Free VPNs: How You Pay With Your Data Not Your Money

Who wants to add another subscription growing list of monthly deductions? Everything’s packaged as a service and only a few dollars, euros, or pounds a month these days, which is great, but they really add up.

You want a VPN to watch US Netflix, Hulu, SkySports, or one of the other hundred streaming services that aren’t available in your area yet, and it’s so tempting to download a free VPN. But don’t!

Even if your friends have recommended you a free VPN service, they are not the solution you are looking for.

Here’s why.

You’re The Product

VPN providers aren’t running a charity. It’s expensive for the provider to set up and maintain a server. It’s not one of cost either.

The old adage goes that if you’re not paying it’s because you’re the product. This has never been more true than with a free VPN.

The most valuable commodity in the world right now is data. Your consumer preferences are more valuable than gold to marketers. The reason you don’t have to pay anything to use a free VPN is that it’s automatically monitoring everything you do online and selling it. That sounds bad but it’s not even close to the worse thing about free VPNs.

The security of a VPN is only as good as the encryption it uses. The most common type of encryption used by free VPN services is PPTP which is horribly outdated and has been broken for years.

A recent study found that 84% of free Android VPNs contain malware. That means that if you’re using a free VPN on your phone, there’s an 84% chance it’s infecting your device with malware.

None of this is hypothetical either. In 2017, it was revealed that the free VPN service Hotspot Shield was hijacking user traffic and selling it to advertisers.

A class-action lawsuit was filed against them and as part of the settlement, Hotspot Shield had to agree to stop redirecting user traffic and to warn users that their traffic would be monitored.

Injected Ads and Backdoors for Malware

Aside from being a data collection tool for the free VPN provider, there’s also the issue of injected ads.

While you’re thinking, “I’ll just use a free VPN to stream US Netflix. What’s the harm in that?”, your free VPN is busy injecting its own advertisements into the pages you’re trying to view.

These are not just annoying, they’re dangerous. Many of these ads will redirect you to sites that will infect your computer with malware. The best VPN providers do not inject ads into the sites you visit.

Additionally, some free VPN providers have been caught installing backdoors that allow third-party access to your system. This is a serious security concern as it means that anyone with access can spy on everything you’re doing online, including accessing any passwords or banking information you enter while using the VPN.

The bottom line is that free VPNs are not safe and should not be used. If you’re looking for a VPN solution, make sure to choose a paid provider that offers a high level of security and privacy protection.

Why A Free VPN Will Slow Down Your Internet Speed

Using a VPN will have an impact on your connection. It establishes a link with a server in another location, which necessitates the use of an encryption mechanism. As a result, your connection will be slower.

The distance between your device and the server also plays a role in this. The further away the server, the slower your connection will be.

Free VPN providers often have a limited number of servers, which are often overcrowded. This can also lead to a slowdown in your connection.

Paid VPNs, on the other hand, invest in infrastructure and offer their users a wider choice of server locations. They also provide better speed and reliability. You will barely notice the difference. They utilize encryption algorithms that have little influence on your performance. Some paid VPNs automatically scan through their global server list and connect you to the most responsive server for faster speeds.

However, utilizing a VPN is quite different. They utilize obsolete encryption algorithms that slow down the speed of your internet connection. According to Norton’s research, 84 percent of free VPNs do not encrypt data adequately.

There are several free VPNs that intentionally throttle your connection speed in order to persuade you to purchase premium features. There’s also the issue of frequent advertising and pop-ups. While streaming a film, constant interruptions with advertising and throttling will make you notice the spinning circle of death more frequently. All of these disruptions dramatically slow down your connection speed.

Is a Free VPN Secure?

We recommend using a VPN that offers both security and anonymity. With end-to-end encryption, you’ll have a lot of protection. This implies that all data exchanged or received will be encrypted.

Paid VPN services use strong encryption methods like IKEv2/IPsec or AES-256-GCM. These are cutting-edge security algorithms that encrypt every data packet in a transaction stream in real-time. So, whether you’re on a private or public network, your connection and browsing activity are secure.

However, using free VPNs means giving up on safe surfing. Not only do these VPNs log your surfing data and sell it to third parties, but they also provide inadequate encryption, which is frequently an open invitation for hackers. Furthermore, you’re subjected to malevolent advertisements and pop-ups constantly. Using a VPN is essential for data security. However

, if you’re going to use a free service, keep the following in mind:

– Avoid giving out personal information like your email address or home address.

– Do not enter confidential information like credit card numbers or passwords while connected to a free VPN.

– Use caution when downloading anything while connected to a free VPN.

Many of these providers make money by infecting your device with malware and selling your data to third parties.

We don’t recommend using a free VPN under any circumstances. If you absolutely must, however, here are a few things to look for:

– A reputable provider that isn’t known for suspicious activity

– A provider that doesn’t sell your data to third parties

– A provider that offers high-level encryption methods

– A provider that doesn’t throttle your connection speed

– A provider that doesn’t bombard you with ads

Paid VPNs: The Solution

The best solution is obviously to pay for a VPN service. Yes, it costs money but it’s worth it.

When you pay for a VPN, you’re guaranteed:

– Stronger encryption that will protect your data

– No logging of your online activity

– Higher speeds so you can stream movies without buffering

– Access to a wider network of servers in different countries

– Better customer support

– The peace of mind that comes with knowing your data is safe

A paid VPN is a great investment and we highly recommend it.

Final Thoughts

It’s not worth it.

When it comes to choosing a VPN, the adage “you get what you pay for” has never been more accurate. Free VPNs simply don’t offer the same level of security, privacy, and speed as paid providers.

If you’re looking for a safe and reliable VPN solution, make sure to choose a provider that offers high-end security features and fast speeds. A paid VPN is your best bet when it comes to online privacy and security. Most premium VPNs come with a trial period. You easily try out the VPNs for free before committing to pay any subscription fees.

If you are looking for suggestions, SurfShark is a reputable VPN with solid policies. You can download Surfshark by clicking here, or you can read more about it.