Free VPN is a Scam – Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Use Them? When you want to access the Internet safely and securely, one of the best ways to do so is by using a virtual private network, or VPN. However, as you may have guessed by now, these services aren’t exactly free—they usually cost around $8 to $10 per month. If your cash flow doesn’t allow you to pay for such a service, then don’t fret; there are plenty of other options to keep you safe and secure online. Find out more about the best free VPNs available right now in this informative guide.
What Is A VPN?
VPN stands for the virtual private network. A VPN creates an encrypted connection between your device and the server you are connecting to. This means that your data is protected from hackers, snoops, and your ISP. Your ISP, for example, can’t see what you’re doing online or sell that information to advertisers without your consent. What’s more, because all of this happens on an encrypted connection, it means that you can use public wifi hotspots without being vulnerable to hackers or snoops on the same network.
A good VPN should have at least some of these features: A zero-logging policy: Nobody can know what you’re doing online if nobody knows you’re online. This is where a zero-logging policy comes in. The best VPNs offer comprehensive privacy policies that keep no record of your browsing history, searches, or location. Some services claim not to keep logs, but their Terms and Conditions often say otherwise (and when they do, they’re lying). If there’s any possibility that logging is taking place, avoid it. Strong encryption: Again, nobody can see your data if it isn’t readable by anyone else.
What Makes A Good Free VPN
The bottom line is that free VPNs are not worth your time or money. There’s no such thing as a free lunch, and you shouldn’t expect to get any when it comes to internet security and privacy. Free services will always have strings attached because they’re only free if you agree to give up something in return. To make matters worse, many of the most popular free VPN services have been caught injecting malware into their users’ devices. It’s really not worth it to gamble with your personal information just for the sake of saving $5-$10 per month.
How To Know If VPNs are Viable
The first thing to consider is the reliability and reputation of the service provider. Anyone can claim to offer free VPN services, but not everyone is trustworthy. Check out their website for reviews and testimonials from past customers. If they don’t have any reviews or testimonials, you should be cautious. The next thing to check is whether they log your information, like browsing history and IP address.
If they do log these things, it means that they collect data on you in order to sell it (or otherwise exploit it) to third parties and make money off of it. They might also use this data for other purposes without your knowledge and without your consent, like using your browsing habits to target ads at you when you visit other websites.
Protect Yourself On Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi is awesome. It’s fast, it’s usually pretty convenient, and it lets us get on the internet without tethering our phone to our laptop. The problem? Public Wi-Fi is also a hacker’s dream. Anyone who wants to can hop onto your network and start stealing your data or using your connection for their own purposes. Free VPN services are no exception and in many ways, they’re actually worse because they make you think you’re more secure than you really are.
Choose A Paid Service For Privacy and Security
Paid VPNs are the best option for most people, as they offer better security and privacy. Paid services also have more servers and typically have lower prices than free options. But which paid service should you use? That depends on your needs. If you want to protect your privacy, we recommend using ExpressVPN or NordVPN for their commitment to not keep any logs of user activity on their servers and strong encryption standards that make it hard for hackers to break in and steal your data.
What Else Do I Need To Know About Anonymity?
A free VPN is something that you should never use. There are so many reasons why this is the case, but we’re going to go over the most important ones. First, it’s worth mentioning that free VPN services typically require your personal information in order to sign up. Once they have this information, they can sell it to third parties or even use it themselves for nefarious purposes.
Second, these services usually won’t offer you any kind of anonymity because there is no point in using a VPN if you’re not trying to protect your identity from third parties on the internet. Finally, these services can be used by governments and law enforcement agencies to track people without them knowing about it.