where it might be the right step:
While there are certainly some cases where pausing your VPN can help with connection issues, we strongly recommend keeping it on at all other times.
You can choose from several different types of VPN protocols when using a premium VPN service.
Your iPad supports a number of VPN protocols, including OpenVPN (via a VPN client), IKEv2/IPsec, and L2TP/IPsec (the latter two being built into the OS, and also available through VPN clients). First, assess your own internet needs. If your priority is speed and security, then IKEv2/IPsec is a strong choice, offering powerful encryption and fast connection speeds. OpenVPN is a good option too, and provides a high level of customization. L2TP/IPsec is easy to configure but isn’t as secure as the other options.
With most providers, the best option will be OpenVPN or IKEv2, but NordVPN offers another protocol — NordLynx.
Built on the framework of the groundbreaking WireGuard protocol, NordLynx is incredibly fast while also maintaining a very high standard of security. It’s also only available to NordVPN users, which is why the app can offer such unrivaled connection speeds.
If you want to make sure your iPad is as safe as possible online without compromising on speed and performance, NordLynx is the recommended VPN protocol to choose.
A paid VPN is the best choice for online security and privacy, and protecting your iPad with a VPN has never been more important. Cyberattacks have been on the rise throughout 2023, and a premium VPN is one of the simplest and most effective ways to make your iOS devices safer online.
Using NordVPN on your iPad means fewer annoying ads, less invasive data gathering, and more security. Whether your iPad is in the hands of a child or a grandparent, NordVPN is easy to use and offers a fast and stable connection.
The post Choosing the best VPN for iPad in 2023 first appeared on NordVPN.