Things To Avoid When Choosing a VPN
Online privacy is a matter of trust. You put your trust in service providers to protect your data and offer secure connections. But do you know what to avoid when choosing a VPN?
VPNs (virtual private networks) are an effective tool for additional online privacy and security, as they employ dedicated point-to-point connections, tunneling protocols, and encryption to protect users’ data.
Whether you are representing your company’s IT department or looking to improve your internet safety at home, there are various factors to consider when choosing a VPN. Many VPNs advertise security but may not provide the privacy they promise. This variability makes it important to choose the right solutions for your business.
In this article, we’ll discuss a few things to avoid when choosing a VPN so your company can get a head start improving its online privacy without sacrificing important security features.
Avoid VPNs with a False Sense of Security
A VPN can be a great way to protect your online privacy, but while they’re growing in popularity, you may see an abundance of less-than-valuable services available online. When it comes to VPNs and privacy, you have to read the fine print.
It is important to understand the limitations of any VPN service you or your company uses. Many vendors provide a false sense of security in their marketing and advertisements. They often claim that their service is encrypted and secure and that they will protect your privacy.
Be aware that most VPN services track data — they log IP addresses, DNS queries, the bandwidth you use, and other details they need to optimize their operations. Some may install malware on users’ devices in worst-case scenarios.
When choosing a VPN provider, there are some questions you should ask:
- Do they keep logs? If so, what kind?
- What type of encryption do they use?
- Do they share logs with third parties?
Avoid VPN providers who keep logs and share information with third parties.
Avoid VPNs with Slow Speeds
Speed is one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing a VPN provider. A slow VPN service can impact your business, so it’s essential to choose one that delivers fast download and upload speeds.
A major factor for VPN performance is the distance between your users and the VPN server. If you have users all around the world, a single server located in North America isn’t going to be an ideal solution. Your users will experience higher latency and slower speeds than if the server were nearby.
Avoid slow VPN providers. They may advertise low prices, but you’ll get what you pay for, and fast internet speeds are worth the investment for any business.
Avoid VPNs that Leave Your Data Vulnerable
When choosing a VPN provider, ask yourself what security features they offer on their networks, as well as their trustworthiness in terms of protecting your data from abuse by third parties.
Do they operate in a well-regulated country? If so, are they subject to government oversight? Are they subject to legal action if they fail to protect your privacy? And do they maintain strong (and frequently updated) encryption protocols?
The answers to these questions can go a long way toward choosing the right VPN service for your business.
Many VPN providers set up their operations in countries that have minimal regulations and few legal protections for privacy online, like Russia and China. This setup is convenient for some VPN providers because it means less oversight and less concern about how their company must handle your data when you use their service.
When you’re looking for a VPN provider, choose one that provides bulletproof hosting (BPH) services in a country with minimal data retention laws. This way, you’ll be protected in case your VPN provider is compromised by hackers.
Avoid VPNs Without Advanced Security Features
If you’re choosing a VPN, look for a service with advanced security features to help keep your company’s data safe. While many VPNs meet the minimum requirements for privacy, other services go above and beyond to help you use the internet safely.
Additional features to look for when choosing a VPN include:
- Domain Name System (DNS) leak protection
- Split-tunneling
- Kill switch
Currently, many providers offer some form of leak protection, but the quality varies among providers. A handful of VPN services rely on third parties for DNS leak protection, which can reduce the effectiveness of this feature.
Protecting your DNS requests isn’t just about increasing your privacy; it also helps protect you and your company from man-in-the-middle attacks.
It’s possible for an attacker to redirect you to an entirely different website than the one you were expecting in order to trick you into revealing private information or downloading malware onto your computer.
Don’t let your internet provider keep tabs on your company’s online activity. Ultimately, the best VPN for your organization is based on your specific business needs. Do you need secure data transmission, or are you looking to provide remote access to some or all of your users?
No matter what kind of business you’re in, Awnix has the right hosting package for you. We can answer any questions you may have and help you find the right solution to keep your company safe and your data secure. Contact us for more information about how our cloud solutions at Awnix can benefit your business.