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6 Possible Dangers of Using a Free VPN

6 Possible Dangers of Using a Free VPN

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Latest update in October 19, 2020

With such an abundance of free apps and add-ons available out there, it is understandable that people are drawn to free VPN services. Promising anonymity and secure browsing, free VPNs won’t cost you a cent, but what you don’t spend in dollars, you may end up paying in a different currency. Many free VPN services end up putting your privacy and security at risk – the two things they are supposed to be obligated to protect.

Here at Secure Thinkts, we are committed to protecting your virtual identity and activities, so we’ve compiled a list of the risks of free VPN services so you can make an informed decision.

1. Data limitations

It is very rare to find a free VPN that offers unlimited data, although ProtonVPN is one of the few that gives its free users unlimited access month after month. However, in most cases, the data limits are quite discouraging, with market leaders like TunnelBear offering 500MB per month on their free package. While this is enough to protect you while shopping or banking online, you definitely won’t be able to watch YouTube or try to access Netflix. For most companies, a free VPN package is primarily a way to attract customers who, once they become aware of the limitations, will be liable to upgrade to a paid service.

2. Data recording

The main reason to use a VPN is that you can surf the Internet safely and without revealing your identity. By encrypting your data, the VPN creates a secure tunnel through which you can eavesdrop in the dark recesses of the internet without anyone knowing you’re there…except, of course, your VPN provider. The best VPNs do not do any tracking, nor do they log where you have been. On the other hand, free VPNs are unreliable. According to a recent study by the Australian company, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), 75% of free VPN apps have at least one tracking library built into their software, with more than five of the worst offenders.

3. Weak security

For the majority of users, the best thing about a VPN is its ability to protect you from cybercrime. Unfortunately, although this is one of the primary purposes of a VPN, not all free VPN service providers stock it as much as their users. According to CSIRO, 38% of the 283 VPNs studied contained some form of malware. While this is somewhat understandable – companies need to make money somehow and most malware occurs in the form of ads. Some of the worst offenders are EasyVPN and Betternet, both of which promise free unlimited access — a statement that makes them more skeptical than those who limit access to their free packages.

4. Selling bandwidth

Even companies offering free VPN services need to make money, and unfortunately, some have chosen to give away their customers for a quick buck. One of the worst offenders is Hola VPN which turns their free clients’ devices into an exit nodes, which means that it becomes the point where encrypted traffic enters the Internet. A bug inside their free VPN package enables them to access the devices of free users, using the bandwidth of their paying customers. In other words, someone else is accessing the internet from your IP address, which makes you responsible for any nefarious actions they do.

5. Slow speeds

Most VPN services cause some time delay depending on the volume of traffic, but free VPNs tend to have a noticeable negative impact on your browsing speed. Some companies, such as ProtonVPN, prioritize paying subscribers, which means that free users will crawl through cyberspace at a slow pace if there is a lot of traffic from paying customers. Other free VPN service providers allow a lot of ads which will also negatively affect your browsing experience. Likewise, limited bandwidth can hinder access and reduce speed to slowdown.

6. A barrage of advertising

As we mentioned above, a free VPN that offers you a barrage of ads will definitely give you a slower service. Not only that, facing a screen of ads every time you go online is annoying and overwhelming. While some companies claim not to display ads at all, in reality they appear all the time. One of the risks of this is that it can lead you to malicious websites and is also an indication that your VPN service may share information about your online activity with other third parties.

Best VPNs for 2020

Fortunately, there is some good news – even the best VPN services are not very expensive and offer comprehensive protection, as well as unlimited access.

#1 – ExpressVPN – Fast and the Furious

ExpressVPN They are one of the market leaders, but even their premium service is easily affordable, costing just $832 per month if you stick with a year’s subscription. Not only will this give you complete anonymity while navigating through cyberspace, but it will also give you access to the best Netflix channels and much more.

With ExpressVPN, you don’t have to worry about your activities being tracked or your data being sold to a third party. Excellent customer service is available should you run into any difficulties, but the user-friendly interface does most of the work for you.

Lightning speeds and a strict no-logs policy make ExpressVPN our number one choice. Even better – you can take advantage of their 30-day guarantee and enjoy all the benefits of their service for the first month without actually paying for it.

#2 – CyberGhost – Running Forward

With 20 million users somewhere in the region, CyberGhost It’s clear he’s doing something right. A range of different options include some unique tools and allow you to connect up to seven devices simultaneously. CyberGhost boasts over 1,000 servers worldwide, including some dedicated to streaming and others specifically compatible with BitTorrent. The servers are well distributed, which means that users can travel anywhere in the world and still have secure and fast access.

There’s nothing to worry about with CyberGhost, so you can eliminate your worries about poor security and data restrictions and step into cyberspace in a calm and relaxed manner. With a dedication to privacy that goes beyond the call of duty, CyberGhost offers exceptional service, all for $525 per month. It’s not free, but it’s not far off.

#3 – NordVPN – Connection Killer

NordVPN It is more serious than some of its competitors and doesn’t indulge in any fancy frills, but rather offers standard military safety at an affordable price. What we like about this is that there are no advertising risks and speeds are generally consistent across the globe.

Like our other best VPNs, NordVPN has a kill switch that automatically shuts down certain programs if the connection drops, ensuring your data stays protected. NordVPN has also introduced a double VPN and a connection across VPN servers to give an extra level of security to those they feel need it.

While using these additional security features may slow down your browsing a bit, they also pretty much ensure that no one can track your activity. A strict no-logs policy and commitment to privacy that encouraged them to have this policy reviewed by independent professionals makes NordVPN a force to reckon with. All of this protection can be yours for just $3.99 per month, making it the least expensive among our best VPNs.

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