To really level up your home network security and privacy, you should set up Surfshark VPN directly on your OpenWrt router. Imagine this: every single device connected to your Wi-Fi – your laptops, phones, smart TVs, gaming consoles, even those smart home gadgets that don’t usually support VPN apps – all automatically protected by a powerful VPN. This “set it and forget it” solution gives you network-wide encryption, lets you bypass annoying geo-restrictions, and generally keeps your online activity private without needing to install an app on every single gadget. It’s a must for anyone who values their digital space, and with Surfshark’s robust features like its no-logs policy and a reliable kill switch, you’re getting top-tier protection.

Now, getting Surfshark running on an OpenWrt router can feel a bit technical, but trust me, it’s totally doable, and I’m going to walk you through it. We’ll explore two main ways to connect: using the widely trusted OpenVPN protocol or the super-fast WireGuard protocol. Surfshark supports both, giving you flexibility. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a fully secured network, all thanks to OpenWrt and Surfshark working together. This isn’t just about privacy. it’s about reclaiming control of your internet, making sure your data stays yours, and enjoying a truly unrestricted online experience.

Table of Contents

Why OpenWrt and Surfshark are a Perfect Match

When you combine a versatile open-source router firmware like OpenWrt with a premium VPN service like Surfshark, you create a digital fortress for your entire home. It’s like having a personal security guard for all your internet traffic, all the time.

The Power of OpenWrt

If you’re into customizing your network, OpenWrt is your best friend. It’s a Linux distribution specifically designed for embedded devices, which mainly means wireless routers. Forget about the limitations of your router’s default firmware. OpenWrt gives you full control.

Here’s why it’s so awesome:

Ultimate Control: You get to configure virtually every aspect of your network. Want to tinker with firewall rules? Go for it. Set up a guest Wi-Fi network with specific restrictions? Easy.
Enhanced Security: OpenWrt is open-source, which means a global community of developers constantly reviews its code for vulnerabilities. This transparency helps ensure there are no hidden backdoors or bloatware, and any security issues are usually patched quickly. It lets you implement fine-grained firewall settings to protect your network from various attacks.
Better Performance: OpenWrt is known for incorporating advanced algorithms that can often outperform vendor-supplied firmware, leading to better throughput speeds and lower latency.
Long-Term Support: Many older routers that manufacturers have stopped supporting can get a new lease on life with OpenWrt, benefiting from ongoing security updates and features.
VPN Capabilities: Crucially for us, OpenWrt makes it straightforward well, “straightforward” for a router firmware to set up VPN clients like OpenVPN and WireGuard, turning your router into a VPN gateway.

Why Surfshark Shines for Router VPNs

Now, let’s talk about Surfshark. It’s not just any VPN. it’s designed to be a workhorse, especially when you’re looking to protect multiple devices. Is surfshark vpn ok

Unlimited Devices: While Surfshark already offers unlimited simultaneous connections for its apps, setting it up on your OpenWrt router means every device connected to that Wi-Fi network gets protected, regardless of how many you have. This is super convenient and means you don’t have to worry about individual device limits.
Global Server Network: Surfshark boasts over 3,200 servers in 100 countries. This massive network means you can always find a fast, reliable connection close to you, which is key for good performance.
Robust Security Features: Surfshark doesn’t skimp on security. It uses industry-leading AES-256-GCM encryption, the same standard used by governments and financial institutions. They also have a strict no-logs policy, which has been verified by independent audits, meaning they don’t track, collect, or share your online activities.
- Kill Switch: This is a crucial feature. If your VPN connection unexpectedly drops, Surfshark’s kill switch automatically cuts off your internet, preventing any potential data leaks. When configured on an OpenWrt router, you can create firewall rules to achieve this network-wide.
- CleanWeb: This built-in ad-blocker and malware protection system helps eliminate intrusive advertisements and blocks malicious websites, improving your browsing experience and security.
- MultiHop Double VPN: For those times you need an extra layer of privacy, MultiHop routes your traffic through two different VPN servers, encrypting your data twice.
- Modern Protocols: Surfshark supports high-speed protocols like WireGuard and OpenVPN, which are essential for router performance.
Router Compatibility: Surfshark provides clear, easy-to-follow setup guides for various router firmware, including OpenWrt. While manual setup can be a bit tricky, their resources are a great help.

In essence, OpenWrt provides the flexible platform, and Surfshark provides the powerful, secure, and fast VPN service to run on it. Together, they offer comprehensive protection that’s hard to beat.

