A VPN app is a great tool to keep you anonymous online, while also protecting you from malware and letting you access all the geo-blocked content you want. In today’s world, we think it is essential for everyone to have it running on his/her computer(s) and other devices like smartphones and tablets. This is even more true if you’re traveling to other countries when you may not be able to access the services you got used to. Or where the security of your data may be at even higher risk than usual.
You shouldn’t, however, just google VPN and get the first service that you spot. Instead, it is important to first determine your needs (what you will be using a VPN for) and consider a few factors. These are the factors that we deem the most important:
1. Security
Security is the number one thing to consider when selecting a VPN whether you’re traveling or not. While on vacation or a business trip, this becomes even more important as you will be accessing new WiFi hotspots which may or may not been equipped with the latest in security tech. And the last thing you want to worry about is whether some savvy hacker has found a way to get into your computer and/or intercept your data.
With a VPN, every hotspot becomes secure, encrypting all the data coming to and from your computer. A good service will also stop all internet traffic should it detects that secure connection has been lost — this is the so-called kill switch. Also, it will protect you against DNS and IP leaks so that your IP address is never leaked to potentially malicious players, such as foreign governments and big corporations.
2. Locations
Ideally, you want a VPN that has nearby servers, if not in the place you’re visiting then in some nearby country. This will have a major impact on the speed of your connection — cause, what’s good VPN if you browse the web like it’s 1996. In today’s world, that is unacceptable.
Best VPNs have servers all around the world, providing blazing-fast download and upload speeds with little to no visible latency. Generally speaking, the bigger the network, the faster the internet you’ll get, though there are some exceptions to this rule — like where the servers are located and what kind of technology the VPN uses. There are some super-fast VPNs that have only a few dozen servers but they use proprietary technology to deliver the “goods” and people love them.
3. Streaming
In addition to extra security a VPN provides, you may also want to use it to watch your favorite TV shows and movies. What you need is a service that can easily let you access video streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and Prime Video. And by “easily access,” we mean a buffer-free experience with no delays of any kind.
Most major VPN providers get you such experience in full HD, but what about 2K? You may don’t need that, but perhaps you do? There is no reason to settle for less, cause if a service can deliver 2K streams, it means you can use it for other things just as well.
4. Unrestricted access
Most of us take access to popular social media sites and platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for granted, but that’s not the case all around the world. In some places, these services are blocked but that doesn’t mean they are out of your reach, with a good VPN service letting you bypass these restrictions. Simply fire-up your VPN app, select a server in the West and… that’s it. Now, you can browse all the internet as you would while at home.
Bear in mind that government agencies in high-censorship countries are in an ongoing battle against VPN providers and that, from time to time, they manage to completely block some service in their country. To get an edge, you are best off getting some of the top-rated VPNs as these guys are constantly investing in infrastructure to help their customers feel free online, even while away.