VPN Services FAQ

What is a VPN?

Simply stated, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a type of service that provides a secure connection between two parties over a publicly used network such as the internet.

A VPN may be needed for any number of common reasons. Perhaps you wish to download a movie that may be blocked from certain IP address locations or countries. Also, there is a great deal of information companies and individuals can learn from your domestic IP address. In the days when hackers and viruses may choose to target computers in a certain location, a VPN can help safeguard your personal data. Or, you may wish to utilize a VPN to connect to a public Wi-Fi hotspot securely without worrying about any communications falling into the wrong hands. These are but a few of the reasons that these gateways have become so popular.

Nonetheless, do not let the popularity of these networks you into believing that they are anything but extremely advanced and effective. Without oversimplifying what is without a doubt cutting-edge technology, you can envision a VPN provider as a trusted middleman. You send your information to this middleman, your data is encrypted with highly advanced algorithms, and the data is then transmitted to a receiver. The primary strength of a VPN is the fact that not only is your sensitive data nearly impossible to decipher, but that it is extremely challenging to intercept while being transmitted. Therefore, any third parties will have a very difficult time obtaining and understanding these communications.

The secure means by which this information is transmitted are known as protocols. There are a number of different formats that depend on the level of security you may require. Some of the most powerful protocols require what are known as “keys”. Essentially, these keys are shared between the sender and the receiver. Only the two parties possess these keys and the data cannot be decrypted without them. This “virtual handshake” can offer stringent levels of security and a form is even included in the Windows operating system itself.

Although the programming and implementation of a VPN can be extremely difficult to comprehend, their basic functionality can be appreciated by those who wish to be assured that any sensitive data is highly safeguarded from the outside world. A quality VPN service is built in such a way that it lets you use the software through a very simple interface, while all the complicated technology is doing its work in the backend.

How does a VPN work?

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, functions by utilizing an advanced encryption that allows data transmission and reception to be anonymous and secure between two or more parties. Essentially, this can be envisioned as communications between two individuals that share a unique language but that any other third parties are unable to interpret. Let us take a closer look at the specifics involved that allow VPNs to maintain such a high level of security.

The service begins when a packet of data is sent from the client. This data can be graphical in nature, an email or any other information that needs to be secured. This data is then sent through what is known as a VPN gateway, which then adds what is known as an authentication header, or AH for short. This information is subsequently encrypted using one of two types of software; either symmetric or asymmetric systems. Symmetric transmission is fast to implement and is normally used when large packets of information are communicated between two parties. As the name may denote, asymmetric systems are a great deal more complex and require two related “keys”, one public and the other privately held in order for the data to be decrypted and accessed. Obviously, asymmetric encryption is normally used when the information in question is of a highly sensitive nature.

Once the encrypted information is received, the authorized VPN router will decrypt the data (either symmetrically or asymmetrically) and then send it to the appropriate destination. This can either be a single recipient or a certain node in a network, all depending on the location receiving the data. One important aspect to note is that once the data is encrypted, it is passed along through a network as any normal information packets would be.

Thus, the strength of a VPN and the functionality it boasts is in the processes between transmission and reception. Using such a high level of encryption, it is nearly impossible for the data to be jeopardized. We must remember that not only must an intruder decrypt the data, this information must first be intercepted. Furthermore, any hacker or other individual needs to possess one of the valid authentication keys. Due to these facts, VPNs are an extremely robust form of secure transmission between two parties. Notwithstanding these strengths, as technology improves so will the need arise for the continued enhancement of this technology into the foreseeable future.

How does VPN encryption work?

Encryption is used by VPNs to keep users’ traffic safe from any online snoopers, meaning hackers and ISPs but also governments or other corporate entities. When establishing a connection to a VPN server, the tunnel through which the information travels applies an encryption and makes it impossible for anyone to decrypt it without a corresponding key. In turn, both end points in a connection – the sender and the recipient – have access to that key, which is the responsibility of the VPN and is different for every user and for every connection.

However, explaining VPN encryption is no simple task. This is one of the most complex components of a VPN and it’s also impossible to understand without also being aware of other parts of the encryption process, such as VPN protocols, ciphers, RSA handshakes and algorithms.

First things first, it’s important to know about different VPN protocols, which each have their own pros and cons. These protocols apply different encryption levels to make a VPN connection either more or less safe, which as a result affects the overall speed of a connection. These levels are dictated by the type of encryption used, with Blowfish, IPSec, AES-128 and AES-256 being some of the most popular options. In fact, AES-256 is considered to be unbreakable to this date and is used by the U.S. government and military to encrypt its communications – so it’s the preferred choice for a VPN connection when speed is not an important factor. However, if speed is a concern, then AES-128 is a reliable choice as it eases a little on the encryption’s strength but is still solid and very unlikely to be broken.

As our guide explains in further detail, the binary key length plays an important role here. Binary code consists in either numbers 0 or 1 and if each bit of data has these two possible values, then a key with 128 binary digits (128-bit) can have 2,128 possible combinations, which would take something like 1,022 years to check every possible key. Consider 256-bit keys, then, and the result is the impenetrable encryption that is most commonly used by VPN providers.

When it comes to the actual encryption keys, try visiting AESEncryption.net. This free online encryption tool lets you encrypt a sentence using whatever keys and key lengths you desire, resulting in complete gibberish that can only be translated with access to this key. You’ll notice that the smallest of changes in the key alters the results drastically. This happens because in the sentence all the letters were replaced with numbers, symbols or other letters – for example A = L, B = F, C =P. This is the same concept behind VPNs, only on a much stronger and more complex scale.

As such, the encryption key is automatically applied to each user’s VPN connection and because of the secure method of communication – termed RSA handshakes – the key is different every time, even when connecting to the same servers. ISPs and hackers don’t have access to the decryption key, so even if they were able to intercept traffic they would only see the unintelligible text and will be unable to decrypt it.

What's the difference between a VPN and a proxy?

Does a VPN work on mobile data?

Yes, it does. A VPN for mobile is the most popular choice for many users, sometimes even before computers. However, do remember that it counts towards your data limit, so it’s important to carefully choose when you make use of it. Though there are times where a public Wi-Fi network may seem good enough, these are often crowded and can become quite slow, leaving you with no other option than to turn to your own data plans using 3G, 4G and the like. However, depending on your physical location the simple mobile data may not be enough to ensure access to blocked websites, so enabling that VPN is perhaps the best thing to do.

Cellular data is mostly useful when on the move and the best way to exemplify this is imagining the following scenario: say you travelled to a country where many websites and services are blocked, like Turkey for instance. You just found out about a great restaurant online, but it’s your first time in the country and therefore you need to follow directions on Google Maps to get there.

In this case you may not want to turn the VPN on to save mobile data. For that matter, Google Maps triangulates your real location using your phone’s GPS location, so being connected to a VPN server in another location will not change your true location.

