With so many different VPNs on the market – all promising to keep you secure and anonymous – how can you find the best VPN service for your unique needs? Sorting through all the noise is increasingly difficult with all the new VPNs coming online and dozens of “best VPN” websites recommending dubious providers.
In testing and researching over 130 VPN services in the past five years, I’ve found that most VPNs fail when put to the test:
- Many VPNs leak IP addresses and/or DNS requests. IPv6 leaks and DNS leaks affect many popular VPNs (see PureVPN) and this can expose your identity, location, and/or browsing history to third parties.
- VPNs with broken features. While most VPNs offer a kill switch or some form of leak protection, I’ve found that often these features fail under certain test cases, such as when switching network interfaces or reconnecting with the VPN server.
- VPNs that share data with third parties. This is mostly a problem with free VPN services that collect data and sell it to third parties, thereby monetizing the user (never use a free VPN).
The goal of this best VPN report is to filter through all the noise and identify the most secure VPNs that passed all tests and meet the following criteria:
- Located in a good privacy jurisdiction (outside of 5/9/14 Eyes countries) to keep user data safe
- Passed all tests with no leaks found whatsoever (no IP address leaks or DNS leaks)
- Good performance throughout the server network (speed and reliability)
- High-quality VPN apps with all features working correctly
- Supports the OpenVPN protocol and strong encryption standards
- Offers a money-back guarantee (between 7 and 30 days)
- Trustworthy and well-established VPN provider with a good track record
If a VPN did not fulfill all the criteria listed above, it was not featured in this best VPN report. And when you apply this standard to all the VPNs on the market, there are very few that make the cut.
Which VPN service is best?
While there is no “one-size-fits-all” best VPN service that will be perfect for everyone, the VPN that performed the best in all categories of testing is ExpressVPN.
That being said, any of the VPNs in this report may be the best for your unique situation – it all depends on the needs of the user.
Testing criteria: Each VPN service in this guide was tested for IP address leaks, DNS leaks, connection issues, reliability, speed, and whether the features work correctly. Additionally, I also examined company policies, jurisdiction, logging practices, as well as the history of each VPN provider. The rankings of this list were based on a combination of all these factors.
Here are the best VPN services for 2019:
1. ExpressVPN – Best all-around VPN with excellent performance ($6.67/mo)
Jurisdiction
British Virgin Islands
Logs
No logs
In an overcrowded VPN market, ExpressVPN continues to stand out from the rest and remains the top recommendation at Restore Privacy. It is based in the British Virgin Islands and offers secure, user-friendly apps for all devices. Extensive testing for the ExpressVPN review found it to be very secure, with exceptional speeds and reliability throughout the server network.
Here is one of my recent speed tests with a nearby ExpressVPN server at over 150 Mbps (nearly maxing out my baseline connection speed):
ExpressVPN is also among the best VPN services for privacy and security. Their no logs policies have been verified through real-world tests with a server seizure in Turkey (all customer data remained secure). ExpressVPN’s apps utilize strong AES 256-bit encryption and the highest standards for leak protection – the “Network Lock” kill switch feature.
ExpressVPN is also one of the best VPNs for streaming. Whether you are using a VPN for Kodi or need the best VPN for Netflix, ExpressVPN offers great apps for streaming devices and high-capacity bandwidth for HD videos and downloads.
Their customer service is also top-notch, with 24/7 live chat support and a 30 day money-back guarantee with all subscription plans. Regardless of whether you need a VPN for privacy, security, streaming, or just browsing the web, ExpressVPN remains the best all-around VPN I’ve tested. Learn more >
+ Pros
- User-friendly and very secure apps
- Exceptional speeds throughout the server network
- 30 day money-back guarantee
- Split tunneling feature (for Mac OS, Windows, and routers)
- Works with Netflix and other streaming services
- 24/7 live chat support
– Cons
- Slightly more expensive (but currently offering a 49% discount)
ExpressVPN Coupon
Sign up for the 12 month plan, and get 3 months FREE (49% Off)
Get 49% Off ExpressVPN >>
(Discount is applied automatically.)
… or read the ExpressVPN review for detailed test results.
2. NordVPN – Best budget VPN with great features ($2.99/mo)
Jurisdiction
Panama
Logs
No logs
NordVPN is a popular no logs VPN service based in Panama. It performed well in testing for the latest update to the NordVPN review and offers very competitive prices. While the speeds can be somewhat variable, the latest speed test results were good with the servers I tested. To improve speeds, NordVPN has added hundreds of servers to their network over the past year, resulting in more available bandwidth.
NordVPN is a great choice for privacy-focused users. Aside from the Panama jurisdiction and no-logs policies, NordVPN also provides advanced privacy and security features. These include double-hop VPN servers, Tor-over-VPN servers, leak protection settings, and an ad-blocking feature called CyberSec.
NordVPN’s customer service is also excellent. They offer 24/7 live chat support directly through their website and as well as various support guides and tutorials. Right now NordVPN is extending the 75% discount price exclusively for three-year plans. All subscriptions come with a 30 day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try the service risk free. Learn more >
+ Pros
- User-friendly and reliable apps
- 30 day money-back guarantee
- Double-hop VPN servers; Tor-over-VPN servers
- 24/7 live chat support
- No logs + great privacy jurisdiction
- Works with Netflix and other streaming services
- Very competitive price at $2.99/month
- CyberSec ad-blocking feature
– Cons
- Variable speeds with some servers
- 75% discount only available for three-year plans
NordVPN 75% Off Coupon
Get 75% off NordVPN (drops the price down to only $2.99 per month)
Get 75% Off NordVPN >>
(Discount is applied automatically.)
… or read the NordVPN review for detailed test results.
3. Perfect Privacy – Premium VPN with advanced security features ($8.95/mo)
Jurisdiction
Switzerland
Logs
No logs
Price
$8.95
Perfect Privacy is a powerful VPN that gives you advanced privacy and security features and an unlimited number of device connections. It is a well-regarded VPN provider based in Switzerland that has earned high praise from the tech community over the years.
Perfect Privacy is a 100% no logs VPN and enforces no limits of any kind: unlimited devices and unlimited bandwidth. Their network is composed entirely of dedicated bare-metal servers that offer fast speeds, high security, and lots of bandwidth (see real-time server bandwidth here). Like ExpressVPN, Perfect Privacy has also passed real-world tests that verified their no logging claims when their server was seized in Rotterdam (customer data remained safe).
For features, Perfect Privacy offer multi-hop VPN cascades, advanced firewall configuration options (DNS and IP leak protection), port forwarding, NeuroRouting, Socks5 and Squid proxy support, obfuscation features to defeat VPN blocks (Stealth VPN), and a customizable TrackStop feature to block advertising, tracking, and malware domains. Perfect Privacy is one of the few VPNs offering full IPv6 support (you get both an IPv4 and IPv6 address).
