Due to the advanced threats that exist to your online privacy whenever you are browsing the internet, there are numerous security tools that have been developed by Cybersecurity experts in order to combat them. Virtual Private Networks are used to protect against the government and other hackers that may be trying to gain access to your private files.
There are a plethora of different VPN providers in the market right now, which is both a good and a bad thing. Having a lot of options does mean that you can purchase the service best suited to your need, but it also means that novices do not have any idea what they should look for when purchasing a VPN.
There are certain things that you need to consider before you select a VPN service. We will go over all of them one by one so that you have a good understanding of how a VPN works and other basics of the technology.
What is a VPN
It is important to know how a VPN can help you before you purchase one. A VPN helps you by having all your internet traffic pass through a remote server. This way, anyone who is trying to spy on you will only be able to see that you are connected to a VPN and nothing else.
That is not all, as VPN also provide you with a host of other features which we will take a look at in detail. All in all, a VPN is your go-to method for making sure that no one is able to spy on you when you are online.
If you want a simple solution that works for everyone then take a look at Pure VPN. Astrill is a premium VPN service that has all the features a great VPN needs. Take a look at this PureVPN review to find out more about the product.
In case you are not satisfied with a general VPN and want something specific, here is what you need to watch out for when selecting a VPN provider for yourself.
Logging Policy
Since it is easier than ever for governments to spy on you and for your ISPs to sell your browsing history to the highest bidder, it is important that you have a VPN that does not log your internet usage history in any way.
Remember that many VPNs claim to not log your data, but do it anyway. It is important to take a look at their user agreements and privacy policies to gauge whether they are logging your data or not. On top of that, almost all of the VPNs do log aggregate data, but that is fine since it can in no way be traced back to you.
Encryption
This is another feature that is important. Encryption is great because even if someone is able to access some of your data, they will not be able to understand it. Luckily, almost all of the major VPN providers in the world use bank-grade AES-256 encryption which is pretty much unbreakable by modern computers.
Kill-Switch
The Kill-Switch is another important feature which should be taken for granted whenever you are purchasing a premium VPN subscription. In case you disconnect from your VPN, it is possible for some of your information to leak and any spyware would be able to catch it. This is even more concerning when you understand that the information could have your credit card number or other sensitive data.
A Kill-Switch stops any information from leaking out by immediately terminating the connection as soon as you lose contact with the VPN server. This is a fairly advanced technology and many VPNs are unable to add it to their service. Make sure you watch out for a Kill-Switch if your primary reason for purchasing a VPN is security and privacy.
Can it Pass Geo-Blocks
Remember that many VPNs cannot access Netflix and other streaming servers. If you want a VPN that you can use to unlock geo-blocked services such as Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer, then you need to select a provider which has dedicated streaming servers. Alternatively, you can purchase a static IP from your VPN provider to have unrestricted access to all geo-blocked services.
Peer to Peer functionality
This is the last feature that you need to look for when selecting a VPN provider. Many of the VPNs currently available in the market cannot be used to torrent. If you plan to use a VPN to torrent safely, then it is best to look for a provider which has dedicated P2P servers.
A VPN with dedicated P2P servers will not only allow you to anonymously access torrents and bypass any restrictions placed on it with your IP, but it will also optimize your connection so that you can get the maximum possible speed on the torrent that you are downloading.
Remember to choose a VPN service that meets all of the criteria above. Astrill is a great service which should suffice for all users. However, there are numerous other alternatives available to you such as NordVPN which are also great.