But once you get to the restaurant, there are only a couple seats left, a good sign that even if there was a Wi-Fi network then connecting to it would be like taking the freeway on rush hour. This is where using a VPN alongside your mobile data is the most useful. If you chose to have dinner in an area with good internet coverage – like in a city – then it’s likely that you’ll get a decent connection over mobile, so cellular data becomes a valid option for quicker surfing. In this scenario, a VPN will help you pass the time until your order arrives, allowing you to access as many blocked apps as you want, such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter or WhatsApp, to name just the most common ones.

Once again: VPNs still count towards your data cap, so keep an eye on just how much you’ve used. In this regard, if possible, choose a VPN that offers multiple protocols and different levels of encryption. Not only will this help to achieve a faster speed when needed but it allows you to save some additional megabytes, too, as encryption heavily impacts both these factors.

What happens if my VPN disconnects?

It depends on what kind of VPN you’re using. However, if the plug is pulled from your VPN, this can indeed become a problem, especially if the program doesn’t provide any kind of prevention against sudden disconnections. Furthermore, if your VPN fails at the worst moment possible, you can easily get in trouble and might end up being questioned by not just your ISP, but local authorities as well. Fortunately, many VPNs already have many lifesaver features, including the so-called kill switch.

If you have no idea what a kill switch is, let us bring you an example. Imagine that you’re under VPN protection, doing something in the “danger zone”, such as torrenting. If your VPN doesn’t have the kill switch feature and it suddenly gets disconnected for any reason, your internet traffic will become unprotected and public, which can get you in some serious trouble. What’s worse is that you may not even notice that the VPN stopped working, so you might end up not even knowing the risk you’re taking at the moment. However, if you do have a kill switch, you can do whatever you want without the fear of getting exposed should the program fail. In fact, this feature makes sure that your entire online traffic is put on a halt immediately should your VPN protection disconnect. The kill switch is triggered as soon as the disconnection is detected, keeping your anonymity on the highest level.

Still, the kill switch is not the only way to get protected in case of a VPN connection failure, as there are other solutions that provide you the same results despite working a little differently. One of these solutions is SaferVPN‘s automatic Wi-Fi protection feature that automatically directs your mobile internet traffic to a secure and encrypted VPN channel as soon as your mobile device connects to an unsecured Wi-Fi. Considering the dangers when connecting to public Wi-Fi hotspots, this is an essential and effective way of protecting your devices and data.

What is VPN cascading?

Will a VPN work in China?

Is using a VPN service easy?

How secure is using a VPN?

Virtual private networks are some of the most secure forms of data transmission available in the modern world. The reason for this level of protection is due to the processes they employ to transmit and receive sensitive data. To demonstrate this level of security, it is essential to appreciate the layers of protocol employed when data is sent and received.

The strength of a VPN lies in the ability to encrypt data with the intention of rendering it invisible and indecipherable to any third parties. The first step in this process is the utilization of a cryptosystem that essentially “masks” any data being transmitted. This is accomplished in one of two ways. Symmetric encryption is used to communicate a certain stream of information between two parties that are familiar with one another. Both the sender and the recipient each have a “key” which must be used to encrypt and decipher the data.

Asymmetric transmission is inherently more complex and is used when highly sensitive information needs to be sent and received. This system requires a pair of mathematically related keys on each end for the data to be accessed. The length of the code itself directly correlates to how secure these keys will be.

Another reason that VPNs are exceedingly secure is the fact that any intruder must be aware that the transmission is taking place. This is comparatively difficult to accomplish when the data is encrypted. Furthermore, the third party must have access to at least one of the authentication keys in order to decrypt the information. Thus, the strengths of a VPN are not only in their ability to encrypt data transmissions, but additionally they render it highly unlikely that any intruder will have access to the authentication keys themselves. VPN technology is constantly being updated with increases in computing power and it is expected that such systems will continue to represent one of the most secure forms of communication into the future.

Is a VPN for Wi-Fi connections only?

A VPN can be used for other types of connections other than Wi-Fi. It can also be used to protect wired and 4G connections. Wi-Fi and wired connections work in similar ways, since what separates a wireless connection from a wired connection is literally a cable and most ISPs can provide both wired and wireless services.

When done properly, a network can be encrypted from the moment it is configured. However, most Internet Service Providers will only deliver the equipment and the service will be activated with automatic settings, meaning that a connection established through that network will have little to no encryption. In that sense, a VPN service can protect you if you’re using a wired connection.

When it comes to 4G connections, however, things work differently. 4G-enabled devices connect to the internet through their cellular connection provider. Basically, they receive data from the cellphone company the same way they receive a mobile phone signal. That’s why it is possible to access internet wherever there is a mobile connection. In addition, because data sent via 4G is carried in a different way, it will be encrypted, unlike in Wi-Fi connections. In practical terms, using a 4G connection is safer compared to using hotspots or Wi-Fi networks.

However, this doesn’t mean that 4G can’t be monitored or even compromised. Sure, it is safer than using a Wi-Fi connection but it can also suffer some security breaches. As we know, many mobile and tablet applications monitor our online and even offline activities, such as our real and visited locations. Data can be collected by the companies behind those applications and then used for their own financial gains. And if companies can access that information, so can hackers. In addition, personal information such as medical records or banking information can also be exposed if there’s a security breach.

To sum it all up, just like it is with Wi-Fi connections, a VPN can also be helpful while using 4G. It will further encrypt your connection, maximize your privacy, and also switch the real IP address with an IP address at another location.

Can I use a VPN service on my mobile device?

Can I use multiple VPNs at once?

Yes, and there is more than one way to do this. While some methods may require the advanced tweaking of technical parameters, even users with limited technical skills can use multiple VPNs at once. However, it may not be worth it. Although it’s possible to have multiple VPN clients on one computer, the result is usually compatibility issues and poor internet performance.

Should I use multiple VPNs?

Although unusual, there may be some situations when you need to connect to multiple VPN clients. For instance, if you work for a company that uses a VPN for network security and you also need to connect to a customer’s private network. There are other situations where multiple encryption can helpfully enhance security, such as when using public Wi-Fi or accessing geo-restricted content.

What happens when you use two VPNs at once?

Simply installing and connecting two VPNs at once is ineffective, as activating the second VPN likely results in a routing error. Even if that doesn’t happen, chances are that the two will battle until only one is left running – inevitable with VPNs featuring a kill switch.

This happens because turning on a VPN creates a series of routing entries in the user’s device that redirects the internet traffic out of the original gateway. When the second VPN attempts to do the same, they clash.

Trying to avoid this is the real technical challenge, especially if you do it manually. If so, you need to perform a few changes in the OpenVPN configuration files as well as run a handful of command lines via the command prompt.

