If you’ve ever been concerned about online privacy and the security of your data, you’ve probably heard of VPN technology. It’s one of the easiest to use and most effective ways to securely exchange data online and maintain user privacy. Free VPN has become the choice of millions of users. However, in a world full of options and myths about free VPNs, it can be difficult to decide and choose a reliable provider. So let’s find out what to look for when choosing a free VPN and sort out the myths from the truth.
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Why do you need to download a free VPN?
The main reason to download a free VPN is to stay safe online.
It performs several important functions:
- It creates an encrypted tunnel for data transmission;
- It allows users to remain anonymous by hiding their IP address;
- It allows you to safely use public Wi-Fi networks, minimizing the risk of data loss and the likelihood that third parties will monitor your online activity;
- It minimizes the risk of cyber-attacks;
- VPN allows you to avoid Internet censorship;
- It is indispensable when traveling and allows you to use all the usual online services abroad.
Debunking the myths that can stop you from downloading a free VPN
Myth 1: Free VPNs are not actually free.
This myth is actively promoted by the marketing teams of fully paid VPN services. They say that free VPNs sell user data to make a profit, and therefore users pay for them at the cost of their privacy. However, this is not the case. There are decent free VPNs on the market.
The free VPN services that deserve the most credit are those provided by companies that have a paid premium version. In this case, users will get access to the same quality of technology, without any costs. This is a marketing tool for the VPN provider that helps to attract new users who will potentially recommend the service to colleagues and friends. So, free VPNs do exist, but you should be careful when choosing one to find a reliable service.
Myth 2: Free VPNs have issues with compatibility.
Many services try to detect and block VPN traffic. It is clear that excluding VPNs, such services can collect tons of information about a user, create a profile, predict his or her behavior on the website, and target ads. VPN allows users to remain private. Fortunately, VPN technologies are developing rapidly. So you can find a free VPN service that is compatible with the most popular streaming platforms and other services.
Choose a service that has 24-hour customer support and a well-developed blog section on its website. This way, you can quickly resolve any errors and problems if they arise.
As for compatibility with different devices, nowadays there are free VPN solutions for almost any device. You can download a free VPN for IOS devices from the official app store. Free VPN extensions for web browsers and Windows are also available. Android gadgets can be protected with a VPN in a few clicks.
Therefore, the information that the free VPN has compatibility issues is outdated. At the initial stages of the technology’s development, this was true, but nowadays, free VPN is available for almost any gadget and any platform.
Myth 3: All free VPNs are unreliable.
Free VPNs and those that are paid for function in the same way. A free service’s distinguishing factors from a premium one typically include the number of servers that are accessible and extra features like ad blocking. The encryption offered and the VPN protocols employed define how reliable a VPN is.
Therefore, it becomes obvious that you need to choose the right VPN, and then you can enjoy the best defense at no additional cost. Let’s find out what criteria you should use to choose a free VPN.
How to choose a free VPN?
Let’s break down all the criteria that need to be evaluated when choosing a free VPN into three groups: security, privacy, and usability.
Security.
Since data security is the main reason for installing a VPN, this is the point you need to pay the most attention to. To choose a secure VPN service, you need to familiarize yourself with tunneling protocols and encryption.
- Tunneling protocols are responsible for creating a secure channel for data transmission. Among them are protocols that are ideal for VPN on mobile devices (for example, IKEv2), open-source protocols that have long been well-proven in the market (such as OpenVPN), and protocols that are already a bit outdated but can still be used for specific tasks (for example, PPTP). Read more about VPN protocols to choose the one that meets your requirements and is most trustworthy.
- VPN encryption is a type of technology that transforms data from a readable and accessible format into an encrypted code, protecting it from unauthorized access. With encryption, no malicious third party may access your inbound or outgoing data online; the only way to unlock your data is to utilize the right key.
There are different levels of encryption. The most reliable one today is 256-bit encryption, the key to which is almost impossible to crack. So if you’re serious about protecting your data, look for a free VPN that provides this level of data encryption.
Privacy.
To avoid worrying about how the VPN provider treats your data, choose a provider that does not collect it. This is regulated by the logging policy.
Your data can be logged in four different ways:
- No-Logs policy.
If the VPN adheres to this policy, it will not collect any user data and will allow connection without registration. Because a no-logs VPN does not gather or retain any information about its users’ activities, it is unable to identify them. Even the VPN provider becomes unaware of the user as a result.
- Connection records.
Some providers maintain connection logs that document your sessions but not your behavior. So they keep records of the length of your sessions and the times you log in and disconnect. Connection logs are often maintained for service quality assurance and troubleshooting purposes.
- Activity or use logs.
The VPN provider tracks and collects information about your online activities. We recommend that you refuse to use such VPNs.
- Anonymous or aggregated data logs.
It means that a VPN could gather information in a way that makes it impossible to identify specific users. This is frequently applied to enhance the service being provided.
It’s critical to understand the logging policies of your VPN.
We recommend choosing a free VPN that adheres to a strong no-log policy. This way you know for sure that your data is not collected or processed in any way. If you choose a VPN that has a different policy, you should also know in which country the provider is registered.
VPN jurisdiction.
The most powerful countries in the world are parties to covert intelligence-sharing alliances known as the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and Fourteen Eyes Alliances. It is well known that participating nations use a variety of techniques to eavesdrop on their residents, gathering private and sensitive data that might be disclosed to other alliance members.
They gather data on your online activities, phone conversations, text messages, emails, electronic documents, past location, and a lot more. These nations rank among the worst to locate a VPN firm in terms of privacy.
Your VPN service may be governed by regulations about data sharing, data retention, and invasive surveillance if it is located in one of these nations. It may even be compelled to provide government officials access to your data.
Therefore, if for some reason you decide to choose a VPN that stores any user data, at least make sure that it is not registered and operates under the jurisdiction of one of the member countries of the Alliances.
Usability.
Within this point, evaluate:
- The number of available servers in the free VPN version. If you travel frequently, make sure the provider has a server in your home country.
- User-friendly interface. Download the app of your choice and check if it is intuitive to use. Usually, a few clicks are enough to establish the VPN connection.
- Service. Check whether the provider provides a round-the-clock support service and how to contact it. Read reviews on reliable sites or in your app store on how the support team works and how quickly they respond.
After evaluating all these criteria, you will be able to choose and download a reliable free VPN for all your gadgets.
