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The best VPN of 2021
#1
Quote:As the time we spend online continues to increase — especially as remote work has become the norm — it’s even more important than ever for people to protect all the personal data they store across the internet. That’s where a VPN comes in.

A VPN, or virtual private network, disguises your computer, internet activity and data by routing it through a separate server, making it harder for anyone to intercept it.

There are a number of factors that make one VPN better than another, namely the number of servers and how well the VPN handles privacy concerns (which you can read more about below). So to find the best VPN out there, we rounded up the most popular options currently available and consulted Scott J. Shackelford, the cybersecurity program chair at Indiana University Bloomington, for further guidance on our picks. After running the finalists through their paces, we had one clear winner on our hands.


Quote:How we tested

We tested the VPNs with the best features and the most buzz. Specifically, we looked at those that were best reviewed, provided the most servers and speed and had a documented good history with privacy.

With each VPN, we started at the beginning by downloading installers and setting up accounts. We then ran each VPN and tested it under various conditions, including running speed tests for more objective measurements. We also looked into the maximum number of devices it could be installed on.

Finally, we read through each VPN’s privacy policy and looked into any privacy conflicts it may be involved in. We also noted whether the companies were taking extra steps to ensure a secure service, such as whether they’ve undergone an independent audit by any cybersecurity firms. Along the way, we talked to Scott J. Shackelford, our expert on the subject of cybersecurity and law, to make sure we were on the right track and to get his opinion on concerns that arose.

Ease of setup: For every program, there’s a setup. As we installed each VPN and created our accounts, we noted the duration and ease of each setup process.
Device availability: We looked into which devices each VPN could be installed on. To test some of these out, we installed each VPN on an iPhone 11, a Samsung Galaxy A50 and both a Firefox and Chrome browser, if the service was available on these platforms.
Number of streams: Seeing as many of us own at least a handful of tech, it’s important to us that a VPN covers more than just a single device. We checked out the maximum number of devices upon which each VPN could be installed.
Number of servers: Major VPN services can have hundreds or thousands of servers to host their many users. We determined how many servers are under each VPN’s command.
Number of locations: We determined how many countries each VPN has servers in.
Time to connect: For each VPN, we compared the time between initiating a connection and actually connecting to a server. A quick, hassle-free connection should be expected from a high-end service.
Speeds: Connecting to a remote server can affect your internet speed, as all your actions are being filtered through an additional computer. We measured the impact each VPN had on internet speeds by running several speed tests with each service switched on and off and comparing the results. We also watched a 4K video and played an online multiplayer game to get a feel for the effect in an actual use case.
Privacy: We wanted to examine each VPN’s privacy policy closely as well as affiliations they have with other companies. Ultimately, it’s vital that a VPN service stands to protect a user’s data and not collect it themselves in the process.


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Which VPN do you prefer?
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#2
I have used several vpn services over the years and like Express VPN about the best.
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#3
I prefer VPNs that do not keep journals, conduct periodic independent audits, and invest in development, only then can I trust such providers.
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