How to setup multiple VPNs at once?

Double VPN

Although not offered by all, some VPN providers do offer a double VPN or multihop, which lets you set up two or more sequentially connected VPNs. This is the most straightforward method for configuring multiple VPNs. For example, in a matter of seconds, NordVPN or SurfShark achieve what would otherwise take hours to do manually.

These services can route traffic to one server and then redirect it to another, encrypting it at least twice. The traffic is always the same and dealt with by the one carrier, which means that there’s no risk of conflict between tunnels.

Virtual machine

Another way to use two VPNs at once and with only a little more effort is by installing one on your original operating system and another on a virtual machine. Simply put, you create a new virtual computer inside your primary OS and install a VPN, such as OpenVPN, on both systems. This creates two tunnels, routing your IP address from your computer and then through the virtual machine, but, unfortunately, severely impacts network performance.

VPN router

The same principle can be applied to VPN routers that grant network-wide protection. Although not offered by most providers, routers can also be configured to allow multiple simultaneous connections and as many OpenVPN clients as you want. However, they need to be configured to obey the ‘Accept DNS Configuration=Exclusive’ setting in the router’s control panel. In addition, each client will need to use different DNS servers but doing so may violate the provider’s terms of service.

OpenVPN

By default, the OpenVPN client only supports one active VPN connection. After installing it, only one virtual TAP or TUN adapter is created. If you want multiple simultaneous VPN connections, you need to create additional adapters. This is the most laborious way to set up multiple VPN connections since it requires advanced command lines.

Always ensure there’s a good reason to use multiple VPNs, keeping in mind that two or more may significantly impact the network’s latency and speed – most likely to the point of rendering it unusable.

Should I use a VPN all the time?

The answer here would be ‘yes’ for a variety of reasons, but we understand that not all users can consider this an option due to limited data plans, the need for better internet speed or simply device limitations.

Most VPNs have a feature that ensures the software starts at launch alongside the computer or mobile device they’re installed on. For better safety and to avoid situations where you might forget to turn the app on at the most critical times, it is recommended that you keep your VPN active.

This is especially important when going out with a smartphone or even a laptop and connecting to a public Wi-Fi hotspot: not only will the owner of the internet source be able to see what you’re doing online, but so will any other users with the appropriate skills. This brings all kind of dangers, since your passwords don’t even need to be compromised for them to know the insights of your social media profile, your email address will also be left out in the open and, more worrying, sensitive banking information can be disclosed.

But even if you’re more of a stay-at-home person, VPNs are still important, even when performing some trivial activity like searching for information or simply spending time watching a video or two.

It is true that having a VPN turned on can result in some loss of speed, but most of the time this is a price worth paying to remain anonymous to your ISP. This may not seem that important, but ISPs have constant access to your online actions, not to mention that regular use of a streaming service might end up with them throttling your connection to limit your bandwidth usage. Activating a VPN prevents them from snooping, and choosing the closest server to your physical location will help in reducing speed loss.

Something that is important to remember, as well, is that ISPs will likely turn customers in to authorities for torrenting, usually after one or two warning letters with heavy fines. This is where a VPN that turns itself on automatically is the most crucial, and having it always working in the background will mean you won’t forget to connect it before beginning a torrent download. Don’t forget that completely removing geographical blocks means streaming services won’t be limited anymore, and since VPNs don’t often impose limits on bandwidth there should be no issues with an ISP throttling your connections.

Should I use a VPN at home?

The answer to this question depends on many different factors, such as the reason you purchased a VPN in the first place, how much data you’re allowed to use, the country you live in and more. Nowadays VPNs are already compatible with computers, mobile devices and even routers for an even more extended range of coverage. And yet while the protection that they provide is more necessary than ever, is this also the case when it comes to home connections?

Using a VPN for streaming content

The most common reason for using a VPN is to unblock websites, particularly streaming services to enjoy your favorite shows and movies without restrictions. However, if you live in a country where such blocks are not a problem – such as in the U.S. – and you are able to watch whatever you want freely, then a VPN won’t really be a necessity here.

Turning it off will help you save some data and enjoy faster connection speeds, making this a logical decision, right? However, many ISPs are keen on throttling your connection whenever you reach high bandwidth consumption or the limits of your package, which may well happen within just a couple of minutes of streaming. VPNs hide your traffic from ISPs, and so if they cannot see what you’re doing then they won’t see a reason to throttle your speed either. In this case it is advisable to opt for a VPN with unlimited bandwidth and server switches.

Torrenting and VPNs

The same applies for when visiting websites or using services that, while you have access to them, may not be seen in a positive light. Torrenting is the prime example here, as in most countries it is considered illegal, and as such a VPN is crucial to shield you from your ISP and avoid any serious legal implications.

Many VPN providers support – and explicitly mention – P2P file sharing, either providing particular servers in key parts of the world that are reserved solely for this purpose or by enabling it across their entire VPN network. If your VPN of choice uses the latter, then make sure that the company enacts a trustworthy no-log policy or, even better, that its headquarters are located in a country that is relaxed about torrenting or has strict laws on protecting the privacy of online usage.

Combining VPNs with everyday internet use

There are other situations in which there’s not really any need to have a VPN turned on. Assuming that social media services are not blocked in your region and you’re just looking to kill some time checking Facebook or any other social network, then putting your connection through a VPN will only make it slower, especially if you’re using a wireless connection. Likewise, assuming your home network is safe, you don’t necessarily need to manage your bank account through a VPN. In fact, while it’s true that the bank can track your IP address to your front door, they already have your personal records anyway.

However, it’s important to remember cases like social media, since Facebook still is – along with Google – the largest gatherer of user data in the world, typically to use in the form of targeted advertising. VPNs allow you to remain hidden from this as well, not to mention that many of them also include ad blockers – though in some cases these work even if the VPN is deactivated. A lighter encryption setting with a faster protocol is more than enough to prevent this, ensuring speeds you’re happy with while maintaining a secure connection nonetheless.

So, to conclude, it’s really up to you whether you use a VPN at home. Since your home connection can be trusted, the rules surrounding the dangers of public connections don’t apply. However, it’s important to keep in mind that VPNs do more than simply unblock sites, they also provide a high level of anonymity and top security features that are crucial for safe online surfing.

Should I use a VPN on my iPhone, Android phone?

Yes, definitely. A VPN is as important for mobile devices (not only smartphones, but tablets as well) as it is essential for computers, if not more. However, the extended protection doesn’t come from the fake presumption that these devices are more vulnerable, but because they’re portable devices. If you think about it, you are more likely connect your smartphone or tablet to a badly secured public Wi-Fi hotspot than your computer. Also, hackers can get behind public access hotspots and spy on what websites you’re visiting, apps you’re using and so on. They take advantage of any security flaws and might even steal your bank account information while you were carelessly shopping online. In addition, wrongdoers can create so-called Evil Twins too. These are fake Wi-Fi hotspots that look exactly like the real ones but once you connect to them, you’re basically handing over your information to their malicious creator.

