A virtual private network can be the key to getting online privacy by cutting off eavesdroppers such as hackers, or governments, and your internet service provider. A VPN connection usually encrypts all your online activities and keeps you safe when you are on the public Wi-Fi networks in locations like coffee shops. The number of people using VPN is growing by the day. That’s because more and more individuals are utilizing the internet for most of their daily needs, and there’s a lot of sensitive and personal information in circulation, hence the need to protect themselves using VPNs.
While it is essential to use it nowadays, it’s vital to make the best decision when selecting a VPN. Choosing a suitable one can be a daunting task due to the rise of VPN service providers. In this comprehensive post, we are going to look at the benefits of VPNs and the factors you must consider when looking for a suitable one for your security needs or evaluating VPN reviews.
Benefits of using a VPN:
- Remote control. If you run a company, the best thing about it is that you can access information remotely, even from your home or any other place.
- Better performance. The efficiency and bandwidth of the internet can significantly be increased after implementing a VPN solution.
- Enhanced security. When you’re connected to the internet through a VPN, your data is encrypted and kept secure from the eyes of cybercriminals.
- Online anonymity. A virtual private network can allow you to browse the internet in complete anonymity. It enables you to access both websites and web applications in complete anonymity.
- Unblock websites or bypass filters. A VPN is a great option when it comes to accessing blocked websites or bypassing internet filters.
- Share files. You can use a VPN service if you have a group that wants to share data for a long period.
How To Select The Right VPN For Your Security Needs
- Speed
VPNs usually encrypt all your traffic, and that can reduce your browsing speed to some extent. However, the rate of speed reduction usually depends on the seller. A good VPN will make sure that the speed reduction of browsing is minimal, and other times VPNs can improve your upload and download speeds as well. Check VPNBrains for this.
- Number of devices
If you are the type of tech person who is used to move around with its laptop, smartphone, and tablet, then you might be interested in the number of devices that can be secured. We recommend Surfshark, which allows you to use its service not on 5, not on 7 (like other providers on the market), but on any number of devices simultaneously. You can protect as many devices as you’d like at once.
- Protocols and encryption
VPNs normally encrypt your internet connection, but the actual strength of the encryption usually determines whether your activities and data are secure or not. One of the most secure protocols presently is OpenVPN, and many top VPNs normally support it. Your VPN should not only be fast, but it should also be secure.
- Coverage
The more the servers under the name of a VPN, the more options of connectivity you will have. That will prevent server congestion and also reduce the probability of experiencing connection drops. Besides, it also assists in improving your connection speed, particularly if you’re connected to a particular server near your geographic location.
- Policy of logs
Generally, a VPN usually hide your online data and activities from everyone, but it can see all your activities. If your preferred VPN records all that information and later shares it with some third parties, then you will have spent your subscription money for nothing. In most cases, free VPNs do that to generate some funds. Therefore, it is always important to check the privacy policies of a VPN before you subscribe to it. Ensure that it is based on privacy-respecting locations and has a no-logs policy.
- Pricing
The price of a VPN can vary significantly, but your budget can easily eliminate some options from the beginning. Committing to a twelve or six-month term instead of monthly subscriptions will reduce the cost significantly. If you are comfortable that a certain provider is good for you or your business, a long-term plan might save you lots of money.
In general, when you pay for a VPN service, you would like to ensure that you get back your money’s worth. Free VPNs don’t charge you anything, but your data, identity, and activities are not secure with them. Besides, they also come with some server and bandwidth limitations as well. But that does not mean all premium options are good.
When choosing a suitable VPN, look for one that provides you with everything you want but does not make a dent in your wallet. Most VPNs also offer money-back guarantees that usually range from 7 days to 30 days. It’s good to go for these VPNs because you can easily test their services fully within the given period. If you are not satisfied with the service, you can always ask for a refund.
- Cross-Platform Support
In the early days, people only used the internet through their laptops and computers. Nowadays, people normally use smartphones, Smart TVs, tablets, Fire Stick, gaming consoles, and Kodi, among others, to connect to the web. If your gadget is interacting more regularly with the internet, then it requires protection. Therefore, you should ensure that your virtual private network can support different operating systems and devices and can allow simultaneous connections as well.
- Customer Support
In some cases, you can encounter problems when setting up a virtual private network or when using them. The probability of this happening is pretty high, especially if you are a novice and are not well conversant with the field. But having friendly and reliable customer support that provides users with round the clock support and assistance can be a big boost in such cases. When making your selection, look for one that does not only offer ticket and email support but live chat support as well.
Conclusion
People are searching for the best ways to avoid getting tracked when browsing the internet and VPN is the best solution for that. It assists in protecting and preventing the Internet Service Provider of a website’s owner from tracking your activities when browsing. The issues faced by the free versions of VPNs over the internet are the few location options and bandwidth limitations. Therefore, the best thing is to pay for a reliable and genuine VPN that will ensure good speed, connectivity, and guaranteed data security.
