How Do You Choose the Right VPN to Protect Your Privacy?

Every year, thousands of online data breaches happen. They impact millions of people worldwide. At any time, a data breach could happen to you. Because of this not-so-small risk, you may be searching for ways to protect yourself online. One of the most effective tools for this is known as a VPN, or virtual private network. A good VPN can secure your network to ensure your data remains away from prying eyes, no matter where you are.

Let’s take a look at VPNs, how they work, and how to choose the perfect one for your needs:

• What is a VPN?
• How do you choose the right VPN?

What is a VPN?

A virtual private network protects your connection to the internet by encrypting, or “tunneling,” all of your online activity. Essentially, all activity you conduct while using a VPN passes through a digital tunnel. Only you and the websites you visit can see what goes on in this tunnel. Anyone outside of it, such as your internet service provider, advertisers, government agencies, snoops and cybercriminals, and more, cannot see your activity or collect your data. This tunnel is the first step towards keeping your privacy intact online.

Simultaneously, a VPN masks your IP address with a fake one. This ensures that no one can trace the source of your activity back to you. 

How Do You Choose the Right VPN?

There are plenty of VPNs on the market. How do you choose the right VPN for your needs? While most of them generally look the same on the outside, there are some aspects you should consider when searching for the right one.

Price

The first thing worth paying attention to is the price. Although many people search for bargains wherever they can find them, that isn’t always advisable when it comes to VPNs. There are plenty of free services available for use. However, these services must make money somehow, if they’re to continue operating. One way for them to earn money is by showing you ads, which can be irksome. Some may also limit the use you get out of them and ask you for money when you run out of your monthly service allotment. More nefariously, others collect your data and sell it to the highest bidder, which has the opposite effect on your privacy as you would expect. Instead of opting for a free VPN, try a paid one. Many of them offer tiered subscriptions to help you find the right price for your needs.

Encryption

If you want a VPN for privacy and security, choose one that offers the best in both of those things. Currently, several VPNs on the market use AES-256 encryption, which is a military-standard encryption protocol. It’s considered unhackable, and the best in the world. If a VPN offers anything less, choose a different one.

Servers

Another thing to look for when choosing a VPN is the number of countries it currently has servers in. If a VPN only has a narrow scope of operations, it may limit the ways you can use it, and the content you can access with it. Try to pick one with a large number of servers in a variety of countries around the world.

Operating Systems and Devices

Before choosing a VPN service, make sure it’s compatible with the devices you want to use it on. While many services are built to work on any operating system (Windows, iOS, Android, MacOS, etc.), some have selected a niche and work only on one platform. If you’re an Apple user, for example, don’t choose a VPN that’s only compatible with Windows devices.

Features

Finally, take a look at the features any VPN has to offer. You may find that some suit your needs more than others. For example, if privacy is your biggest goal, some VPNs offer a “kill switch” which adds an extra layer of security to your devices by halting any activity if your VPN connection drops. Others have an auto-connect feature to keep you connected at all times. If you want to use a VPN on all your devices, choose a service that offers simultaneous use. Although these features are not strictly necessary, they can play an important role in making your online life safer and more convenient.

Conclusion

Now that you know what a VPN does and what to look out for when choosing one, we hope you can find the right one for your needs. Take the time to read reviews and compare your options. That way, you can find an appropriate service that can keep your internet activities safe and private.

HotBot VPN is a Seychelles-based company that offers VPN services around the world, free from the hand of Big Surveillance. If you want to enjoy private and secure internet access at all times, check out our VPN service today! Now available for Windows, Android, and iOS today!