Besides featuring protection for all kinds of fraudulent activities, a mobile VPN also allows some comfort. It attributes a different IP address to your device, changing your virtual location without actually moving anywhere. In a mobile device context, VPNs earn you lower cost Skype calls since international costs will pretty much disappear. Let’s say you live in England and want to Skype to your cousin who just got himself a nice vacation in Mexico. Just turn on your VPN, connect to a Mexican VPN server and you can talk with your cousin for the price of a burrito, as your VoIP service will think you’re calling from Mexico as well. The same goes for accessing foreign countries’ app stores.

Nowadays, VPN mobile support is a common feature and the vast majority offers more than one simultaneous connection. In other words, you can connect your smartphone, tablet or computer to the same service at the same time. In case the VPN provider even features router support then that number goes boom. Besides, some companies give you dedicated mobile apps that look identical to their desktop clients so you can start using it right away.

How do I get rid of a VPN?

Just like any other program, when the time comes to uninstall certain VPNs it can be quite a tricky process, often leaving some leftovers behind that can still clog up your computer or mobile device and steal precious space when you need it the most. In fact, the practice of hiding behind unnecessary leftover files after what might seem like a perfectly normal uninstall is becoming more common nowadays, and as such it’s important to know that there are still ways to completely remove the remnants of an unwanted VPN. On a mobile device the uninstall process of an app is pretty straightforward and thorough, but on computers this is not always the case and typically more action is necessary.

PC

The first step to uninstall a VPN client on PC is the same as for any other program. Head into the control panel, select the ‘Apps’ section, and then find and remove the desired VPN program. While this may be enough in some cases, nowadays VPNs provide more additional tools than ever, and in many cases these will also need uninstalling too.

One of the most common is the browser add-ons. These are not removed alongside the VPN client and because, in many cases, they actually act as ad blockers, it can be advisable to keep onto them for a safer and more peaceful web surfing experience. However, if you absolutely don’t want any strings attached to your previous VPN, then just visit your browser’s add-on page, find the culprit and disable or uninstall it for good.

Then there are leftover files, fragments of previously installed software that are often invisible to many of us. This can either be registry entries, desktop shortcuts that are not removed or any other small apps that continue running in the background.

In the case of registry keys, these are often left ‘half empty’ so that – should you install the program again later – the previous configurations and user preferences that you used can be quickly loaded up again. They still take up space on your computer, though, and could contribute to slowing down the machine’s overall performance.

Finding VPN programs running in the background is trickier, though. The best way to find these is by accessing Windows’s task manager (Ctrl + Alt + Delete) and then scrolling down the list. If you find anything running that you don’t recognize or think may be associated with the VPN, despite how insignificant the CPU impact may seem, search for its location using Windows search and then delete the files. Only do this if you’re certain the program was installed as part of the VPN, however.

However, you can avoid all of these manual tweaks by simply using a computer optimization tool like CleanMyPC. Not only does this allow for the clean uninstall of any program, but it takes care of empty registry keys and any other leftovers, too. It can also clean your computer from unnecessary junk to make it faster and healthier.

Mac

Mac computers fall under the same category as PCs, though with the obvious software differences. Usually, a simple uninstall of most apps is enough, and for that you simply need to locate the VPN you want to remove in the Applications directory and then drag it to the trash bin. If such an app requires any supporting files, these will be stored in the /Library/Application Support directory so you can delete them from there as well.

As with PC software, this won’t remove any add-ons from browsers so you must do the same to clear away any VPN extensions that may have been installed. Likewise, computer optimization tools are available for Mac computers as well and, in this case, CleanMyMac is a just as good an option.

iPhone/iPad

If there’s something the iOS operating system is good at, it’s deleting apps. In fact, all that iPhone and iPad users need to do to uninstall any of them is to hold down on the home screen icon until a little ‘x’ appears on the top corner. Tapping that cross will then prompt a deletion confirmation that, when accepted, will erase the app and any associated files, including any stored data and user settings.

Android

Much like Apple’s mobile operating system, removing an app using the default uninstaller is enough to have it completely wiped away from your system. Having said that, you can simply hold down an app on the home screen and drag it to the trash bin, which should then display a window confirming that the app will be deleted. In certain builds of Android, however, this might only remove the icon from the home screen and not from the device itself.

To confirm the app is uninstalled, or to do the task yourself, visit the smartphone or tablet’s settings menu, select the application management option and then tap on ‘Apps’ to find everything that is installed on the Android device. From here, locate the VPN app (sort by alphabetical order to make this easier) and select it, from there choosing to uninstall it. If the VPN cannot be found, then it has successfully been removed already.

Is my VPN active and working?

There are a number of steps you can take to check whether your VPN service is working hard or hardly working. Users can start by simply searching for the term “my location” on their search engine. The result should be a location near the server they’re connected to. However, if the server is close to their actual location, then further information will be necessary. It is a good idea to check the IP address. IP tracker is a useful tool, since besides indicating the current IP address, it will also give information about the internet service provider, which won’t be the same as the actual ISP.

The connection’s speed should also be tested when checking if the VPN is working or not. Though it does not directly indicate if the VPN is connected, it will give some insight into the current connection. Information about the latency, download, and upload speeds is useful since it might indicate if the connection is just slow or if there’s an issue with the network. Nonetheless, since servers aren’t usually near the individual’s actual location, it’s common that connections will be slower using a VPN. The farther the server is located, the slower the connection will be. Speedtest.net also provides information about the ISP that is being used at the moment of the test.

The program’s features should be reviewed as well. Most VPNs offer the option to notify users when the connection fails. It’s important to enable these notifications so that you’ll be warned if the service stops working. Some VPNs also have a kill switch feature, which will turn off the internet connection if the service fails. This way, there’s no risk of having your anonymity compromised.

Whenever you’re using a VPN service, it’s also important to check it for DNS leaks before browsing. DNS leaks happen when your traffic is not being successfully routed through the anonymity network, meaning that your traffic is wide open for monitoring by your ISP and any third parties, and almost anyone is able to log your activity. If the test results are positive, then switching servers is recommended.

After taking all these security steps, users can also test the VPN by trying to access a streaming service available only in the country where the service is connected. If the service is working, the VPN will overcome any kind of geographic restrictions in place, making the content available for viewing.

Why is my VPN so slow?

There are a number of possible reasons that a VPN connection is slower than expected. They can be divided as internal or external causes. Internal causes will be directly connected with the VPN itself, while external causes can be related to the network or the device. In short, a VPN connection can be slower due to the location it is connected to, the encryption protocols that are being used, the network’s own speed, the existence of a firewall on the user’s device, or even the ISP throttling the connection.

