VPNs are all the rage right now, but don’t be fooled into thinking that they’re just a trend. They’re popular for a number of reasons, including increased access to streaming content that’s geo-restricted. But the most important reason the VPN industry is booming is that people are waking up to the dangers of using the internet.
Not to sound too dramatic, but the internet is a dangerous place. Simply by surfing the web, you can be tracked by your IP address. Hackers will have an easy time getting all the data they need from your devices, putting you at real risk of identity theft.
So, in order to make it a bit easier to choose the right VPN for Android, here are 5 important tips.
1. Check their claims
All VPN providers will claim similar things. They will tell you that you’re totally secure, and that you’ll have access to any content you want. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. There are tons of VPN apps for Android that don’t actually do anything.
They pretend to work and can fool people who aren’t looking for anything but an under-the-radar security fix. Make sure to check any claims with reviews before you commit to a specific provider.
2. Where are their servers?
An important question to ask when subscribing to a VPN is where they have servers. For security purposes, an external server anywhere may be enough. However, the closer a server, the faster your connection will be. Furthermore, if you want to access content from a particular part of the world, you’ll need a VPN provider with servers there.
3. Do they store your data?
The fact that a VPN provider stores your data does not mean they are using it against you. However, it is like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. If they’re hacked, hackers will get access to all your data, and you’ll be back to square one.
4. Access to restricted content
This is not the most important function of a VPN, but it is a great added benefit. A VPN pretends that you’re in a different location, and can therefore get you access to content that is geo-restricted. Note, however, that Netflix, Amazon, and other providers are doing their best to block VPNs, and only certain VPNs still work against these blocks.
5. Compare costs
A VPN should not be all that expensive. An average price of 10 US$ per month should get you a subscription to one of the best. If you subscribe for a year or two years at a time, you’ll get big discounts.
But you can’t be sure that a VPN will be able to stand up against blocks by content providers, and so a month-to-month contract is “safer” if you want full access to Netflix, etc.