The main drawback with Perfect Privacy is the Swiss price tag at about $8.95 per month. Additionally, these advanced features may be overkill for some users, especially if you are new to VPNs. But for those seeking the highest levels of security and privacy, Perfect Privacy is worth the price. Learn more >
+ Pros
- Multi-hop VPN chains, up to 4 servers (self-configurable)
- Zero logs with an unlimited number of connections
- Dedicated bare-metal servers with full IPv6 support
- Full obfuscation support (Stealth VPN)
- Customizable firewall and port-forwarding options
- TrackStop filter (advertisement, tracking, and malware blocker)
– Cons
- Higher price
- Does not work with some streaming sites (such as Netflix)
Visit Perfect-Privacy.com
… or read the Perfect Privacy review for detailed test results.
4. VPNArea – Good all-around VPN for privacy, security ($4.92/mo)
Jurisdiction
Bulgaria
Logs
No logs
Price
$4.92
VPNArea is a well-established, privacy-focused VPN service based in Bulgaria that has been operating since 2012. In the past year they have released new, updated VPN apps that are secure (no leaks) and user-friendly. VPNArea performed well with good speeds in the latest round of testing for the VPNArea review.
For features, VPNArea offers ad-blocking DNS servers, advanced leak protection settings, and dedicated servers for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and other streaming services. It is a “no logs” VPN and does not restrict torrenting traffic in any way.
VPNArea is one of the few providers that offer dedicated IP addresses in various countries around the world, as listed on their website. They also allow account sharing and permit six simultaneous connections per subscription. VPNArea continues to improve and remains an excellent choice for privacy-focused users. See their discount pricing for three-year plans. Learn more >
+ Pros
- Great speed and reliability
- Works with Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and other streaming services
- Strong security features, with self-hosted DNS
- Ad blocking
- Dedicated IP addresses available
- 24/7 live chat support
– Cons
- Limited number of Netflix streaming servers (but still works well)
Visit VPNArea.com
… or read the VPNArea review for detailed test results.
5. VPN.ac – Fast VPN with great security, encryption ($3.75/mo)
Jurisdiction
Romania
Logs
Connection logs
(erased daily)
Price
$3.75
VPN.ac is a security-focused provider that is based in Romania. It was created by a team of network security professionals with an emphasis on security, strong encryption, and high-quality applications. Their network is composed entirely of dedicated, bare-metal servers that offer great performance, as seen in the latest speed tests for the VPN.ac review.
For features, VPN.ac offers double-hop VPN servers, numerous encryption options, obfuscation (stealth VPN), and great apps for all major operating systems and devices. In addition to the VPN, you can also use their secure proxy browser extensions, which are available for Firefox, Chrome, and Opera browsers. For those wanting to test out WireGuard, VPN.ac now supports this new VPN protocol with some servers.
One drawback with VPN.ac is that they maintain connection logs for network security, as they explain on their website. The logs include basic connection data (no activity) and are automatically erased daily, with nothing being stored on the VPN servers. If you want to give this VPN a test drive, check out the discounted one-week trial on the FAQ page. Learn more >
+ Pros
- Dedicated bare-metal servers with self-hosted encrypted DNS
- Excellent speeds with plenty of available bandwidth
- Multi-hop (double VPN) server configurations (18)
- Obfuscation features with many different encryption options
- Secure proxy browser extensions
– Cons
- Minimal connection logs (but erased daily)
Visit VPN.ac
… or read the VPN.ac review for detailed test results.
How to find the best VPN (for you)
Choosing the best VPN service all comes down to determining which factors you consider the most important and then selecting the best fit for your situation. In other words, it’s a very subjective process, which is why there is no single “best VPN” for everyone.
Any of the VPNs in this guide may be the perfect fit for you.
Here are a few factors to consider when selecting the best VPN for your situation:
- Test results – How well does the VPN perform in testing? This includes both performance testing (speed and reliability) and leak testing (IP leaks and DNS leaks).
- Privacy jurisdiction – Where the VPN is legally based affects customer privacy. Many people avoid VPNs based in the US and other surveillance countries due to unfavorable laws that put customer data at risk – see my guide on 5/9/14 Eyes and VPNs.
- Server network – Does the VPN have the server locations you need?
- Features – There are many different VPN features catering to different types of users. These include privacy features, leak protection, IPv6 support, ad blocking, and multi-hop VPN configurations – just to name a few.
- Streaming – Some people want to use their VPN to unlock geo-restricted streaming services, such as American Netflix (see the best VPN for Netflix), BBC iPlayer, and others. Some VPNs cater to streaming clientele, but others do not.
- Operating system – Most VPN services offer custom apps for all major operating systems and devices. You may want to check with the VPN provider if you have a special use case, such as using a VPN on a smart TV.
- Obfuscation – Obfuscation is a key feature if you are using a VPN in China, schools, work networks, or anywhere that VPNs may be blocked. However, if you are not in a restricted network situation, obfuscation is generally unnecessary and may impact performance. (See the best VPN for China guide for a great selection of VPNs with built-in obfuscation features.)
There are many other factors to consider when selecting the best VPN for your needs – this list is just to help you get started.
What are the benefits of using a VPN service?
As we covered in the main VPN guide, there are many advantages to using a VPN.
Here are 10 different reasons for using a VPN:
- Surf the internet without revealing your real IP address and geo-location.
- Add an extra level of security by encrypting your internet connection.
- Prevent your internet service provider (ISP), third parties, network admins (at school or work), and governments from spying on your online activities (thanks to encryption).
- Unblock websites and access content that is restricted to certain geographic locations.
- Torrent, P2P download, and stream media (such as Kodi) in safety.
- Bypass censorship by easily getting around regional restrictions.
- Save money on flights and other online purchases by changing your IP address (geographic location).
- Protect yourself from hackers anywhere you go – especially while using public WiFi connections in cafés, hotels, and airports.
- Protect your private data, such as bank passwords, credit cards, photos, and other personal information when online.
- Surf the internet with peace of mind.
A growing awareness about online privacy around the world is fueling the rise in VPN usage. In many countries, such as the US, UK, and Australia, internet service providers can legally record your browsing history and hand the data over to third parties. Regardless of where you reside, going online without a VPN leaves you exposed.
What is the best VPN for privacy and online anonymity?
Any of the VPNs in this guide will be good choices for privacy and security because they have all been thoroughly tested and found to be secure (no leaks). Furthermore, all of the VPNs in this guide utilize strong encryption standards and are located in a favorable privacy jurisdiction.
With that being said, there is one VPN service that really stands out in terms of advanced privacy and security features, and that is Perfect Privacy.
Here are a few ways Perfect Privacy stands out from the crowd:
- Multi-hop cascades + NeuroRouting – Perfect Privacy gives you the ability to create multi-hop VPN cascades across up to four different servers in the network. This protects you against the possibility of a rogue data center logging traffic, targeted monitoring, and other threat scenarios. Additionally, the NeuroRouting feature dynamically routes all traffic through multiple hops in the server network, and can be used with any device.
- TrackStop – TrackStop is more than just an ad blocker. It blocks 30,000+ tracking and advertisement domains, 45,000+ malware domains, 20,000+ phishing domains, and it can also be activated to filter out social media and Google domains, which also abuse your privacy.
- Powerful leak protection – Perfect Privacy’s Windows and Mac OS apps offer three different levels for the kill switch, which I tested for the Perfect Privacy review.