First of all, let’s take a look at how a VPN works. A VPN service passes your internet connection through a tightly secured VPN server located in your country or abroad. By doing this, the connection will be filtered, which means that it will automatically be slower than if a VPN wasn’t being used.

That being said, there are some tests you can do to find out why your VPN connection is slow. The first step will be to test the connection speed with the VPN connected and disconnected and then compare the results. In this case, the location you chose to connect to is a decisive factor when it comes to velocity. The farther away the fictious location is from the real one, the slower the connection will be. Unless you’re connecting to a location for content that is available only in that area, we suggest using a location that is nearer.

If the speed is slower only when streaming, make sure your VPN has servers that are optimized for it. If it happens when you’re torrenting, then there’s a possibility that your ISP is throttling your connection. Some internet service providers do not support P2P connections and will restrict the connection if they detect the customer is using a torrent. Despite VPNs being able to hide users’ online activity, multiple connection requests followed by small pieces of data being downloaded can be detected by the network’s provider.

It is also important to check if there’s any firewall that may be blocking the VPN. If that is happening, try to disable the firewall, at least for this specific program.

In addition, the problem could also be related to the encryption protocol that the VPN is using. If possible, try changing it. Despite being old, PPTP is a good protocol in the sense that it can run on older devices and is very fast, having little to no impact on the connection speed. However, as this protocol is one of the oldest in the VPN universe, it can hardly be considered secure anymore and should only be used if you’re exclusively interested in having a fast connection. SSTP is a great alternative as it is more secure and can bypass firewalls that block L2TP connections. If the goal is to have high security, then OpenVPN will be the best choice, as it is the most secure protocol available and the most used. Given its high-level encryption, however, it may slow down the connection a bit.

Finally, one of the most basic tricks can help you regain speed in your VPN connection: restart your modem. Modems can periodically slow down due to a memory leak in their operating code. Restarting the connection will make them faster than before.

Will a VPN speed up my connection?

Will a VPN lower my ping?

VPNs can indeed lower your ping. If you’re an avid online gamer you know how important this is. If you’re not…well, let’s just say it’s important. Let’s consider online gaming as our example so we can show you how it works. Imagine you’re the best online soldier out there who already conquered most of the virtual battlefield, and now you wish to get a foothold on new territory. Thus you ended up connecting to a server located on the other side of the world. Ping is the time that your character will take to respond to any order you gave him by pressing a button. If ping is high, then the response time will also be higher and you’ll most likely see your character punching walls while your opponent already moved over, possibly won the match and may already be home with a nice cup of tea in his hands.

Since VPNs allows traveling the world just by moving a finger or two, all you need is a stable connection to a VPN server, located as close as possible to your intended gaming server. Let’s say you live in Belgium and want to connect to an American server. The overseas connection would result in increased latency (another name for ping) and a poor gaming experience. But if you connect to an American VPN server first and only then connect to the gaming server in the same territory, you’ll be able to see a significant decrease in ping, making your game run smoother and giving you a chance to actually win.

Tricking your connection is beneficial, even if you aren’t a gamer, since everything you do online depends on ping. Giving orders to a game character is based on the same latency as trying to access a designated page, as any response time can be slower or faster depending on your location. Still, there is always a local factor that influences your ping, which is your own ISP and the speed they provide. There is also a significant dependency on the quality of your VPN service and that of their individual servers. When a lot of users are connected to the same server at the same time, you may want to move to another server in that location.

Won't a VPN slow my internet connection down?

Can a VPN be hacked?

Can a VPN company see my passwords and data?

Can a VPN provider see my traffic and history?

Technically, all VPN companies can see your traffic and history. However, most of them choose to discard that information by directing it to a null file or folder – by doing so, they’re adhering to so-called strict no-logs policies.

What are the different types of VPN logs?

There are three types of VPN logs: usage logs, connection logs, and no-logs. When searching for a VPN, it’s important to understand the difference between the types of logs providers can keep a record of.

Usage logs refer to information about specific activities performed by users, meaning that the data can be used to monitor an individual’s online activities.
Connection logs, also known as metadata logs, contain information about the connections established by users. This type of log does not record actual content or specific actions, as it mostly monitors IP addresses or amounts of data usage.
No-logs policy is a commitment made by a provider not to collect, store, or retain any personally identifiable information or user activity records.

Reading a VPN provider’s privacy policy and understanding its logs policy is a vital step when choosing which service to use since it can vary a lot.

Do VPNs keep logs?

No, every reputable VPN provider doesn’t keep any logs of your online activities for themselves or third parties. Still, there are exceptions to the rule, such as information stored about purchases and subscriptions. That’s why researching a company’s privacy policies before committing to a subscription is crucial.

This step becomes even more important when it comes to free VPN providers. Unfortunately, it’s usually the case that when you’re not paying for the product, you are the product. Free VPNs are known for frequently selling their customer data to third parties, contradicting the entire purpose of having a VPN in the first place.

In addition, free VPNs don’t always offer robust encryption protocols and may even inject ads and malware into your browsing sessions. While there are legitimate free VPN options available, it’s essential to conduct careful research and evaluate the reputation and privacy practices of the provider before using it.

When taking all this into consideration, remember that even no-logs providers can have a tiny catch: legislation. Countries can have laws that require companies (not only VPNs but ISPs as well) to store data for a determined amount of time. In places with headquarters under the Five Eyes Alliance, for example, a court order is enough to obligate the company to hand over any recorded logs.

What data can VPN providers see?

It all depends on the privacy policy of the provider. Even so, regardless of the security and anonymity features offered, a VPN can still have visibility into certain aspects of your internet usage. Here are some examples of what the company can potentially see:

Metadata: VPN providers can see metadata associated with your VPN connection. This data includes information such as the time of connection and disconnection, duration of sessions, and amount of data transmitted during the session.
IP address: When you connect to a VPN server, the VPN provider can see the IP address assigned to you by its server and your true IP address issued by the ISP.
Bandwidth usage: VPN providers can monitor the amount of data transmitted to help the management of its network capacity and optimize its service.
DNS requests: In some cases, a VPN provider may handle your DNS requests, even though it wouldn’t be able to view specific pages or content accessed.
Internal customer ID in the system: The provider has access to your assigned customer identification number.

Does a VPN protect against viruses?

This is a very common question that most beginner VPN users tend to ask, given the emphasis that this kind of software puts on security. But the answer goes beyond a simple yes or no, and in fact both are kind of true here actually… so further elaboration is much needed.

On the one hand, if a virus infects your computer there’s nothing a VPN can do against it. They are not antivirus solutions nor security suites, so don’t expect warnings any time a menace is threatening your device. Likewise, it will certainly not be able to put up much of a fight against a virus or Trojan or even move any issue to quarantine, let alone delete it for good.

