The ongoing pandemic has resulted in more and more people spending time at home using the internet, working, learning, or entertainment. However, issues such as slow internet connections, ad tracking, cyberattacks, or malware threats, among others, have led to users seeking solutions for safe, fast and reliable internet connections. One way to do this is through a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Many VPN service providers choose from, some of which are free, while others are premium versions. While it may be tempting to go for free VPN, especially if you are on a tight budget, new security issues prove they may not be the ideal solution. One of the reasons is that free VPN providers may log in data from users, even though they claim to have a no-log policy. They may then sell this information to third parties without the user’s consent.
Why Invest in paid VPNs
One of the main reasons you may want to invest in a paid VPN service is that they are always getting better, safe and more secure. If you are working from home, streaming your favourite shows, or placing bets for your favourite teams at sites like comeon.com, then you will need a fast, safe and seamless online experience. Even if you are on a tight budget, paid VPNs to come in a variety of subscription options depending on the features you need.
Why you should not entirely trust free VPN providers
- Safety
For a company to offer VPN services, they require expensive hardware and expertise to maintain its operations. This means they need some form of financing to survive. This may mean that you may be paying with your data if you do not pay for the services with money. Most free VPN service providers lack transparency in their privacy policies, allowing them to exploit users without their consent.
2. Malware threats
A study by CSIRO found that 38% of free VPN’s used for Android devices contained malware. The study even showed that some of the VPNs were highly rated and downloaded millions of times. This means that it is easy to get your personal information and data stolen. Thus, it would make more sense to invest in a secure VPN service for a few dollars rather than having to pay much more when you get hacked.
3. Annoying ads
We have all experienced annoying pop-up and ads. Some free VPNs will track your browsing data and sell it to third parties. Free VPNs may also intercept and redirect traffic to third parties instead of the website a user intended to visit.
4. Buffering issues
One of the reasons one may want a VPN service is to access their favourite subscription services such as HBO, Hulu India, and Netflix, among others, when blocked in certain countries. However, most of the free VPNs are slow, and there have been instances where they steal and sell a user’s bandwidth without their consent, such as was the case with Hola in 2015.
