The best software is the kind you can forget about
For years, I ignored the security of my home network. I knew better than to click on sketchy links or visit dodgy websites, so I figured it didn’t matter. But now that I have gotten married and my wife and I entertain guests much more often than I used to, I’ve started to discover the cracks in the armor of my network. My entire network can be put at risk by a single guest with a malware-infected laptop, including well-meaning but clueless parents.
I started looking for a solution to keep my network and devices safe, even if I had guests who couldn’t tell the difference between an ad and a scam. That’s where Tailscale comes in. While it is, on the surface, a relatively boring application, it’s one of the most useful tools I use daily. It has quickly become one of my favorite applications and has already proven its worth in protecting my network.
Setup couldn’t be easier
No technical know-how required
There are numerous VPN options I could set up that would secure my network, but Tailscale simplifies the entire process. It uses WireGuard, and unlike the raw version, which requires manual configuration of cryptographic keys, Tailscale lets me log in with an existing account. In my case, I used my Google account, but Microsoft, GitHub, and others are also options. The Tailscale coordination server handles the setup for me; all I have to do is sign in with a device, and it finds any others on my account without any intervention on my part.
Beyond that, Tailscale also makes remote access safer. I can jump onto my home network when I’m out and about to check files on another machine without worry. It’s also a great companion for remote streaming from my Jellyfin server, and that’s a huge bonus now that I’m trying to shed as many streaming services as possible. Tailscale means I don’t need to expose my Jellyfin connection to the broader internet.
Tailscale is mostly open source
I can verify its security myself
Tailscale is not completely open source.