Before You Start: Essential Preparations

Before we jump into the setup, let’s make sure you’ve got everything ready. Trust me, a little prep work goes a long way in making this process smoother.

1. Get an Active Surfshark Subscription

This might sound obvious, but you’ll need an active Surfshark VPN subscription. If you don’t have one, now’s the time to get it. Once you’re signed up, you’ll need to log into your Surfshark account on their website.

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Manual Setup Credentials: For router setups, you won’t use your regular email and password. Instead, you’ll need to generate specific manual setup credentials. Go to your Surfshark account, navigate to “VPN” -> “Manual setup.” Here, you’ll find options to generate a unique username and password for OpenVPN or a key pair for WireGuard. Keep this tab open or save these credentials securely, as you’ll need them soon!.

2. Confirm Your Router is OpenWrt-Compatible and Flashed

Not every router can run OpenWrt, and even fewer can handle a VPN client efficiently.

OpenWrt Firmware: You need a router that’s already running OpenWrt firmware. If yours isn’t, you’ll need to flash it first. This process varies widely by router model, so check the OpenWrt documentation for your specific device. Make sure your OpenWrt firmware is relatively up-to-date, especially if you plan to use WireGuard version 21.02 or later is usually recommended for WireGuard.
Router Access: You’ll need to be able to access your OpenWrt router’s web interface, often called LuCI. Typically, you can do this by typing 192.168.1.1 into your web browser’s address bar. Make sure you have the root password set for your OpenWrt router.

3. Gather Necessary Tools Optional, but Recommended

SSH Client: You’ll need an SSH client to connect to your router’s command line, especially for installing packages. If you’re on Windows, tools like PuTTY or a built-in SSH client in PowerShell/WSL work great. macOS and Linux usually have SSH built-in.
SCP/SFTP Client: For transferring files like OpenVPN configuration files, an SCP/SFTP client is super helpful. WinSCP is a popular choice for Windows users.

With these preparations in place, you’re ready to tackle the setup!

Method 1: Setting Up Surfshark with WireGuard on OpenWrt Recommended for Speed

If you’re looking for the best performance from your VPN on OpenWrt, WireGuard is almost always the way to go. It’s newer, incredibly fast, and much more efficient than OpenVPN, making it ideal for router setups, especially on less powerful hardware. In some tests, WireGuard has delivered speeds up to five times higher than OpenVPN on routers.

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Why WireGuard?

WireGuard is a modern VPN protocol that’s lightweight and has a much smaller codebase around 4,000 lines of code compared to OpenVPN’s 70,000-100,000. This lean design means it’s faster, easier to audit for security vulnerabilities, and consumes fewer resources, which is perfect for routers. Surfshark generally recommends using WireGuard for router setups because of its performance benefits.

Here’s how to set it up:

Step 1: Generate WireGuard Key Pair and Configuration from Surfshark

Log in to your Surfshark account on their website.
Go to VPN -> Manual setup.
Choose the WireGuard protocol.
If you don’t have one already, select “I don’t have a key pair” and click “Generate new key pair”. Make sure to save both your Public Key and Private Key – you’ll need them!.
Name your key pair e.g., “OpenWrtRouter” and click “Next”.
Choose a VPN server location from the list. Pick one geographically close to you for the best speeds.
Click the download icon next to your chosen server to download the WireGuard configuration file usually a .conf or .wg file. This file will contain important details like the server’s endpoint IP, port, and public key.

Step 2: Install WireGuard Package on OpenWrt

Access your OpenWrt router via its web interface LuCI at 192.168.1.1 or your router’s IP address.
Go to System -> Software.
Click “Update lists” to refresh the available packages.
In the “Filter” box, search for wireguard.
Install the following packages:
* wireguard-tools
* luci-app-wireguard This provides the graphical interface for WireGuard in LuCI.
6. Reboot your router after installation to ensure all changes take effect.

