What To Check When Choosing A VPN Service

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Before you delve into this read, there’s a pre article which covers some basic terminologies in this blog, so check it out before reading this for maximum comprehension → on VPNs

How a VPN works

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It allows you to connect your computer to a private network, creating an encrypted connection that masks your IP address to securely share data and surf the web, protecting your identity on the internet. Before choosing a VPN service, look out for these:

1. Refund Guarantee

Always look for a VPN that offers a money-back guarantee. So you can take their VPN for a spin and see if it meets your requirements. Companies who provide this will make it easy for you to get your money back. So you have nothing to lose if you decide you don’t like it.

2. No logs Policy

If you don’t use a VPN, then your browsing activities are monitored by your Internet service provider (ISP). It tracks and stores everything you do online, and sometimes they sell your data to advertisers, governments, or third-party actors.

Using a VPN stops that from happening, but unless it explicitly states “no logs”, they will track your online activity instead. With a no-logs policy, your VPN won’t follow, collect, or monitor your web browsing history. If web privacy is important to you, then you’ll need a VPN that respects your right to be anonymous online.

3. Use of strong encryption protocols

A secure VPN will keep your browsing habits private and protect you on a public Wi-Fi. OpenVPN is one of these.

When Internet traffic passes through an OpenVPN connection, it becomes difficult to differentiate between an Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) over a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection. It has the ability to hide your data making it more robust against hackers and difficult for servers to block.

If you want a reliable VPN connection, especially while switching Wi-Fi networks, then Internet Key Exchange version two (IKEv2) is also helpful. Its main strength is catering for mobile and Windows users looking for a secure and private connection. IKEv2 will keep your VPN connection secure, even if your Wi-Fi signal cuts out.

So make sure to look for an OpenVPN or IKEv2 protocol to ensure your VPN data is secured.

4. High Bandwidth and performance speed

A VPN’s primary concern is your online privacy and security, but no one wants to compromise on speed. Fast streaming is a priority for people looking for a new VPN, and many free versions cap your Internet usage, slowing down your performance. If having fast Internet is important to you, then unlimited bandwidth should be a priority.

No one wants to watch a movie on Netflix with buffering, so performance speed is very important when choosing a VPN.

5. A Kill Switch capability

A Kill Switch will help you maintain your online privacy at all times — even when your Wi-Fi cuts out and reconnects you again. Having one is like a security button. It will automatically turn your Internet off if your VPN is not working. So, if you’re searching for a VPN, and you care about the continuity of service, then a Kill Switch is a desirable feature you should look out for.

6. Available on multiple devices

If you’re looking for a VPN to protect your laptop, tablet, or even smartphone, then you’ll need a paid service that covers multiple devices. Many people buy their laptops and phones at different times or upgrade once their contract expires, so it makes sense to have a VPN that protects about up-to-five different devices.

7. Active Customer service

A VPN provider that offers 24/7 customer service is a serious outfit. It’s reassuring to know you can ask someone for help online whenever you have a question or you run into difficulty whiles using a service.

So this brings us to the end of this article. I hope you enjoyed it and it was beneficial to you. Please let me know what you think in the comments section.