Does A Free VPN Really Mean It Is Free
The simple answer is NO.
As a general rule, most of the services online that are advertised as being free are not actually free. And the same rule applies to free VPN apps also.
Even though you’re not paying with money for a free VPN app, you’re paying with your privacy and security and personal information.
Free VPN apps will exploit your private data for their gain, tracking your online activity and selling your information to third-party apps. They can also exploit your internet connection and sell your bandwidth, along with some other risks you’re exposing yourself to.
Let’s go over the most common dangers of using a free VPN to get a better idea of how “free” a free VPN service actually is.
Allow Government To Collect Your Data
While you are using a VPN to stay safe from Government surveillance but actually unable, its a matter of regret. Many countries have banned VPN like China. When you use a low-rated free VPN against the Government Laws, it doesnt actually work at all. The government can be spying on you if they want. It means you are not completely free in the online world.
Benefits Of Using Paid Or Premium VPN
Using a Paid or VPN is the safest way to surf the internet. They have the capability of breaking the geo-restriction of any streaming sites. They have a military guard encryption policy to protect your data. Premium VPN has other features you need for your security like split tunneling, no logs, DNS & IP leak protection.
A premium VPN has unlimited bandwidth and can make the speediest connection. The secure connection of Premium VPN gives you the facility of using the internet without any hassle. They always make your identity anonymous and give you perfect safety.
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Are Free VPNs Actually Safe
Unfortunately, free VPNs arent always 100% safe. However, the VPNs in this list are safe to use I read all the privacy policies and none of them store any identifiable information. I performed leak tests to make sure my connection was properly hidden and they all passed the test.
Many free VPNs can be dangerous for several reasons. Some free VPNs dont offer proper encryption, while some keep logs and share that data with third parties like advertisers to make money. Unfortunately, thats not all I encountered free VPNs that contain malware embedded into the apps.
Are Free VPNs Legal
In short, yes. VPN software itself is no less legal than any other mainstream software.
However, using it as a torrenting VPN to download copyrighted files is still illegal, as is accessing any other illicit content.;
Essentially, while a free VPN is perfectly legal to own and use, it doesn’t make illegal acts legal just because it makes the crime harder to detect.
- Want to make your money go further? Check out the best cheap VPN
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Use Your Internet Connection To Serve Other Users
Normally a VPN uses our internet connection to access all the things over the internet. But that does not exactly happen when it comes to the free VPN and some more factors matter when we discuss the workflow of a VPN.
A free VPN uses your internet connection to access the internet on other user devices. Maybe some of you thinking that what is so dangerous about this matter, it just using the internet protocol. Well, its not so simple as it looks like and there is a really complicated concern that you must know. Lets understand this in simple language with an example.
Let assume that you are using XYZ free VPN foto stream online videos. But at the same time, the VPN is offering your internet connection to that user who is currently performing some illegal activity on the internet. If the guy who is using your internet protocol steals something from the government sites and when the officers will look for the IP and the source then you are the one who gets caught. Because the attacker used your IP to breach government security and you are responsible for that. Thousands of free VPN users face the same thing and they dont have an idea who performed such things with their internet protocol address.
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Reasons Why Free VPNs Are Not Safe
“Is VPN safe?” is a question everyone should be asking, and the answer is straightforward. Using free software is not an effective method for ensuring VPN security because it often will not protect data and browsing activity on the internet. Key reasons not to use a free VPN include:
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What Is The Best Free VPN
Trying out a premium VPN using its money-back guarantee is always better than using a free VPN. All free VPNs come with limitations that can make using them almost pointless .
When you test out a premium VPN that comes with a money-back guarantee, like ExpressVPN, you get full use of all the features;and the service isnt limited in any way except for the fact that you can only test it for 30 days. In my opinion, using a premium service and asking for a refund within its guarantee period if Im not satisfied is a more acceptable limitation than what free services offer.
Paid Options Get Better All The Time
The good news is that there are a lot of solid VPNs on the market that offer a range of features, depending on your needs and budget. You can browse our ratings and reviews to find the right VPN service for you. If you’re looking for something mobile-specific, we’ve rounded up our favorites for 2021.
