Frequently asked questions

A lot of things! The most popular VPN uses are for securing your internet data, guaranteeing your online privacy, and protecting you from cyber snoops, prying government eyes, or online spies. A VPN can also allow users to access websites, legal media content, and torrents from around the world. Other applications include increased safety when accessing public wifi, hiding your online activities, and avoiding hackers.

Yes, VPNs are one of the safest ways for you to connect to the internet because they scramble your IP address and ensure your location is totally untraceable.

VPN protocols are simply the different ways that data is encrypted between your computer and the servers that the VPN company provides. Examples of these protocols include IPSec, L2TP, PPTP, TLS, and OpenVPN. Each of these protocols have benefits and drawbacks, so you will need to find the best one for your needs.

It depends on a few factors such as distance to the server, encryption levels, protocols, server load, and more. For example, be aware that the further away a VPN server is from your physical location, the longer it takes for data to reach the destination and return back to you. This can make your communications appear to be a bit slower, referred to as latency.
In addition, keep in mind the quality and reliability of the VPN provider you choose. A good VPN will avoid throttling (the intentional slowing down of internet speed by the ISP) and have servers with unlimited download speeds so that once your downloads start, they will be at regular internet speeds.

Free VPNs often store logs of your online activities and then sell them, exposing you to potential online harassment from advertisers or unauthorized companies that might track you online. Most paid VPN services do not store any information about you or your online actions, making this type of internet experience far more secure.

There are many things to consider when shopping around for the right VPN provider. Locations and server volumes are really important because, generally speaking, the more VPN servers available from the provider, the more options you have to connect to. Also, take a look at the protocols that are supported by the VPN service, and make sure the protocols you want to run are supported. Other things to check are the provider’s customer service offerings, the services the VPN connects with (like torrents, gaming and streaming), device compatibility, and money-back guarantees.

A VPN can allow you to access legal streaming content such as movies, music, and torrents in most countries. A VPN can help you to expand your online content and media viewing options. Be aware that you will still need to pay for the service (Netflix, BBC iPlayer, etc.) that you are trying to connect to.

Yes, a VPN can allow you access to legal, paid streaming media sites. Netflix notoriously plays a cat-and-mouse game with VPNs, so be aware that not all VPNs can connect regularly with this service.

A kill switch is a very important feature for your VPN to have, especially if you’re main goal is to stay anonymous online. A kill switch is a software function that detects when your VPN connection drops, and then cuts your internet traffic from passing through the network until your VPN is back up and running. This is done so that your privacy is maintained when the VPN no longer routes your traffic.

A DNS leak is a technical issue that leads to a loss of privacy for internet users. DNS is a system that translates website names to IP addresses. This traffic is supposed to be kept safe over a VPN, but in cases where DNS leaks occur, that data is sent in an unencrypted format that can be easily intercepted and read.

Most countries allow the legal use of a VPN. However, China and Russia are notorious for banning the usage of VPNs and harshly punishing those caught using them. In general, VPNs are legal to use though you should check the laws in the country you are in. 

Most major VPN providers accept credit cards or even Visa/MasterCard-enabled debit cards. PayPal and other digital payment gateways are also typically accepted, adding convenience and speed to the transaction. Newer technologies such as Bitcoin are accepted by some providers as well, so you can feel confident that your transaction will be kept totally anonymous. 

Major VPNs will work in most countries, unless the country’s laws explicitly blocks such services. (See FAQ Is it legal to use a VPN?). For all other territories, VPNs are accessible as long as you have an internet connection. 

Yes, you can. For example, if you have a VPN-capable router, then you can configure your VPN details as your default login, which will allow you to access the VPN as soon as you connect to your home’s wifi and internet. Before committing to a VPN provider, be sure you check how many devices are supported. Some VPN providers can support up to 5 different devices at once.

Yes, the VPN on your router will ensure secure connections for all of your devices.

Yes, this is very important. The more servers there are, the less congestion there is likely to be because there will be fewer people connected to the same server as you. Having servers in different locations also makes it less likely that you will experience connectivity issues when other areas are being affected by outages.

Unless there are specific services that are blocked in your current location, you shouldn’t experience any issues connecting from pretty much anywhere, except China and Russia. (See FAQ Is it legal to use a VPN?) As long as you have an internet connection, you should be able to connect to a VPN service.

As of March 2018, China officially banned and blocked many VPN services from within China, making it illegal to use them. The Chinese government does everything it can to block foreign websites and slow down cross-border online traffic; however, some VPN providers do claim to be able operate in China.

VPNs can protect you from localized threats that are specific to your geographical location, but they are not a guarantee against viruses, malware, and other threats. Even if you are using a VPN, you should still avoid downloading or executing suspicious files, and be sure you have an up-to-date antivirus software installed on your computer.

Free VPN services often keep records about the users that connect to their services and what sites they visit. Often, this metadata is sold to advertisers and other shady companies, leaving you vulnerable. Premium VPN services that offer their services for a fee generally do not collect data.

Be certain to check that the VPN you choose specifically states that they do not keep any logs. That way you can be confident that no one will have access to your personal information and browsing activities.

Yes, you can game while using VPN services, provided that the game that you want to play will let you legally connect to the specific region that you want to play in. It can be a good idea to use a VPN for online gaming especially because a VPN can help ensure a stable internet connection .