So, you’re in the market for a Virtual Private Network (VPN) solution. That’s a wise decision and choosing a VPN is an important one too.
VPNs come with many benefits, from anonymous browsing to security and encryption. It’s also a quick way to escape common security threats, such as phishing attacks, and circumvent government and telco tracking. Remember that tracking is one of the main reasons you get bombarded with unnecessary ads wherever you go. It’s easy to get started as well. Here’s a free trial VPN that can get you started quickly and easily.
Anyway, you probably already know about some of the benefits of a VPN. So, in this article, we want to focus on choosing the best VPN for work or private use. You can do so in two easy steps;
Ask yourself why you need a VPN. Why not just browse the internet without network encryption as others do?
You’ll find that it comes down to three main reasons;
Now that you know what you want from the VPN, you can compare your needs with what the top VPN providers offer to determine the company whose services and features address those requirements best. The following are the eight main points to consider;
Virtual Private Networks use a variety of protocols to ensure secure connections. These include PPTP, SSTP L2TP/IPSec, and IKEv2/IPSec. PPTP is the least secure but most affordable, while IKEv2/IPSec is the fastest, most secure protocol, but also the most expensive.
Of course, you don’t need a thousand locations. Just a few dozen are enough. However, the servers must be located in top countries to avoid unnecessary content restrictions. For instance, you should connect to servers in the US and western Europe to stream Netflix and BBC.
Also important is support for multiple platforms. For instance, some VPNs support only the four major operating systems, namely Windows, Android, iOS, and Mac. So, what happens if your PC runs on Linux? What if you use a Symbian phone?
Browsing speeds on VPN networks are a little slow because encrypted tunnels take time to get through. However, you still want to access content and stream videos fast, right? So, compare multiple providers to find one with the best speeds.
Can you connect two or more devices concurrently? For example, perhaps you’re using both your phone and laptop for important research. Can you connect both to the VPN network? Or does the provider restrict usage to one device at a time? Ideally, you want a provider that allows up to ten simultaneous connections.
Bandwidth limitation is a common problem when using a VPN service. Very often, users lose their connections midstream because they’ve depleted their bandwidth allocation, exposing them to security threats and government surveillance. So, it’s best to find a provider with unlimited bandwidth.
You may have noticed that every VPN provider claims to have a “strictly no-logs” policy. But do they really mean it? One way to find out is to conduct additional research to confirm the claims. For instance, check whether the VPN has undergone third-party audits.
Finally, remember that server location has a major impact on a VPN company’s services. For instance, you’re advised to avoid VPNs or servers located in the Five, Nine, and Fourteen Eyes Alliances as they have to comply with their governments’ requests to share personal data.
The best VPN providers are also user-friendly, accept multiple payment methods, and offer a free trial and money-back guarantee. Above all, 24/7 customer support is a must.
With this list of what to look for you can confidently evaluate and select a VPN that will be secure and meet your needs. In this day and age, security is paramount, and choosing a VPN offers the peace of mind you need.
