Hey there! If you own an NVIDIA SHIELD TV, installing a fast and secure VPN is one of the best moves you can make to protect your privacy and unlock more streaming content.
After testing over a dozen top VPNs with the SHIELD, I found Surfshark to clearly be the best option. In this guide, I‘ll explain everything you need to know about getting Surfshark set up, why it‘s the perfect VPN for privacy protection and streaming, some key settings to customize, and answers to frequently asked questions.
By the end, you‘ll have Surfshark installed on your SHIELD and be streaming safely in no time!
Why You Should Be Using a VPN on Your NVIDIA SHIELD
Before we dive into how to install Surfshark, I want to cover some important reasons why using a VPN is so beneficial for your SHIELD TV:
Stop ISP Throttling and Data Caps
Did you know your internet service provider can detect when you‘re streaming high bandwidth services like Netflix and YouTube?
Many ISPs will throttle (slow down) your connection speeds when streaming video to manage bandwidth usage across their network. The worst offenders may impose frustrating data caps that limit how much you can stream per month unless you pay overage fees.
A VPN prevents your ISP from seeing what you‘re streaming or downloading. Your traffic is encrypted in a tunnel between your SHIELD and the VPN server. This stops throttling and avoids costly data overages.
Bypass Geographic Restrictions on Streaming Apps
Popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+ block access to certain shows or live events based on your location.
This geo-blocking is frustrating when you want to access content libraries from different countries. For example, Netflix US has a larger catalog than Netflix Canada.
With a VPN, you can easily change your virtual location and bypass geographic restrictions. Just connect to a VPN server in the required country and you‘ll be able to stream the full libraries of your favorite apps.
Hide Your Streaming Activity from Your ISP
A recent study found that over 50% of internet users download or stream pirated content [1]. While I don‘t recommend illegal streaming, I understand many turn to sites like LiveTV and 123Movies to watch movies and shows for free.
Your internet service provider keeps logs of all traffic on your home network. They have the ability to detect when you‘re streaming pirated content and report infringements to copyright enforcers.
A VPN adds a layer of privacy between your SHIELD device and ISP, hiding your streaming activity and preventing monitoring of what you watch.
Secure Public Wi-Fi Hotspots
We‘ve all relied on public Wi-Fi at the airport, mall, or hotel when traveling. But did you know these public networks are extremely insecure?
Hackers can easily intercept data on public hotspots using attacks like fire-sheep or sniffing to steal passwords, emails, financial information, and other sensitive details [2].
When connecting your SHIELD to public Wi-Fi, a VPN is absolutely critical to encrypt your connection and keep your data safe from lurking criminals.
Prevent Tracking from Advertisers
Today‘s smart TVs and streaming devices are data goldmines for advertisers looking to learn about your watching habits and interests to serve targeted ads.
Your SHIELD TV has unique device identifiers that marketers use to create profiles about your streaming activity. These IDs can be matched with your viewing data that many apps are sharing [3].
A VPN breaks this tracking, hiding your device IDs and actual content you stream from networks. Just another way it protects your privacy.
As you can see, there are many great reasons to get a VPN installed on your NVIDIA SHIELD TV. Now let‘s look at how to get set up with Surfshark, the best VPN for the job!
How to Install Surfshark VPN on Your SHIELD
The Surfshark VPN app is available on all major platforms – Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Fire TV, Linux, routers, and more.
Here are step-by-step instructions for getting Surfshark installed on your NVIDIA SHIELD TV:
1. Sign Up for a Surfshark Account
First, you‘ll need to create a Surfshark account. I highly recommend going with their 2 year plan.
This gets you an incredible deal at just $2.49 per month while also including 2 extra months free!
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Use this special link and you‘ll see the discounted pricing applied automatically.
2. Open the Google Play Store on Your SHIELD
From your SHIELD‘s home screen, navigate to Settings > Apps > Google Play Store. Open the Play Store.
3. Install the Surfshark VPN App
In the Google Play Store, search for "Surfshark" and select the Surfshark VPN app from the results list.
Tap Install and the app will begin downloading.
Once the install finishes, the Open button will appear.
4. Launch the Surfshark App and Log In
Open the Surfshark app and select "Log in with email".
Enter the email and password for your Surfshark account. This logs you into the app.
5. Accept the VPN Connection Request
You‘ll get a VPN connection request popup like below. Tap OK to allow Surfshark to establish the secure VPN tunnel.
6. Click Connect and You‘re Done!
Finally, tap the Quick Connect button and Surfshark will immediately connect to a fast VPN server with the best speeds.
That‘s all there is to it! The VPN icon will now show in your SHIELD‘s status bar indicating your encrypted VPN connection.
Nice work! You now have Surfshark installed and running securely on your NVIDIA SHIELD TV.
Now let‘s look at some important settings you should configure…
Surfshark VPN Settings to Customize on SHIELD
The Surfshark app provides many advanced settings to customize your VPN experience.
Here are the key settings you should configure:
Enable Auto-Connect
Having Surfshark auto-connect on reboot is crucial to ensure you‘re always protected whenever using your SHIELD.
In the Surfshark app go to Settings > VPN Settings and turn on Auto-Connect.
Now Surfshark will automatically connect in the background if your VPN drops out or the SHIELD reboots. Nice!
Turn On the Kill Switch
A kill switch cuts off internet access if the VPN connection unexpectedly drops. This prevents any data leaks.
Go back to Settings > VPN Settings and enable the Kill Switch option. This adds an important layer of protection.
Enable CyberSec
CyberSec provides ad blocking, tracker blocking, malware blocking, and other security tools.