While perfect privacy does very well with security and advanced privacy features, it’s not the best all-around VPN because it is expensive, somewhat complex, and does not work well with streaming sites, such as Netflix.
On the topic of privacy and security, you may also want to consider using a secure browser and other privacy tools to keep your data safe.
What is the best VPN for streaming?
Many people are turning to VPNs to access streaming content that is blocked or geo-restricted to certain areas. With a VPN, you can “tunnel” in to certain locations to access content, such as American Netflix or BBC iPlayer in the UK. VPNs are also useful for Kodi streamers looking to access blocked Kodi add-ons with complete privacy.
The best all-around VPN for streaming is ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN works with a wide range of streaming services, has excellent performance, and offers the best lineup of apps for all types of streaming devices – from Android TV boxes to tablets, computers, and phones. With ExpressVPN’s 24/7 live chat support, they can help you get everything setup correctly.
Here I am streaming American Netflix from my location in Europe while connected to an ExpressVPN server in the United States:
In addition to Netflix, ExpressVPN is also an excellent VPN for Kodi streaming, wherever you are located.
Aside from unblocking content around the world, VPNs are also crucial for protecting yourself against ISP snooping and potential copyright issues when streaming from third party sites or when torrenting. (See also the best VPN for torrenting guide.)
What devices work with a VPN?
A VPN can work with nearly any device that connects to the internet:
- Computers – Whether you’re running Windows, Mac OS, Linux, or even a Chromebook, you will be able to use a VPN on your computer. Installation and setup options will depend on the VPN service you choose.
- Phones and tablets – VPNs are also very popular on phones and tablets. Whether you are running Android or iOS, you will be able to use your VPN on any smart phone or tablet.
- Routers – When you install the VPN on your router, all the devices that connect to your router will be using the encrypted VPN tunnel – without the need to install VPN software on each device. The router will only count as one VPN connection under your subscription, even if there are numerous devices using the router’s encrypted VPN connection. There are some important considerations before you do this – see my popular VPN router guide for setup tips.
- TV boxes – Most TV boxes are built on Android. This means that you can install a VPN on your TV box using your VPN service’s Android app. Check with your VPN provider for instructions.
- Smart TVs – Whether or not you can use a VPN on your smart TV will depend on the type of smart TV you have and whether your VPN supports it. Android-based smart TVs can use an Android VPN app. Samsung smart TVs can be used with the ExpressVPN MediaStreamer feature.
- Fire Stick and Fire TV – VPNs can also be used on Fire Stick and Fire TV – see the guide for more information: Fire Stick VPN.
How can you use a VPN on your devices?
Generally speaking, there are three different ways to use a VPN on your devices:
- Through a dedicated VPN app offered by your VPN service (most popular option; offers the most features).
- Through a third-party app, such as Tunnelblick (for Mac OS), Viscosity, or OpenVPN Connect for Android. There are many third-party apps available – be sure to do your research and check with your VPN provider to see if it’s supported/recommended.
- Natively on your operating system with the built-in VPN functionality (no apps required). Many operating systems natively support VPNs: Windows, Mac OS, Android, and iOS. To use this you will need to import your VPN’s configuration files onto your device. This will use the IPSec/IKEv2 or IPSec/L2TP protocols, rather than OpenVPN, since OpenVPN can only be used through apps. (PPTP is also sometimes supported, but this VPN protocol is not recommended due to security vulnerabilities.)
How to get the best VPN speed & performance
How can you achieve the best VPN speed and performance?
If you are using a good VPN service, you shouldn’t notice a huge reduction in speed. Of course, the extra work that goes into encrypting your traffic across VPN servers will affect speed, but usually it’s not noticeable for regular browsing, especially if you’re using a nearby server.
Here are some tips for getting the best VPN performance:
- Use the closest server possible to your physical location. This generally reduces latency and improves performance.
- Choose the least crowded server or “recommended” server. Some VPNs help you select the best VPN server by showing server bandwidth loads or having “recommended” servers based on distance and loading, such as with ExpressVPN.
- Experiment with different VPN protocols. OpenVPN UDP offers the best mix of security and speed. Trying different VPN protocols and encryption options may help to find the best fit for your network.
- Consider antivirus and WiFi interference. Sometimes antivirus software or other WiFi networks may interfere with VPN speeds.
- Use a wired (ethernet) connection. Wired connections (with high-quality ethernet cables) generally provide faster and more consistent speeds than WiFi, and are also more secure than WiFi.
- Consider processing power. Processing power on your device may also be limiting speeds, especially if you are using a VPN router.
- Consider your operating system. I’ve found VPN speeds on Linux and Mac OS to generally be better than Windows. When using a VPN on Windows, sometimes the TAP adapter will interfere with speeds, as well as background processes/updates that take up bandwidth and processing power.
- Upgrade your internet connection. Your VPN will not be able to exceed the connection speed of your internet provider.
As you can see, there are many different factors affecting speed. Experimenting with these different variables will help you achieve the best VPN speeds possible.
Are VPNs safe and legal?
First we will address the issue of safety.
If you are using a good, reputable VPN service that effectively secures your traffic (no leaks), then yes, a VPN is safe to use. But therein lies the catch because there are many unsafe VPNs on the market, especially when it comes to free VPN services, which we will explain further below.
The next question: Are VPNs legal?
In general, the answer is yes, it is perfectly legal (and normal!) to use VPNs, even if you are in places like China where VPNs are restricted. VPNs are used every day by businesses and individuals throughout the world for basic privacy and security purposes. Businesses rely on VPN technology and encryption for security reasons and it would not make sense for this to ever become illegal.
That being said, China currently has a “ban” on non-approved VPN services that do not go along with state censorship requirements, as explained in the China VPN guide. The United Arab Emirates also has laws against people using VPNs to evade state censorship, but again, VPNs themselves are not illegal.
What is the best FREE VPN service?
“When something is free, you are the product.”
This famous quote certainly holds true for “free” VPNs because you are likely paying for the service with your private data, which is sold to third parties.
Just like with Google and Facebook, free VPN services will offer a free product that collects your data for profit. Here are five well-documented reasons showing why free VPN services are dangerous:
- Malware – Malware is often hidden in free VPN services to collect your data. One study found malware in 38% of free VPN apps for Android devices – and here is another recent example.
- Tracking – Tracking libraries hidden in free VPNs are also used for data collection. The popular Betternet free VPN app was found to contain 14 different tracking libraries.
- Third party access to your data – Everything you do through a free VPN could be provided to third parties – and many VPNs explicitly state this in their privacy policies. Hotspot Shield was publicly called out for doing this by the Center for Democracy and Technology.
- Browser hijacking – Some free VPNs have been found to hijack and redirect browsers to e-commerce sites, such as Alibaba and eBay, through partner networks.
- Traffic leaks – This is perhaps the greatest risk for people using a free VPN because it exposes your identity. One study found that 84% of free Android VPN apps leaked user data, thereby rendering the VPN useless.
As a safer alternative to free VPNs, there are also a few free trial VPN services, which may be worth considering.
If you’re serious about privacy and online freedom…
Start using a VPN whenever you go online. Just connect it in the background and go about your business online as usual. Your VPN will safely give you location anonymity, hide your IP address, encrypt your traffic, secure your data, and protect your privacy online.