Step 3: Configure the WireGuard Interface

After rebooting and logging back into LuCI, go to Network -> Interfaces.
Click “Add new interface…” at the bottom.
For “Name of the new interface,” enter something like WG0 WireGuard Interface 0. Surfshark NZ: Your Ultimate Guide to Online Freedom Down Under
For “Protocol of the new interface,” select “WireGuard VPN”.
Click “Create interface”.
On the new page for your WG0 interface:
* General Settings tab:
- Private Key: Paste your Private Key that you generated from your Surfshark account.
- IP Addresses: Enter the IP address provided in your downloaded Surfshark WireGuard configuration file. It usually looks something like 10.14.0.2/16 or 10.x.x.x/x.
  * Peers tab: Click “Add peer”.
- Public Key: Paste the Public Key of the Surfshark server found in your downloaded config file under PublicKey = .
- Allowed IPs: Enter 0.0.0.0/0 This tells WireGuard to route all traffic through the VPN.
- Endpoint Host: Enter the server IP address or hostname from your Surfshark config file e.g., de-fra.prod.surfshark.com.
- Endpoint Port: Enter 51820 WireGuard’s default UDP port.
- Persistent Keepalive: Set this to 25 seconds to prevent connection drops, especially on mobile networks.
  * Advanced Settings tab: Check “Bring up on boot.”
Click “Save”. You’ll see pending changes. Don’t apply them just yet.

Step 4: Configure the Firewall

This is where we tell OpenWrt to route traffic through the VPN and protect against leaks. Unlocking Ultimate Protection: How Many Devices Can You Really Connect with Surfshark VPN?

Go to Network -> Firewall.
Click “Add” under the Zones section.
For “Name,” enter vpn.
Input: Reject
Output: Accept
Forward: Reject
Check “Masquerading”.
Check “MSS clamping”.
In “Covered Networks,” select your WG0 interface.
In “Allow forward from source zones,” select lan.
Click “Save”.
Now, find your existing lan zone and click “Edit”.
Under “Allow forward to destination zones,” make sure your new vpn zone is checked.
Find your existing wan zone and click “Edit”.
Uncheck “Masquerading” and “MSS clamping” for the wan zone to ensure traffic is handled by the VPN zone’s masquerading. This might not always be strictly necessary depending on your setup but is good practice.
Click “Save & Apply” to activate all the firewall changes.

Step 5: Configure DNS to Prevent Leaks

Go to Network -> DHCP and DNS.
Under the “General Settings” tab, for “DNS forwardings,” add Surfshark’s DNS servers: 162.252.172.57 and 149.154.159.92.
Go to the “Resolv and Hosts Files” tab, check “Ignore resolve file”, and click “Save & Apply”.
You might also want to edit your LAN interface Network -> Interfaces -> LAN -> Edit and in the “DHCP Server” section under “Advanced Settings,” add 6,162.252.172.57,149.154.159.92 to “DHCP-Options.” This ensures devices connected to your LAN get the Surfshark DNS servers directly.

Step 6: Verify Your Connection

Go back to Network -> Interfaces.
You should see your WG0 interface now with “RX” and “TX” activity, indicating data is being sent and received.
Open a browser on any device connected to your OpenWrt Wi-Fi and visit surfshark.com/whatismyip or ipleak.net.
You should see “Protected” status and an IP address matching your chosen Surfshark server location. If you don’t, double-check all your steps, especially the keys and firewall rules.

Method 2: Setting Up Surfshark with OpenVPN on OpenWrt Reliable, Wider Compatibility

While WireGuard offers blazing speeds, OpenVPN has been around longer and is renowned for its robustness, versatility, and broad compatibility. It’s a proven workhorse that offers strong security, and many older OpenWrt firmwares might only support OpenVPN, or you might prefer its mature feature set.

Why OpenVPN?

OpenVPN has been a go-to choice for VPNs since 2001. It’s open-source, highly customizable, and supports a wide range of encryption options through the OpenSSL library. While it can be slower than WireGuard due to its larger codebase, it’s incredibly reliable and compatible with virtually all platforms and routers. Surfshark fully supports OpenVPN, allowing you to choose between UDP faster and TCP more reliable, can sometimes bypass stricter firewalls protocols.

Step 1: Get OpenVPN Credentials and Configuration Files from Surfshark

Select OpenVPN protocol.
Under the “Credentials” tab, click “Generate credentials”. Save this unique username and password! These are not your regular Surfshark login details.
Go to the “Locations” tab and find your desired server. Click the download icon next to it. Surfshark generally recommends using UDP for better speeds, but you can download TCP if you prefer. Download the .ovpn configuration file.

Step 2: Install OpenVPN Packages on OpenWrt

Access your OpenWrt router via LuCI at 192.168.1.1.
Click “Update lists”.
In the “Filter” box, search for openvpn.
* openvpn-openssl the OpenVPN client
* luci-app-openvpn the graphical interface for OpenVPN in LuCI
Reboot your router after installation.

