VPNs are becoming an essential part of online life. Whether it’s protecting your privacy at home, making it safer to connect on public Wi-Fi networks, or being able to access content when travelling, a good VPN should be part of your setup. But, with so many available, how can you know that the one you choose is trustworthy and reliable? Here’s a quick guide on things to consider when looking for a VPN.
What makes a good VPN?
There are several factors that make up a good VPN, all of which breakdown into three main categories – Security, Privacy, and Flexibility. A premium VPN will have these areas covered, with high standards across the board. So, what should you expect from each category?
Security
One of the prime purposes of a VPN is to provide you with a secure way to use the internet. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) do this by creating encrypted virtual ‘tunnels’ through which passes any data you send or receive. This prevents hackers and snoopers from being able to read the contents of your online activities, steal your digital banking details or monitor the sites you visit and log onto.
While all VPNs offer encrypted connections, the levels of encryption technology they employ can be quite varied. For instance, a recent report by Infosecurity Magazine found that the free VPNs tested often exposed users to more danger than they might expect. This was due to some using outdated versions of protocols like OpenSSL and other compromises that could put users at risk.
To know your connections are secured, you want to look for VPNs that use 256-bit AES and/or ChaCha20 encryption technologies, plus the latest versions of protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN or IKEv2/IPSec. These are usually present on premium offerings from established security brands like Norton.
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Privacy
While encryption is of the utmost importance, you also don’t want VPN companies logging where you go online or tracking your location, as this can make it possible for third parties to build up profiles of your online activities as well as where you live and work.
To prevent this, you’ll want a VPN provider to have a no-log policy, so it won’t record the websites and pages you visit when using the VPN. It’s a good idea to use a service that has plenty of servers around the world that can disguise your location, with paid premium VPNs usually having a much higher selection than free or budget alternatives, all without slowing down your connection. You’ll also want one that regularly changes your IP address so you’re much harder to track.
Flexibility
Alongside the standard security and privacy features, many VPNs will also offer additional capabilities to make life easier and safer online. These can include cross-platform support for different devices (so you are covered on your PC, smartphone and tablet), AI technologies to help guard against scams, malware and ransomware protection, cloud storage, password managers, as well as various tiers that cover different numbers of devices so you can tailor the protection to your personal or familial needs.
So which VPN should I choose?
If you shop around, you should find several VPNs that feature a mixture of all the features and capabilities we’ve covered. One excellent choice is Norton VPN, as it not only boasts a name that is synonymous with security, but also comes with 24-bit AES encryption, ChaCha20, OpenSSL, Wireguard and IKEv2/IPSec protocols, so your connections will be secure across your many devices. In addition, there’s the company’s proprietary Mimic protocol which leads servers to believe you’re not using a VPN at all, helping users to navigate around firewall restrictions and be protected against quantum-computer attacks.
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Norton operates a strict no-log policy, as certified by independent auditing service VerSprite, plus it comes with a tracker blocker, IP masking and over 100 server locations worldwide.
The feature-set of Norton VPN is also top-notch, as the service offers various plans that cover from 5 devices up to 10, with extras that vary depending on plans, like a password manager, dark web monitoring, up to 50GB of cloud storage, and AI-powered protection against scams, phishing and malware.
You can sign up to Norton VPN Standard today at the price of £29.99 for 5 devices for the first year if you’re looking just for a VPN. If you need more than a VPN then there’s a 5-device Norton VPN Plus plan for £34.99, and 10 devices Norton VPN Ultimate plan for £39.99 for the first year. All come with a 60-day money-back guarantee that shows how much Norton trusts its product.
Don’t get caught out by using a VPN that isn’t protecting your data as well as it could or slows you down when you’re online. Instead, put your trust in a tried and tested name that delivers what you’d expect from a VPN and more – Norton VPN.