Trends in privacy propel VPN usage worldwide
In just the last few years we’ve seen many unprecedented developments in the areas of corporate and government surveillance, which has fueled the use of VPNs throughout the world:
- USA – With legislation passed in March 2017, internet service providers in the United States can now legally record online browsing history and sell this data to third parties and advertisers. Government mass surveillance also continues unabated, regardless of which political party is in office. And with the abolishment of net neutrality, internet providers can now charge premiums based on what you’re up to online (unless a good VPN is encrypting and anonymizing all your traffic).
- UK – Residents of the United Kingdom are having their online browsing history, calls, and text messages recorded for up to two years thanks to the Investigatory Powers Act. This private information is freely available to various government agencies and their global surveillance partners without a warrant.
- Australia – Australia has also recently implemented mandatory data retention laws, which require the collection of text messages, calls, and internet connection data. Australia is also working hard to force companies to provide backdoors to encryption, thereby giving government agencies the ability to hack devices and spy on their own residents. Online censorship is also a problem in Australia, just like in the UK.
Public-Private surveillance cooperation – Many large tech companies, such as Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, collect vast amounts of data through their products and services. While the data is often used for advertising, it can also be provided to government agencies (see the PRISM surveillance program).
The good news is that there are very effective solutions to these problems. You can protect yourself right now with a good VPN service and the other privacy tools, which will put you back in control of your data.
Best VPN 2019 comparison table
As a brief recap, the table below highlights the best VPN services for 2019 that meet the following criteria:
- Located in a good privacy jurisdiction (outside of 5/9/14 Eyes countries)
- Passed all tests with no leaks found whatsoever (no IP address leaks or DNS leaks)
- Established company with a good track record and history (no new/unknown VPN providers)
- Supports the OpenVPN protocol and strong encryption standards
- Offers a money-back guarantee (between 7 and 30 days)
Stay safe and secure online!
$6.67
(49% discount)
(30 day refund)
Review
(ExpressVPN)
$2.99
(75% discount)
(30 day refund)
Review
(NordVPN)
$8.95
(7 day refund)
Review
(Perfect Privacy)
$4.92
(7 day refund)
Review
(VPNArea)
$3.75
(7 day refund)
Review
(VPN.ac)
Comments: This particular guide has always been targeted by shills spamming various VPN providers. Therefore please keep comments limited to sharing your experience or feedback on the services listed in the guide.
Last updated and revised on April 18, 2019.
Where is Cyberghost?
CyberGhost is not recommended. Read the CyberGhost review and you’ll see why.
Hi Sven, Could you please share some idea about best vpn and secure browsers for android.
Hi Joan, good point, I intend to create an Android VPN guide at some point in the future. Although I don’t spend much time on smart phones, I have tested a few Android VPN clients for different reviews. The Android VPN clients from VPN.ac and ExpressVPN were great. For a secure browser with Android, Firefox Focus seems to be a good choice.
After using some top VPN’s like ExpressVPN, VyprVPN, TrustZone VPN,
I settled down with VPN.AC !
Simple,Secure and Fastest VPN I have ever used.
Can’t complain about the service and the timely customer support via email and via Wire. I am really happy with them.
I am using it with Netgear 6400V2 + DDWRT (VPN ROUTER), If I am not at home I am using OpenVPN ECC/IKEv2 on my iOS.
Planning to buy a MiniPC that runs OpenSense when I move to China. So that I can use it with OpenVPN XOR !
Hey there! Great article, btw, but I was wondering…
I’ve been using PIA (privateinternetaccess.com) for several years now, mostly because they were highly rated at a couple websites I trusted, had decent speeds and were pretty cheap.
Just wondering if they were tested and if they were, what made them miss the top ratings, and if there is anything serious we should be made aware of – afaik they are pretty popular still.
Thanks again and I appreciate any feedback.
Hi there. I need to update the review of Private Internet Access, but to answer your question, it does not meet the criteria to be listed here since it is based in the US (Five Eyes).
To shed some light on your statements regarding ‘Five Eyes’ with relation to PIA, what their “No-Logging” policy means is that they do not save any information regarding their users. Even your Username is randomly-generated.
When subpoenaed by the FBI, London Trust Media (Private Internet Access) physically could not provide them with anything even if they had wanted to, which obviously they didn’t, as they didn’t save the information to begin with.
Five Eyes would be a concerning factor if PIA didn’t have a No-Logging policy, but as they do, it becomes a non-issue.
All things compared, PIA is one of the very best VPN’s one can get:
No logging, therefore top-privacy.
Very fast speeds, which is extremely important for many seeking a VPN; nobody wants to be crippled in the process of maintaining privacy.
Feature-rich; not the most features of any VPN, but many, and arguably most if not all the important ones.
Yes, PIA, and the case you describe, is discussed in the no logs VPN guide, but you can’t get around the risks that come with US jurisdiction, even if it is no logs.
Agree, because the No-Logs, Terms Of Service and Privacy Policies are all subject to a change.
– In the end all you’ll ever have for good ground, if these changed adversely – is their jurisdictions regarding privacy regulations where they operate.
–
Moral of this: is to start with a VPN outside of the 14 eye nations and in a jurisdiction not cooperating with any eye’s nation. This is important where privacy is of concern to your data or data that could be linked back to you.
I just came across this article and found it useful. We had an account with NordVPN a couple years ago, primarily so we could have a bit more security when using public WiFi networks while traveling. However, most of the financial institutions whose website we wanted to visit wouldn’t allow connections from VPN servers, defeating the whole purpose of using a VPN in the first place. Did you have this problem with ExpressVPN or NordVPN?
Hi Randall, I haven’t noticed that with my bank and the VPNs I’ve used (including NordVPN), but I’ve heard of some banks blocking known VPN IP addresses as a fraud prevention matter.
Thanks for the reply. We had problems with Bank of America. I contacted NordVPN and they would suggest that I choose certain servers, but it was a nuisance to always have to contact them, and sometimes the servers they suggested didn’t work. Maybe we’ll try again.
Hi Randall and Sven,
I don’t know but, another thing to consider with banks especially if they may be doing a version of the following.
1. Recording the devices MAC address of their users to their demographic location for some sort of banks account profiled security means on their account holders to a specific IP address.
Maybe even what kind of device is connected on it’s network based on an MAC address, the DHCP fingerprint, its User-Agent, its TCP signatures, its network behavior and more that’s then linked to established IP address associated with an account.
.
– [While the IP address is assigned by your ISP and a devices internal IP address can be re-assigned/changed as a device connects and disconnects, the MAC addresses are tied to a physical adapter and are assigned by the device manufacturers – now throw in a VPN and Tap adapter that you’ve changed your IP address with to somewhere else (State, Region, Country, Continent)].
The IP address is where you are, the MAC address is who you are. When this conflicts in what the bank knows and understands in association to your account…
@PayPal sometime back (years) put a hold on my account because I was using a VPN – I just started a new account and always logged in through the VPN.
– – May be to many flags for any Banks security to allow the connection from to many different IP LOCATIONS.