Step 3: Transfer Configuration Files and Create Credentials File

Use an SCP/SFTP client like WinSCP to connect to your OpenWrt router IP: 192.168.1.1, username: root, password: your router password.
Navigate to /etc/openvpn/ on your router right window in WinSCP.
Transfer your downloaded .ovpn file from your computer to the /etc/openvpn/ directory.
Rename the .ovpn file to have a .conf extension e.g., surfshark_uk.ovpn becomes surfshark_uk.conf. OpenVPN can find it automatically by this extension.
Create a new text file in the same /etc/openvpn/ directory and name it cred.txt or auth.txt.
Open cred.txt and enter your Surfshark manual setup username on the first line and the password on the second line. Make sure there are no extra spaces or empty lines.
```
your_surfshark_username
your_surfshark_password
```
Save and close cred.txt.

Step 4: Configure OpenVPN Instance

Go back to your LuCI interface.
Go to VPN -> OpenVPN.
Under “OpenVPN configuration file upload,” your uploaded .conf file should appear.
If not, you might need to create a new instance manually:
* In the “OVPN configuration file upload” section, you might see your .conf file listed. If so, choose it.
* Otherwise, under “OpenVPN instances,” click “Add new instance.”
* Enter a name like SurfsharkVPN and select “Client” as the mode.
* The “config” box will likely be empty. You’ll need to manually paste the contents of your .ovpn file here, or refer to the Surfshark instructions.
No matter which method you used upload or manual instance, now you need to ensure the OpenVPN configuration points to your cred.txt file. Look for a line in the config that says auth-user-pass.
* If it’s auth-user-pass, change it to auth-user-pass /etc/openvpn/cred.txt.
* If you see auth-user-pass , ensure the path is correct.
Also, make sure the dev tun line is present.
Go to the “Advanced Settings” tab for your OpenVPN instance and check “Enable” and “Bring up on boot”.
Click “Save”.

Step 5: Create a New Network Interface

Go to Network -> Interfaces.
Click “Add new interface…”.
For “Name of the new interface,” enter vpn or surfsharktun.
For “Protocol of the new interface,” select “Unmanaged”.
For “Custom interface,” enter tun0 Note: that’s a zero, not the letter O.
Click “Create interface”.
On the new page for your vpn interface, go to the “Firewall Settings” tab.
Select “unspecified -or- create:” and enter vpnfirewall or vpn.
Click “Save”. Don’t apply yet.

Step 6: Configure the Firewall

This step is critical to direct traffic through the VPN and prevent IP leaks.
2. You should now see a new zone named vpn or vpnfirewall. Click “Edit” next to it.
3. Input: REJECT
4. Output: ACCEPT
5. Forward: REJECT
6. Check “Masquerading”.
7. Check “MSS clamping”.
8. In “Covered networks,” select your vpn interface which points to tun0.
9. In “Allow forward from source zones,” select lan.
10. Click “Save”.
11. Now, find your existing lan zone and click “Edit”.
12. Under “Allow forward to destination zones,” make sure your new vpn zone is checked.
13. Find your existing wan zone and click “Edit”.
14. Deselect “Masquerading” and “MSS clamping” for the wan zone to prevent conflicts and ensure traffic uses the VPN zone.
15. Click “Save & Apply” to activate all firewall changes. Surfshark VPN Not Connecting? Here’s How to Fix It!

Step 7: Configure DNS to Prevent Leaks

As an optional step, you can also configure your LAN interface’s DHCP server to push these DNS settings directly to connected devices. Go to Network -> Interfaces -> LAN -> Edit. Under “DHCP Server” -> “Advanced Settings,” in the “DHCP-Options” field, enter 6,162.252.172.57,149.154.159.92. Click “Save & Apply.”

Step 8: Start OpenVPN and Verify Connection

Go to VPN -> OpenVPN.
Under “OpenVPN instances,” locate your SurfsharkVPN instance and click “Start”.
Wait a few moments for it to connect. You should see its status change to “running.”
Open a browser on any device connected to your OpenWrt Wi-Fi and visit surfshark.com/whatismyip or ipleak.net.
You should see “Protected” status and an IP address matching your chosen Surfshark server. If not, go back through the steps and check for typos or missed configurations. The OpenVPN logs usually accessible from the OpenVPN interface in LuCI can often give clues.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with the best instructions, sometimes things don’t go perfectly. Here are some common issues you might run into and how to fix them.