However, if we think about it, a VPN connection does provide some indirect protection against viruses and other harmful computer files. Some of the big name security software companies already include a VPN service as part of their full security suites and many times these include website advisors, which warn you about how trustworthy any given site is before accessing it. This is the case of Avira, for instance, whose Phantom VPN also allows the installation of Browser Security.

Regardless, it is important to have the notion that viruses and other malware are not the only menaces you’ll find online. Often, just accessing the internet on a public Wi-Fi hotspot is enough to open up some concern, as any person with the appropriate skills can quite easily spy on you and your online activity. Say, for example, you happen to do some online shopping at the time or manage your banking information through a web browser, all these details will be visible not only to the owner of the internet hotspot but to other users, too. At this point, getting access to and stealing your information is child’s play. Yet with a VPN active, that public Wi-Fi suddenly becomes much safer, as everything you do will be encrypted, preventing anyone from spying on you.

With this in mind, it’s recommended to have both a VPN and an antivirus, especially on computers. This way not only will you ensure a secure and anonymous connection, but if any malware, spyware or viruses do manage to infect your computer then they’ll be quickly taken care of.

Does a VPN service bypass ISP throttling?

Yes, VPNs can bypass ISP throttling. In fact, this is one of the main reasons for getting such service to begin with, as you’ll never experience ISP throttling again when using a VPN.

At first, throttling might seem a small issue, but everybody – whether they are using streaming services such as Netflix, torrenting or simply watching YouTube videos – can encounter this problem, since all these services demand pretty high bandwidth levels. In fact, ISP throttling is a nasty, but rather effective trap. If you consume too much bandwidth in a short period of time, receiving packets from any of the above services, your ISP will eventually restrict your download speed. Furthermore, if your ISP figures out that the high amount of internet traffic originates from torrenting, you can get into serious trouble.

You may ask why ISPs limit your internet speed or prevent you from accessing certain sites if you have subscribed to an unlimited internet service. Their answer usually revolves around the protection of other users ( in order to ensure an equal distribution of internet traffic), but this explanation is nothing but pure garbage, created only to fool you.

Truth is, this is a shameless milking method directed towards streaming services. In fact, there are known cases of ISPs unjustifiably charging Netflix a fee to avoid having its services throttled. Even worse is when ISPs do this out of pure greed and immorality. In other words, you still have to use a subpar service for a ridiculous amount of money, thus charging extra for customers who demand faster internet, but instead of investing said money in upgrades and creating a better service, they blackmail innocent service providers and subscribers alike.

Using a VPN prevents local ISPs from turning to this nasty practice. This kind of software keeps your online traffic anonymous via solid encryption, thus all your ISP will see is that you are using a VPN service. Since the “Internet Snooping Police”, aka your ISP can’t inspect data packets, they won’t be able to spy on what you are in fact doing. This way you can relax and satisfy all your Netflix needs without restrictions, and never fear of being throttled ever again.

Still, torrenting falls under a different category, thus, you should always be careful when doing so, because if you get caught, you can get into serious trouble.

What does VPN traffic look like to my ISP?

When using a VPN, ISPs see nothing but encrypted traffic, timestamps and amount of data transferred. They also know which VPN is being used, but encryption means that the traffic looks like complete gibberish. Also, the most commonly used level of encryption – 256-bit – is considered to be military-grade strength and is unbreakable to date, which means ISPs are unable to see any details of their customers’ online activities, such as websites visited or even the IP addresses that they are given.

However, it’s important to choose a VPN carefully, one that obeys the necessary standards to ensure it is right for every occasion. ISPs are not stupid, when users are performing illicit activities there are a couple of indicators that leave no margin for error and these entities will still be able to enforce the necessary legal actions against them. They know how to put two and two together and can find out whether a user is torrenting, for instance, even if they are using a VPN.

When accessing a website, your IP address sends DNS requests to the IP address of that same website, which in turn allows for the pinpointing of your real location. This makes DNS leak protection one of the most important aspects to look for in a VPN. This is a function still somewhat rare these days as not every provider successfully builds it into its software, and special care is needed when using those that don’t allow for manual activation. Regardless, it’s recommended to perform a couple DNS leak tests regularly.

Even with the VPN enabled, without this feature an ISP can still log a user’s IP address when it sends DNS requests if those transmissions aren’t securely protected. As such, if that IP address belongs to a torrent site, then ISPs will know that it was accessed, for how long the user stayed there and how much data was transferred. However, with a solid VPN will they only see the aforementioned gibberish, they still won’t have exact proof that users are torrenting or the precise content that was accessed. However, high bandwidth levels are often give away signs that a movie or other ‘heavy’ file was transferred. Depending on ISPs, they may then throttle the connection or, even worse, enforce the necessary legal actions against those who thought they were protected by a simple VPN connection.

On the other hand, with proper DNS leak protection then all those DNS requests go through the VPN’s servers instead of your ISP’s. This means that ISPs will only see DNS requests sent to IP addresses that are owned by the VPN company and nothing else, masking your real identity. The issue is not done yet, though, as another problem still arises from this: the logs by VPN companies.

More than just providing trustworthy DNS leak protection and unbreakable encryption, it’s especially crucial for torrent fans that a VPN doesn’t store logs either. If it does keep such records, then it’s as good as switching one problem for another since VPNs are legal companies that need to comply with the law of the country that they’re located in. In countries where torrenting is illegal, these companies will not hesitate to terminate accounts and send the same DMCA strike notices to their customers. More and more VPNs nowadays are P2P friendly and have some servers located in specific countries just for this purpose, but it’s always better to opt for a reliable VPN that doesn’t store log data or that is located in a country that allows torrents.

Why should I use a VPN service?

There are certain advantages to using a VPN service. One good reason to use it is that it enables you to send and receive data securely. If for example you usually make payments over the internet, you should seriously consider installing getting a VPN service to secure your credit card information from hackers who may use your banking details to make purchases.

Protect your privacy

When taking a laptop or tablet with you during vacations or trips, activate your VPN when using public Wi-Fi systems to ensure privacy. This is a useful benefit for business travellers, students, and other people who need to transmit sensitive date while on the go. Public internet connections at coffee shops and airport terminals are prone to privacy leaks.

Safely exchange information

Another good reason to use a Virtual Private Network is to secure sensitive information that you need to transmit over the internet. Companies that want to protect their data can greatly benefit from using VPN systems. If you own a business in a highly competitive industry, you will need this system to protect the interests of your company.

Streaming movies from Netflix, Hulu,…

If you are into movies but don’t want to spend money on expensive theater tickets, you can use this service to download streaming videos on the internet. No matter where you are located in the world, a VPN allows you to get access to your favorite online streaming services including Netflix, Hulu and BBC iPlayer.