–
MAC address:
“According to Edward Snowden, the US National Security Agency has a system that tracks the movements of everyone in a city by monitoring the MAC addresses of their electronic devices”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAC_address#Spying
Identifying devices on the network-
https://fingerbank.org/about/
–
BANKING WITH A VPN:
I’ve never made an online Banking account (really any online) account that I’ve agreed to the “remember this computer” (I seen this as tracking measures – putting something ON, or recording features of my device).
So that in future logins basically meant entering my username and password.
I see then I’m presented with one of the personal security questions I’ve set up answers for and needs the answered in verifying me as the correct account holder. That’s OK.
– Try using the same VPN server or a closer one to your home of residence.
– Try using just the Banks mobile app when it refuses your connection as to verify you as the correct account holder – even behind your VPN.
– Might look in your Antivirus security product settings for something active like “scan encrypted connection” and disable it – might conflict.
–
I went fishing to help understand this to help supply Randall with possible answers / this was in part knowledge from.
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/ip-mac-address/
You might find this informative as well-
https://sift.com/sift-edu/prevent-fraud/device-ip-analysis
Bank of America gets a mention here-
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/33034/how-do-banks-remember-your-computer
Is there a way to hide MAC address? I have problems using VPN service while doing online banking as well in Canada, my financial institution blocked all my transactions and won’t let me logged in to my account until I called to verify my info with their “security dept”.
I called the Security said they flagged my account for fraudulent activities for my own safety, after verifying he asked if I was using a VPN service than told me to disable it while doing online banking.
Hi Britt,
Try searching with your search engine for ‘hide MAC address’ – you should see some results listed.
I’ve mentioned an installed (paid) program that I use.
Hard Sell DECEMBER 31, 2018 > https://restoreprivacy.com/privacy-tools/#comments
It handles this MAC change and in DNS leak fix, besides automatically changing your Hostname, Computer name and MAC all from it’s settings – if you elect so.
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It’s probably happening because when you set up the online banking access – that you’ve agreed to the “remember this computer” or left it checked marked. I never tick (but un-tick) that if I’m using a VPN service.
– Try using just the Banks mobile app if it has one.
Both ways with and without the VPN running.
– Use the same VPN server or a closer one to your home of residence – always for this financial institution.
– Ask to speak to a bank’s officer for some sort of resolution to a VPN service usage in a, pin code, secure questions – answered, to proving it’s you when denied online access by it’s system.
Put forth the scenario’s of you may try to login from-
Public library computer, friends computer, work computer and not always a device you own. Most work places run a VPN of sorts.
@ Worst case, if their not willing to help you just find another bank…
Hi, and about ProtonVpn? I’m already use their email service, do you think is a risk to concentrate email and Vpn with them?
I am using (by your recommendation) perfect-privacy Vpn and I can’t say I am really happy. They are better than the others that I tried, it is true, but their support is not efficient.
Thanks,
Leo.
Hi Leo, if I remember correctly Proton links email with VPN, thereby putting all your “eggs in one basket” which is not the best approach. I would separate them.
Thanks, you always attentive!
Hi Leo, just think about that a minute.
If your like most people interacting online, the sites you go to and the people you eMail with, are then being covered by the one entity of a company.
No matter how many degrees of separation you believe they have now that is always subject to change in their TOS and PP later.
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I found it alarming of ProtonMail’s start were they’ve accepted money from outside Corporations and/or Governments to what end – in possibly resulting as a cooperative of the 14-eyes nations jurisdiction?
Could this be a model to integrate an encryption backdoor someday?
Outside investors only makes it cloudy of an operations direction for the users, a business model with outside money as who calls the next direction of development and how?
– TRY emailing their support to find out who handles their processing of credit cards…
I’ve used the mail part and asked this very question only to get-
“For security reasons, we can’t disclose the name of who the third party service that’s used in processing credit cards for payments” – via a reply PM sent me. I was already a customer and quickly sought my refund.
Yes it’s mail I’ve used and it’s quite polished interface but may not be the only thing polished to hide something.
I’ve been happy with VPN.ac for my VPN service a number of years now : )
Thanks to you too Hard Sell.
First Thanks for great article.Second Can you suggest which is best VPN for google products.
I need high anonymity VPN
Hi Zahid, well the best solution is to use alternatives to Google products. But since it’s difficult to avoid Google with everyday web browsing, I’d recommend the following:
– Use a good VPN to conceal your IP address and true location (any of the VPNs in this guide will do that).
– Use a secure browser that is locked down for privacy and security, while also blocking tracking scripts. Most websites sites use Google Analytics and/or Google Adsense, which tracks and profiles all of the site visitors. Aside from tracking your IP address, these Google products will utilize browser fingerprinting to create unique profiles and record your activity. But there are solutions for this. See the secure browser guide and also the Firefox privacy guide.
– Lastly I would recommend a good ad blocker, which will not only block Google Adsense, but also other advertising domains. (Nearly all ads you see online also function as invasive tracking, by recording your activities, building a user profile, and then hitting you with targeted ads.)
Those are the big three for privacy tools (VPN + secure browser + ad blocker) to get you started.
Thanks to “zahid” for asking the question and thanks (many time over) for your response Sven!!!!
This actually ties it all together for me. Now I know how to proceed because I’m just a regular non-geek guy trying to make sense out of all the techno-jargon that, quite frankly, is Light Years over my head.
The above is a doable path and a basic approach for a layman!!! How can I send you some $$$ as a thank-you? ( I can’t afford all lot, but it’ll come from the heart.) You’ve really been of service to me and my family and an undying inspiration!!! Cheer, George from Canada 🙂
Hey George, great to hear you’re finding the site useful. Right now I can only accept Bitcoin donations, but don’t worry about it, I’m happy to help.
Hi George,
Comments like yours touches the heart, though the site needs a budget to run on in offering updates and new topic articles besides offering the site. A person needs to feel a self worth and the personal accomplishments that can’t be stowed in the pocketbook. So comments like yours carries weight.
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Not everybody is setup or understands bitcoins, and Sven makes it perfectly clear in the sites ‘Mission Statement’ that you’ll get NO – invasive tracking, paid advertising, paid rankings in his reviews. This gives Sven complete independence to offer the site without any ownership or financial stakes in ANY of the products or services appearing here along with his full transparency.
All of the reviews on Restore Privacy are brutally honest and based on extensive testing and research.
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There are four main ways you can support Restore Privacy and it’s mission to bring you high-quality information on privacy and security:
1. Link to Restore Privacy’s articles and guides.
2. Share information from this site with others – spread the word.
3. Purchase products/services through links on the site. (We may earn a small commission if you choose to buy, at no additional cost to you – not a penny!)
4. Donate to Restore Privacy. Please keep in mind, Restore Privacy is not a non-profit, and as such, your donations are probably not tax deductible. Nonetheless, all donations are greatly appreciated!
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Besides Sven I suspect has a full time job for paying his other bills – plus a family to split his time amongst.
That’s were a #5 main way comes into view to help support the site, try to help answer other persons questions and/or add helpful links to get the knowledge across and out you’ve gained for others to know.
