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A VPN and antivirus protect different things: a VPN encrypts covered network traffic between your device and a VPN endpoint, while antivirus software looks for malicious software on the device. A VPN does not replace antivirus, and antivirus does not encrypt your connection. Whether you need both depends on your network use, device protections, and workplace requirements—not on a blanket need to buy two subscriptions.
What a VPN protects—and what it does not
A virtual private network (VPN) creates an encrypted tunnel for covered network traffic. That can make traffic harder for others on the same public Wi-Fi network to intercept. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cautions that public Wi-Fi does not provide a secure connection on its own and recommends VPN use in its small-business remote-access guidance (FTC guidance). Microsoft likewise describes a VPN as an encrypted tunnel for network traffic (Microsoft Support).
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A VPN can also provide a secure route to an employer’s internal resources, such as servers at a company location. For work access, use the organization’s approved VPN configuration and follow its access rules.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsEncryption protects traffic in transit; it does not establish that a website, email, attachment, or downloaded file is safe. A VPN does not inherently scan downloads or remove malware already on your device. The available guidance also does not establish that every VPN makes users anonymous, eliminates tracking, or guarantees safe browsing.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Five Gigabit Ports】1 Gigabit WAN Port plus 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus 2 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to 3 WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【One USB WAN Port】Mobile broadband via 4G/3G modem is supported for WAN backup by connecting to the USB port. For complete list of compatible 4G/3G modems, please visit TP-Link website.
- 【Abundant Security Features】Advanced firewall policies, DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, speed test and more security functions protect your network and data.
- 【Highly Secure VPN】Supports up to 20× LAN-to-LAN IPsec, 16× OpenVPN, 16× L2TP, and 16× PPTP VPN connections.
- Security - SPI Firewall, VPN Pass through, FTP/H.323/PPTP/SIP/IPsec ALG, DoS Defence, Ping of Death and Local Management. Standards and Protocols IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.1q
What antivirus protects—and what it does not
Antivirus and endpoint security focus on the device. Microsoft says Microsoft Defender Antivirus can continually monitor for malware, viruses, and other security threats, using real-time, behavior-based, and heuristic protection. The FTC recommends keeping security software current, enabling automatic updates, and scanning new files and external drives (FTC malware guidance).
Security software can detect or block malicious software and may help remove it, but it is not a guarantee that every infection will be caught immediately. Malware can arrive through deceptive messages that persuade someone to click a link or open an attachment. Keep software updated and treat unexpected links and files cautiously, even when protection is enabled.
Rank #2
- New-Gen WiFi Standard – WiFi 6(802.11ax) standard supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology for better efficiency and throughput.Antenna : External antenna x 4. Processor : Dual-core (4 VPE). Power Supply : AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz), DC Output : 12 V with max. 1.5A current.
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed – RT-AX1800S supports 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously
- 5 Gigabit ports – One Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports, 10X faster than 100–Base T Ethernet.
- Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Classic, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click secure VPN.
Antivirus does not perform the VPN’s core job of encrypting network traffic. Device protection and connection protection are separate layers.
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Phishing and website blocking are separate features to check
“Antivirus” does not automatically describe every web-safety feature, and web filtering is not a universal VPN feature. Microsoft documents Windows SmartScreen separately: it checks suspicious webpages, reported phishing and malware sites, and potentially malicious downloads. Windows 11 Network protection can extend blocking to third-party browsers and processes. What is available depends on the product and platform, so check which protections are enabled on your device (Microsoft’s Windows 11 security documentation).
Rank #3
- 【DUAL BAND AX TRAVEL ROUTER】Products with US, UK, EU Plug; Dual band network with wireless speed 574Mbps (2.4G)+2402Mbps (5G); 2.5G Multi-gigabit WAN port and a 1G gigabit LAN port; USB 3.0 port; Wi-Fi 6 offers more than double the total Wi-Fi speed with the MT3000 VPN Router.
- 【VPN CLIENT & SERVER】OpenVPN and WireGuard are pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers (active subscription required). Simply log in to your existing VPN account with our portable wifi device, and Beryl AX automatically encrypts all network traffic within the connected network. Max. VPN speed of 150 Mbps (OpenVPN); 300 Mbps (WireGuard). *Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【OpenWrt 21.02 FIRMWARE】The Beryl AX is a portable wifi box and mini router that runs on OpenWrt 21.02 firmware. It supports more than 5,000 ready-made plug-ins for customization. Simply browse, install, and manage packages with our no-code interface within Beryl AX's Admin Panel.
- 【PROTECT YOUR NETWORK SECURITY】Our pocket wifi, unlike other vulnerable portable wifi hotspot for travel purposes supports WPA3 protocol–Preventive measures against password brute-force attacks; DNS over HTTPS & DNS over TLS–Protecting domain name system traffic and preventing data eavesdropping from malicious parties; IPv6–Built-in authentication for privacy protection, eliminating the need for network address translation.
- 【VPN CASCADING AT EASE】Surpassing the mediocre performance of most VPN routers for home usage, the Beryl AX is capable of hosting a VPN server and VPN client at the same time within the same device, enabling users to remote access local network resources like Wi-Fi printers or local web servers, and accessing the public internet as a VPN client simultaneously.
