I’ve just bought the 2TB Umbrel Home and wanted to use it as VPN while using a desktop PC and probably a laptop on our local network at the orphanage for our children where I work
Can anybody help (or point me in the right direction on how to set it up with easy step by step instructions on how to do this please to browse the internet securely and privately on our PC and laptop?
I have installed WireGuard , created a new Client and there is button next to the Client I click that creates a QR Code.
That is as far as I got? Do I have to install more software on the desktop PC or the laptop?
Or would I be better installing tailscale?
We just want the children to browse the internet with enhanced online security and privacy.
Our IT person is off sick at the moment and we aren’t very technical so baby steps instructions would be great - if there is video or page to help us set up please?
Someone else please feel free to correct me but using WireGuard or Tailscale on an Umbrel then VPN’ing back to the Umbrel on another computer via those two piece of software isn’t actually giving you any enhanced security.
Those two piece of software are more for you to access the Umbrel while away from home to move files around and access apps on the Umbrel etc.
Thanks for the info skidmore298 - so basically the umbrel device can’t be used like Nord VPN?
and hide our IP while browsing the internet on our computer?
With WireGuard or Tailscale you can create a direct connection from a device to your umbrel when you’re not at home.
If you want to hide your IP and have some kind of protection online they’re not what you need.
The only pro would be to run pihole on umbrel, and make all the internet traffic go through it, so that the device will have a valid block for web tracking.
But if you want to hide your IP while browsing, then you need a normal vpn with a provider
Thanks very much Donator for your quick response.
I really appreciate it.
I was completely confused and misunderstood in buying the Umbrel device as I thought with it being able to run a VPN client - this meant we could browse the web privately.
What a pitty.
I’ve also got another problem with the device (only had it plugged in for 2 days and it took over 4 weeks to arrive)
When I go to ‘http://umbrel.local’ in the chrome browser and type in the password
an error comes up saying we are typing the wrong password in!
It worked for 2 days but now it doesn’t recognize the password
Do you have any pointers please (nice and easy steps) on how we can fix this?
Not being nasty Saul but I think Umbrel isn’t right for you. Computers don’t just forget passwords so the chance is you typed it in wrong.
If I was you I’d recommend trying to return the Umbrel, if you can’t do that for whatever reason I would be happy to buy the device off you for whatever price you paid for it so you get your full money back.
Umbrel has so many other use cases, but for prívate browsing, just use Tor Browser and subscribe to a valid VPN Service.
The password issue, there’s no way the machine forgets the pw you inserted the first time. I think it’s better to reset and have a fresh start since it’s a brand new machine
Hi donator
thanks for your reply.
I can assure you the password has stopped working, it’s a password that I use for another account - and have used for a few years now. I can type it in with my eyes shut.
I’ve also had a family member (who I trust) check what I’m typing in and they agree it did work as we have logged in and out of it for 2 or 3 days - and now doesn’t work- it’s bizzare I know.
As it doesn’t offer an option for ‘change password’ link - Can you advise how I reset it please?
You could use Tailscale configured as an exit-node, but that doesn’t hide your IP, it might display the IP of your Umbrel’s network instead, but that’s not hiding.
You should use a VPN service for that, like Mullvad, IVPN, LNVPN, etc.
Regarding the password, there’s no way Umbrel “forgets” it, if you just started it a few days ago the easiest thing to do would be start from zero again. This guide might be useful Factory Reset - Umbrel Home I’m not sure if there’s an easier way.
I’ll give it another go - there wasn’t much stuff on there as we’ve only had it a few days.
But I can assure you that password was correct - it worked for a few days on the desktop pc , then i tried on the laptop it worked fine, the day after I tried to access the PC again,
its then it stopped recognizing the password. I know it sound like Im being incompetant but I assure you I am correct.
Regarding the kids, I don’t think you’d be able to improve privacy, but you can certainly use Adguard Home to improve security, set up some restrictions, and block ads and other unwanted stuff.
What you try to achieve is not simple, but possible.
You need
a VPS server (free tier oracle, 3$ from Hetzner, 5$ from Digital Ocean) which will be your exit / face to the internet
your Umbrel is your client machine, and every @home device connects through it
This way, your home IP is hidden, because only your VPS knows it and relays outgoing and incoming packets.
The guide here explains how to do this. But disclaimer, it’s not simple, since you need to maintain a linux server on the VPS (it needs to be hardened and secure), and you need to setup your home-network that every client (kids wifi, home-applicance etc) goes out through your umbrel. You basically turn it into your home router.
AI assistants make it much more feasible to the technical illiterate, but I would certainly advise to ask them making a full fledged implementation plan on your real world environment. Which devices, what router, which LAN IP ranges, how are these connected etc.
This works without the VPS as @donator outlined, with Mullvad etc as well. The own VPS is a more self-custodial approach, but it also shifts the burden of security and maintenance from them to you. So if you like the challenge to learn on the way, go for it and try it with maybe one home-device, just for the lolz.
