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3 Reasons Why You Should Not be Using Kodi Without a VPN

using kodi without vpn

What is Kodi? Kodi, the multi-platform home theater software formerly called XBMC, can be customized with a range of content repositories, tools, Kodi app, Kodi wiki and programs for a tailored entertainment experience. It overlays any computer, Android device, and even Raspberry Pis with an easy-to-use interface compatible with remote controls and gamepads.

Kodi add-ons, the modules used to extend XBMC’s capabilities, can stream video and music from legal sources like Netflix or from illegal torrents. Streaming on Kodi comes with all the same obstacles and risks as if watching on a web browser, however. Netflix users outside the United States will still have a more limited selection of shows and movies. Those streaming from torrents and unsanctioned websites could get in trouble.

A good VPN will make all internet traffic from a device to go through VPN server. Although, it is possible to use VPN only for Kodi traffic (VPN split-tunneling) a whole system VPN is much easier to setup and common at this point.

There are Kodi movie addons, Kodi TV addons and other plugins that enable you to enhance your Kodi features. At this point, however, there are only very few addons that install Kodi VPN feature.

This streamer does not have any limitations as to what it can broadcast, providing exceptional flexibility to those who wish to give it a go. However, in order to unblock geographically restricted content and at the same time secure your connection to the Internet, a VPN should be put into effect.

Why You Need to Use VPN with Kodi

Do you use Kodi and wonder why you might need a Kodi VPN service?  In this post, I will give you three good reasons why you should use a VPN for Kodi on your streaming TV box, PC or stick.

1. Keep Your ISP’s Eyes Off of Your Traffic

If you are using unofficial Kodi add-ons to stream TV shows and movies for free, I really recommend you use a VPN. Don’t let your ISP (Internet Service Provider) see and track everything you’re streaming and from where.  A VPN will encrypt all of your data in and out of your Kodi box or even your entire home (see below about DD-WRT routers).

It also passes your data through a VPN server anywhere in the world… you can choose. This makes your ISP’s peering eyes blind to the contents and source of your Internet traffic.  With ISPs sending letters to people who watch pirated content, this reason is becoming more important than ever.

2. Stream From Servers Anonymously

The other side of the coin is being able to browse, download, and stream anonymously.  Not only is your ISP blind to your traffic, but the server you download from is blind to who you are and where you’re from. Your IP address can’t be tracked by the servers you’re downloading from since the servers just see the VPN server that the traffic is routing through.

3. Access Geo-Blocked Content or Internet Censorship

Some Kodi streaming servers may be geo-blocking, meaning they are only going to serve streams to users in a certain set of countries.  With a VPN, you can choose a server in the country of your choice, and then those servers will think you are from there, and they will serve the content accordingly.

Safety Differences When Using Kodi VPN

Kodi Devices

Kodi, on its own, does not pose any threats. The apps you will find in their official repositories are safe for anyone to use.

However, when you use Kodi with third-party add-ons, you could be putting yourself at tremendous risk. Some of these add-ons come with malware or spyware that might harm your device.

Unfortunately, there is very little the staff at XBMC can do about it. A considerable number of those that work at Kodi are volunteers, and to be honest, they are doing a good job. In addition, Kodi is an open-source project which means anyone can come in.

Therefore, you need to do the job of protecting yourself when you use Kodi, especially with third-party add-ons. To do that, you can get a VPN which is a virtual private network to protect you and your device.

Is Kodi Legal to Use?

As a law-abiding citizen, it is normal for you to ask, "is Kodi legal in the US?" To answer your question, Kodi is a tool just like your laptop, screwdriver, or phone. As a tool, Kodi only helps you perform tasks.

As a result, Kodi is legal as long as you use the application for the proper purposes. At the initial stage, when you install Kodi, it comes with no contents or third-party add-ons.

All it does is help you stream online content and organize your local content on your local network or device. The tool also enables you to add descriptions, covers, and posts related to your content by scanning them.

However, the problem with Kodi comes when you start installing third-party add-ons on the platform. Many users turn to Kodi because they want an easy alternative to view content that is not readily available on other platforms.

Unfortunately, some of the content that they seek is not offered by the stock version of Kodi itself. To get access to this restricted content, many users take to third-party addons. Most times, these third-party add-ons stream content from sources that are not sanctioned by the copyright holders.

The add-ons get their content from pirate IPTVs, torrents, and other unlicensed websites. For the sake of clarity, using add-ons to stream copyrighted content without permission is illegal in the United States. If you are caught doing so, you could be in serious problems. That explains why XBMC dissociates itself from all third-party add-ons.

Quick Helpful Guide on How To Use VPN on Kodi

Here are some practical steps on how to use a VPN on Kodi on any device.

  • The first and obvious step is to find the right VPN provider.
  • Next, you have to download the VPN app onto the device where you intend to use it. Ensure that you download the suitable app for your device; otherwise, it won’t work.
  • After installation, open your new VPN app and connect it with the best service available. You might want to choose the nearest server for the best speed. In the alternative, you might consider joining with a server somewhere specific so you can access content in that particular location.
  • When you have the correct server, start your Kodi app and start enjoying the content you want. However, you might want to enable the kill switch on your VPN if it has one. By allowing the switch, the VPN will automatically cut your internet connection if the connection to your VPN drops for any reason.