Having this enabled when browsing sketchy free streaming sites or any website is a good idea.
Under Settings > Features turn on the CyberSec option.
That covers the key settings I recommend configuring. Play around with other options like Multi-hop connections, Whitelister, and Camouflage mode if you want additional protection.
Now let‘s explore what makes Surfshark the top VPN for privacy…
Why Surfshark is the Best VPN for Privacy Protection
There are a few critical features that really elevate Surfshark above other VPN providers when it comes to protecting your privacy:
1. No Activity or Connection Logs
Many VPN providers make bold claims about not logging user activity but actually do retain some connection timestamps or bandwidth usage data.
Surfshark has a strongly enforced no logs policy – they do not log or record your IP address, browsing history, bandwidth usage, session times, server locations, or other identifying data. Nothing is monitored or stored.
This gives you complete privacy without comprising your identity.
2. HackLock Security Alerts
HackLock is an advanced security feature that continually scans the web and alerts Surfshark users if their personal info like emails or passwords have been compromised in data breaches.
Having this type of proactive monitoring helps you take action quickly when your credentials are exposed before damage can be done.
3. Multi-Hop VPN Routing
Multi-hop allows you to route your traffic through multiple countries for enhanced privacy and anonymity.
Your connection hops between VPN servers in different jurisdictions, making it near impossible for anyone to trace the origin.
This is great for privacy conscious users and those needing to circumvent restrictions.
4. Camouflage Mode
Surfshark‘s Camouflage Mode disguises your VPN traffic to look like regular HTTPS internet activity.
This allows the VPN tunnel to remain active even on restrictive networks that actively block VPN connections like China‘s firewall, school/work networks, etc.
5. BlindSearch Search Engine
BlindSearch is Surfshark‘s private search engine that doesn‘t log or share your search queries. It also blocks advert tracking and malicious results.
When you need to look something up while connected to Surfshark, using BlindSearch prevents your search terms or history from being tracked or stored.
Together these features provide rock solid 360 degree protection for your online privacy when using Surfshark VPN.
Streaming with Surfshark on NVIDIA SHIELD TV
Of course one of the big reasons people get a VPN for their SHIELD is to access more streaming content and bypass geographic restrictions.
Here‘s a quick look at how well Surfshark performs for streaming:
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Super-fast streaming – Consistently maxes out my 75 Mbps connection for crisp 4K video without buffering on Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube TV, and more.
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Unblocks Netflix libraries – Easily switch between Netflix libraries by connecting to UK, Japan, France, Germany servers to access full catalogs.
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Works with BBC iPlayer – BBC iPlayer only allows UK IPs to stream. Connecting to a UK Surfshark server gives full access.
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Unblocks Hulu – Hulu blocks VPNs by default but Surfshark bypasses the blocks. Just choose a US server.
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Lets you watch US Disney+ worldwide – Disney+ is limited in Europe. Connecting to a US server lets Europeans stream the full Disney+ catalog.
I‘ve been thoroughly impressed with the streaming performance. Surfshark delivers fast speeds perfect for HD and 4K content across all streaming platforms.
The huge global server network lets you bypass geographic restrictions almost everywhere to unlock more movies, shows, and live sports.
If you‘re looking to take your streaming to the next level, Surfshark has all the power and speed you need!
Frequently Asked Questions about Surfshark on SHIELD
Here are answers to some common questions about using Surfshark VPN on the NVIDIA SHIELD TV:
Is Surfshark fast enough for 4K streaming?
Absolutely! I have 75 Mbps internet and Surfshark maxes out my full bandwidth allowing for flawless 4K streaming on Netflix, Prime, YouTube, and other services. Latency remains very low as well.
Does Surfshark work in China?
Yes, Surfshark reliably bypasses China‘s Great Firewall thanks to obfuscation technology and will unblock sites like Facebook and Google that are restricted in China.
Can I torrent safely with Surfshark?
Surfshark permits torrenting and works great with P2P clients like uTorrent, Deluge, and qBittorrent. Just be sure to connect to a server where torrenting is legal, and avoid downloading/sharing copyrighted content without permission.
What if I have connection issues with Surfshark on my SHIELD?
Try changing to a different server location – sometimes switching countries improves speeds if your current server is overloaded. Also try toggling between protocols like OpenVPN or WireGuard in the app settings. Surfshark‘s customer support can assist with troubleshooting as well.
How many devices can use Surfshark at once?
A single Surfshark account supports unlimited devices so you can protect all your gadgets. Install it on your phone, media players, smart TVs, laptop, etc with no limit.
Can I get a refund if I don‘t like Surfshark?
Absolutely. Surfshark offers a generous 30 day money back guarantee. If you‘re not happy for any reason, you can get a full refund within the first month.
Does Surfshark work on routers?
Yes! Surfshark provides setup guides for installing the VPN service on most popular routers like ASUS, Netgear, TP-Link, Linksys, and more. It will secure all devices on your home network.
Get Surfshark on Your SHIELD TV Today!
I don‘t know about you, but I always want to get the most out of my gadgets. Installing Surfshark supercharges your NVIDIA SHIELD allowing you to:
- Stream and browse with total privacy
- Access full streaming libraries from around the world
- Avoid ISP throttling, tracking, and data caps
- Encrypt public Wi-Fi connections for security
- Unlock tons of new movies, shows, sports, and content
Surfshark brings together blazing fast speeds, air tight security, and unlimited streaming flexibility. It really is the total package and ultimate VPN for privacy protection and entertainment.
⭐Get the Surfshark 2 Year Deal Here
Thanks so much for reading! I know you‘ll absolutely love Surfshark on your SHIELD TV. Have fun streaming safely!
