Cybersecurity

Secure and Private Home Networking Made Easy with Tailscale

Discover how Tailscale, a private VPN service, can help you achieve secure and private home networking with ease. Explore its features and compatible products in our guide.

Photo by Privecstasy / Unsplash

Tailscale is a unique virtual private network (VPN) service that offers a secure, private, and easy-to-use solution for remote access and networking. It was founded in 2019 by Avery Pennarun, a software engineer who was frustrated with the limitations and complexity of existing VPN solutions. In this article, we will explore what Tailscale is, how it works, and why it may be a good choice for individuals and businesses looking for a private VPN.

What is Tailscale?

Tailscale is a private VPN that uses modern networking protocols to provide secure and fast access to resources across the internet. Unlike traditional VPNs, Tailscale is designed to be easy to set up and use, with a focus on simplicity and user-friendliness. It uses a unique approach called "mesh networking" to create a virtual private network that connects devices and services across multiple networks.

How Does Tailscale Work?

Tailscale uses WireGuard, a fast and secure VPN protocol that is widely regarded as one of the best VPN technologies available today. WireGuard is designed to be lightweight, efficient, and easy to use, making it an ideal choice for Tailscale's target audience.

One of the key features of Tailscale is its mesh networking capability. This allows devices to connect to each other directly, without having to go through a central server or hub. Mesh networking can be particularly useful in situations where devices are spread out across different locations, as it allows for fast and efficient communication between them.

To use Tailscale, users install a small client software on their devices, which then connects to the Tailscale network. Once connected, devices can access resources on other devices or services on the network, as if they were on the same local network. Tailscale also provides a web-based dashboard that allows users to manage their network and devices, view logs and analytics, and set up access controls.

Why Choose Tailscale?

Tailscale offers several advantages over traditional VPNs, including:

Ease of use: Tailscale is designed to be simple and user-friendly, with no complex setup or configuration required. Users can set up a secure VPN connection in just a few clicks.
Security: Tailscale uses modern encryption technologies to ensure that all data transmitted over the network is secure and private. It also offers access controls and multi-factor authentication to further enhance security.
Mesh networking: Tailscale's mesh networking capability allows devices to communicate with each other directly, without having to go through a central server. This can result in faster and more efficient communication between devices.
Scalability: Tailscale can be used to connect devices and services across multiple networks, making it a great choice for businesses or organizations that need to connect multiple locations.
Cross-platform support: Tailscale supports a wide range of devices and operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Services Accessible with Tailscale

Tailscale can provide home users with secure access to a wide range of services and resources. Some examples include:

File sharing: With Tailscale, users can securely share files and folders between their devices, regardless of where they are located. This can be particularly useful for users who need to share files with family members or friends.
Remote desktop: Tailscale allows users to access their desktops remotely, enabling them to work from anywhere. This can be especially helpful for individuals who need to access their work computer from home or vice versa.
Networked printers: Tailscale can enable users to securely access and use networked printers from their home devices. This can be useful for users who need to print documents from multiple devices in their home.
Smart home devices: Tailscale can provide secure access to smart home devices, such as security cameras, thermostats, and door locks. This can allow users to monitor and control their smart home devices remotely.
Gaming: Tailscale can also be used to securely connect gaming devices across different networks. This can enable users to play multiplayer games with their friends and family members without worrying about security or performance issues.

Overall, Tailscale offers home users a secure and easy-to-use solution for accessing a wide range of services and resources from anywhere.

Products with Tailscale Baked In

Some examples of products that come with Tailscale built-in or have official Tailscale support include:

Raspberry Pi: Tailscale has official support for Raspberry Pi, which means that users can easily install and configure Tailscale on their Raspberry Pi devices.

Synology NAS devices: Tailscale can be installed on Synology's Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices, enabling users to securely access their data from anywhere.

FreeNAS: Tailscale can be integrated with FreeNAS, a popular open-source storage platform. This allows users to securely access their files and folders from anywhere.

HomelabOS: HomelabOS is a self-hosted server environment that includes Tailscale support. This enables users to create a secure and private home server environment that can be accessed from anywhere.

Tailscale is also integrated into some versions of Ubiquiti and GL.iNet routers, providing a solutions for VPNs without opening ports of firewalls as would be needed for traditional VPN services.