An Introduction to VPNs
If you are new to the VPN world, you may feel a little lost.
That’s where we come in. With
our detailed reviews, we offer honest assessments to compare the best
options on the market. But first
things first. If you are wondering how VPNs
actually work, what to look out for, and whether you even
need one, then you have come to the right place. The following guide will
explore all the ins and outs
and discover why VPNs are becoming an increasing necessity in today’s
digital world.
What is a VPN?
A virtual private network allows you to access the
internet through a secure
connection. Without a VPN, everything you do online can be viewed,
monitored, and intercepted. This
makes you vulnerable to hackers and visible to prying eyes. Every time you
enter your bank details, send
an email, download a file, or enter personal information into your browser,
you are exposed and at risk.
And every digital move you make can be traced back to the actual device you
are using at your physical
location.
A VPN masks your actual IP address and encrypts your
activity, so no one will ever
know what you are up to or where you are. But there’s much more to a VPN
than security and anonymity. So
let’s take a look at a handful of other popular reasons why more and more
people are turning to VPNs:
- Bypass restrictions for entertainment: Enjoy
geo-restricted content on streaming platforms from around the world
- Access blocked sites: Evade firewalls erected by
governments, schools, workplaces,
etc.
to gain access to news sites, social media, and search engines
- Increase gaming options: Open up a more comprehensive
range of online game
libraries,
eliminate risks on public Wi-Fi,
prevent throttling, and protect identity from abusive players
- Save money on digital purchases: Reduce costs when
buying online products or
services
by switching location
- Peace of mind when torrenting: Make P2P activity
invisible to internet service
providers (ISPs)
Do You Really Need a VPN?
Communication, shopping, banking,
learning, reading the news… almost
everything nowadays takes place online. That’s a lot of personal information
thrown out into the world.
And it’s not just hackers that are privy to that information; it’s companies
too, websites, ISPs,
governments, even. Why should anyone have the right to examine every aspect
of your digital life? A VPN
keeps your information private while providing additional benefits such as
those listed above. If you
value this privacy, then the next step is choosing the best VPN for your
needs.
What to Look for in a VPN?
With such a diverse range of VPNs on the market, finding
your perfect match can be a
challenge. The easiest way to start is to identify precisely what you want
your VPN to achieve. Would
you prefer a fire-and-forget option that requires as little fuss as
possible? Or are you on the hunt for
something more specific with advanced customization tools? Whatever your
needs, the following factors
should be considered before making a choice.
1. Security
If your main concern is safeguarding your internet traffic, then opt
for a VPN that
focuses primarily on security. When it comes to safety measures, check out
the list below to make sure
your potential VPN ticks all the boxes:
- Encryption: Nothing less than the industry-standard
AES-256 encryption should do
- Protocols: Look for trusted protocols, such as IKEv2,
OpenVPN and WireGuard
- Logging policy: Check privacy policies to ensure the
VPN stores no logs. Even
better, choose a company
that has already performed an independent logging audit
- Jurisdiction: Companies operating out of privacy havens
have an advantage over
those based in Five Eyes
alliance countries, for example
- Leak blocking: Pick a VPN that is proven to stop
WebRTC/DNS/IP leaks
- Kill switch: A kill switch prevents exposure if the VPN
connection suddenly drops
- Added features: Look out for extra security measures,
such as ad and tracker
blockers, malware
detectors, rotating IP addresses, first-party DNS servers, dedicated
IPs, double VPN, and more
2. Speed and
Performance
When you visit a website through a VPN, you first pass
through a server instead of
connecting directly. This lengthier process, delayed further by adding
encryption, results in a slower
internet
connection. That’s why speed is an important aspect to consider when
selecting a VPN. The best
providers keep speed loss to a minimum, so users barely notice the
difference when browsing, streaming,
or torrenting within the VPN’s secured tunnel.
Speed tests can give an indication of how fast a VPN
performs. However, other factors
can influence the results, such as time of day, internet
connections, etc. They also need to be
completed over a prolonged period of time to ensure the VPN maintains
consistency. Opting for a VPN with
an extensive server fleet doesn’t necessarily mean higher speeds. Although,
those with limited fleets
may lead to congestion and subsequent speed loss. Instead, look for a decent
set of servers that are
well distributed geographically. And if you’re focused on streaming or
torrenting, for instance, seek
out a VPN with dedicated streamer or P2P servers. Unlimited bandwidth is a
must, and look for the
WireGuard protocol for an extra speed injection.
3. Usability
A lightning-fast VPN with military-grade encryption is
worthless if you can’t figure
out how to use it. Luckily, the majority of market leaders have designed
their services to cater to the
least tech-savvy customers. Some even specialize in simplicity. On the other
end of the spectrum, those
with more specific demands need to find a VPN that offers advanced features
and configuration tools.
