The age of Smart TVs has brought ultimate convenience for entertainment-savvy users across the globe. As a matter of fact, the Smart TV craze rages on with no signs of slowing down in the near future. According to Statista, there will be over 114 million Smart TV users by 2021.
This mammoth figure doesn’t come as a surprise seeing the legitimate need of people to remain connected to their favorite TV shows and movies. After all, it is the age of the Internet and people want to enjoy their favorite online content on actual TVs that offer a crisp and high-definition viewing experience.
Even Netflix, the renowned streaming giant, confesses that over 70% streamers stream Netflix on Connected or Smart TVs.
However, to get the max from your Smart TV, you need a VPN.
Why do you need a VPN for Smart TV?
As mentioned above, over 70% of Netflix content is viewed on Connected TVs. One thing to keep in mind here is that Netflix isn’t limited to the US alone. In fact, it has a plethora of regional presence. However, the downside of the regional versions of Netflix is that you can’t access most of what’s available in Netflix’s US library.
For instance, in European countries, you can only access around 40% of 5,000+ TV shows and movies available for streaming on Netflix US. The reason behind the lack of content catalogue in regions other than the US is broadcasting rights and licensing.
Fortunately, you can still get to watch Netflix’s US content catalogue by coupling your Smart TV with a VPN Read more: VPN blocking – Wikipedia.
Some of the best aspects of a VPN service are:
- You can overcome regional restrictions and watch all the content on the internet
- You can keep your identity or IP secure and private by using an anonymous IP
- You can block prying eyes from peeping into your network traffic with VPN’s encryption technology
- You can keep your device secure and protect it against malware and other threats
It is only the tip of the iceberg, really!
Important Things to Look for in a Reliable VPN
Of course, you would never settle for anything less than a reliable and efficient VPN service. Therefore, it is important that you consider the following aspects when shortlisting a Fast VPN service.
Positive Reviews
First of all, it is imperative that the VPN service should have positive reviews on the Internet. It will be a clear indication that the service is reliable, trustworthy and thus worth every penny. Check out the VPN’s review on TrustPilot, PlayStore, Apple Store, and other platforms.
Servers & IPs
The VPN service should have a widespread network of secure VPN servers so you can get maximum coverage and hence maximum opportunity to access global content, which is often regionally restricted.
Security
VPNs were initially developed for securing the network and the traffic that flows within. Keeping that in mind, a reliable VPN service should be able to offer the highest security. VPN services such as PureVPN offer military-grade AES 256-bit encryption.
IKS
The Internet Kill Switch is a pretty handy and important feature in a VPN. It keeps your VPN activities completely anonymous even when there is an abrupt connection drop. After all, connection drops are one of the common reasons behind IP leak.
Multi-login
Multi-login is a great functionality commonly offered in the VPN industry. It is a good money-saver when it comes to powering up multiple devices in your home or office with a VPN.
No Log Policy
Ensuring that the VPN service doesn’t log any type of data should be at the top of your checklist. Go through the privacy policy of the VPN service and make sure that they offer a zero-log or no-log policy in a clear manner.
How to Setup a VPN on Smart TV Running Android OS?
Smart TV users are in for a treat if their device is running on an Android operating system. Setting up a VPN directly on the TV becomes pretty easy. Following are the steps that you need to take to install a VPN.
- Subscribe to a reliable VPN provider
- Download the Android TV or Smart TV app
- Connect to the VPN service
- Select the server or location of your choice
- Unblock geo-restricted channels and stream all you want!
Conclusion
There you go! With this simple guide, you will be able to set up and enjoy a VPN on your Smart TV in no time.
Author Bio:
An experienced content writer and digital evangelist. Patrick J. Burt has been writing for more than 3 years on various writing platforms all across the internet. He is an avid contributor and a part of the entire digital marketing team. Find him on Twitter, Google+ and Facebook