Systems for automatic secured remote access to a local network

A method of establishing a secure, encrypted, virtual private network (VPN), the method comprising:

• connecting a portal device to a local internet connection, wherein the portal device comprises a housing enclosing a wireless radio, an Ethernet port and a processor wherein the processor has been paired with a home router;
• transmitting a request to access the home router from the portal device to a remote server;
• periodically updating, by the home router, the remote server with current connectivity information;
• transmitting a notification of the request to access the home router by the portal device from the remote server to an administrator for the home router;
• exchanging, through the remote server, security certificates between the portal device and the home router after the administrator grants permission to the portal device to access the home router;
• providing, from the remote server, the connectivity information for the home router to the portal device;
• establishing a direct and encrypted VPN between the portal device and the home router;
• operating the portal device as a local access point using the wireless radio and processor of the portal device, wherein the local access point extends an area network of the home router through the direct and encrypted VPN by operating in the same layer 2 network as the area network of the home route;
• and
• receiving by the portal device, from the remote server, updated connectivity information for the home router when the direct and encrypted VPN between the portal device and the home router fails.

A portal device for establishing a secure, encrypted, virtual private network (VPN) to extend the network of a home router at a remote location, the device comprising:

• a housing enclosing a processor and a wireless radio comprising one or more dual band antennas;
• a pronged plug extending from the housing configured so that the portal device housing may be mounted to a wall power plug;
• and
• an Ethernet port extending into the housing;
• a memory coupled to the processor, the memory configured to store computer-program instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:
• connect to a local internet connection;
• transmit a request to access a home router to a remote server;
• exchange, through the remote server, security certificates with the home router after an administrator grants permission to access the home router;
• receive, from the remote server, connectivity information for the home router;
• establish a direct and encrypted VPN with the home router;
• and
• operate as a local access point using the wireless radio, wherein the local access point extends an area network of the home router through the direct and encrypted VPN.