As well as user-friendliness and customization, it’s also
essential to check what
devices are compatible with the VPN, especially if you are planning to
connect your laptop, phone,
tablet, TV, and so on. Even some of the biggest names in the business fail
to accommodate everyone. And
some place restrictions on the number of simultaneous connections, which
should be avoided if you wish
to protect multiple devices on a single subscription.
Another point to remember is that not all features are
available on every app. Say,
for example, you have Windows on your laptop and an iPhone . A kill switch may work on
your computer but
not on your mobile. Here you can read more about VPNs for Linux, iPad, and
Mac.
4. Customer Service
A premium product should always be backed up by
first-class service. And a VPN is no
exception. Customers should be able to contact their provider around the
clock to resolve any queries.
Generally speaking, this expectation is met by the lion’s share of
companies, many of which provide a
24/7 live chat function. Aside from instant customer support, an in-depth
help section can be valuable,
particularly for beginners, so give the VPN website a good run-through
before making a decision.
5. Price
The beauty of most VPNs is that you can
enjoy all the benefits at an
affordable rate, especially if you opt for a long-term plan. Naturally, the
more you pay, the more
features and quality you can expect. However, there are still plenty of
superb options for users
unwilling to invest heavily. While many linger around the €9.5 mark for a
monthly subscription, extended
packages (usually up to three years) can come in as cheap as €1.9 to €2.8
per month. A 30-day money-back
guarantee appears to be the industry standard for a refund policy, which
allows ample time for customers
to trial the VPN without obligation. Those looking for maximum anonymity
should opt for a VPN that can
be purchased with cryptocurrency. For more information read our article How Much Does a VPN Cost?
What’s the Deal with VPNs and Streaming?
One of the primary reasons for VPN usage is to trick your
ISP into thinking you are
accessing the internet from a different location. Imagine you are traveling
outside the UK and want to
continue with your current series on BBC iPlayer. Or a film you’ve been
waiting to see is available on
US Netflix but not in your country. VPNs remove this annoyance by unblocking
geo-restricted content.
Yet when it comes to streaming, not all
VPNs are created equally.
Streaming heavyweights, most prominently US Netflix, are notoriously
difficult to crack. Some VPNs go
all out to overcome such challenging barriers, while others fail miserably.
First, find out how
successful the VPN is at unlocking your platform of choice, whether it be Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, HBO
Max, Disney+, or
even a more obscure entertainment provider. But remember, streaming services
are constantly battling to
keep VPNs at bay, so your favorite show may be here today and gone tomorrow.
Speed and reliability play
a role here, too, as your VPN needs to be fast enough to avoid buffering and
ensure seamless viewing
pleasure.
Do VPNs Allow Torrenting?
Some do, some don’t. And the ones that do, may only use a
small percentage of their
servers. If your priority is downloading or uploading files, then it’s
worthwhile picking a VPN geared
up for P2P activity. As well as top-notch security and fast speeds, you need
to be on the lookout for
the following:
- Kill switch: The last thing you need is to be exposed
all of a sudden if the VPN
connection unexpectedly cuts out
- Port forwarding: Bypasses the NAT firewall to increase
connection speeds
- Split tunneling: Lets you decide which apps to protect
with the VPN and which to
connect directly to the internet
- Proven no logs policy: Guarantee your privacy with a
company committed to
safeguarding your data
Free VPNs: Do They Work?
If you enter ‘free VPN’ into a search engine, you will end
up with page after page of
countless possibilities promising all the advantages of using a VPN at no
charge. But indeed, there’s a
catch, right? Correct! Companies offering free VPNs have to recover their
costs somewhere, and that’s
usually with intrusive adverts or through the sale of customer information.
Not only that, the majority
are often extremely limited in terms of data, speed, features, and
capabilities, rendering them
practically useless.
Nevertheless, there are a handful of premium VPNs that
provide a free service as an
alternative to their paid plans. Yes, restrictions generally apply, such as
the inability to stream or
data caps, but they do offer a taste of VPN life that could benefit
potential users.
VPNs: What Else to Keep in Mind?
VPNs have quickly grown out of the hardcore tech arena and
blossomed into the world of
the average internet user. They are now easier to operate than ever before
and are still improving from
day to day. There really isn’t a better time to jump on board and secure
your privacy when venturing
online.
If you’re still unsure whether a VPN is right for you, why
not take advantage of a
30-day money-back guarantee? Simply check out our reviews, pick the most
suitable VPN for your
requirements and sign up to a company that is so confident in its service
that it will refund your
payment, no questions asked. And if you have any other questions, feel free
to browse our site and check
out our other articles. We aim to give you all the information you need to
make an informed choice to
ensure a secure and satisfying VPN experience.
