As the world continues to become more and more digital, the increase in our online activities is exposed to greater privacy and security risks. With cybercrime on the rise and geolocation-based censorship getting more common, modern internet users have no option but to seek out effective solutions to protect themselves and maintain their freedom online.
Amid these circumstances, virtual private networks, or VPNs have emerged as the leading solution, offering a secure way to protect our data and ensure a more seamless online experience. However, with the VPN industry experiencing huge growth, the market Is now inundated with a myriad of different paid and free VPN options. Trying to find the one for you can quickly get overwhelming, but it’s possible to expedite the process significantly. In this article, we will explore the three key aspects of VPNs to consider and provide insights to help you navigate the VPN market effectively.
Data Security
When choosing a VPN, the most vital aspect to consider is the level of data security that it will provide. Since data encryption is at the very core of what VPNs do, all VPN services indeed offer some degree of protection against cybersecurity threats. However, is important to note that while all VPNs use encryption, different providers employ different encryption methods to protect user data, and each of these methods offers a different level of security.
Among VPN providers, some of the most widely-used encryption protocols include Triple DES, Blowfish, RSA, and most AES 256. Of these, AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is considered the gold standard in the industry. This is because it uses a 256-bit key in the encoding process, providing military-grade protection that is close to impossible to bypass.
Before deciding on a VPN solution to use, it’s worth paying close attention to what kind of encryption technology it uses, choosing one that uses AES or a similarly robust method so that you can maintain maximal protection against cyber criminals whenever you go online.
Server Variety
Another important factor to consider when picking a virtual private network of the variety of servers on offer, as this can determine how effectively your chosen service will meet your needs.
With regard to utility, you will want a VPN that can enable you to circumvent geo-restrictions and access blocked content while also allowing you to keep a consistent connection wherever you go. As such, it is advisable to pay attention to the server selection of the service you’re considering. The more server locations are on offer, the more flexibility you will have when it comes to bypassing blocks and accessing region-targeted content, for instance on online streaming platforms. Not all VPNs offer servers in every region, so it’s important to find one that aligns with your needs.
Connection Quality
While security and versatility are essential considerations when selecting a VPN service, so too is connection quality. Having a diverse variety of servers and a high level of security will be of little benefit if performance is poor, so you’ll want to make sure that you’re getting the best speeds possible, especially if you intend to use your VPN for downloading, streaming, or gaming.
VPN connection speeds can vary depending on a number of different factors, but time prime indicators are server proximity and total server count. Networks with a high total server count typically have more bandwidth to work with, and as such as better equipped to deal with congestion during times of heavy traffic.
Likewise, a network with multiple server options near your location will typically be able to provide connections with lower latency, which translates to a smoother overall experience. Some VPN applications also provide an automatic connection function that enables you to immediately connect to the fast server available, which can be extremely convenient.
Conclusion
The modern digital landscape is continuously evolving and strewn with pitfalls, so finding the right VPN is essential to maintaining the integrity of your online experience. Though the depth of the VPN market can be daunting for the uninitiated, focusing on the aspects which will most directly impact your experience as an end user will help you to effectively separate the wheat from the chaff.
By closely considering the encryption methods, location variety, and server count of the VPN services you encounter, you can quickly determine what best suits your needs so that you can begin browsing more securely, privately, and freely for a more gratifying online experience.
