The best 10 VPN service providers for anonymity and security – 2017 edition
In order to improve your online privacy and security, using a VPN
(Virtual Private Network) service is arguably the most effective measure
that one can opt for. VPN is a network technology, which links the
private network over internet using encryption methods. It is generally
preferred by government agencies, corporates, educational institutions,
and private citizens to facilitate easy access of remote users to
secured private networks.
In comparison to private networks, VPN is not only economical and
flexible, but it also allows VPN users to maintain their anonymity and
protect themselves from being snooped. A VPN can be used to access
region-restricted websites, shield your browsing activity from prying
eyes on public Wi-Fi, and more. However, one should be aware that there
is no such thing as a one-stop-shop when it comes to protecting your
privacy and staying secure while using the internet. Therefore, VPNs
should be considered as an important tool in your internet toolbox.
Basically, VPN works on 4 protocols:
• IP security (IPSec): IPSec utilizes two methods to encrypt its
user’s data: a) transport mode or b) tunnelling mode. Encryption of
message within the data packet by transport mode is also termed as
Payload, whereas inscription of the whole data packet is known as
Tunnelling.
• Point-To-Point Tunnelling Protocol (PPTP): This is the most widely
used protocol; PPTP uses the tunnelling method wherein PPTP stores data
within the PPP packets, which are further stored inside the IP packets
and transported to the desired destination.
• Layer 2 Tunnelling Protocol (L2TP): It works on two major features:
L2TP Access Concentrator (LAC) and L2TP Network Server (LNS). LAC is a
device which terminates the call, whereas LNS authenticates the PPP
packets as seen earlier in the PPTP.
• Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) i.e.
TSL/SSL: This system uses a combination of authentication and
encryption, which leads to the sharing of data between the servers and
client.
In this article, we bring the top 10 VPN service providers that not only offer privacy but also data security.
1. PureVPN
PureVPN is based in Hong Kong,
which has the advantage of being out of view of the prying ‘14-eyes’. It
has gained a reputation for being a respected provider with solid
encryption, global server coverage, and state-of-the-art software. It
uses 256-bit grade encryption and boasts more than 500 servers across
141 countries.
While it does not monitor or record any activity that passes through
its servers, but it does acknowledge of keeping a record of connections
and bandwidth, which it says is in order to optimally manage its
servers. It also offers the more secure OpenVPN protocol and maintains
its own DNS servers.
Features include a Kill Switch that ensures that your actual IP is
never exposed should the VPN drop. It also has split tunnelling, which
routes specific apps to access the internet via their local internet
connection and other specific apps via their VPN connection at the same
time. You can select a location either by city or by activity, such as
online sports streaming, and it will connect you to an optimal server.
PureVPN Pricing is reasonable at $4.99 per month, and you can pay via
anonymous payment methods such as MasterCard, Visa, American Express,
PayPal, Discover Card, Bitpay, CoinPayments, PaymentWall, Alipay, Cashu,
and much more. Further, there is a 7-day money back guarantee, as long
as you don’t go beyond 3GB. Additionally, PureVPN offers 24/7 support in
case you have technical or other difficulties.
URL:
PureVPN
2. Ivacy
Founded in 2007, Ivacy was the first VPN service to offer Split
Tunnelling feature. It has recently been revamped and with impressive
new features, it is one of the most secure VPN services that are around.
One of the newest privacy providers in the world, Ivacy offers robust
encrypted tunnelling with an uncompromising Zero Logging Policy. Ivacy
VPN secures subscribers’ activities and data using leading edge
tunnelling protocols (PPTP, OpenVPN, SSTP and L2TP)& military grade
AES-256 bit encryption.
Ivacy VPN Apps
have been developed in-house ensuring there is no foreign code or
malware injected to deliver advertising and pop-ups. The apps are
quality tested to ensure optimal performance on all compatible operating
systems.
Ivacy VPN never retains any data the provider ensures nothing is ever
available against user accounts. Servers automatically delete all
connection time stamps and connection data every 48 hours ensuring you
are 100% anonymous and completely safe when using Ivacy VPN.
URL:
Ivacy VPN
3. TorGuard
TorGuard will give you “No logging policy” and will also provide you a
second layer of data security with IP configuration, which is very
tough to find users IP. No logs are monitored. TorGuard VPN has multiple
Socks proxy servers and VPN’s around the world. The entire data is
wrapped into single packet by encryption via tunnel method through
secure servers and then this data is again connected to the BitTorrent
cloud, which gives it the second layer of insulation from being
attacked.
Currently, TorGuard maintains 1600+ servers in over 50 countries
across the world and are in continuous expansion. It retains its control
on all hardware though it seeks partnerships with data centers who can
adhere to strict security criteria. All servers are arranged and managed
exclusively by TorGuard’s in house networking team through a single,
secure key. TorGuard advises its clients to use OpenVPN connections only
and for encryption use AES256 with 2048bit RSA for better security. It
runs OpenVPN and will do so on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android and iOS.
