Improving Plug-and-Play VPN Boxes
With a VPN, data sent from any device over the internet is encrypted and sent to a remote exit-node server located in a different country and sent back to its legitimate destination. This drastically reduces the risk of interception and surveillance. However there are two problems with a mainstream VPN: the exit-node servers can be blocked easily by an authoritative state and, most often, the VPN software has to be installed on a smartphone or a computer, which can be challenging for non-tech people.
This is why Nothing2Hide (N2H) has been working on a plug-and-play VPN box: PiGuard—a device that integrates the WireGuard VPN technology with cheap electronic boards, RaspBerry Pi or Rock Pi. To benefit from the PiGuard encrypted connection, no software installation is needed. All one has to do is to connect to a PiGuard Wi-Fi hotspot. If an exit node gets blocked, PiGuard transparently redirects the connection to a new node. N2H has deployed more than 70 PiGuard boxes in eight countries.The most recent engagement aims to improve PiGuard based on user feedback, and deploy PiGuard boxes at a larger scale.
Over the past few years, Nothing2Hide has successfully deployed more than 60 PiGuard boxes in eight countries, the vast majority in Russia. The PiGuard Reloaded project is integrating new features (4G connectivity, battery option, GUI, Pluggable Transports integration) based on user feedback and training new local partners to build, set up, and deploy PiGuard boxes. They aim to deploy 100 PiGuard boxes with these new features in seven countries.