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Not everyone is a geek type that can make all sense of the techno-jargon, the online industry, it’s technology standards that seems all to much in light years ahead of anyone taking an interests of their own personal privacy in it all. There will those that come later…
Next time your in a group of friends and family bring up the topic of online and device personal privacy and tell of this great resource in the ‘Restore Privacy’ site.
Thanks : )
Sound advice Sven !
A total boycott of Google is not possible wished it was…
As if one can’t afford an iPhone you have no choice but to buy into the Android ecosystem. That field alone keeps people with Google and it’s a shame as there are no real good affordable phone options to this. Let along cell companies pushing to break Googles reach into their operations.
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But everything else of Google’s should be doable in abstaining from the rest of Google branded products.
Mentioned per your ‘alternatives to’ guide.
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The big 3-prong approach can very well be a 8-prong fork to a privacy model as seen at the bottom of your landing page of the site.
1-WEB BROWSER, 2-VPN, 3-AD BLOCKER, 4-SECURE EMAIL,
5-SECURE MESSAGING, 6-PRIVATE SEARCH ENGINE,
7-ENCRYPTED CLOUD STORAGE, 8-PASSWORD MANAGER
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One of the most important topics besides fingerprinting profiling you’ve covered was your bringing up knowledge of VPN websites using ‘session recording scripts’.
https://restoreprivacy.com/vpn-websites-recording-scripts/
I can’t help but think as fingerprinting replaces cookies and other tracking – that needs no install of something to the device – simply recording what the device relays to the site.
SO too will be the harm to everyone as more sites adopt this
‘session recording scripts’ technology as invasive as it is.
I’d encourage everyone to check out that article of yours and for them to think about all/most/some of the sites they visit routinely using it’s method, and then a sparse visit to an unknown site has you/device pegged, profiled – known already. SCARY isn’t it ; (
i’m using vypr at the moment which is a decent service.
speeds however haven’t been that great lately in europe so i imagine it is why it was not included in this list.
will probably try expressvpn once my sub is over.
I don’t see ipVanish in your list, is this one that you checked and if so on what grounds did it fail – it is the service I currently use 🙂
Hi Dave, IPVanish is a decent provider (see IPVanish review). It is based in the US, which is not the best privacy jurisdiction (5 Eyes), and it was also involved in a logging scandal last year, but the logging case took place under the old management structure, which is no longer running the company.
@ BeeBee FEBRUARY 10, 2019,
Per your earlier comment(s) and incombo to draw built attentions, online browsing and such should always be kept separate from online purchasing. – – Intermixing all will sabotage your privacy, where as purchasing online requires name, phone number and shipping/billing address, and your card number.
This is a needed evil that has to be, in getting what it is you’ve bought.
–
In the US there are anti-money laundering synergy processes, besides online Companies need booking basically to show their money paths.
– This is why I suggested using multiple browsers for specific things and if a VPN’s (server) is involved in a transaction stay with both (browser-VPN server) for all your purchases in US.
Your free to shop around for best prices to narrow down a derision from a different browser and/or VPN servers location with an adblocker but do continue to buy using the specific ones in mind for your purchases.
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The way PayPal works, your real name and registered PayPal email address is known by a merchant whenever you buy with PP – that is always true anywhere you use PayPal… Not your financing info.
Then the reverse can also apply where it’s known of the sellers real name (unless masked by CO. name) and see the registered PayPal email address of their account.
Sites like eBay that process cards through PayPal without card owner having said PP account, I’m not sure how much PP gets of your info.
{So nice would be if you would add links where it’s known that PP sells users data to third parties. As well where online shops and Banks in the US are accused of selling users data too.} How can one stop and restore privacy if they are not aware of where it’s lost ?
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About Blur, I knew about it’s breach and hoped they’ve work to prevent this from happening again.
I was not aware of their complaints concerning billings, customer support issues. Links ?
Only the Blur users info prior to January 6th, 2018 was potentially exposed. That’s all I understood as follows:
Each users email addresses.
Some users first and last names.
Some users password hints but only from our old MaskMe product.
Each users last and second-to-last IP addresses used to login to Blur.
Each users encrypted Blur password.
(Users passwords are encrypted and hashed before they are transmitted to their servers, they are then encrypted using bcrypt with a unique salt for every user, output of this encryption process for these users was potentially exposed, not actual user passwords themselves.)
– Blur stressed that no passwords stored inside users’ Blur accounts were exposed.
– Blur maintained even the company itself does not have access to your most critical unencrypted data.
– They also advise to enable two-factor authentication for their users accounts.
https://www.abine.com/blog/2018/blur-security-update/
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I get to learn it or rethink things with everyone I try to help here.
That’s why I try to and want to help people as they often have less time.
Thanks : )
Hoping someone can explain some things to me about VPNs and privacy. I know using a VPN would keep what I do on my home internet private from my ISP and private from my cellular provider on my phone. I guess my concern is besides hiding torrenting what other benefits are there if I use an Android phone. Basically everything but do is tracked and logged by Google from my understanding. I’ve logged into my account and turned off every tracking type setting I can find but from what I read that doesn’t matter. Say I wanted to really browse the web privately so that no one can see or track or record what sites I visit or what I search for.. what do I need to do?
Mike, regarding phones, you may want to check out the Librem 5. Yes, Google is tracking everything. For private browsing, you’ll also want to consider using a secure browser and an ad blocker (ads are basically tracking).
Not really much you can do unless you can bootloader unlock your device and flash the LineageOS or a custom LOS based ROM, TWPR recovery for it and find a root method. Then you’ll be in full control.
Seek your device and see – https://forum.xda-developers.com
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As far as I know the LinageOS in an optional custom OS that allows you in dropping all-most everything Google and it’s interacting with your phone or in certain apps on it.
Use F-Droid for any added apps you’d need –
https://f-droid.org/en/
So with LOS I’d not flashed any g-apps what so ever, then the play store and it’s services running in the background is not a privacy concern – I seem to understand.
Not sure about that in adding g-apps.
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Root and g-apps zips are all optional add-ins to the LOS custom firmware when first flashing and in some LOS based custom ROM’s when their not baked in.
Root I’d deem necessary to fulfill root access on your device to aid you with your privacy policy by a deep root level search and files inspecting in removal of other apps that are google dependent in one way or another.
– You should also look for a custom Rom that’s actively maintained being of your device specific that’s based off the LineageOS firmware, to have more options or a better looking OS UI than the LineageOS stock itself offers. Remembering any such LOS based custom Roms has the need for a custom recovery like TWRP – that with your TWRP backups of points in time can save your a_s as you experiment.
Important maybe to understand a devices ROM’s based on geo-location if your device is offered in different continents.