URL:
TorGuard
4. IPVanish
This creates a secure environment for day to day web usage. Before
user logs onto the net, it is essential to establish IPVanish VPN
connection, which will convert entire online data into encrypted tunnel
including emails, data transfers, online banking, instant messaging and
all online browsing. The encrypted data cannot be intercepted by any
third party including ISP (Internet Service Provider). It supports P2P
traffic. It uses OpenVPN, L2TP, and PPTP Protocols for its operations.
URL:
IPVanish
5. BTGuard
This service is based on proxy service where the user is able to hide
their true IP address from the rest of the world. This is a service
specially built for the BitTorrrent users to protect their anonymity.
BTGuard was just a basic proxy service that user would need to configure
to avail the BitTorrent service. However, now BTGuard is becoming a
handy tool with its easy to install software to protect their anonymity.
It also has an encryption tunnel software for users who require special
security for their data. BTGuard stores username, password and e-mail
addresses; however, the IP addresses are never stored.
URL:
BTGuard
6. BolehVPN
It hides true location of the user by encrypting and encapsulating
the entire data, which passes through the VPN, thereby making it
difficult for the snoopers or the third party to intercept or decode the
internet traffic. Various features of BolehVPN can be listed such as it
protects the user by masking the IP address. Further, the data is
encrypted throughout i.e. to and fro when it passes the VPN server, it
accelerates the P2P. It also hides the true location of user due to
which user appears to hail from a different location. Lastly, it also
helps users to bypass certain corporate firewalls. It is based on Open
VPN and SSL VPN.
URL:
BolehVPN
7. HideIPVPN
It is based on combination of PPTP, SSTP, L2TP, IPSec, OpenVPN and
SmartDNS. It is compatible with a huge list of operating systems
Windows, Mac, Linux, Routers etc. HideIPVPN offers a very high quality
of anonymity to its users on the internet wherein user can access even
the blocked websites, surf the web anonymously, hide the IP address and
encrypt user’s data. It does not restrict access to any online sites or
services. All data going out and coming in via VPN is encrypted, secured
and it also hides IP address, which means one can safely access secure
websites without anyone intercepting the connections.
The encrypted data is hidden from user’s ISP and network
administrator too, which means only user and the destination will be
able to see what is being sent. SmartDNS service helps the user to
access more than 35 online media services from around the world hence it
is ideal for anyone who has limited cable access to TV channels, by
using HideIPVPN user can change their DNS name and hence get easy access
to the blocked TV/media servers.
URL:
HideVPN
8. SlickVPN
An IP address acts as a digital signature which helps to detect the
location of the user to any website or to the Internet Service Provider
i.e. ISP. SlickVPN hides the true IP address of user by assigning them
an anonymous one hence enabling user to hide their location from
snoopers. If any user connects to SlickVPN, a connection will be created
between user’s computer and our servers.
SlickVPN encrypts any data transmissions or online activity so that
user’s presence is anonymous. In addition, the connection is also
secured by SlickVPN so that the internet activity, usernames, passwords,
emails, instant messages, downloads, uploads, etc. are shielded from
third party.
URL:
Slick VPN
9. Unspyable
This uses an Off-Shore VPN service wherein VPN encrypts the entire
internet connection and creates an encrypted tunnel between the user’s
computer and the server chosen by user from the preferred list of
servers. Whenever user browses the internet, all the websites which user
visited would see the address of the remote server and not the real IP
address of the user. Due to the encrypted tunnel between user and
server, user’s IP address is now anonymous. Hence, none of user’s
information is available on the local network nor to the local ISP or to
government censors and monitoring.
For users who want a higher security Unspyable also offers the
Multiple Hop VPN wherein just as in Off Shore VPN the data is made to
pass through a multiple off shore hops / servers which is very difficult
to crack. Major benefits of this VPN are: it provides secure and
private offshore email logs which is not saved or monitored,
correspondence is secured using hot spots, and anonymity of IP address.
URL:
Unspyable VPN
10. NordVPN
This provides a great 256bit AES OpenVPN protection and there are
PPTP and L2TP/IPSec connections available. As soon as user connects to
the NordVPN, a tunnel is created between user and the server and all the
data in this route is encrypted. It is also one of the only VPNs to
allow Tor over VPN and has a double-hop encryption system which cannot
be cracked. Tor over VPN is an advanced privacy solution provided by
NordVPN.
The basic principle here: User first connects to NordVPN server,
which then routes all traffic through a widely known Tor network. Here,
the data is encrypted within NordVPN layer at the initial stage and
later sent to the Tor network. The Tor is more safer for privacy as the
encrypted data is made to route through a few Tor hops and finally reach
its destination helping in maintaining the anonymity of user’s vital
information and also DNS traffic is routed through the Tor network
user’s will be able to access ” .onion websites” or the hidden websites
just using NordVPN.
