Best VPNs for Australia

Australia is one of the most unique places in the world. In terms of digital privacy, Australia has some of the most stringent data privacy laws. For example, Australia’s data retention laws require ISPs to retain users’ online activities for a set period. Australia also has censorship, state surveillance and very harsh penalties for copyright infringement – even for foreign sites. This means that when you are in Australia, you’re bound to miss out on streaming content and peer-to-peer file sharing because the government blocks a lot of websites and torrenting sites

But worry not: you can still have your digital freedom, internet security, and enjoy your content using a VPN in Australia. Just be sure you choose a VPN carefully, as some VPN providers don’t deliver what they claim.

Why Use a VPN in Australia?

Australia has laws which are invasive to your digital privacy and that allow ISPs to track and log your online activities. In addition to that, there’s state surveillance and also some level of censorship. Below are reasons why you need a VPN when you are in Australia.

• Privacy: In Australia, privacy is a major concern. The country participates in state-based mass surveillance activities, so your digital privacy is always at risk. Australia is also part of the 5 eyes intelligence sharing countries, so your data could be shared with the US/UK. ISPs are also required to log your browsing activities for 2 years, and these logs are easily accessible to the government. To protect your digital privacy and avoid ISPs from logging your activities, you need a VPN. Through a VPN’s secure tunnels, your online activities and data traffic are encrypted, and no one can see it. VPNs also have a strict no log policy, and they assign you new IP addresses to protect your security. This is how VPNs ensure that ISPs have nothing to log nor monitor, ensuring your privacy won’t be at risk.
• Torrenting / Censorship: Torrenting is not a crime in Australia, but most peer-to-peer platforms have no regulations on what is shared, and therefore piracy thrives on these platforms. Piracy violates copyrights, and torrenting of copyrighted material is a serious crime in Australia. Violators can be sued and fined between $80 and $2000+ per infringement. Previously, through the “three strikes” rule, ISPs were obliged to report torrenters. But this proved too expensive to implement, and in 2016, ISPs were ordered to block illegal torrenting sites by a federal court. Popular affected sites include: The Pirate Bay, Torrent Hound, Torrentz, Solar Movie, and IsoHunt. So, even if you are not torrenting copyrighted content, it’s still a crime to use one of these illegal torrenting sites. Torrenting VPNs offer anonymized servers and encrypted tunnels that support P2P for legal content.
• Security: A secure VPN service can protect you against online security threats and attacks leading to privacy and confidentiality violations. Via the encrypted channel that VPNs use, you can avoid being spoofed, monitored, and even eavesdropped on by ISPs and Australian government surveillance agencies. Also, when connected to unprotected public wifi, it’s essential to use a VPN to protect yourself from man-in-the-middle attacks, fraud, and other threats that can compromise your login credentials.
• Australian content: Why limit your entertainment options? Gaining access to global content is another reason why a VPN is a good choice when you are in Australia. In Australia, your streaming options are Channel 7, SBC, Ten Play, Foxtel, ABC iView, Stan TV, and a few other popular Australian services with limited content. Also, you may miss major world releases due to Australian laws, and as a result, content providers take time to release their content to Australia. To get access to other foreign legal streaming content, either pay the online goods tax or use a VPN. The latter is cheaper, and all you need to do is select the IP address of the country whose content you are interested in.

Free VPNs

Free VPNs are tempting, especially when you don’t have to pay any fees. But in Australia, free VPNs are not recommended. With stringent Australian laws regarding digital privacy, censorship, and surveillance, free VPNs have little chance of delivering what they claim. Here’s why:

• Most free VPNs have weak encryptions, which ensure you are not secure enough for today’s sophisticated hackers, and ISPs can snoop on and log your activities. Many free VPNs also have inadequate data protection and logging policies. They can readily hand your data to the government the moment they are subpoenaed.
• Almost all free VPNs have limited features including server selection, limited bandwidth, and sometimes their services can even be down for a long time. With these limitations, free VPNs cannot be used to stream content, and most of them don’t work with Netflix. This means they are not reliable – and that’s not a risk you want to take when you are in Australia.
• Free VPNs have to cut back on their resources, which can translate into poor service such as little or no customer support. As a way of making money, free VPNs are known for injecting advertisements and cookies in users’ browsers, affecting your privacy.

Before trying a free VPN service, ensure you read all their privacy policies, check their features, and check out their reviews on reputable sites. Keep in mind that you are about to trust a VPN with all of your online activities.

FAQs: VPN for Australia

Is a VPN legal in Australia?

Yes, VPNs are legal in Australia.

What’s the most secure VPN protocol for Australia?

The OpenVPN protocol is the best to use while you are in Australia. It has the best security, and it’s also fast and reliable.

Which Australian servers are the best?

Different VPNs will offer different servers to use. But you can choose the best servers by checking their ping rate, server load, and special features.

If I am an Australian, are there VPNs that I should avoid?

You should avoid free VPNs and those that log information that can compromise your privacy. Always read the privacy and logging policies of a VPN before settling on one.

What is the fastest VPN for Australia?

Speed is not absolute and may vary depending on factors that affect VPN speed such as server load and location. But our recommended VPNs here offer superior speeds and are fast enough for online HD streaming.

Why is a proxy not safe enough?

This depends on the proxy you are using, but generally, you can’t trust them with any private information.

Conclusion

In Australia, a VPN is a necessity, ensuring your digital privacy is not compromised, you’re protected from cybersecurity threats and that no one is on your trail, especially ISPs and surveillance bodies. Our recommended VPNs are easy to use, with straightforward sign-up and installation processes. They have many payment options including bitcoin for anonymity, and their long-term pricing plans are cheap. After installation, just select the desired server, and you will be connected to an online world of digital freedom.

Check out NordVPN, our number one pick for Australia. It has the recommended encryption levels with a no logging policy that will ensure both your security and privacy are not compromised. Its wide selection of servers will ensure you have plenty of options as well as unlimited bandwidth to stream HD content. You can also connect up to 6 devices simultaneously with only a single account. So be sure to use a VPN the next time you’re in Australia!