Here’s how to use Kodi safely — so you stay secure and private while streaming Kodi TV. Start using Kodi safely in only 5 minutes.
Kodi is a great TV streaming platform. But unfortunately, it isn’t secure. Your personal information can be exposed when you use Kodi, leaving you vulnerable to hackers, copyright watchdogs, and other prying eyes. Thankfully, there’s an easy way to secure Kodi, so you stay safe and keep your identity hidden.
In this article, I’ll answer some common questions, and then walk you through you the simple, 5-minute method to stay 100% secure and anonymous on Kodi. All you need is an online security and privacy tool called a VPN. We recommend NordVPN (I use it myself everyday). It offers total protection on Kodi, has the fastest streaming speeds, and is a PC Magazine Editor’s Choice 2018-2015. Their current, limited-time deal is also the best out there — see the deal here — with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Compare top VPNs for Kodi.
(Skip to how to set up a VPN with Kodi.)
Why do I need to use a VPN with Kodi?
For a more detailed breakdown, see: Do I Need A VPN For Kodi?
Briefly, you need a VPN for two main reasons.
1) To stay private and anonymous. It’s very important to prevent tracking and monitoring of your activities on Kodi — including by your Internet Service Provider, copyright watchdogs, government agencies, and corporations. Plus, under a new US law, your ISP can collect, store, and share data about your activities with third parties — including the websites/streaming sources you use, the content you view, and where you’re located. So especially if you use certain Kodi TV add-ons to watch content you didn’t pay for, a VPN is a must. It’ll protect your privacy and keep you 100% anonymous — making you invisible and untraceable online. So if you’ve been wondering how to hide Kodi from ISP spying and get total Kodi privacy, the answer is by using a VPN.
2) To keep from getting hacked. “Can I be hacked through Kodi?” is a question not enough people ask. The answer is yes — and more Kodi users are getting hacked all the time. A VPN secures your connection and protects your entire network against security breaches. It’s the single best way to improve Kodi security, and offers maximum Kodi protection. More on this in the next question.
Using a VPN has many other benefits as well. It prevents your ISP from throttling your bandwidth and slowing your connection. It will keep you secure on public WiFi and in all your online activities. A VPN will also let you get around annoying firewalls (so you can use Facebook at work), and access region-restricted websites so you can stream videos and live TV from anywhere. On Kodi, you can unblock geo-restricted add-ons and content sources with a VPN.
Best VPNs For Kodi
Kodi VPN | Features | Best Price | Learn More |
#1 | -Total protection on Kodi -Fastest speeds -Special servers for high-speed streaming -Easy to use -Apps for all devices -Unlimited bandwidth -24/7 support VIEW ALL>> | $3.49/mo -- 70% OFF (Special offer, ends soon) SEE DEAL 30-day money-back guarantee | VISIT NordVPN>> |
#2 | VIEW ALL>> | $8.32/mo 30-day money-back guarantee | VISIT ExpressVPN>> |
#3 | VIEW ALL>> | $6.49/mo 7-day money-back guarantee | VISIT IPVanish>> |
Is Kodi safe?
No, not by itself. Kodi has known security vulnerabilities that expose users to safety and privacy threats. There are two big areas of concern.
First, there are the bad guys — the hackers, scammers and spies who use Kodi as a portal into people’s personal information. You can get hacked through Kodi, and pretty easily. The biggest threat is from so-called “man-in-the-middle” attacks. That’s when an attacker infiltrates the connection between you and Kodi and wreaks havoc.
A recent post on the official Kodi website acknowledged the problems, saying a number of popular Kodi add-ons may be untrustworthy, leaving many users “open to numerous security exploits.”
It’s easy for hackers to attack Kodi users because Kodi is an open-source platform. Lots of unknown, third-party sources — most of whom are anonymous — develop the technology for Kodi, and there’s little to no oversight before turning the technology over to users. So it’s just the smart thing to use protection against privacy breaches.
Kodi add-ons pose an additional, and perhaps even bigger, security problem. Great as they are, third-party add-ons are untested and unmonitored. And many of the most popular TV add-ons are the riskiest of the bunch if you don’t secure your connection.
