Now anyone can create their own secure private network, for free, by following the latest update to one of the best VPN services out there.
NordVPN has made its Meshnet functionality available as a freebie, meaning a paid subscription is not required to use the technology.
First released in June of last year for paid NordVPN subscribers only, Meshnet allows users to establish secure peer-to-peer connections between up to 60 different devices at once in the same encrypted tunnel.
In one of their biggest changes to date, they also added a new file sharing option to Meshnet, as well as open source their Linux application.
A safer digital life for all
"We are continually expanding NordVPN's capabilities. This release marks a significant shift in openness by making part of the service free and open source a substantial part of our client software," says Vykintas Maknickas (opens in a new tab), NordVPN product strategist
Meshnet was launched just a few months ago to securely connect up to 60 devices at once. Basically, it turns users' devices into their own personal private servers. This means they can redirect the connection to their laptop at home while traveling, for example, to bypass internet throttling.
After first reviewing it in October last year, TechRadar cybersecurity specialist Mike Williams described Meshnet as "perhaps the most valuable built-in add-on VPN feature I've ever seen."
Now anyone can create a free account and start using Meshnet for free.
"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," Maknickas told TechRadar.
"While this approach isn't as private as using NordVPN and doesn't rely on massive network infrastructure, it does provide flexibility and a secure connection for anyone who needs it."
Maknickas also explained that while VPN infrastructure is expensive to maintain, Meshnet does not require similar maintenance costs.
“Then we can do it for free without increasing our overhead costs,” he said.
The developers also wanted to make it easy to share files securely. That's why a new file sharing option allows users to share an unlimited number of screenshots, photos, or video files of any size without losing quality.
In an ongoing effort for transparency, NordVPN has also opened up its entire Linux app, as well as the network library used in NordVPN's apps on all operating systems (Libtelio) and the library used for file sharing via Meshnet ( libdrop).
When asked about the decision to open only three components, Maknickas explained that in addition to Linux being the strongest open source community currently active, Libtelio was a natural choice as it represents the backbone of all NordVPN applications. .
"We want to see how it goes and then decide the next steps."
Best Use Cases for Meshnet
There are many ways that NordVPN users can reap the benefits of their new Meshnet feature.
"At first, most users were tech enthusiasts, but gradually, more and more people discovered convenient features and ways to use Meshnet, from gaming to remote access to other devices. We expect Meshnet to grow even faster with the added functionality easy-to-use file sharing, Maknickas said.
The most popular use cases include:
- Internet traffic routing: As already mentioned, people can route their traffic through their laptops at home when they travel. Friends and family can also do the same if they're on the same network, so everyone appears to be browsing from the same IP address.
- Share your VPN connection: Since Meshnet allows users to turn their device into a VPN server, friends and family can benefit from NordVPN's security even without a subscription.
- multiplayer game: Those who want to improve their gaming experience will be interested to know that Meshnet works as a virtual local area network (LAN). No matter where you are in the world, your friends can play multiplayer games together without the need for LAN cables.
- File sharing: With Meshnet, you can share files with family, friends and colleagues almost instantly without having to host them on a different server or cloud space. Even better, with the update, this process becomes easier and more efficient.
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