VPN Not Connecting

Check Credentials/Keys: Double-check that your Surfshark manual setup username/password for OpenVPN or key pair for WireGuard is entered correctly. A single typo can break the connection.
Server Endpoint/Port: Ensure the server address endpoint and port are accurate. For WireGuard, the default port is 51820 UDP. For OpenVPN UDP, it’s often 1194, but it can vary.
Firewall Rules: Incorrect firewall rules are a major culprit. Revisit the firewall configuration steps. Ensure the VPN interface is in its own zone, masquerading is enabled for that zone, and traffic is allowed to forward from your LAN to the VPN zone.
Firmware Updates: Sometimes, outdated OpenWrt firmware can cause issues. Make sure your router’s firmware is up to date.
Configuration File Issues OpenVPN: If you’re using OpenVPN, check the .conf file for any errors. Surfshark’s support files are usually very helpful here. Ensure the auth-user-pass line correctly points to your cred.txt.
Check Logs: OpenWrt’s system logs can provide valuable clues. Go to System -> System Log in LuCI to see what’s happening when you try to connect the VPN.

Slow Speeds

Server Location: Connect to a Surfshark VPN server closest to your physical location. The further away the server, the higher the latency and potentially lower speeds.
Protocol Choice: WireGuard is generally much faster than OpenVPN, especially on routers. If you’re on OpenVPN, consider switching to WireGuard if your router and OpenWrt version support it.
Router Hardware: Older or less powerful routers might struggle to encrypt/decrypt traffic at high speeds. This is a hardware limitation.
Internet Connection: If your base internet speed is already slow, the VPN will also be slow.
Double VPN: If you’re using MultiHop, it will inherently be slower due to routing through two servers and double encryption.
Local Network Conditions: Poor local Wi-Fi or network congestion can also impact speeds, regardless of the VPN.

DNS Leaks

Custom DNS: Ensure you’ve configured OpenWrt to use Surfshark’s specific DNS servers 162.252.172.57 and 149.154.159.92 and “Ignore resolve file” is checked.
Test: Use ipleak.net or surfshark.com/whatismyip to verify no DNS leaks.

HTTP Not Working but PING does

This is a specific issue sometimes seen with WireGuard where DNS works and you can ping sites, but web browsing doesn’t.

Firewall for http/https: This usually points back to firewall issues. Confirm your vpn zone is correctly set up with masquerading, and forwarding from lan to vpn is allowed.
MTU Size: Rarely, an incorrect MTU Maximum Transmission Unit size can cause issues. While WireGuard is usually good at auto-negotiating, if you’re experiencing problems, you might try adjusting tun-mtu settings, but this is an advanced step.

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Advanced Tips for Your OpenWrt Surfshark Setup

Once you’ve got the basics down, you can explore some of Surfshark’s more advanced features to truly customize and enhance your OpenWrt router VPN experience.

Split Tunneling Bypasser

Split tunneling lets you decide which devices or applications use the VPN and which connect directly to the internet. This is super handy if you want to, say, use your VPN for secure browsing but access local network resources or streaming services that might block VPN IPs.

How it works on OpenWrt: On OpenWrt, you achieve split tunneling by creating specific routing rules in your firewall. You would define which IP addresses of devices or specific destinations should bypass the VPN interface and go through the WAN directly. This requires some technical know-how but offers significant flexibility and can optimize performance by only routing sensitive traffic through the VPN. Surfshark calls this feature “Bypasser” in their apps.

Implementing a Robust Kill Switch

While Surfshark apps have a built-in kill switch, on a router, you typically implement this using firewall rules. This ensures that if the VPN connection drops for any reason, all internet traffic from devices routed through the VPN is immediately blocked, preventing data leaks.

How to do it: In your OpenWrt firewall, ensure that your vpn zone the one your VPN interface belongs to has Input: REJECT and Forward: REJECT. Crucially, you want to set a rule that only allows traffic from your lan zone to forward to the vpn zone. If the vpn tunnel goes down, that forwarding path breaks, effectively “killing” internet access for devices configured to use the VPN, as they no longer have a route to the wan.

MultiHop Double VPN

For an extra layer of anonymity and security, Surfshark offers MultiHop, which routes your internet traffic through two different VPN servers. This essentially encrypts your data twice and makes tracing your origin even more difficult. Surfshark vpn nigeria

How it works: While setting this up directly on OpenWrt manually can be complex as it involves chaining two VPN connections, you’d typically need a configuration file or specific settings from Surfshark for a MultiHop connection. This is often more straightforward using Surfshark’s dedicated apps, but if Surfshark provides specific MultiHop .ovpn or WireGuard configurations, you can try to implement them similarly to a single VPN connection. Keep in mind that MultiHop connections will generally be slower due to the added routing and encryption.