When do you need both?
Both functions may matter when you need an encrypted connection and device malware protection. For example, a worker connecting over public Wi-Fi may need a VPN for the network connection and current endpoint protection on the device. The FTC’s small-business guidance treats these as distinct safeguards: it recommends keeping antivirus current on connected devices and using a VPN on public Wi-Fi.
For home use, start with the specific need rather than assuming you should buy two products:
Rank #4
- 【AC1200 Dual-band Wireless Router】Simultaneous dual-band with wireless speed up to 300 Mbps (2.4GHz) + 867 Mbps (5GHz). 2.4GHz band can handles some simple tasks like emails or web browsing while bandwidth intensive tasks such as gaming or 4K video streaming can be handled by the 5GHz band.*Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【Easy Setup】Please refer to the User Manual and the Unboxing & Setup video guide on Amazon for detailed setup instructions and methods for connecting to the Internet.
- 【Pocket-friendly】Lightweight design(145g) which designed for your next trip or adventure. Alongside its portable, compact design makes it easy to take with you on the go.
- 【Full Gigabit Ports】Gigabit Wireless Internet Router with 2 Gigabit LAN ports and 1 Gigabit WAN ports, ideal for lots of internet plan and allow you to connect your wired devices directly.
- 【Keep your Internet Safe】IPv6 supported. OpenVPN & WireGuard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers. Cloudflare encryption supported to protect the privacy.
- Public Wi-Fi or remote work: consider a reputable VPN or the employer-provided VPN for the connection or workplace access.
- Malware detection and blocking: check that device security software is active and up to date.
- Phishing and unsafe websites: verify which browser, operating-system, or security-suite protections are enabled.
- Considering another paid product: identify a protection gap first and check for overlapping features in your existing software.
Which protection matches your need?
| Your need | Relevant protection | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Encrypt traffic on public Wi-Fi | VPN | Use a reputable service or employer-provided VPN; encryption does not make malicious files safe. The FTC recommends VPN use for small-business employees and vendors on public Wi-Fi (FTC guidance). |
| Reach workplace servers remotely | Employer VPN | Follow your organization’s configuration and access rules (Microsoft Support). |
| Detect or block malware on a device | Antivirus or endpoint security | Keep it updated; scanning and protection reduce risk but do not guarantee detection of every threat (Microsoft; FTC). |
| Reduce exposure to phishing or malicious websites | Browser, operating-system, or security-suite web protection | Check the exact feature and whether it is supported and enabled on your platform (Microsoft Windows 11 documentation). |
| Decide whether to buy another security product | Review existing coverage against a specific missing need | Windows 11 includes Microsoft Defender Antivirus; this fact does not apply to every operating system, and this comparison does not rank third-party products (Microsoft). |
If comparing VPN and antivirus products or bundles, check supported operating systems and devices, which traffic the VPN covers, antivirus real-time and behavior-based protections, web-filtering features, update handling, and overlap with protections you already have. Feature sets vary; there is no product ranking or current price comparison here.
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What Windows users should check
Microsoft says Windows 11 includes Microsoft Defender Antivirus. Microsoft’s home-security support page describes Windows Security as built into Windows, providing real-time malware detection, prevention, and removal with cloud-delivered protection (Microsoft Support). Windows 11 documentation also describes SmartScreen and Network protection; these are distinct from the VPN function.
Best Value
- 【DUAL BAND WIFI 7 TRAVEL ROUTER】Products with US, UK, EU, AU Plug; Dual band network with wireless speed 688Mbps (2.4G)+2882Mbps (5G); Dual 2.5G Ethernet Ports (1x WAN and 1x LAN Port); USB 3.0 port.
- 【NETWORK CONTROL WITH TOUCHSCREEN SIMPLICITY】Slate 7’s touchscreen interface lets you scan QR codes for quick Wi-Fi, monitor speed in real time, toggle VPN on/off, and switch providers directly on the display. Color-coded indicators provide instant network status updates for Ethernet, Tethering, Repeater, and Cellular modes, offering a seamless, user-friendly experience.
- 【OpenWrt 23.05 FIRMWARE】The Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) is a high-performance Wi-Fi 7 travel router, built with OpenWrt 23.05 (Kernel 5.4.213) for maximum customization and advanced networking capabilities. With 512MB storage, total customization with open-source freedom and flexible installation of OpenWrt plugins.
- 【VPN CLIENT & SERVER】OpenVPN and WireGuard are pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers (active subscription required). Simply log in to your existing VPN account with our portable wifi device, and Slate 7 automatically encrypts all network traffic within the connected network. Max. VPN speed of 100 Mbps (OpenVPN); 540 Mbps (WireGuard). *Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【PERFECT PORTABLE WIFI ROUTER FOR TRAVEL】The Slate 7 is an ideal portable internet device perfect for international travel. With its mini size and travel-friendly features, the pocket Wi-Fi router is the perfect companion for travelers in need of a secure internet connectivity on the go in which includes hotels or cruise ships.
Check Windows Security on the device to confirm which protections are active and whether another security product has changed the configuration. Do not assume that Windows-specific features are included on other operating systems.
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