With cybercrime and Internet restrictions on the rise, everyone should beconcerned about online security and seamless access to the Internet. One of themost important tools for this is a VPN for Windows, which can be installed onboth a home PC and a laptop. It will allow you to securely transfer data over theInternet, maintain online privacy, and bypass geographic restrictions on contentaccess. So let’s find out how to choose the best free VPN for Windows and dispelthe most common myths about this tool.
How does a free VPN work?
A VPN or virtual private network is a cybersecurity technology. When you use a free VPN for Windows, it performs the following functions:
- redirects your traffic through a remote VPN server;
- encrypts your data and transmits it through a secure tunnel;
- hides your IP address from prying eyes.
All of this allows you to securely exchange data, prevents online monitoring, and protects you from cyberattacks.
However, not all VPNs are equally trustworthy. So let’s find out how to choose thebest one.
How to choose the best free VPN for Windows?
To choose a VPN, you need to evaluate the following criteria:
1) Security and privacy.
It can be assessed by looking at several parameters:
- What tunneling protocols are used by the VPN provider? Each protocol has its advantages and disadvantages, so usually providers have several options for different tasks. Check which protocols the provider claims to support. If there are only old options such as PPTP, this is a reason to doubt security and continue your search. If the provider’s portfolio also includes reliable protocols such as OpenVPN or IKEv2, you can be sure of the quality of tunneling.
- The level of data encryption. Encryption means converting your data from an easy-to-read format into an unreadable code. It is decrypted using a special key. The most reliable encryption today is 256-bit encryption. It is virtually impossible to break it by selecting combinations because modern machinery cannot select combinations at such a speed.
You can find information about the protocols and encryption on the official website of the VPN provider. Additionally, you can check whether the provider undergoes regular audits by independent auditors to see if it fulfills its obligations.
2) Speed.
This parameter is difficult to assess objectively at the selection stage but easy to check in the first days of use. At the stage of choosing a VPN, at least check if the provider of a free VPN does not impose targeted speed limits on free users.
3) Logging policy.
VPN logging rules outline the data that the VPN provider collects and holds about user activities. Four possibilities might be chosen:
- No-log policy. This is the best option, which implies that the provider does not collect any information about the users and their online activities. Such providers cannot use your data for advertising purposes and disclose it at the request of the government, as well as are not exposed to the risk of data leakage.
- Some providers keep records of the date and time you connect to the VPN, but do not collect information about your activities.
- Some providers keep records of your connection time as well as your onlineactivities. Avoid such providers, because instead of improving cybersecurity, they put your security and privacy at risk.
- Aggregated data storage. Some providers store data in such a way that anindividual user cannot be identified, it is just general information about allusers. It is usually kept for technical troubleshooting in case of anyproblems.
In any case, we advise you to choose a no-log VPN and pay attention to thecountry of registration. Avoid VPNs registered in countries that are members of the5/9/14 Eye alliances. If a VPN provider registered in such a country stores anyinformation about the user, it will be forced to disclose it at the request of any ofthe alliance member countries.
4) A network of servers.
Choose a free VPN that offers several servers to choose from located in differentcountries. This will increase your ability to access geo-blocked content and ensuresmooth performance.
5) Compatibility.
Choose a free VPN for Windows that also has a Mac app, a free VPN for IOS phones, and an Android VPN. Modern VPNs work with all popular devices and operating systems. Choose the one that covers all your gadgets so that you don’thave to choose a new one for a new device.
Also, look for compatibility with different apps and platforms. The fact is thatmany websites try to limit VPN traffic. This is because such platforms aim tocollect data about users and use it for marketing purposes. However, some VPNshave technologies to circumvent such restrictions. Therefore, choose a VPN thatworks with popular streaming services.
6) Customer support.
The last but not least criterion is to choose a provider that has a good customersupport desk. To do this, evaluate:
- ways to access the support team (email or live chat on the website);
- availability of the support team (whether they provide help around the clock);
- the FAQ section on the website. It should list common problems and clearlydescribe how to solve them;
- customer feedback on support service on third-party resources.
After evaluating the above criteria, you will be able to choose a reliable free VPN for Windows. Since not all services are of the same quality, there are many mythsabout free VPNs. Let’s dispel the two most popular ones.
Dispelling common myths about free VPN
Myth 1: Free VPNs are slow and unreliable.
Reality: In fact, the speed does not depend on the price, but on the network ofservers that the VPN provider operates and the tunneling protocols it uses. Usually, reliable protocols slow down the speed more than their outdated alternatives. However, the advantages of using a free VPN outweigh the disadvantages. For example, while slightly reducing the speed by redirecting traffic through a remoteserver, a VPN also improves the speed by preventing bandwidth throttling. So inthe end, the speed actually increases.
In addition, there are free VPNs that do not impose speed limits on free users. Once you know the criteria for choosing a free VPN for Windows, you won’t haveany problems with choosing a reliable technology that won’t hurt your Internetspeed.
Myth 2: Free VPNs collect and sell user data.
Reality: You already know that the way a VPN provider behaves with user data isregulated by its logging policy. There are dishonest players in any market, and themarket of VPN technologies is no exception. However, by choosing a VPN that isregistered outside the jurisdictions of the 5/9/14 eye alliances and that adheres to a strict no-log policy, you can be sure that your data is safe. A VPN provider cannotsell information if it does not collect it.
Finally, choose applications based on clear and measurable criteria rather than onmyths and groundless information. This will allow you to get quality service notoverpaying. Free VPN for Windows can be your strongest assistant in the world ofInternet security. It can help you not only protect your data and maintain youranonymity, but also save on travel and bypass geo-blocking of content. So, evaluate the above criteria, choose a modern VPN with strong encryption and tunneling protocols, and enjoy the benefits of this technology.
