A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is software traditionally used to help keep you anonymous online and virtually change your location. As the software has become more well-known, though, countless users are discovering there’s more to VPN than just staying private online.
From securing your sensitive information and avoiding trackers to circumventing content blocks on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and sports streaming sites, you don’t have to be a hardcore techy to appreciate their potential. Plus, the top providers have apps for just about any device, so even if you’re mobile-first, you can stay secure and stream more with ease.
How VPNs work
VPNs work by creating an encrypted connection between your computer and the servers of the VPN service you’re using. The VPN provider then passes your traffic to and from the internet resource you’re trying to access, such as a website.
For example, if Facebook or YouTube is banned at your location, you’ll be able to access them through your VPN. If you are travelling to different countries, you can use a VPN to access restricted sites and apps you use daily, like Gmail and WhatsApp. Also anywhere outside your home country, you can use the best VPN to access the Netflix as they may be unavailable overseas.
By encrypting your traffic between your computer and the VPN server, you prevent your internet service provider or network administrator from seeing your online activity. You also prevent the websites you visit from knowing your true IP address. All they see is the IP address of the VPN server you’re connecting to.
Free VPNs can be quickly downloaded from online app stores for immediate use. But because of the way VPNs work, any provider can technically monitor your web traffic. Free services have an incentive to do so because this information is valuable to advertisers.
That’s why it’s so important to choose a trustworthy VPN that is transparent, does not keep users’ activity logs, and does not have a business model that relies on misusing your data for profit.
Are VPNs safe?
Most VPNs are safe from a technical standpoint. But there are some malicious VPNs waiting for unsuspecting users to unwittingly download their associated malware.
Some of the more malicious free VPNs will secretly download malware onto your computer in order to steal your personal information.
More common are VPNs that make money by logging your activity and selling your personal information to advertisers. And while not all free VPNs are malicious, many limit your data usage, can slow down your internet speed, and spam you with targeted ads while in use.
Truly secure VPN tools will not track your data or attempt to access your private information, whether for targeted ads or otherwise.
Safely downloading a VPN
To safely download a high-quality VPN, it’s best to identify one being promoted through a reliable provider. Trustworthy companies tend to have name recognition and real reviews. Untrustworthy companies might have hundreds of positive reviews, but a closer look will reveal that many appear to have been written by bots.
Safe VPNs will also have a robust web presence. If you come across a free VPN, do a quick search on the company before downloading the app. If you can’t find much of a footprint, skip it and move to the next. Trustworthy VPN providers will have a transparent website and plenty of coverage in the news and by popular reviewers. Additionally, reliable VPNs will provide information on their founders and board members. Funding sources and company location should be easy to find as well.
Don’t mistake price with quality. There are plenty of free or affordable VPNs that won’t steal your data. That’s because these companies typically operate under a “freemium” business model, offering paid upgrades to their services while keeping the base product free. If a VPN is charging for download, be sure to research them first.