When we connect to the Internet, we provide a considerable amount of information to our ISP and third-party advertisers. Although we use the incognito mode on the browser, protecting our privacy and preventing companies from tracking our online activity is complicated. If you are concerned about our privacy it is necessary to have a reliable VPN server.
See: Check your VPN DNS test tool legitimacy: Is it “legit” or deceptive
There are tons of VPN vendors selling their services either for free or paid. The majority of users choose free VPN service to save money but what they don’t know is that by doing so, they compromise their privacy because “there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.” Free VPN service providers sell user data to advertisers for profit, for example, Hotspot Shield VPN was caught redirecting users’ traffic to advertisers.
What a VPN should have to protect our privacy
If you want a reliable server which protects our data and does not filter personal information, here are some of the features to look for:
Encryption
The VPN server that you choose must have robust and reliable encryption since our web browsers do not apply any encryption to the data. Therefore, make sure to use a 256-bit AES encryption, at least, in order to be sure that your data is not compromised halfway.
Policy without logs
There are several VPN vendors who claim to protect user privacy but keep logs of their Internet connections and web activity. One such example is PureVPN whose privacy policy claimed that “We Do Not monitor user activity nor do we keep any logs. We, therefore, have no record of your activities.” However, the company aided the FBI to track a cyberstalker by providing his logs.
That’s why, make sure to go for a service with a proven record of not storing users’ logs otherwise your data can end up with law enforcement agencies.
Law
It is important that the VPN service you are going for is based in a country where international court subpoena does not apply. A VPN server with headquarters in the United States, Spain or any other country within the Fourteen Eyes will certainly not be reliable.
Another important point when choosing one of the Top VPNs of the industry is that they should offer a wide variety of servers around the world as it let users connect to different IP addresses without facing connection issue or slow speed.
The best VPN to protect our privacy in 2019:
NordVPN
NordVPN has a list of unique security features including Cybersec, double VPN, and onion-over-VPN. It also has the best encryption level, various protocols, and a vast server network. You might expect a high price for all this, but NordVPN has really affordable packages.
NordVPN has more than 5000 servers in 60+ countries, encryption of 2048-bit (higher than AES-256) and protocols – OpenVPN and IKev2/IPsec.
There are multiple advanced features including DNS leak protection, two kill switches (application-specific and system-wide), and SmartPlay feature. The feature SmartPlay is like smart DNS which helps in fast streaming and to unblock a variety of content.
Here is a detailed review of NordVPN.
IPVanish
IPVanish has some attractive basic features which are better than other best VPNs in this list. They have 40,000+ shared IPs, unlimited P2P traffic and the option to connect ten simultaneous devices. Instead of limited P2P supported servers, they allow torrents on every server.
IPVanish has more than 1100 servers in its network across 60+ countries. You get military-grade encryption of AES 256-bit, 24/7 live chat support, and numerous protocols including IKEv2, OpenVPN TCP/UDP, L2TP, IPSec, SSTP and PPTP.
Overall, it is a good VPN, but it lacks some advanced features including a kill switch. They offer three subscription plans with a 7-day money-back guarantee on all.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the most lavish VPNs including various features and fastest speed with 99.9% uptime. Due to this approach, this VPN service is a bit expensive than other VPNs, but it is worth it, and that’s the reason we have kept it first on the list of best VPNs.
ExpressVPN has wide server coverage, i.e. more than 2000 servers in almost 148 locations of 94 countries. This is one of the most dispersed VPN coverage. Also, you get the best encryption level of AES-256. ExpressVPN has various protocols including OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP/IPsec, and SSTP.
The feature list does not here. A kill switch, split tunneling, smart location, and DNS leak protection are the advanced features you get with every plan of ExpressVPN.
CyberGhost
CyberGhost VPN has gained popularity in a short period and is now being used by more than 10 million people all around the world.
The best and distinguishing feature of CyberGhost VPN is that they connect you to the most efficient server according to the geo-blocked website you select. For instance, from a list of Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Hulu, etc., you choose Netflix, so the app automatically connects you to the working server and promptly opens a browser window at Netflix.
The basics are also well-managed by the CyberGhost VPN. There are 3000+ servers in almost 60 countries globally. They have active live chat support and apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.
Buy CyberGhost VPN here
Buy CyberGhost for torrenting here
Buy CyberGhost VPN for Netflix here
See: Don’t ever use a VPN without paying attention to these five things
Final thoughts!
Privacy is one thing no one should compromise on.
With a growing number of security risks and government surveillance, the need to stay anonymous is greater than ever.
With powerful and award-winning VPNs readily available online, gambling with your privacy doesn’t make any sense.
Take your privacy seriously and secure it with any of the above mentioned best VPNs.
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