In an age where there is a constant attempt by everyone to steal your personal data and personal information, a VPN can aid you in avoiding that by keeping your online connections secure and secure. But while sweeping claims of military-grade encryption, or total digital obscurity might be appealing, Consumer Reports’ Yael Grauer recommends that you look for more specific indicators that a service is genuine before committing.
An excellent first step is compatibility – look for a service that is compatible difference between malware and virus with at least the most popular operating systems like Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. Then, you need to determine the number of devices the service supports, as well as the number of simultaneous connections it provides. Then, you’ll want to examine the number of servers available and their locations around the globe. This can help you pick the server closest to your home or one that offers high speeds for those traveling across the globe.
Certain services provide specialized features, like dedicated ‘Netflix servers’ which unblock geo-restricted sites, or additional security features, such as a RAM-only servers, which wipes data every time the service reboots and monitors the dark web, and security measures to protect against threats. Review the ownership structure of the company and if there have been any data breaches or privacy issues in the past.
NordVPN was the top overall service that we test. It offers thousands of servers spread across the world in 94 countries. It also offers AES-256 encryption and ChaCha20. a reliable Kill Switch split tunneling, a split tunneling, and an encrypted server. It’s also one of the few providers to publish its detailed no-logs policy and engages PricewaterhouseCoopers for annual audits. The costs aren’t cheap, however, you get a lot for your money. A generous long-term plan includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.