These last week’s I have thoroughly read everything concerning privacy and security and during the next days I will definitely take the necessary steps to become more security and privacy conscious. I was definitely wrong for not doing this more all these years but I’m just an everyday person, nothing to hide really so I was unaware of the extensive stalking from well…everyone above. That really pisses me off. Still, I’m an everyday person with everyday needs. Nothing shady or risky. How can someone ensure privacy when most people use a prepaid card buying online? I don’t live in a big city and buying online is essential for necessities. I still have to give a name, a phone number, a billing address and a card number to do my job. The delivery service still needs to come to my house. Even if I rented a PO BOX, I still need to provide an ID, and every data requested. So isn’t that a necessary evil that somehow sabotages the whole idea? Any suggestions? Also, I strongly believe that if someone isn’t really deep in knowing what to do, REALLY do, in order to go stealth, everything else is still a bet. For example, I believe that if an everyday user (like me or most of us for example) that uses the net to buy stuff, watch Netflix or read the news (I don’t have facebook, Twitter or anything that makes me visible) suddenly ” disappears ” by using a vpn, a private browser, change OS etc. wouldn’t that draws attention to the ISP and every other data collecting agency? I think that privacy and data collection is more challenging than we think. PS: Sven, you are a treasure. 👍
Privacy, at its core, relies on your data being secure.
Since you could say we’re now a cashless (online) society, privacy’s root is not that of your anonymity.
You can’t just suddenly disappear – it’s better to try and conceal your tracks, and you should as much as possible.
Maybe these that follow ideals will help : )
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SECURE YOUR DEVICES:
Whatever your using in device(s) to connect online is ultimately that device’s endpoint – that can be linked to you / if you allow this.
Be mindful of any apps that you install to a device, as a single rogue app/software can punch a hole in your privacy protections.
Remember – if an app/software is free, you’re paying for it in some other way and usually it’s with your data it collects.
–
VirusTotal is your insight to rouge and malicious applications.
– Open-source software is in another class but, still you should run it through a VirusTotal check.
– Keep your devices OS and apps up to date, this single step will significantly reduce your attack surfaces.
– Every application or service you install will increase your vulnerability risks because no software is perfect. Look for both security and privacy respecting ones that don’t flip-flop from the stated webpage to their actual TOS and Privacy Policy meanings.
– Uninstall anything used very little in the last 6 months, or look to a portable application for it’s purpose – (cautiously). https://www.thebalance.com/types-of-stand-alone-software-1293731
– Use a denial by default Firewall for simple and yet exhaustive solution for any applications network activity, controlling and monitoring (stopping their telemetry).
One such example is Windows 10 Firewall Control, prevents undesired programs and Windows updates, informational incoming and outgoing leakage of applications running locally or remotely.
Designed for Windows 10/8/7/2008/2012
http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/
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SECURE YOUR BROWSING:
Secure Browser, Search Engine, VPN, Password Manger, Ad Blocker, Mail accounts, etc.
Online browsing is usually at the heart of what most people do. But, just as you’re looking out at the world, you’ll also most likely have a lot trying to look in to your habits – interests – etc.
– Use two or three different browsers, each for specific things and don’t intermix their purposes.
– Never let browsers retain (store) your passwords and use strong, unique alphanumeric-special character passwords that a password manager generates and stores that login details for you.
– When out and about consider using your phone’s data (4G or LTE only) for a secure network over having to choose a insecure public Wi-Fi option. That applies to it’s hotspot function for your laptop computer – if you carry it with you.
– Consider using Two-factor authentication for an extra layer of protection to your online accounts. Once you enter your password on the site, you’ll get a request for the 2FA code that’s generated from something else you own. Secret questions/answers works too.
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Reduce Your Online Footprint:
Never make an online account in your real name or use an eMail address that includes your real name – if you can help it.
– There are dozens of websites called data brokers that crawl the web for your personal information, and then post it online for the world to see. These data broker sites are always selling access to this information, which could include the city you live in along with deep amounts of your other information -interests.
– Abline offers a nifty concept (I’ve used neither) of DeleteMe and Blur. https://abine.com/index.html
You can use their helpful guide from the DeleteMe part to remove yourself from each of these data broker websites, but this process can be tedious and time consuming. Still it’s far less $ than a subscription that DeleteMe will cost – so if you’ve the time.
https://joindeleteme.com/help/diy-free-opt-out-guide
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Beacon’s, web bugs, zombie cookies, fingerprinting, IDing it’s all online tracking (possibly even more) that’s added to your device or info taken from it. You can use a virtual environment for security and privacy protection like https://www.shadowdefender.com/
Today’s security for privacy might not be what needed for tomorrow’s, stay on top of it.
Contribute your best ways on this site in the other topics as you learn and progress to help other readers out.
Thanks : )
Thank you for your answer and your time. I’m already discussing the issue with friends and family but most of them believe they have nothing to hide. Although they think I’m overreacting at least agreed to allow me to take some privacy steps concerning their social media accounts (thank God I don’t have any), their browsers and Chrome/Android privacy. I’ll choose a good VPN today (I’ll go for Nord because it supports more devices) but I will also like to ask what do you people do when you need to order stuff online and bitcoin definitely is not an option. Paypal? Prepaid card? Thank you all in advance. 👍
BeeBee is that aka BeBee as well ?
Or am I talking to different souls ?
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“but most of them believe they have nothing to hide”.
It’s not about something to hide or doing something dishonest, it’s about every single time you interact online your profiled, your data is kept in ID’ing you across different devices and browsers to a very comprehensive collection on you and of your data. —
– Interests, shopping, what you say and feel, sites you visit, really in and to everything you do online…
Without a paid VPN that adds a layer of security and privacy.
This in/of/to your data can affect jobs, promotions, access to insurances health-home-auto, banking and credit decisions, prices you see in shopping online, and many more areas to ones life from an online use.
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See my reply here below to scott JANUARY 9, 2019 after Sven’s reply.
Also see – https://restoreprivacy.com/facebook-lies/
https://restoreprivacy.com/facebook-privacy/
https://restoreprivacy.com/chrome-scanning-files/
https://restoreprivacy.com/top-10-reasons-vpn/
If some VPN homepage sites were using ‘session recording scripts’ you can count that other unrelated sites do it – so understand this concept- https://restoreprivacy.com/vpn-websites-recording-scripts/
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Also see my earlier comments on –
https://restoreprivacy.com/privacy-tools/#comments
Since your interested in Nord I wouldn’t want you to go in blindly. See Sven’s “Update with additional information” at the end of this article.
https://restoreprivacy.com/lawsuit-names-nordvpn-tesonet/
I personally have used VPN.ac (allows 6 connections) per account, for years with only one minor irritant of the Gateway Removal kill switch needing toggled off-on after having it set on in advanced setting / this with doing so makes the tray network icon yellow triangle warning go away.
https://restoreprivacy.com/vpn-ac-review/
Update: VPN.ac has a Win. beta that completely re-designed kill switch function – so we’ll see.
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“like to ask what do you people do when you need to order stuff online”, I use PayPal most of the time, you link a debit/cc card or a bank account or both. Works with only a debit – that is after I removed my bank account (I changed banks) and a debit for it expired.
Did you check out Abine-Blur ?
Protects your private info and helps you stay anonymous online with masked , burner cards (virtual cards), ad blocking, masked emails, and masked phones.