If you’d like a primer before deciding which service to drop the cash on, we have;a VPN buyer’s guide to help you get a handle on the basics of VPNs and what to look for when choosing a VPN service.
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Peoples Opinion About Free VPNs
So we decided to see what people think about free VPNs and headed to Quora for some answers. Below are some answers to different questions people asked about free VPNs on Quora.
Here, we see a Quora user Oral Knox in response to a question, sharing his personal opinion about free VPNs. The user says that they would pass on any free VPN because it will be slow or sell your personal information or online activity logs to some third-party organization.
In response to another question of the same nature, Quora user Daniel Janiak confirms that it is not a wise decision to use a free VPN. He further adds that free VPN providers will profit from your personal details and information.
A recent study also revealed that 40% of the free VPN apps were found leaking user data. Also, a study by CSIRO discovered that 75% of the free VPNs have at least one third-party tracker embedded in their software. Therefore, free VPNs are not recommended at all.
Instead, you can invest in a reliable VPN provider that spends time and effort auditing their service and have a detailed privacy policy statements.
What Makes A Free App Dangerous
Dangerous free apps are made by rogue developers or hackers with malicious intent. There are two main ways they can get to you:
1. By tracking you
If your free photo editor app is requesting access to your contacts or location, you should be suspicious. Trackers are built into some free apps to record your movements, which could tell them:
- Your home address
- Who you talk to and how often you do so
- Who you visit and how often you see them
Advertisers and third parties pay big money for consumer data like this, and hackers who see you as a target will find plenty of malicious ways to exploit your information.
2. By infecting your device
- Malware and spyware is planted in some free apps to infect your device. Once your device is infected, the malware could paralyze it, and steal your photos, videos, payment information, and name.
- Spyware can be planted in some free apps to track and record your phone calls, messages, and movements, as well as hacking into your camera.
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Are Free VPNs Dangerous
While the main criticism of free VPNs is that they just aren’t half as useful as the paid-for alternatives, there are genuine dangers lurking with some proponents .
For example, research in 2020 suggested that around 40% of the free Android VPNs available on the Google Play Store do not protect their users’ privacy to an adequate level. So the extra online protection you thought you would be getting just isn’t there.
Worth Considering: Free Trial With A Premium VPN For 30 Days
Free VPNs generally come with certain limitations. Premium paid VPNs are generally more secure and offer more options, such as unlimited data, unlimited speeds, proper customer support, and access to streaming services from all over the world.
If you want to try a premium service for free, there is a strong up-and-comer that we wholeheartedly recommend, namely Surfshark. For $2.49 USD per month, you get all the advantages of a premium VPN. The free trial comes in the form of a 30-day money-back guarantee. Within those first 30 days, you can get your money back without problems.
- Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
- 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
- Cheap with many extra options
If you want to know how you can use the Surfshark trial period to your advantage, you can check out this Surfshark free trial guide. Or find out more about trial periods with all the biggest VPN providers.
If a free VPN is really what you are looking for, there are some reliable options. You might run into data limits or speed caps, but the free VPN providers in the list below are generally quite good and are completely free. You dont have to register and provide your payment information or make use of a money-back guarantee. Free really is free with these VPN providers.
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Free VPNs Without Speed Caps
As most free VPNs already employ data limits, they dont need to set speed caps. As a result, these VPNs are often just as fast as paid VPNs. Some free VPNs dont actively set speed caps because their free servers are already slowed down by the large number of users.
Luckily, there are free providers that offer a relatively sizeable number of servers, such as TunnelBear;and Windscribe. This means that, even though the VPN connection is free, speeds are still very decent. TunnelBear especially clearly demonstrates what a paid subscription would look like, as this VPN provider gives you access to all its servers, however with very limited data .
Get A Limited Free Version Of Its Premium Service
We’d like to see ProtonVPN’s premium service come down a bit on price, but in the meantime, you can sign up for its free version, which isn’t as speedy but still offers unlimited bandwidth and data. But be aware that with ProtonVPN’s free tier, you’ll get support for just one device and access to servers only in the Netherlands, Japan and the US. For access to 55 countries and up to 10 devices, you’ll need to upgrade to the paid version.