The technology allows you to watch all the movies you want from the comforts of your home. Depending on your location, downloading movies from the web may be either legal or illegal. The system keeps your identity secret.

Cheaper VoIP calls, access to internet apps

Other benefits from using this service include saving on costs for using VoIP applications such as Skype, Vonage and RingCentral. By using these apps through a VPN account, you can virtually pretend to be a caller located in the country of the person you want to call. That way, you’ll pay less for your phone calls than you would when calling from your real location.

If you are constantly travelling for business, you can benefit from lowering your internet connection costs and instantly connect to your company’s intranet using a Virtual Private Network.

Always Access to Schoolwork

Not only business owners have good reasons to use this technology. Even students and schools can benefit from this service. This allows pupils to access materials from their school database securely even if students are at home or away. Many students nowadays need to submit homework online and this private network ensures that no one can sabotage your work.

It does not matter if you are in a strictly monitored environment or not, a VPN network will offer you many advantages. It will keep your safe from hackers, frauds, and business competitors trying to pry into your data. It comes out cheaper than using traditional long distance dial-up and provides safety and security at the same time.

Will VPNs be banned?

Despite some talk against the usage of VPNs, it doesn’t seem like there will be a day when they will be completely banned. Much has been discussed in recent years regarding VPN services. While users rely on them to have great privacy and anonymity when browsing online, some entities have spoken and acted against them. Despite few countries having actually banned VPNs, some others have approved legislation that seriously restricts their activities.

Limiting a VPN’s service is quite simple. Since VPN providers own a limited number of IP addresses and a great number of subscribers share them for months or years at a time, entities such as law enforcements, websites, or streaming services can easily blacklist those providers. A more precise technique can be used to effectively block VPN connections. Ports that are commonly used to establish connections and transfer data, such as PPTP or L2TP, can be closed by system administrators.

While some streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and others have at some point blocked VPNs, most of them have taken a step back as the number of customers accessing the service with a VPN is very negligible compared to the total number of subscribers. Similarly, internet service providers, such as Verizon or Telstra, are known to throttle their customers’ connections if VPN usage is detected.

Obviously, some countries have proceeded to completely block VPN services. Both Syria and Egypt activated Deep Packet inspection after political turmoil in 2011 in order to block VPN connections. Additionally, Iran began blocking access to VPNs unauthorized by the government in March 2013, prior to elections. More recently, Russia has passed a law that establishes that only VPNs approved by the government can be used and if an individual is caught using an illegal VPN, they will be sanctioned. On a lesser scale, American and British government officials have expressed concern that the use of encryption on the internet would make it more difficult to prevent terrorism. But no other country has gone as far as China. The country’s Great Firewall is able to block the encrypted communication methods used by VPN services. Since 2018, telecommunication carriers are required to block the use of VPNs by individuals.

It’s quite clear that the above-mentioned countries have one aspect in common: they want to control the information their citizens have access to. All these governments are known to be oppressive and tend to intimidate those who dare to defy them.

Following a similar thought, the United Nations has observed that, at a time when governments are expanding invasive surveillance worldwide, encryption will allow for a safe and private space for free expression to be preserved.

Does a VPN hide torrenting from ISPs?

A VPN is indeed capable of masking your pirating adventures, although you still need to be careful. This is quite a sensitive topic and – as we already covered – if you get too carefree you may get yourself into some real trouble because torrenting is considered illegal in many countries. However, some VPN providers actually do offer torrent support as part of their services. Most of them do this by setting up a few specific P2P servers, usually located in a country where this kind of practice is not that big of a deal. Other VPN companies can also be considered as torrent friendly by allowing you to do it directly on any server.

Pirating content lives and dies on large bandwidth consumption, which is how ISPs typically catch P2P aficionados. In case an ISP sees that you are using an abnormal amount of bandwidth they will most likely look into your account’s records and it won’t take long for them to discover your shady business. This would lead to your internet speed being throttled, and the company also sends you a strike note or refers your case to legal authorities, depending on legislation. However, VPNs mask your IP address and all your traffic becomes anonymous, even for your ISP. From their perspective, all they see is that you are using a VPN and nothing more. Nevertheless, be sure to opt for a VPN service offering unlimited bandwidth, otherwise you handicap yourself with your own safety measure.

It’s also important to check whether a VPN company features a no-log policy, so that records of your activity are not stored by them. This is important since there have been a few known sad cases of VPN companies turning in their customers flagged for torrent-related misdemeanors.

Last but not least, please tread carefully when choosing a VPN located in a country where existing laws force companies to hold logs from their clients for a determined period of time, which overwrites the no-log policy. This is still a grey area as these companies are forced to act in accordance to the law and one can never know if traffic logs are indeed saved or not.

Is it legal to use a VPN?

Having a VPN can be beneficial depending on why you want to be invisible online. VPNs can protect you but can also be used to do something illegal on the internet. This is when you may get in trouble with the law.

When used for legal purposes, VPNs are not considered illegal in most countries and anyone can go ahead and start using a VPN service. The act of surfing through another IP is legal, and is something even the biggest companies in the world do all the time. If you however hide behind a VPN service to perform illegal activities, then you’re of course violating the law.

What’s considered illegal?

Certain activities are absolutely illegal and shouldn’t be performed with a VPN service. Most quality VPN providers will strictly forbid these in their terms of service:

Child pornography
Email and account hacking
Spreading viruses
Spamming via email or other ways
Fraud, theft, scamming

Being unidentifiable online has certain benefits such as being protected from hackers. Recently, many companies and users use this system to access videos and streaming movies online. In a few countries around the world using a VPN in such manner is illegal, limited or restricted.

Typically, countries with controlling laws such as Iran, North Korea and China have outlawed or restricted the use of Virtual Private Networks. Some countries do not want their citizens to access banned websites such as Netflix, Hulu, Facebook and Twitter. Authorities in these countries want to monitor online movements made by citizens who are considered as dissidents.

Identifying a user is important for some transactions done over the internet. For business and making purchases, it is safer to be able to trace a user, buyer or seller back to their origins in case problems are encountered. When used to download videos, piracy, copyright laws, and illegal sharing become issues.

In countries that restrict online movie providers, you can use a VPN to unlock these sites to gain access to their files and videos. Generally, using this system for legal purposes is fine in most countries unless you are found to have used it for illegal reasons. Hiding your IP address to perform illegal activities can get you in trouble.

Can the use of a VPN be detected?

Yes, it can. Actually, this is one of the biggest issues that VPN services are facing. It’s impossible to think of a time where the ability to unblock geographically restricted content was not available, which is currently what most people use VPNs for.

