When people hear VPN (Virtual Private Network), they generally think about work, and how they have to use a VPN client to log on and check their email or access other applications. They know that using VPN prevents snoops from eavesdropping on their work-related online activity when connecting to the Internet from the airport, hotel, or coffee shop. A VPN service provides a similar level of security to hide your IP address, your geographic location, and protecting your data while on online.
A VPN service would allow a visitor in China to still log in to Facebook and German users would be able to watch YouTube by getting an IP address from a US-based server. Setting up a VPN service is as easy as downloading a client and installing it on to your device. In some cases, it's just a matter of entering the server name and password into an existing VPN client (Windows and Macs both have VPN clients built-in to the operating system).
A VPN service is pretty much just for connecting to Websites and services. It does not create a true VPN tunnel between two computers. Remember that only the traffic going from your computer (or mobile device) to the VPN service provider's servers is encrypted. If your destination site is not using HTTPS, then that connection is unencrypted and your activity on that site is not protected. Even if you are using the VPN service, keep an eye out when you are entering sensitive information such as credit card numbers. Make sure the site is using HTTPS!
While most VPN connections generally slow down connections, the drop is not that bad. While the free services generally have a bigger performance hit than paid ones, if you are looking for a free VPN, click the links below to find a few that would do the job just as well. While some of the services below offer paid versions, the free versions are enough for most surfing needs.
FEATURED IN THIS ROUNDUP
CyberGhost VPN
Free, $6.60 per month
CyberGhost VPN has a paid version available which gives you more VPN options and access to more servers, but the free version is more than enough. The fourteen servers are sufficient for most users, and you can use the built-in Windows client to get up and running right away. Read the full review ››
VPNBook
Free
A no-frills VPN service, VPNBook gives you the server name and password that you just drop into an existing VPN client and you are good to go. Performance is solid and if you don't need advanced features, you are set. Read the full review ››
AnchorFree HotSpot Shield Elite
Free version with ads or $4.99 per month
AnchorFree's paid version, HotSpot Shield Elite is a much better offering and worth the price, but if you don't mind ads, the free HotSpot Shield is actually a good offering to have on your computer. The software has a fairly small footprint and is not bogged down with tons of extra features. The ads can get a little intrusive, but, in a pinch, it will do. Read the full review ››
proXPN
Free version available, $9.99 per month
Easy to set up and use, proXPN caps your bandwidth instead of bombarding you with ads. If you think you will be able to stay within the bandwidth limits, the free version is a great deal. Read the full review ››
VPN Direct
Free version available, $9.99 per month
The free version is supremely limited; it lets you connect to only one server in Chicago. If that's all you need, than VPN Direct is definitely worth looking into, as it has good performance with no bandwidth limitations. Read the full review ››
OpenVPN Shield Exchange
Free up to 100 MB usage
OpenVPN Shield Exchange uses the open-source OpenVPN technology to deliver a secure VPN connection for safe Internet browsing with the first 100MB free. Download the settings file and import it into the client for a smooth VPN experience. Read the full review ››
TorVPN
Free up to 1 GB usage per month, $3.94 for 5GB a month
For anyone interested in taking advantage of the anonymity promised by the Tor network, TorVPN takes the guesswork out of the process. Read the full review ››
WiFi Protector
Free version with ads, $6 a month
Nice set of feature, but WiFi Protector has really uneven performance. The ads version has a hard time maintaining a connection and you can find yourself having to reconnect repeatedly. Read the full review ››
OkayFreedom
Free up to 500 MB per month, $5.95 per month for 5GB
While installation is a little tricky, the service makes it easy to switch back and forth across regions. Performance was pretty erratic with US services, but the European performance is solid. The ability to get the service to turn on automatically when trying to access specific sites is a nice feature. Read the full review ››
Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2390381,00.asp
