ExpressVPN - Why Firmware update?

[waveform]

I like what I read about ExpressVPN vers Nord, but I don’t understand why they want to update my router’s firmware. I have the latest image installed. I was asking the support person via chat (if this is a full replacement or just patching), but the applet timed out because they took too long getting back with a response. I just got concerned because I seen a lot of posts on line with people who changed their mind and had issues restoring their firmware in their routers.

According to their website, the firmware increases security by patching holes and what ever else it does. I think flashing the firmware to use a 3rd party VPN service seems a little over reaching. The fact that most of these services have no phone support if there’s an issue with something, that was another turn off. I have not done anything at this point.

Am I not understanding correct about the firmware? Is this replacing my firmware? There’s no way I’m flashing to put their image on. I have IP reservations setup and would be a pain to have to do that all over again. Although I do have them backed up.

Asus RT-AX55 router.

[waveform]

Too add to this
I’m still wondering if ExpressVPN’s firmware is a complete replacement for their customers stock firmware. If so, it is ludicrous and reckless for a company to ask their customers to flash and overwrite their stock firmware. I’m seeing a lot of posts of people saying that they had trouble removing the express firmware. One guy said, he had to install an old copy of ExpressVPNs firmware from 2018 in order to clear his router because the new software would not let me remove and roll back to the stock firmware. Sounds like a nightmare I don’t want to get into.

They are crazy at ExpressVPN.

https://www.expressvpn.com/support/troubleshooting/upgrade-expressvpn-router-firmware/#find

[Bruce]

the VPN’s I’ve heard of just need you to redirect your DNS addresses to their IP’s.
if they want to flash your hardware, it’s probably to put DD-WRT on it.
if you care, doing so would probably void the router’s warranty.
so while you may get the features you are chasing with VPN, you’ll also run the risk of installing other undocumented features like turning the router into a hotspot, traffic monitoring, or prioritising data packets base on their algorithms.
and while your current hardware may already be doing these things, you’d have to have more trust in a known name brand than with whatever firmware they will be installing.
but, hey, maybe that’s just me!

[Rustys]

https://cybernews.com/best-vpn/nordvpn-vs-expressvpn/

Plus seen a post or more of complaints on ExpressVPN assistance being nonexistent and useless.

Do not forget to check in on the other places you have posted this.

[Rustys]

Other information to think about for VPN’s

Does it totally protect you and keep you safe, secure, hidden no
Does it make it harder for the forementioned to happen that will depend on the user.

https://usa.kaspersky.com/resource-center/definitions/how-does-vpn-keep-me-safe-online

https://www.vpn-mentors.com/popular/vpns-101-vpnmentors-vpn-guide-newbies/?keyword=what%20is%20vpn&geo=9030646&device=&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=14985651282&cq_term=what%20is%20vpn&cq_plac=&cq_net=g&cq_plt=gp&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjMKqBhCgARIsAPDgWlw-Wy3ON2yRWPWcTCxSeBtjSY97fd9GBWv35jkjA9EZcH5-wC65WQUaAltoEALw_wcB

https://us.cybernews.com/lp/best-vpn-us/?campaignId=20105011657&adgroupId=157626785971&adId=678308828774&targetId=kwd-297961926665&device=c&gunique=Cj0KCQiAjMKqBhCgARIsAPDgWlwFasJ1hfd3-HKXfkD76u1UykBNbIxd7xgBN056B5XsGxBNFvE-roAaAid_EALw_wcB&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjMKqBhCgARIsAPDgWlwFasJ1hfd3-HKXfkD76u1UykBNbIxd7xgBN056B5XsGxBNFvE-roAaAid_EALw_wcB

[waveform]

Hiya Bruce
After looking at Expresses website again, I guess these software flashes were only for specific routers, mine is not on the list. And they do sell their own VPN routers. But I did talk to a support guy in the chat app and he said, you pretty much just download and run the software and it tunnels your connection to the top layer of the routing table. So anything you run on the computer will go though the VPN. But then it gets blurry with cretin Torrent apples like Deluge because it has settings to enter an address. I then wanted to know how to verify that your programs on the computer were in fact using the VPN and not just connecting to your ISP. One guy said “if you run a Route Print, when you start your VPN software, the gateway column in the table will change from the gateway address to the external server address out on the net which you’re connecting to via the VPN.” Don’t know if that’s true.

I’m not sure what you mean when you said, “just need you to redirect your DNS addresses to their IP’s.” I’m not sure how to do that or what that dose?
I know what a DNS server does, but I don’t understand why you would direct a DNS address. This sounds like something that would be on the WAN side of things.

I’ve run a VPN in the past, but it was only through my browser so I was protected when I did an an IP look up. But seems like when you get into Torrent apps, then things can get more complicated if they have their own settings. Some people have talked about using a VM, which I’ve used the past. VertualBox. But then things get complicated when they started talking about binding to the IP vers the adapter. There’s so much to this VPN stuff. Open VPN, Socks5, none of it makes scene to me at the moment.

[Bruce]

I was trying to say, that from the little I know of VPN’s (and I don’t use them so that’s limited) they give you new Gateway and DNS addresses to use so all your traffic goes through their servers.

I don’t see why they need to tweak any of your network hardware.
that would suggest some of the heavy lifting is getting done at your end rather than theirs.
but as stated, I’m not a user of VPN due to not needing their services or seeing a benefit. at the end of the day, someone, somewhere is still handling all your traffic.

[waveform]

I think I got this resolved Bruce. Thanks
And please feel free to close any inactive threads.

As far as the VPN, I guess when you run the software, it changes your gateway like you said,
it’s telling everything on your PC to go to the VPN server first*, not your local gateway.

*in the background, the VPN app grabs that data, encrypts it, wraps it in a new packet header and sends it on it’s way, and of course the reverse happens for data coming back.

[Bruce]

all good.
will close as solved.