Second, there are those who think that you are a “bad guy” if you use Kodi to stream bootlegged content. This includes copyright holders, corporations, the government, your ISP, and others. (See ‘Is Kodi Legal?) So if you’re using Kodi to watch TV without a subscription (stuff you know isn’t supposed to be free), you’re putting yourself at risk if your connection isn’t secure. With all the recent controversy, Kodi protection is more important today than ever before.
Is Kodi anonymous? What kind of personal information is exposed on Kodi?
Kodi is not anonymous. Not when you use it without a VPN.
The main thing that’s exposed about you on Kodi is your IP address. This is out in plain sight. Your IP is like your digital fingerprint. It reveals your physical location and other personal details, and can easily be used to discover your identity and additional private information. A VPN hides your IP address, among other security measures.
In addition, now that ISPs can collect and share data about customers’ online activities, additional information can fall into unwanted hands. This includes the websites you visit or connect to via Kodi to stream content, and even the content you view. You therefore need to hide your IP address on Kodi. The best, easiest Kodi privacy tool is a VPN.
I got a letter from my ISP — should I be worried?
Maybe. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) routinely monitors and collects data on your online activities. They frown upon using Kodi to watch bootlegged shows and movies, and have taken to sending out alarming copyright infringement letters to customers, followed by nobody really knows. If you haven’t yet received a letter, you probably will. This is why it’s important to hide Kodi from ISP snooping.
How can I stay safe and private on Kodi?
You simply need to use a high-security VPN service. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is today’s best protection against hackers and online data breaches. It’s highly recommended for everyone who uses the internet because it will keep all your personal information secure and your identity private, even on public WiFi. A VPN offers total Kodi protection. (If you’ve been searching specifically for how to hide your IP on Kodi, this is how. For Kodi tor security, a VPN is also the best solution.)
There are lots of different VPN providers out there, and we’ve tried most of them. The one that has consistently delivered the best service for the best price is NordVPN.
NordVPN is our #1 rated best VPN for Kodi and is also the winner of the PC Magazine Editor’s Choice award for 2018-2015. NordVPN is the best choice for Kodi users for three reasons. 1) It encrypts your entire connection with zero logs, making you invisible online. Hackers, spies, snoops, copyright watchdogs, and everyone else can’t see you or monitor your activities. NordVPN is at the top of the class for security and privacy protection, and will keep you safe and private on every internet-connected device you use. 2) Only NordVPN has dedicated ultra-fast servers. These are configured specifically for TV streaming at maximum speeds on Kodi. So you don’t have to sacrifice speed for security. 3) NordVPN currently has the best deal out there — check it out here (limited-time offer) — while delivering a 5-star customer experience.
What exactly do I need to be secure and anonymous on Kodi?
Just a NordVPN account. There’s no other hardware or software required. Then you can start using Kodi safely.
Can I still use Kodi on any device?
Yes. You can use Kodi with NordVPN on any device — Smart TV, phone, tablet, computer, or router if you want to use a streaming device like Amazon Fire TV/Stick, Apple TV, etc. You get maximum Kodi protection without limiting how you watch Kodi.
How does NordVPN ensure Kodi security and privacy?
When you connect to NordVPN, a “tunnel” is created. A tunnel is just another word for the connection between you and Nord. All the data you send down that tunnel — like your IP address — is then encrypted. This prevents anyone — even NordVPN — from seeing your personal information. Nord encrypts data to 2048 Bits. This is an excellent level of security while maintaining good levels of performance, even on older machines and lower powered devices such as phones and Netbooks.
How do I set it up?
Here’s exactly what you need to do. It will only take about 5 minutes, and then you’ll be totally safe and private on Kodi from here on out. (Scroll to the end you’d rather watch a video guide.)
How To Use Kodi Safely & Privately: Step-By-Step Guide
STEP 1) Get a NordVPN account.
Click here to open NordVPN in a new window to sign up. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee. They’re currently running a limited-time, steal of a deal — get the deal here.
STEP 2) Download the NordVPN app.
2.1) Log in to your account on Nord’s website select the ‘Download area’ tab.
2.2) Find the device you want to set up service on (computer, mobile, router, etc.) and download the app, software, or configuration files.
TIP: Instead of setting up NordVPN on your different devices individually, set it up on your router to use it with all the devices on your network: Amazon Fire TV & Stick, Android TV, Roku, tablet, smartphone, gaming console, computer, etc.