Another alternative is to use a third-party VPN Kodi add-on. The only issue with this alternative is, not all VPN providers have their add-ons in the Kodi store. Therefore, you might not find the VPN service you are looking for with this alternative. But then, if you find the service you want, follow these steps.

  1. Find and install the VPN Kodi add-on and install it
  2. After installation, proceed to open the app and click on the VPN
  3. Login and configure the VPN
  4. Click on activate and start enjoying the VPN

Some devices, however, do not support VPNs. For instance, if you intend to use Kodi on a console, you already know consoles do not support VPNs. For such devices, you might consider setting up the VPN on a Wi-Fi router.

You can do that using your laptop to set up a virtual router or manually configure the VPN on a physical router. If the physical router does not support VPNs, you might have to flash new firmware into it.

How to Secure Kodi

Kodi is a popular streaming tool used across the world because of its functionality and the fact that it allows add-ons. However, this factor also makes Kodi very vulnerable to attacks from hackers that want to plant malware into your system.

To avoid issues, you can protect yourself by following these tips:

  • Be careful of Kodi add-ons that come from super repositories developed by people you do not know.
  • Before you install a Kodi add-on, you can verify the username of the developers on GitHub.
  • Check for dead Kodi addons and delete them regularly.
  • Avoid paid third-party Kodi add-ons if possible. That's because many of them are out to make money only, and they will stop at nothing to make their profits.
  • Always have an antivirus installed on your computer.
  • Finally, use a VPN t protect your network.
Kodi addons

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need a VPN for Kodi?

No, you don’t necessarily need a VPN to enjoy Kodi. Kodi is a streaming application that is legal to use. It's like using Netflix, YouTube, etc. If most of the content you consume on Kodi is locally hosted either on your device or your network, you might not need a VPN to use the app.

However, if you use Kodi without a VPN, it comes with the following limitations:

  • Surveillance: Without using a VPN, your ISP (internet service provider) will have direct access to see what you are streaming on Kodi in real-time. That should not be a big problem if you are using the app to access legal content. If you are using the app for anything fishy, your ISP might punish you with network throttling or suspend you from the network.
  • Limited streaming: Most streaming platforms have different content for different countries. Without a VPN, your IP address will remain the same, and you will only have access to content in the US. If you need content from other parts of the world, you might want to use a VPN to change your IP address.
  • Security issues: If you use Kodi with public Wi-Fi networks, you might want to get a VPN. That’s because some of these networks are unsafe, and hackers can easily access your IP address through such networks.

How to Get a VPN for Kodi

The good thing about Kodi is that it works efficiently with most VPNs that you have online today. If you can get yourself a good VPN, it should support most Windows PC, macOS, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Android, iOS, and even Linux.

If you have issues with Linux, you could try its open-source Open VPN app, which you can configure manually. Generally speaking, for you to use a VPN for Kodi, it should meet the following conditions:

  • Speed: The VPN must be able to offer you sufficient network speed. The VPN should also allow you to get unlimited bandwidth so that you can avoid network throttling from your ISP.
  • Privacy: Your ideal VPN provider should not be based in any of the Five Eyes; that is, Australia, Canada, United States, New Zealand, the United Kingdom. That way, you can be sure of privacy and its zero log policy. That is, they should not record any of your details on their servers. Also, the VPN provider must offer you AES-256 encryption.
  • Security: Ensure that the VPN provider offers multiple-layer data encryption through multi-hop to get the best protection from your VPN.
  • Streaming: Some streaming platforms are notorious for blocking any external They detect. Therefore, ensure that the VPN you intend to use can handle this. The VPN should allow P2P traffic.
  • Cost: Keep in mind that a good VPN will not come cheap. However, the cost of the VPN subscription should be something you can afford.

Conclusion - VPN for Kodi

As said before, VPN on Kodi serves mainly two purposes: helps you access geo-blocked content and protects your online identity, in case you are concerned about it. Traditionally, it has been suggested to use VPN mainly with services such as torrents or Usenet, because these services involve being connected with many computers, and thus might pose a security risk.

With growing streaming add-ons with content from legally question sources, VPN usage on Kodi growing exponentially because of their Kodi media center too. So if you stream live content, movies, TV shows, and other videos on your Kodi box, the chances are you could benefit from a reliable VPN service.

This is a huge issue for those using mainstream paid streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc.  They are notorious for having a ton of their content geo-blocked to allow for only certain countries due to all the partnership they have and all the agreements they must abide by.  

Fortunately for you, using a VPN is a great way to get around that. Netflix and Hulu have wised up to the VPN workarounds and have started detecting the use of VPNs and blocking them.

By: Michael Miller
Michael is the CEO of VPN Online, one of the fastest-growing media companies in the cyber-security space. VPN Online was started in 2019 after Michael consulted with many Fortune 500 companies and saw the lack of understanding about cybersecurity many of their employees had.