If you’re looking for a safe, secure and reliable way to access the internet, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the answer. However, there are some things you need to know about them before you decide to download one.
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Free VPNs typically don’t offer the same level of protection or privacy as premium services. This is because they rely on advertising to make money, which means they can’t offer features like built-in ad blockers.
Free VPNs aren’t always safe
If you’re looking for a way to protect your privacy online, you may have heard of virtual private networks (VPNs). These services help keep your data secure on public Wi-Fi and prevent ISPs from monitoring your internet activity. They can also help you bypass censorship and avoid Internet service provider (ISP) throttling. But not all VPNs are created equal!
The most popular free VPNs often collect and sell your personal information to third-party companies. They even snoop on your browsing activity and use ad-tracking to sell targeted ads to you.
It’s not just your personal data that these free VPNs collect — they also store logs of all your Internet activity. This isn’t only dangerous for your privacy, but it can also expose you to security threats and shady activities.
As a result, you should be very careful when using free VPNs. You should only ever use them if you’re sure that the company is completely trustworthy and won’t be selling or tracking your data without your permission.
Another common problem with free VPNs is that they sometimes slow down your Internet speed, and you can end up with data limits or speed caps if you use them for streaming. This can make your experience much slower than it should be, and it’s not a great way to experience the internet.
In addition, some free VPNs will bombard you with advertisements in between loading web pages. This can be a serious issue, as it can reduce your browsing speeds and increase the chances of malware infections.
Some free VPNs also steal your bandwidth and sell it to third parties, putting you at risk for fraud or abuse. One of the most infamous examples of this was Hola VPN, which was caught in 2015 stealing user bandwidth and then reselling it to groups that wanted to turn it into a botnet.
If you’re worried about your privacy, it’s important to choose a VPN that won’t sell or snoop on your data. Fortunately, there are plenty of reputable VPNs that you can choose from, and many offer money-back guarantees. So you can test them out before making a final decision.
They’re not secure
One of the reasons people use VPNs is to protect their privacy online. It encrypts their data and IP address, making it harder for the internet provider or government to track them.
However, while most free VPNs promise to keep your information secure and your browsing history private, a recent study from CSIRO found that 72% of them actually track their users’ online activity. This data is then sold to third-party advertisers, who can target you with ads based on what websites you visit.
If you want to be sure that your free VPN isn’t tracking your activities, check out a reputable option that’s backed by a money-back guarantee. You should also read their privacy policy to make sure they’re not tracking your activity in any way, since they often do so in an effort to recoup the costs of providing their service.
Another problem with free VPNs is that they usually have traffic leaks, which exposes your IP address and private information to hackers and other online threats. This can lead to compromised devices, a slow internet connection, and even identity theft.
Luckily, there are some good alternatives that don’t compromise on security. Surfshark is a premium VPN that’s simple to use, has no logging policies, and can bypass geo-blocking.
We recommend CyberGhost if you want better streaming (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, EPSN, Disney+, Eurosport and many others)
It’s a great choice for people who want to avoid compromising on their privacy, but don’t want to pay a ton of money for it. It’s less expensive than most other top options and has a simple, user-friendly interface that makes it easy to set up and use.
Some of the best free VPNs on the market don’t log your data, and some even claim to have no logging at all. That said, former NYPD director of cyber intelligence and investigations Nick Selby says that he only uses providers that he knows don’t store logs.
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for free VPNs to sell your bandwidth or even use your devices as part of a botnet to steal your processing power for cryptojacking. That’s a serious problem, and not just for the cryptocurrency community. It’s an issue for everyone who uses the internet, and it’s why we advise people to only trust a VPN with their money.
VPN Price Comparison 2024
Company | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 2 Year | 3 Year | - |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CyberGhost | $12,99 | $6,99 | - | $2,19 | - | Visit Website |
NordVPN | $11,99 | - | $4,99 | $3,69 | - | Visit Website |
PIA | $11,99 | - | $3,3 | 2024 Deal right now: $2,03 (Doesn't get cheaper!) | $2,03 | Visit Website |
ExpressVPN | $12,95 | $9,99 | $8,32 | - | - | Visit Website |
SurfShark | $12,95 | - | $3,99 | $2,49 | - | Visit Website |
- | - | |||||
PrivadoVPN | $10,99 | - | $2,50 | $3,99 | - | Visit Website |
They’re limited
Free VPNs are great for a variety of reasons, but there are some sacrifices to be made when using them. Those sacrifices include things like a limited server network and data allowance.
The most obvious reason to use a VPN is to protect your privacy. The internet is full of entities that snoop on your activities and can collect your data for marketing, ad targeting, or other purposes. A VPN will hide your IP address, rerouting your connection on a different server so that your activity is virtually untraceable and anonymous.
Another common use of a VPN is to beat online censorship. This is especially important when you’re travelling to a country that has restrictive internet laws, like Iran or the UK, and you want to access websites or apps that are blocked in your home country.
However, this can also make it difficult to watch streaming content from other regions if you don’t have a VPN. For example, Netflix might block some US-based TV series and movies from streaming to users outside of the US unless you use a VPN that has a server based in the United States.
While many free VPNs have a limited server network, some premium services have large networks that allow you to connect to servers in the locations you want. For example, ExpressVPN has 3,000 servers spread across 94 countries and can unblock region-locked content from all over the world.
A free VPN can also help you avoid data throttling from your internet service provider (ISP). This happens when you use a lot of data on the web, and your ISP slows down your connection to try and conserve bandwidth for its other users. A free VPN will prevent this from happening because it’s not connected to your ISP and so they can’t see what you’re doing.
Some free VPNs have data restrictions as well, and these may be difficult to overcome if you have a lot of streaming videos or file downloads to do. Luckily, a number of providers offer generous data allowances that can be upgraded to unlimited bandwidth when you purchase a subscription.
They’re not for everyone
A virtual private network (VPN) is an online tool that helps you hide your identity and location, as well as access websites or apps you’d otherwise be unable to use. They’re also often used by activists and dissidents to circumvent censorship in their countries.
However, VPNs can also be dangerous if they don’t protect your privacy properly. Many free VPNs don’t offer adequate encryption, and they may collect data about your internet usage to sell to advertisers. This data can be used to profile your browsing habits and identify you as a target for malware attacks.
Another problem is that some free VPNs have been caught selling user bandwidth – a practice called bandwidth harvesting. If you’re a heavy user of streaming services or torrenting, this could put your privacy at risk.
The best way to avoid these risks is to choose a VPN based in a country with strong laws that protect your privacy. You’ll also want to find a VPN that offers two-factor authentication, so that hackers can’t gain access to your account without knowing your password.
Finally, it’s worth looking for a VPN with no-logs policies. Reputable providers have their no-logs claims backed up in court or are audited by independent companies.
While many of these providers offer money-back guarantees, this isn’t always the case with free VPNs. It’s important to be able to try them out for free to see how they work before making the commitment to pay for a premium service.
It’s also vital to look for a VPN with no logs, and that uses RAM-only servers. This makes it impossible for your data to be stored on the hard drive, which can be a security breach.