Free VPN apps and their dangers
Whenever you find any software that’s completely free, you should immediately ask yourself what’s the catch. In fact, ad-supported free VPNs can often be more of a problem than a solution both for computers and mobile devices. Android is no exception, and because we also know how unsafe most of the Play Store’s apps are, you must pay close attention when installing any of these free VPNs. The first red flag is the amount of personal details these apps will request access to (mobile ID, camera, mic, location, etc.) and even if they don’t, it doesn’t mean you’re safe. Because you’re not paying for the service, these VPNs need to assure their financial survival somehow and one of the main practices is using cookies and other tracking methods to bombard you with targeted ads (so you can also say goodbye to no-log policies). Likewise, the big majority of free VPNs will offer you obsolete protocols and encryptions that only fool you regarding safety and anonymity.
To sum up, it’s always best to go with a trusted and fully tested VPN service. Many of the world’s best providers offer free versions, trials or nice money-back guarantee periods so you can test the service for free on your Android device.
Tips for using a VPN on Android
Regardless of what VPN provider you choose, using it on Android-powered devices can grant you some sweet deals. One of the main ones is accessing the Play Store of another country, either to download that app that seems to take forever to become available in your own country, or to enjoy some regional discounts. Regarding price discounts, VoIP services can also become cheaper if you fire up your VPN and choose to connect to the most suitable server. Regarding suitable servers, if you want to stream your favorite series’ latest episode you’ll want to connect to the server closest to you to enjoy quality streams. The same happens with protocols, since these work on a balance between safety and speed, so unless you choose OpenVPN, you’ll always sacrifice one to boost the other, which can be useful depending on your purpose at the time.
Daniel C.
Sander D.