Along with its options to send your traffic through a secure bunker of private servers, we love ProtonVPN’s transparency policies: It’s completely open-source with;routinely published audits, and includes a built-in route to VPN into;Tor servers. We’re also confident recommending its mobile app since it has eliminated the use of some weaker security protocols, like PPTP and L2TP, which are still used by some other VPNs.;
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Mb Daily Data Usage Limit
Hotspot Shield did limit our data usage, but they were more generous than most other free VPNs. The data allowance was refreshed every 24 hours, giving us 500 MB of bandwidth to consume every day. Thats about 15 GB per month, provided that we max out our allowance daily. However, unused data didnt roll over to the next day, so if we used only 400 MB in one day, we would still only receive 500 MB the next day. The daily limit made sense as it helped us control our data usage. Instead of giving us 15 GB per month, which frankly, we could blow through in just a week or so, it limited our daily usage so wed still have bandwidth left towards the end of the month. Now thats just smart.
Logging And Sale Of Your Private Information
Paid VPN providers dont need to sell your information to make money youre already paying them and have no incentive to do so: security and privacy is their whole product.
Free providers, on the other hand, are known for logging traffic, making use of tracking technology like cookies, and even selling this information to advertisers and third parties.
Instead, look for VPNs with strict no-logging policies, like NordVPN.
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Best Free VPN For Windows 10 In 2021
Are you looking for an option to secure your online data and IP address? Then, get the best free VPN for Windows 10 to hide your private data from hackers. But the tech market is full of dozens of free VPN applications and it is often difficult for laymen to pick and .
VPNs can also help in accessing several sites that may not be available in your region due to territorial restrictions imposed on them. Apart from masking your identity, VPN service prevents the websites from tracking your geo-locations
This article will take you through the most promising VPN software available for Windows 10 while imparting an exquisite touch to its best features. So, without any further ado lets dive into the world of best VPN software for Windows.
Surf the Web Privately with Nord VPN
Short on time? Want to hide your IP address and bypass geo-restrictions to access popular streaming sites like Netflix? If so, then get Nord VPN and leave the rest to this impeccable VPN service provider.
You Might Get Spammed With Ads
Lots of free VPN apps will display ads. And this approach is pretty understandable. Because the users don’t pay anything in exchange for the services, the company must find a way to make some money.
Some free VPN apps are transparent about displaying ads while some state that their app is ads free until you open up the app and have an ad thrown in your face.
Not only ads are annoying, but they can also be risky because they can trick you into accessing malicious websites.
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Are Free VPNs Safe To Use
With Congress having overturned web privacy rules passed during the Obama era and the repeal completed by the president, the US and most of the world is waking up to issues of privacy and security on the internet. Since ISPs are no longer required to request permission before selling your browsing history to third parties, it makes you trackable, and your information can be sold easily without severe repercussions to them. As a result, virtual private networks or VPNs have become the ultimate response. In a nutshell, a VPN shields user browsing activity through virtual tunnels making it hard for ISPs to access private information.
Free VPNs have been the talk of many as online surfers dont want anyone to have access to the activities and interactions theyre while on the internet. Free VPN means a virtual private network allowing you to access a VPN server service, including any offered software, without parting with any money. The question is: Are free VPNs safe? With VPN service overheads demanding heavy recurring costs, maintaining VPN servers around the world is one of the most expensive undertakings. With constant software development and improvement, updates and support needed, the idea of a free VPN is shrouded by the little fact that theres a catch somewhere. After all, the money to upkeep the service has to come from somewhere.
Best Free VPN For Your Computer Or Mac
Most free VPNs are available for Windows and Mac. There are three ways in which you could use a VPN on your computer:
Some VPNs are only available as a browser extension, for Chrome or Firefox, for example. This means they do NOT protect your other internet traffic, including torrents and emailing. The only thing a VPN browser extension protects is the internet traffic running through your browser, such as online banking via your banks website.
Different operating systems require different kinds of VPN software. Linux users will often have a harder time setting up a VPN connection than Windows or Mac users. Setting up a VPN connection on Windows or Mac is usually just a matter of downloading and installing the provided software. Linux users will often have to manually configure their VPN connection.
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