Few people remain unconvinced of VPNs’ benefits, but choosing one can be overwhelming. There are plenty of VPN providers out there, and each one promises terrific advantages. So why not just pick a free VPN for PC?
The best features to look for in a VPN are security, privacy, the best encryption technology, reliability, and speed. But there are other critical factors, too, such as the number and locations of servers and bandwidth restrictions. You must also consider the price, the number of simultaneous connections, and whether you can protect all your devices.
Let’s look at some of the most critical factors you should consider for choosing a VPN – and we’ll also learn why you should never use a free VPN.
Security Reputation
By security, we don’t mean encryption – not yet, anyway; we’ll get to that in a moment. Instead, we mean that you should never choose a free VPN to “secure” anything.
We use VPNs for data security because VPNs prevent hackers from reading the data on your internet connection. Unfortunately, it costs multi-millions to set up and maintain a VPN infrastructure. So, who would be so nice as to give away millions of dollars to people they don’t know? Of course, they don’t! Instead, they collect all the data you were trying to keep private and sell it to the highest bidder.
Free VPN is a trap. Not only will it expose all your personal data, but some free VPNs are actually malware. Instead, stick to a VPN company with a good reputation for security and privacy.
No logs
You need a VPN because your ISP tracks everything you do online and sells your data to advertisers, governments, or the highest bidder. A VPN is supposed to stop your ISP’s snooping. However, unless your VPN explicitly guarantees “No logs,” you will have exchanged one snooping spy for another. So look for a VPN that respects your right to be private and explicitly states that they don’t keep logs.
Strong Encryption
A virtual private network (VPN) is an enclosed, secured connection for the data that moves between a device and the web. VPN encryption technology takes all the data and turns it into meaningless characters before sending it along its electronic path. Even if an outsider captures the data flow, they won’t be able to decipher it. Rolling out a VPN with strong encryption costs a lot, and a fly-by-night can’t cut it.
Kill Switch
The term “Kill Switch” sounds like you’ll be mixing it up with the Mission: Impossible crowd. It does, in a way! Many people use VPNs to get around geo-restrictions to watch blocked content. But those large platforms use sophisticated tools to prevent that from happening and protect themselves from copyright infringements.
Just imagine using a VPN to watch a blocked show on Netflix while your Wi-Fi keeps cutting out and reconnecting again. Every time you reconnect, your browser adds your location information to the cookies stored on your device. Of course, someone is bound to notice, and it could lead to an account block!
A kill switch will automatically turn your internet off if your VPN stops working to prevent giving away your actual location.
Speed
Speed can be critical if you’re a gamer and you’ll be well advised to look for a VPN that features gaming-optimized servers. And, of course, buffering during movies is like watching paint dry – no one likes a sluggish connection. Be sure to check the performance speed of your VPN.
Wide Choice Of Locations
VPNs are popularly used to access content that may be blocked in your current location. Your new VPN should have a near-global presence to ensure you can connect to the services you want.
Easy Implementation
Let nothing stand between you and Netflix! You need an intuitive, hassle-free way to connect, disconnect, and pick a user location. Any additional functions should be within reach but out of the way.
Multi-device
There’s little point in protecting just your laptop. You must cover all your devices to prevent them from leaking your private data. For example, what would happen if you visited the shopping mall and your mobile phone opened an unencrypted connection to the free WiFi service? Hackers will pounce!
Get a VPN that provides at least five simultaneous connections so you can use your laptop, PC, and smartphone simultaneously, with extra room left for other devices.
Multi-platform
It’s better to make provisions for more than one platform or operating system. All households have a variety of devices ranging from Android, Apple, Windows, and Linux. In addition, you never know what you’ll be adding in the future, so it’s best to be ready for anything.
Gaming and P2P Functionality
Make sure your VPN doesn’t limit or punish you with bandwidth throttling. When you’re gaming, you’re gaming. No one needs freezing or lagging, and students need access to P2P functionality. Some VPNs offer P2P-optimized and gaming-optimized servers if this is an important feature.
Customer Support
This may not appear to be a prominent feature, but if you’re in a jam, you need fast help. A serious VPN provider should offer a great FAQ section plus 24/7 customer service.
Price
Make sure you don’t buy only on price. Sure, price is important, but look at all the other factors before you make a final decision. In this situation, extra money may buy a lot of additional value. Pick the best VPN and then shop around for their best offer. Look for a VPN that offers a money-back guarantee, so you have everything to gain and nothing to lose.
A Final Word: Do your research and get a safe connection.
VPNs have become one of the most critical tools in our digital defense toolbox. Do a little research before you buy: You need a safe connection with minimal risk and optimum privacy at a reasonable price.