There is no denying that Chromecast is great with a VPN, but this is something most people will probably overlook. In fact, many cybersecurity and privacy experts believe that using digital streaming media player services like Chromecast is ridiculous without a VPN in tow. After all, any device that runs your content and your personal details through an internet connection are susceptible to compromise and disruption if run without a VPN and the included security features. However, that is not the issue at hand. The issue is to unblock restricted content with a VPN. Then again, before we get into what Chromecast is – for those who may not have heard about it – and what a VPN is (for the same reasons as the former) it would be pertinent to cover some general statistics about streaming content to your television first.
Today, streaming digital online content from a device to television has become quite a popular trend. There are millions of homes equipped with such systems and Google’s Chromecast service is certainly not one of a kind out there. Other services allow you to wirelessly stream content between devices given you are on a reliable WiFi connection. Other companies like Amazon, NVIDIA, Apple, and Roku offer this type of service too. Of course, they differ wildly in how much of the market segment they dominate. Amazon’s Fire TV Stick, NVIDIA’s Shield, Apple’s Apple TV, and Roku’s Premiere are all types of streaming services that require unique hardware streaming media players from the brand. Each of these services offers unique selling points such as different features and services to compete with each other in a growing market. For that reason, it is up to your needs regarding which one you are going to go for. The link above has a detailed list of these exact features which you can sift through at your leisure and decide with peace of mind.
What is Chromecast?
Google’s Chromecast streaming device and proprietary software have been around for quite a while, since about 2014, which is 8 years now. At the moment, it is one of the most popular choices for streaming, especially with Google TV in tow which was introduced in 2020. Unlike Google Chrome and Google’s other software suites like Google Search and Gmail, Chromecast does not dominate this segment of the market. Well, it did back in 2014 but not anymore, to be precise.
According to most studies, the top players in this segment are considered to be Roku’s products. Chromecast is still up there and has to compete with Roku as well as with Amazon’s Firesticks and Apple’s Apple TV offerings. The reason why Chromecast is not that popular is that many people think that Chromecast is slow with Google TV and has other bugs causing it to reboot, for instance. Others say it is difficult to connect. Furthermore, several criticisms have been pointed at Chromecast’s remote control buttons, bad app integration, and lack of Stadia integration. For these reasons, people tend to go for Apple’s minimalist and sleek player (although expensive) or alternatively the offerings from Roku or Amazon for their wireless streaming enjoyment and stable operation.
Albeit, Chromecast remains one of the most practical solutions to wirelessly stream content between devices to this day, one that millions will continue to lose despite possible better offerings on the market. After all, the vast amount of devices out there are Android and Windows, which are compatible with Google. Such is Google’s powerful market presence.
Now, with a premium VPN added to the mix, Chromecast starts to shine. This is an option you, your friends, or your family should not overlook!
Why Use a VPN With Chromecast?
A VPN or Virtual Private Network is a cybersecurity software application that aims to boost privacy and cybersecurity on your internet connection. It is readily available for all platforms and all operating systems that support a web browser. The VPN applications for streaming systems like Chromecast are very versatile, necessary, and useful. What a VPN does is it encapsulates your entire internet connection in an encrypted tunnel while also giving you the ability to modify your physical IP address – meaning you can place yourself in another country/city at will. This IP workaround is exactly what you need to de-restrict streaming content.
Chromecast is a device that allows you to stream series, sports, music, and movies from your devices to your TV. As such, sometimes you may run into geographical streaming blockages (also known as restrictions) on certain content. Such is the way broadcasting regulation goes. This means that you will not be able to use your Chromecast to its full design specifications. Now, this is where a premium software VPN comes into play. A VPN, as mentioned above, can physically change your IP address. This is a must if you wish to view international content at your whim that may be restricted in your zone. For example, you could be in the U.S. and unable to access some content that is reserved for France.
Premium VPN providers such as ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and NordVPN have been extensively tested just for this purpose, with Chromecast. Remember, a free VPN is not going to cut it, because you need low-latency high-speed internet, quality server networks, and a good overall experience with the software to be able to use a VPN with your Chromecast as intended. After all, why not go for optimal security with a host of servers to choose from while gaining access to otherwise blocked content? A premium VPN will help you there. Here is how to set this up.
Now, there are two ways to use a VPN with Chromecast. One is to install a VPN on your physical router where your internet comes from in the first place. However, we are going to look at a second way here. This second way is to create a virtual connection and connect your Chromecast (or any other service) to this hotspot. Now, this hotspot should be created either on your PC, Mac, smartphone, or tablet. Anything with an operating system should be able to do it. To do this, you need that VPN first. So, first of all, you must subscribe to and download one of the abovementioned VPN applications from those providers.
The next step is to activate the software and select a server, say in the U.S. (depending on what kind of content is blocked) on the hotspot itself and connect your hotspot to it. This means setting that up on another device so that your Chromecast (or Roku, or Firestick) can connect to it. By switching between servers, you will now find that you can view otherwise restricted content! It is that simple to enjoy de-restricted content via your Chromecast or any other streaming service.