In years gone by, a VPN or virtual private network was something only businesses used to add a layer of protection for remote workers. However, as cybercrime has consistently increased and online privacy has dramatically decreased, it is now becoming more important than ever that we all consider using a VPN when connecting to the internet.
Whether you want to surf the internet in privacy, have extra security when using public wifi, or simply protect yourself from hackers, a VPN is the only guaranteed way to do this. However, with so many VPN providers to choose from, how do you know which of them is the best?
Well, while they all do the same thing at a basic level, the better VPNs offer a ton of additional features designed to enhance your online security and privacy.
Security Features to Look Out For
While most people consider little more than cost, speed, bandwidth allowance, and how many servers a VPN has, there is a lot more that you should be considering. The security features, in particular, that a VPN has should definitely be something to look out for.
Some of the security we recommend you consider include:
- DNS leak protection
- Military-Grade Encryption Technology
- Kill Switch
- A Strict No Logs Policy
Most good VPN providers will contain most of those and more as part of their subscription. Surfshark VPN for instance has each of those and a ton of other excellent security features.
Are VPNs Value for Money?
Absolutely, for less than the cost of a meal at MacDonald’s, you can get a monthly subscription. Buy a year or two in advance and you make further savings. Literally, for just a few dollars a month, you get private browsing and a much-needed layer of protection. When you consider how much you could lose without protecting your data online, that is a very small price to pay.
Another good thing about VPNs is that most offer some kind of free trial or moneyback guarantee. This gives you the ability to test out a few of them before deciding which one better suits your circumstances.
Summary
People will have different reasons to get a VPN but enhanced security and privacy will usually be the most important. Others may use them to hide the downloading of torrents or to assume the identity of another computer in another country to bypass Netflix geo-restrictions. Whatever your reason, as long as you choose a good quality provider, you will get more than your money’s worth.
