With the world becoming more and more connected over the days, it makes sense that everyone benefits from VPNs. However, not all of the options available on the market today are worth your time. We’ll explain why some VPNs shouldn’t be on your list, at least not for very long.
How to choose a VPN
Now is the time to use VPN software for security and privacy too! Knowing what makes a bad VPN is imperative if you take privacy seriously. Making the wrong choice could see your information in the wrong hands.
- Country of operations
- Terms of use
- Record your activity
- Compatible devices
- Check if all preferred locations are supported
- Money back guarantee
Let’s see this in more detail.
1]Country of operations
When selecting VPN software, it is very important to consider the basis of the service. If the VPN provider is located in the U.S., U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Canada, or any country, think about it three times. You see, all the countries mentioned above are part of the Five Eyes Treaty. In addition, there are also the nine eyes, which include France, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and the original five eyes.
To make matters worse, we now have the Fourteen Eyes Treaty, which includes Belgium, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden and all members of the Nine Eyes.
2]Terms of use
Before subscribing to a VPN service, it is imperative that you read the terms of use from the first to the last word. This is where they hide all the juicy details that may or may not affect your privacy. If the terms of use are not clear, contact the supplier directly for a complete understanding.
3]Record your activity
A good VPN service provider does not record user activity. If it is done, it simply means that someone could see what you have done on the web. In addition, your IP address is not locked out of prying eyes.
Journaling means that everything you do on the web can be traced back to you. Additionally, we should point out that some VPN providers claim to not record activities, but don’t take this at face value at all. For better knowledge, continue and do what we recommend above by reading the terms of use and calling them directly.
4]Compatible devices
Before deciding which VPN service to use, first you need to make sure that it supports all the major platforms. Most support Windows, Mac, Android, Linux, and iOS, but there are others with limited support, which is not good if you choose to switch platforms in the future.
In addition, users should check the number of connected devices supported before proceeding to payment.
5]Check if all preferred locations are supported
Traveling around the world is fun, but at the same time, we might end up traveling to a country with limited privacy laws. In a case like this, you will need to make sure that the VPN service in which you want to invest is able to work properly in these countries.
For example, we know that China is known for its draconian censorship laws, so in this case, the VPN service must work well in this country.
Lily: What is the difference between a proxy and a VPN?
6]Money back guarantee
Not all VPN providers work the same way, so it makes a lot of sense to check if the service has a money back guarantee in case it isn’t your responsibility. No one wants to fall into a situation where it is almost impossible to withdraw from a contract if they hate quality.
A good VPN will allow the user to exit from a contract on a specific date without any conditions. The money is returned, and as such, the user is free to try another.
Then read: Which VPN is best to buy? VPN comparison table.