The modern world has brought a vast range of advantages over that of even the recent past, with such things as the internet bringing the sort of knowledge to the average person like never before. However, along with such advances, so too have the downsides increased exponentially. Today, we face constant threats to our online security that can range from identity theft and various scams performed by gangs operating worldwide to the government snooping in on our private interactions with others and the web in general. We also face other less scary but no less frustrating issues, like paying for a subscription service and being unable to access the shops you have paid for when in a different country. So what is one to do if one wants to use the web on their own terms and without fear of losing their life savings to someone from halfway around the world? Well, this is where a virtual private network or VPN comes into play. In this post, we won’t get into the ins and outs of how they work to protect your privacy, as there is already an abundance of information online. However, we will look at the most pertinent features to look out for when selecting one to protect your online activities.
Ensure It’s Easy To Install And Operate
It isn’t much use investing in something, regardless of how much it costs, only to find out that you have the technical ability of a five-year-old and are unable to put it to use. Consequently, any VPN you opt for really ought to follow UX’s best practices and make it as straightforward as possible to operate. In some cases, this means downloading a browser VPN from a repository like the Chrome store that sits in your browser and is ready to turn on and off as and when you need it. Even for those who might need a bit additional flexibility, like choosing different servers based in various countries, you will still need to choose one that offers a clean interface that is easy to navigate and allows you to access the nuts and bolts of the program to give you even greater usage. This could mean enabling a double VPN that routes your traffic through two different servers, giving you an incredible level of security that you otherwise have or whatever you might need to ensure your privacy. As long as it is easy to download and start using right away, you’re probably onto a winner.
Consider The Number Of Servers And Countries Offered
We touched on the server point briefly in the previous point, but what does this actually mean, and why is it important? Well, when you use a VPN, you are connecting to a server based somewhere else in the world. To put it simply, the more servers a VPN has available in a range of countries, the better your experience will be. Moreover, if one server happens to be slow, you will have more options to change to another as efficiently as possible.
Check For No-Log Policies
Depending on how you intend to use your VPN, it’s generally best to opt for those with a no-log policy. Without going into too much detail, this basically means that the company offering the VPN won’t store any activities you perform when connected to their servers. This means that if the government asks or demands via a subpoena for information on how you’re using the internet, they simply won’t have any data to hand over. This ensures an extremely high level of privacy and keeps the government out of your business. This feature is obviously best used for those living in repressive regimes, but it can be a blessing for the more privacy-focused individuals among us.
VPNs are great tools to keep your data safe and your browsing habits safe from prying eyes. As long as you select one with the right features, you will be able to browse in relative safety, secure in the fact that those with nefarious intent are unable to see what you’re doing.