Reviews

What is a Virtual Private Network (VPN), and Which One Should I choose?

Summary:  A lot of people are struggling between the balance of staying connected and keeping their information secure.

With so many threats to our online security how do we keep ourselves protected without compromising our privacy?

The simple solution is to use a VPN to encrypt your data and protect your privacy. A VPN puts on a secure, encrypted tunnel to a remote server that keeps your browsing private and anonymous.

For the fastest, most secure connection, get ExpressVPN now.

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Why Is My Information at Risk?

With so much of what we do on a daily basis online, it’s become increasingly difficult to keep our information secure and our data private.

Identity theft rates continue to rise as people access personal information and accounts on unsecured networks, leaving their information wide open and vulnerable.

On top of facing issues with our online security, there are also problems with users around the world accessing content.

Sometimes it’s because you’re in a country with content restrictions, and other times it’s due to simple licensing agreements that keep you off of services like Netflix and Skype.

Either way, I’m here to tell you now, there is a way around it, and you don’t have to be a tech whizz to figure it out.

 

What is a VPN?

If you’ve never heard of a VPN before, don’t worry, it’s actually a really simple concept.

VPN stands for virtual private network, and it’s a subscription service that provides its users with a sort of secret tunnel in the internet.

Instead of being in the big pool with all the other fish, you’re on your own private network, in an encrypted tunnel to protect your data.

Your connection is routed to a secure server in a location of your choosing, keeping your information safe, and opening up your access to blocked content.

By blocking your IP address and routing your connection to a server in a location of your choosing, you get all the same access you would as if you were actually there.

 

Top 3 VPN Recommendations

There are a lot of VPNs out there to choose from, so how do you know which ones are going to do the job right?

I’ve compiled a short list of the three most popular ones on the web, and I’ll give you an idea of just what you can expect with each.

 

#1 Choice:  ExpressVPN – 9/10 – Best support, fastest connection

ExpressVPN is definitely my favorite VPN for just about any purpose. Their software is super sleek and easy to use, so they’re great for beginners.

Plus, they’re not a fly-by-night job at all – their customer support is always there to help, 24/7, via live chat or e-mail.

Their average e-mail response time is less than 20 minutes, so you’re never waiting long for help.

What I really love about ExpressVPN is that they totally back their service with a 30 day money back guarantee – you can get your money back within a month of signing up, no questions asked.

Then, if you love their service and get a friend to sign up, you can both get a month of free service through ExpressVPN’s referral program.

Their connection is incredibly fast too, so they’re great for streaming, downloading, sharing – just about anything.

All of their plans come with unlimited bandwidth, so you never have to worry about hitting a monthly cap either.

You even get two simultaneous connections, so you can use ExpressVPN to secure both a home and mobile device, without incurring additional fees.

With military grade encryption and software that is compatible on all major operating systems, ExpressVPN is the most all-inclusive VPN you’re going to find.

To get the best VPN available, get ExpressVPN right now.

 

#2:  IPVanish – 6.5/10 – Not compatible with iOS, limited support

IPVanish is a pretty good option if you don’t need a VPN for an iPhone or iPad.

Their software is only compatible with Mac, Windows, Android, and Linux systems, so if you need a VPN for a device running iOS, you’ll want to use ExpressVPN instead.

However, IPVanish’s software is really user-friendly and easy to navigate, and even displays real time server response times, so you can always choose the one with the fastest connection.

Like ExpressVPN, theirs is really easy to set up too – just download and install, and that’s all there is to it. No manual configurations, no zip files, nada.

If you do run into some problems though, you’re going to find that IPVanish’s customer support isn’t nearly as comprehensive as ExpressVPN’s.

Though they are 24/7, there is no live option whatsoever, so you’re going to have to wait to hear back on an e-mail, which in my experience takes at least a few hours.

Their money back guarantee is also much more limited, with just seven days to claim a refund, and no referral program.

The good news is, IPVanish’s service plans, like ExpressVPN, come with unlimited bandwidth, and up to two simultaneous connections.

It all just comes down to what you need a VPN for with IPVanish, and as long as it’s not a mobile Apple device and you don’t think you’ll need much assistance, you should be in pretty good hands.

IPVanish can be found through this website.

 

#3: HideMyAss– 3/10 – Slow, unreliable connection

HideMyAss is one of those VPNs that really seems to be the total package, but falls short when it comes to actually delivering on their promises.

For starters, their connection is extremely slow, I mean every time. I’ve never had any luck streaming with this VPN, it’s like buffer city.

On top of that, my connection always seemed to cut in and out with HideMyAss, randomly disconnecting me from their servers and leaving my data wide open and unprotected.

It wasn’t just irritating, it was a major security concern. The same goes for their support.

Even though they’re 24/7 and have two live options for contacting them, they’re not always very responsive. Whereas, ExpressVPN was always fast and courteous.

It seemed like any time I called their phone line, there was at least a ten minute wait, and even their live chat feature wasn’t necessarily instantaneous.

As for e-mails, it was always at least 12 hours, if not a whole day, before I heard back from them.

Their software may be compatible with all operating systems, but it seems that HideMyAss doesn’t have their priorities in line when it comes to their customer support and connection quality.

You can get much better customer service and better streaming with ExpressVPN.

HideMyAss is here.

 

Conclusion:  Use ExpressVPN for Fast, Unlimited Access

Public networks are incredibly convenient for staying connected on the go, and most people can’t resist the allure of hopping online just to check their messages, or see if they won their eBay auction.

Of course, public networks are also some of the least protected, and are extremely prone to attracting hackers and cybercriminals.

With ExpressVPN, you can:

  • protect your data
  • browse anonymously
  • access blocked content
  • use streaming services anywhere in the world

For the fastest streaming, more secure connection, and best all-around VPN, use ExpressVPN.

Jen

Jen. News maker and gatherer. Editor-in-Chief of Secure Thoughts.

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