We live in an era where digital privacy is becoming a precious commodity. Various organizations are constantly tracking us, and an easy and cheap solution to bypass this surveillance is to use a free VPN.
Of course, any free service is tempting, but the harsh reality is that nothing in this world is actually free. In 2020, over 20 million free VPN users had their personal data leaked on the internet. On top of that, a free VPN shows customized ads, more likely due to selling your data to advertising agencies.
Clearly, a free VPN is not the best solution for your privacy. In this guide, we will discuss some of the reasons why you must avoid using a free VPN and a way to find an inexpensive, safer option.
Table of Contents
Why you must avoid free VPNs
Free VPNs collect your private data: No one wants to have their personal data leaked on the internet. We use VPN to avoid being tracked, but if the VPN itself sells your data to a third party, it diminishes the whole purpose of using the VPN in the first place. Free VPNs need to keep their servers running, and one of their biggest revenue sources is selling your personal data to advertisement agencies. So unless you want others to know your browsing history, it is better to avoid using a free VPN.
Some VPNs contain malware: There have been numerous instances where a free VPN was found to contain malware and spyware that are designed to collect user data. This makes downloading free VPNs extremely unsafe.
Lacks a “kill button”: Free VPNs usually do not come with advanced features like an instant kill button. Premium VPNs have a kill switch, which stops the internet after a connection loss. So your IP address will be exposed when you are using the VPN, and the connection with the server is suddenly intercepted. This will create a significant issue if you are using a VPN in countries where it is not permissible.
Slow speeds: Free VPNs have a slower speed, making downloading large files virtually impossible. Expect to face connection time-outs and the spinning wheel of death.
How to find a safe VPN?
Now that we have established several reasons for avoiding free VPNs, let’s focus on how to find a legitimate one.
Search among paid VPN options: If you want a real VPN that will protect your privacy and help you bypass online restrictions, you must find a paid VPN option. You can download a VPN and get 7 days of free trial to see if you like the service.
Review the features: Premium VPN comes with several features that you may find particularly useful. For example, Surfshark VPN offers unlimited device support, so if you get a single plan, all your devices can be connected to the VPN.