If you want full-service setup, you can actually buy a router that already has NordVPN installed. After you’ve created an account with Nord, head over to these router pros. Nord has several custom routers available. You can even have your router preconfigured with your NordVPN account before it’s shipped out to you.
2.3) After getting the app, install it. I’m on a Mac, so I’ll go through how to set up on OS X, but it works in a similar way with other systems and devices. If you need more help, NordVPN has step-by-step instructions for each device displayed nicely in their tutorials section.
After downloading the software, open it up and install it in your Applications folder (on the pop-up screen, just drag the NordVPN icon into the folder). Then go to your Applications folder, find the newly added NordVPN application, and open it up.
STEP 3) Get connected.
3.1) Open the NordVPN application and log in with the email and password you entered when you created your account. (If you haven’t yet created an account, you can do so from within the app).
If you want, you can set a few options settings. You can select a server to automatically connect to when you open NordVPN. If you want to start NordVPN every time you boot your computer, switch on the ‘Start On Boot’ option.
3.2) Connect to a server. First, hit the little glasses icon in the upper right corner. Now you’ll see the long list of servers available for you to connect through.
You can choose any server. All of them will keep you secure and private on Kodi. I recommend using one of the ‘Ultra-fast TV’ servers, as these give the fastest streaming speeds. Only NordVPN has dedicated TV servers for better, faster streaming, so if you’re using a different VPN you’ll have to play around to find the fastest server to use. If you ever download torrent files, you may want to connect through one of Nord’s ‘Tor Over’ or ‘Double VPN’ server, as these offer the highest level of security. If you need to unblock Kodi add-ons or content sources, connect to a server in the source’s local area (e.g. to unblock BBC iPlayer, connect via the UK).
After you pick a server, hit connect and you’re done.
STEP 4) Use Kodi safely and privately.
You’re now good to go. NordVPN will work quietly in the background to send your connection through their server, giving you complete and total protection.
You can disconnect any time you want, such as when you’re not using Kodi. You can switch servers/locations at any time with just a click. The ‘Kill Switch’ feature is very handy you want to make sure you’re never unprotected.
You don’t need to change anything in the ‘Configuration’ tab. But, if you’re more experienced and know you have a need to make a change, only one click to switch protocols or add a custom DNS setting.
How to use Kodi now that you have NordVPN
Before you start using Kodi, just open the NordVPN app and connect. Then use Kodi exactly the way you’ve always used it — only now you’ll be safe and anonymous. That’s all there is to it.
Bonus: NordVPN will also let you watch more stuff on Kodi
Protecting yourself comes with a fun bonus. NordVPN will also let you unblock new content sources on Kodi (and elsewhere). You can get around those annoying geo-restrictions on streaming sites and services by using Nord to connect through the country that’s home to the content you want to watch. For example, if you want to watch BBC iPlayer, connect to the U.K. If you want access to U.S. Netflix from outside the U.S., just connect through any U.S. server.
When you’re not using Kodi, try turning on the Smart-Play feature. This will let you stream content on popular sites like Netflix, Hulu, and many others without needing to change your settings. It’s super fast and slick, and opens up a whole world of great TV.
Main security & privacy features
Here are NordVPN’s main security features:
+ Zero data logs stored
+ No DNS leaks
+ Double data encryption
+ Tor Over servers
+ Private servers with no third-party access
+ Secret notes and chat encryption
⊕ Compare NordVPN to other top VPNs for Kodi
Other features
Here are some other popular features:
+ Fastest streaming speeds — including ultra-fast servers dedicated for streaming
+ Super easy to set up and use (easiest VPN I’ve ever tried)
+ Connect up to 6 devices at once
+ No throttling (even P2P traffic)
+ Lots of apps available
+ Unblock content around the world, and stream from different regions simultaneously
+ Blocks annoying ads and dangerous malware
+ Servers everywhere but Antarctica
+ 24/7 support, including live chat
I use NordVPN myself everyday and it has never let me down. It’s the fastest, easiest, most reliable VPN I’ve found — plus total, iron-clad security and privacy protection. You’ll be able to enjoy Kodi more when you know you’re safe and anonymous.