Using CleanWeb on Your Router

Surfshark’s CleanWeb feature blocks ads, trackers, and malicious sites. When using Surfshark directly on an OpenWrt router, some of these features might not be as directly integrated as they are in the dedicated apps.

DNS-based blocking: The ad-blocking aspect of CleanWeb often relies on DNS filtering. By ensuring your OpenWrt router uses Surfshark’s DNS servers 162.252.172.57 and 149.154.159.92, you might automatically benefit from some of Surfshark’s ad and malware blocking at the DNS level for all connected devices. This is a simple, effective way to extend some CleanWeb benefits across your network.

By leveraging these advanced configurations, you can tailor your OpenWrt Surfshark setup to your exact needs, getting the most out of your secure and private home network.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Surfshark a reliable VPN for OpenWrt?

Yes, Surfshark is considered a very reliable VPN for OpenWrt. It offers strong security features like AES-256 encryption and a strict no-logs policy, which has been independently audited. Many users successfully run Surfshark on their OpenWrt routers, benefiting from network-wide protection and good performance, especially with WireGuard. Surfshark also provides official setup guides for OpenWrt, which helps a lot.

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What type of VPN is Surfshark?

Surfshark is a commercial VPN service that provides robust security and privacy features for its users. It uses industry-leading VPN protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPSec. Surfshark employs military-grade AES-256-GCM encryption and maintains a strict no-logs policy, meaning they don’t track, collect, or share your online activities. It’s designed to protect your privacy, secure your internet traffic, and allow you to bypass geo-restrictions.

OpenVPN vs WireGuard: Which is better for OpenWrt?

For OpenWrt, WireGuard is generally better and recommended, especially for speed and efficiency. WireGuard is a newer, more lightweight protocol with a smaller codebase, leading to faster speeds and better performance on router hardware compared to OpenVPN. In some tests, WireGuard has shown significantly higher speeds. While OpenVPN is incredibly robust and compatible, WireGuard’s speed and efficiency make it a superior choice for router VPNs where device resources are often limited.

Does Surfshark VPN slow down internet on OpenWrt?

Any VPN can introduce some degree of speed reduction because your data is being encrypted and routed through a remote server. However, Surfshark, especially when configured with the WireGuard protocol on OpenWrt, is known for its high speeds and low latency. The extent of slowdown depends on several factors: the distance to the VPN server, your router’s processing power, and your base internet speed. Connecting to a server closer to your physical location will usually minimize speed loss.

How often do I need to update Surfshark configuration files on OpenWrt WireGuard?

When using WireGuard on OpenWrt, the generated key pairs and configuration files from Surfshark might require re-verification or regeneration periodically. Some users have reported needing to update or verify keys every 7 days, especially with some GL.iNet routers which run OpenWrt-based firmware. While Surfshark’s official stance or current policy for manual WireGuard setups isn’t explicitly stating a fixed interval for all OpenWrt setups, it’s a good practice to check if your connection drops or becomes unstable after a week or two. If it does, regenerating a new key pair or downloading a fresh configuration file is a good first troubleshooting step.

Can I use Surfshark’s CleanWeb feature on my OpenWrt router?

Yes, you can get some of the benefits of Surfshark’s CleanWeb feature on your OpenWrt router, although it might not be as fully integrated as in the dedicated apps. CleanWeb’s ad and malware blocking often works at the DNS level. By configuring your OpenWrt router to use Surfshark’s specific DNS servers 162.252.172.57 and 149.154.159.92, you can apply some of that ad and malicious site filtering across your entire network. This way, all devices connected to your router will automatically benefit from a cleaner and potentially safer browsing experience. Kara and Nate Surfshark VPN: Your Ultimate Guide to Secure Travel

What if my OpenWrt router isn’t officially supported by Surfshark?

Even if Surfshark doesn’t have a specific, step-by-step guide for your exact OpenWrt router model, you can still usually get it working. The general steps for OpenVPN and WireGuard on OpenWrt are quite similar across different hardware. As long as your router has OpenWrt installed and supports either the OpenVPN or WireGuard packages, you should be able to follow the manual setup instructions provided by Surfshark for OpenWrt in general. The key is to obtain the correct configuration files or key pairs from your Surfshark account and accurately input them into your OpenWrt LuCI interface and firewall settings. If you encounter issues, the OpenWrt community forums and Surfshark’s 24/7 customer support are great resources.

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