Save money on VPN’s –
https://restoreprivacy.com/vpn-coupons-discounts/
See my comments – one about VPN.ac 2-year billing cycle. Peace : )
Nope, it’s me. I spelled my nickname wrong. My apologies. 😊 Blur has been compromised. They bravely admitted it themselves. There were also many complaints concerning billings, customer support and despite the fact I’m cautious with comments I decided not to use their services. Paypal has been accused that sells data to third parties. I’ll do a further search concerning this issue but I’ll probably go with the Paypal choice since I mostly use online banking anyway. Living in the countryside leaves me no choice than that of online banking in order to purchase the things I need so it’s a one way, and I know that eshops and banks DO sell your data too unfortunately. I will definitely read all of the links you gave me right away. Thank you very much, you are a treasure. I have benefited greatly from people like you into improving my knowledge and help others too. 👍
Do you see any advantage in paying anonymously with options like bitcoin, or is just paying a vpn with your real info safer? Bitcoin seems a little shady and i am assuming you have to give your real info to them.
Hi Scott, it depends on your threat model, but in general I do not see much advantage to paying anonymously for a VPN. VPNs are becoming mainstream privacy and security tools, just like antivirus software. Likewise, using a VPN is not illegal or “shady”, so the transaction should not cause any issues.
There are different options for acquiring Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency, but nearly all involve high fees, as well as varying degrees of hassle and risk.
If your only streaming a movie from some apk here and there, does it even pay to use a vpn? Seems vpn’s log your real info, you may seem suspicious because if you use a vpn you could be hiding something, it’s really unclear that they protect your identity anyway when push comes to shove. Seems safer to just stream through the apk without a vpn in a lot of ways. Maybe better to just trust your major isp not to bother you then trust a 3rd party vpn.
No reputable VPN service logs any kind of user activity, unlike your internet service provider, which can easily log every website you visit by storing all your DNS requests sent in cleartext. The only VPN on this list that maintains 24 hours worth of basic connection logs (no activity) is VPN.ac, and they clearly state their reasons (security) for doing so. There have been shady VPNs that have cooperated with government agencies, such as PureVPN (see logging case) and I do not recommend these providers.
Internet service providers are an adversary that collects your browsing information and passes this along to third parties, including government agencies. In the UK, internet browsing history can and is used as evidence in prosecuting people for various crimes. In the US, your browsing history can be sold to advertisers and other third parties, which has been perfectly legal since March 2017. Regardless of where you’re at, you should simply assume that your internet provider is logging your activity.
Even if you don’t care about privacy, you should still use a VPN for security reasons. Public WiFi networks can get hijacked and used to intercept confidential information, such as bank info, usernames, passwords, etc. VPNs also allow you to unblock websites that are blocked or geo-restricted to certain locations.
@Sven – totally agree with all your points made…
@scott “If your only” doing this, that or the other – it’s all adding up every single time your online. Think back of a two year period in time of all you’ve forgot you’ve done online.
Bam, you can count on your ISP knowing it even if you don’t recall everything. Why let that happen in the first place.
– Your ISP sees the whole picture – your data trails, so your a puppet paying for their service and they further benefit from selling your data banked up.
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Get a good VPN that excepts gift cards from retailers.
You can pay by ‘Gift Card’ via the “Other methods” usually for this option that accepts (ex: Dollar General, Subway, CVS/pharmacy, oBucks) Gift Cards.
@Buying these GC’s in-person with cash at their store locations leaves no digital footprint of your VPN purchase and aids in your anonymity.
You can see one example how to do this with VPN.ac in my JANUARY 1, 2019 comment – https://restoreprivacy.com/vpn-coupons-discounts/#comments
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Something to consider while TLS – HTTPS websites are
point-to-point security in an encrypted connection – it’s only from your browser – still your ISP handles the devices DNS requests.
Why not install a good VPN and have your device wide
(apps-programs) installed use a stronger encrypted connection (when they connect to the web) that only a VPN offers… Alas that’s all the DNS requests of your browser routed through your VPN too.
Thanks Sven, for all you do.
I have tried all VPN providers and I can confirm like others vpn.ac is a great service. The logs thing seems reasonable as it does not give away incriminating evidence and having an IT background there explanation is very much understandable. Thanks again mate. Happy New year!
What do you recommend which vpn to purchase. I only used for searching the web & playing fortnite. I have a router from netgear xr500.
Hi Jack, I’d recommend ExpressVPN for the performance, which is very important for gaming.
Can a website still find my true IP address even while connected to an Express vpn
Websites using Google Analytics and various advertising networks can very well track and identify visitors based on a variety of different inputs with their browser (see browser fingerprinting). Therefore it’s best to use a VPN in conjunction with a secure browser configured for more privacy. See my guides: secure browser (an overview of different browsers) and also Firefox privacy, which deals with privacy configurations, tweaks, and add-ons.
But to answer your question, if your VPN is not leaking, then your IP address should be secure, but websites may still be profiling you based on browser inputs. (FYI: Restore Privacy does not use Google Analytics or any invasive tracking or analytics, as explained in the Mission statement.)
There is one caveat and that is with WebRTC leaks, which can expose your IP address through WebRTC stun requests – this is a browser vulnerability with browsers that utilize WebRTC APIs. See my WebRTC leak guide for how to fix this.
Well I’m very happy with VPN.ac. The one thing that irks me is the logs, and for that reason I may change to ExpressVPN when my account runs out.
But back to VPN.ac:
Good speeds in the United States, very good in fact. I’m usually connected to Chicago servers, or overseas occasionally and have never had any buffering.
The apps give you different protocols, light/dark mode, obfuscation, leak protection and more. They updated the kill switch for the Windows app a few weeks ago.
Soon they will be supporting Wireguard according to a post on their blog, but I’m not sure when exactly that will be.
The one big con is the logs. But they seem like a very reputable provider in all my interactiosn with them, so it may not be an issue, who knows.
Yes, I really like vpn.ac as well. speed are consistently fast and every server works with US netflix, you dont really need to change to US server for US netflix, you can connect any of the server, say France and once you logged into netflix, it will show US content. Even inside netflix activity logs, it will show you are connecting from US Georgia.. I think that is a pretty neat feature I must say.
I really hope they go no-log with proven audit result like vypr did one day.
Finger crossed!
@ Buzz & kaido,
Logs: they do keep track of aggregate connection logs. That means – they want to see how the service is being used, across all their users, to make sure both performance and security remain legit – this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
This data (mostly) is kept on a different server altogether. And VPN.ac erases this data within one day – comparing this up to a week or month long in connection logs that are kept with some other VPN companies.
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I like the fact they roll their own Private DNS servers. This enables VPN.ac users to hide their activity, precisely the URL of the websites that they might visit from their Internet Service Providers and other spying agencies.
Most of their DNS servers are situated in regions that are outside the United Kingdom and the United States. All DNS traffic that passes through their servers as DNS queries are encrypted (AES 128-bit) to protect customers against 3rd party DNS monitoring and hijacking.
VPN.ac generates millions of DNS queries per day, and these are mixed with legitimate queries from VPN.ac users to make sure that potential monitoring of their DNS resolvers will be ineffective.
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They’re Based in Romania – A Safe Jurisdiction, if they do collect some of your personal data, (say logs – it’s aggregated into a combined form and represents a collection of the mass or sum of all VPN.ac users). Besides possibly being on an altogether different server than your selected surfing point from, they won’t share it with any other countries. Rest assured…
Thank you : )