It’s pretty much common knowledge by now that streaming services have been starting to detect and block VPN traffic, with Netflix being the prime example of this. Since 2016, in fact, many foreigners had to stop relying on this method of virtually locating themselves in America to access the most complete TV and film library in the world when the company began to implement what is still one of the most advanced VPN detection methods today.

There are many companies that sell this kind of VPN blocking service to any clients that might be interested in it, such as Netflix. These services collect all the info related to IP addresses that they can to find out whether they are genuine or in fact proxies, scouring details such as the country and city that an IP address belongs to or whether they are used for commercial, residential or business purposes.

In turn, the most popular VPN companies use thousands of IP addresses worldwide, but when filtering by country it’s fairly easy to discover that they’re always the same addresses, shared between different users. Other methods of detection include deep packet inspection and other such technical methods to find the tiniest details, and if results show that the IP addresses belong to companies that sell VPN services then they are quickly added to a blacklist.

How are VPN services blocked?

This not only explains why the biggest VPN companies are often unable to circumvent these methods of detection, but also why the less popular services usually fly under the radar – because the IP addresses they provide have yet to be recognized.

One of the most commonly used methods of stopping VPN connections is port blocking. Different VPN protocols use specific ports to encrypt the traffic, so all it takes is to block any traffic coming from ports that are known to be used by VPNs.

But it’s not just websites doing this, either; certain countries block VPNs, too, though on a much larger, national scale. Turkey and China are the most famous, the latter being one of the few places on Earth where it is pretty much impossible to use this software or any other workaround. The country’s infamous Great Firewall ensures only national content is available to Chinese citizens and that they have access to the smallest number of western websites as possible. VPNs are blocked by specialized teams that work on behalf of the government to detect and eliminate all VPN traffic and many companies in the past have ceased their activities in China and shut down their servers, and those that didn’t are only able to ensure that the country is part of their network via a virtual location.

Why should I hide my IP address?

There are various reasons to hide your IP address at all times, from enjoying unrestricted content from abroad to increasing your level of protection and anonymity, both on public and domestic Wi-Fi networks. It can also help against targeted ads delivered through social media platforms. It’s important to acknowledge, however, that for most everyday users hiding their IP address may not make much difference, especially if they share every second of their lives on social media and don’t intend on doing anything risky.

Enjoying unrestricted content and avoiding ads

Nowadays most online content websites or services have some sort of restrictions in certain countries, while others are completely blocked for copyright and other reasons. Let’s say you live in a country where streaming websites are blocked, Turkey, for instance. Your computer will be using a Turkish IP address and these sites immediately recognize that and will block it. Therefore, using a VPN to connect to a server in other country will disguise your IP address as one belonging to the connected country, and because virtually you’re no longer located in Turkey the site will now become available.

The same happens to social media, gaming websites or other platforms that are typically blocked in a school, office or other working environments. These entities either use specific software to enforce such blocks or simply add their domains to the network’s blacklist, but regardless of the method they use VPNs can always work around it.

Likewise, hiding your real IP address also helps in avoiding intrusive targeted ads. Social media websites are just the most well-known for doing this, but many others do so too. Most VPNs nowadays already feature ad blockers or some other sort of protection.

Public Wi-Fi and intruders

The evolution of technology has allowed people to connect to the internet without needing a stationary computer anymore and so nowadays smartphones and tablets are everywhere, much like the public Wi-Fi hotspots that we all want to connect to. For hackers, all it takes is the appropriate knowledge of the software and some unsuspecting people to sign into their social media or bank accounts to get ahold of their personal details, which is why it is usually on these hotspots that hackers can be found lurking for victims. Because such a network is public, its owner can see which devices are connected to it but also what sites or services they are accessing. In turn, not only can hackers manage to easily see this too, but they can also spread ransomware attacks or, even worse, steal the identity of their victims for credit card fraud.

In addition, they can also create fake Wi-Fi spots that mimic the original ones, meaning you will end up connecting to the hacker’s laptop rather than the real thing.

With a VPN, not only are you masking your IP address but all the data traffic that you send from your device is encrypted, meaning that even if the hacker could somehow intercept your data it will instead appear as complete gibberish that would be impossible to decode.

ISPs and legal activities

It’s this same gibberish that your ISP will see when you use a VPN to hide your real IP address and disguise it for another. This means that many people rely on VPNs when torrenting, which is actually perfectly acceptable in some countries. But even if the VPN provider also firmly supports P2P sharing, it’s still important to remember that they aren’t an excuse to take part in illicit activities. Torrenting is illegal in most countries and this doesn’t change just because you have a VPN, so if you do want to use a VPN to protect you from getting caught then you will need to take great care.

Should I pay for a VPN?

It’s not easy to answer this question with a simple yes or no, since it is heavily dependent on your profile as a VPN customer. If you’re a light user, the free versions offered by some providers can be more than enough for you and that alone will save you some extra cash at the end of the month.

But if you need to go a bit further than what the limited free versions provide then you’ll certainly need to take out your wallet. As we have elaborated in our free VPN guide there are free trials, money back guarantees, free versions, and other ways of scoring free VPN usage with VPN providers. However, do be careful when it comes to VPNs that are advertised as a complete service for free.

In these cases, never forget the old motto: if you’re not paying, you’re not the customer, but the product, so it’s best to think there’s always a catch with services that promise everything and yet don’t charge anything for it. Usually you’ll pay with your own information, which is often secretly gathered and sold online for targeted adverts. Additionally you’ll typically have to suffer very limited data caps and slow connections with a limited number of overcrowded VPN servers.

The problem is that this is permitted via dubious privacy policies that are not transparent about what is stored. In addition, sometimes it’s also hard to know which company is behind the service, which doesn’t help if you want to file a complaint, for instance. This is all likely to happen, and that’s without even mentioning the dangers of downloading an untrustworthy program or app.

There’s also another thing that’s good to always have in mind: VPN providers are a business like any other, so they need money to keep it running. The larger a server network of a VPN provider the more it costs for them to maintain it as servers are not exactly cheap and need maintenance and constant monitoring.

And let’s not forget that behind such programs there’s a team of people who, naturally, will need to be paid, otherwise the company could not keep working on developing new features to make the service even better. So if the income doesn’t come from user subscriptions, then it must come from other sources. That’s why some trials or free versions of certain VPNs – even trustworthy ones – are often delivered with ads.

If you want an ad-free life – and don’t we all? – then you’re most certainly going to need to pay for a VPN service. Pricing plans vary according to the range of features delivered and, just like any other subscription service, the more you want access to the more expensive it becomes.

However, different companies have different pricing policies and it’s surely possible to find some nice deals, the best ones being those who have no limits on their features and are cheaper on longer payment terms, usually when subscribed on an annual or longer basis. But before subscribing to any of them, be sure to visit our free trials and coupons pages to get some additional discounts on the best premium VPN services.