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Virtual private networks, also known as VPNs, are safe to use – provided you choose a reliable one. A VPN changes your IP address to effectively mask your computer's identity and disguise your browsing location.
There's no risk to your device in using a VPN, and you're not using some back-channel version of the internet – it's the same web, just accessed over a different server.
In fact, using a reputable VPN is safe and a recommended way to connect to the internet. With a secure VPN service, you can protect your online data and privacy. A VPN isn't, however, a licence to carry out illegal or nefarious activities. Using a VPN doesn't make you invincible online, but pick a good one, and your data and privacy will remain secure.
Top VPN services offer a great way to protect your identity online, as well as opening up areas of the internet that could be blocked off to you because of your location. This guide explains what to look out for with a VPN, the benefits of paying for one over a free alternative (far less safe), and how to keep yourself protected online.
In This Guide:
Safe VPNs to Choose
A safe VPN service can connect you to the web securely. VPN security begins with choosing the right VPN. A proper VPN encrypts all your data, keeping it safe from snoopers and hackers.
A poor VPN, by contrast, gives a false sense of security – the worst services may even share your data with advertisers.
Take no chances when it comes to choosing a VPN – put your trust in one of our recommended services, below, and you can't go wrong:
| Test Score Our scoring is based on independent tests and assessments of features, privacy settings, ease of use and value. | Verdict | No. of Devices | No. of Servers | Zero Data Logging | Killswitch | Email Support | Live Chat | Ease of Use | Features | Privacy | Speed | Help & Support | Value for Money | Free Trial | Price From | Try Click to find the latest offers, deals and discounts from the VPN provider | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BEST ON TEST  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||
4.1 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | ||||||||||
Fast, effective, low-cost and simple – the best VPN we've tested, with a great free trial, too | Powerful features and security, but a bit technical. Some massive savings currently available. | Outstanding value, with an advanced VPN app | Good VPN privacy at good speeds | A good, well-priced VPN | A decent option for expert users | A user-friendly VPN, let down by some speed loss | Superb features, but at a higher cost | A powerful tool for expert users | ||||||||||
6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 5 | ||||||||||
3,605 | 1,000 | 3,035 | 3,000 | 480 | 112 | 40 | 1,500 | 60 | ||||||||||
★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ||||||||||
★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ||||||||||
★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ||||||||||
★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ||||||||||
★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ||||||||||
★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ||||||||||
$2.99 (3-year plan) | $3.25 (1-year plan) | $3.33 (1-year plan) | $4.99 (1-year plan) | $4.08 (1-year plan) | $4 (1-year plan) | $3.50 (2-year plan) | $8.32 (1-year plan) | $2.66 (1-year plan) | ||||||||||
All of the above VPNs are safe services from reputable brands that take your security seriously. From our extensive testing, we identified three that stand out from the crowd.
NordVPN, IPVanish and PureVPN combine great features with dependable speeds and all-important ease-of use. Below, we give a little more detail on our top-choice VPN services:
NordVPN
NordVPN takes your security very seriously. To begin with, it uses military-grade 256-bit AES encryption to protect your information, a great bonus if you're looking to use public WiFi networks without concern.
Additional VPN security features
As well as built-in malware blocking, NordVPN also features a Kill Switch option.
This will stop your browsing dead should your connection to the VPN fail, instead of continuing your activity on your ISP.
Pros:
- Free trial
- Excellent mobile app
- Fast and effective
- Packed with features
- Excellent value
Cons:
- Couldn't unblock some streaming services when tested
- Assumes some technical knowledge for advanced features
IPVanish
Unlike some other VPNs, IPVanish has a policy of not logging your data. This means that records of your online searches and the websites you have visited won't be kept.
Secure but technical VPN
IPVanish has over 1,000 servers in 60 countries, and owns them all outright, rather than leasing them from third-party data centres. This means that your data is passing purely through IPVanish's systems, rather than a faceless third party.
It's a powerful VPN to choose, though arguably a little technical if you've never used one before. However, the privacy conscious will love the ability to deep-dive into the settings and features.
Pros:
- Great Savings: Up to 73% Off
- Crammed with settings that put you in control
- Strong privacy and security features
- Decent speeds
Cons
- Slightly intimidating
- Priced above some rivals
PureVPN
PureVPN is not only a great VPN in its own right, but also boasts an impressive suite of additional security features. One of these is Ozone, a tool that gives you content filtering tools, and has intrusion-detection features that alert you if someone is trying to hack into your PC.
Then there's a tool called Gravity. This is an ad-blocker that stops ads appearing during your browsing.
Simple but secure VPN
For VPN first-timers, PureVPN is also brilliantly simple to use. You don't have to delve into complex settings to get up and running, and there's support on hand, too. Best of all? You don't have to spend much – it's a great-value VPN.
Pros:
- Effective privacy and security features
- Smart Mode-based approach
- Clear notifications
- Excellent value
Cons
- Not quite as fast as billed
- Doesn’t unblock Netflix unless you use the browser extension
Are Free VPNs Safe?
If you're using a free VPN, you could be taking a gamble with your online security.
Explore the terms of any free VPN, and you'll probably spot a clause that means agreeing to sign off on some degree of your privacy. This could be as simple as targeted advertising that will interrupt your browsing experience, or could even be as egregious as sharing your own bandwidth with other users – we're looking at you, Hola VPN.
Hola appears attractive on the surface, offering a VPN browser extension, without charge. However, in order to provide this service, it allows its premium users to piggyback off your own bandwidth, which not only affects your speed, but also means that there are people using your bandwidth for nefarious or illegal purposes.
A decent VPN can be had for a few dollars a month, and most take your online security seriously, without logging your activities or storing your data.
Other free VPNs are simply too limited to offer true security. The Opera Browser, for example, offers a built-in VPN. This is great for giving you a degree more privacy while browsing online. However, it won't cover all of your online activities – only what you're doing in the browser. The rest of your connection to the web is happening as usual, with all the privacy concerns that may raise.
Are VPNs Safe for Online Banking?
A VPN can be a useful way to carry out banking safely when using a WiFi network you're not familiar with.
When you're at home however, and using your own ISP connection, there shouldn't be any real need to use a VPN for this purpose.
If you're away from your trusted home connection, and using a public WiFi network, such as at a coffee shop or store, than accessing your bank through a VPN is a smart choice. This gives you an extra layer of protection to ensure that any nefarious activity on the open network won't be able to intercept your details.
Remember, VPNs aren't just limited to use on a desktop or laptop. The best VPN services all have tablet and smartphone apps, too. And using a VPN on a phone while out and about has its own security implications – see our guide to Using a VPN Safely on a Phone for more.
How to use a VPN Safely
If you like the idea of a VPN to protect your identity and keep your online activity private, follow the tips below:
Don't go free – Free VPNs can't compete with the level of features and security a paid version will offer. With many costing just a couple of dollars per month, it's a price worth paying.
Kill Switch – Get a VPN with a Kill Switch. This means that if your connection to the VPN fails, your browsing won't pick up on your standard connection, saving you having your activity exposed.
Check the terms – Boring? Yes, but check the terms of the VPN you're considering to see what, if anything, they do with your data. The best won't log or collect anything at all.
Public WiFi – When you sign up for a VPN, download its associated app too, to ensure you're protected on your tablet or phone when out and about.
For more, see our complete guide on How To Set Up a VPN
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