Why Free VPNs are Not Good

The internet has redefined global entertainment. Whether you like to watch a TV series, live stream a boxing match, or play a game, among others, you can do it online. However, providers of the streamed contents have also been stricter. For instance, there are some that you cannot access if you are in a different country. Thankfully, VPNs are here to save the day!

Basically, a VPN will trick the service provider into believing that you are in a different country. It masks your true IP address and location.

However, not all VPNs are created the same. If you want to have peace of mind, stick to the top 10 VPN services. As much as possible, stay away from those that are free. Often, they have a number of drawbacks, including those that will be briefly mentioned in this short post.

1. Your Data is Probably Being Sold

According to one article from Forbes, the wrong VPN is more dangerous compared to not using any VPN at all. With this, one of the dangers is that the personal information that you used during registration or when browsing using the free VPN service can be leaked to others without your consent.

If the VPN service is for free, how do you think is the company earning money to sustain their operations? While the possibilities can be endless, you should also consider the fact that they are possibly selling your information to third parties so that they will earn.

With a free VPN, you can never be so sure about your privacy. The VPN has information about your browsing history and behavior.

In the case of free VPNs, on the other hand, they usually have a comprehensive policy when it comes to protecting the privacy of the users, so you can be confident that they won’t be using your data in any way without your consent.

2. There are No Regulations

In line with what has been mentioned above, it is also important to note that the VPN market is not tightly regulated. However, in the case of the trusted providers of paid VPN services, they are proactive in setting their own rules, making sure that they practice what is best for the security of their users.

With the free VPNs, on the other hand, it is often a different case. In fact, many of the providers of the free VPN services are from countries like China and Russia. These countries are known for spying activities of people. Hence, you cannot be confident that someone is not tracking you.

3. Your IP Address Can Be Used as a Network Endpoint

To fully understand this, you have to know what happened with Hola VPN. It was once a popular choice for free VPNs until the vulnerabilities have been exposed.

It was in the middle of 2015 when the app started suffering from a bad fate. This is because experts were able to discover that the internet connection of some of its users are being turned into an endpoint. Essentially, what this means is that the connection is being used to increase bandwidth. The endpoint is also being sold to a company known as Luminati.

Selling and using your connection as a network endpoint is a serious problem. One of the issues is that your IP address will be part of a server log. This means that when the user on the other end is engaged in an illegal activity, it will point to you, and hence, the authorities will probably end up chasing you. In turn, you will be clueless about what is happening. The Hola VPN case should be a valuable lesson to not try any free VPN.

4. Get Bombarded with Ads

Even with paid VPN services, there can be ads. Some companies, however, have premium plans wherein you will be able to block all ads for an uninterrupted viewing experience. However, in the case of free VPNs, you will have no choice but to suffer from tons of ads. This is because they prioritize the ads. In fact, this is from where they are earning their money, so they find ways by which they can inject ads.

Having plenty of ads when using a free VPN will negatively affect the fluidity of the experience. Plus, this can also slow down the loading time, which can be quite frustrating.

Choosing the Right VPN

Now that we have established some of the compelling reasons to never use a free VPN, below, we will provide you with some tips on how to find a reliable service provider.

• Read Reviews: The best thing that you can do is to perhaps learn from the real-life experiences of other people. If you have friends who are using a VPN, ask them for their personal opinion to help you come up with a decision that you won’t regret.
• Evaluate the Prices: Look for a price and a package that will suit your needs. Often, you will be able to save money if you sign up for an annual plan compared to one that is monthly.
• Servers: You also have to consider the number of VPN servers that are present around the world. A diverse location would mean that you can access it almost anywhere you are and without the need to be worried about matters such as speed and security.
• Security Features: It is also important to evaluate the various security protocols that are in place for you to have peace of mind. The company should utilize military-grade features to protect your online safety and privacy.

In sum, free should be a red flag when it comes to a VPN service. The moment you read about a VPN service, you already have to be doubtful. Chances are, it is going to compromise your privacy. The money that you will be able to save won’t be worth anything once your safety is on the line.