VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It is an encrypted connection to the Internet from a device to a network. The fact that the connection is encrypted allows for secure data transmission and prevents unsecured people from eavesdropping on network traffic.
DISCLAIMER‼️ I said secure, which is not the same as private. No one outside this VPN can spy on you, but perhaps the VPN company itself can (if you use it as a company service) (Here you have to evaluate what you are looking for in a VPN).
A VPN allows you to connect 2 devices (or several), a device to a network, a permanent server to which you can access with several devices, connect networks with each other... Without having to be geographically close.
Is it only for changing my location?
No, it also allows you to interact with other computers without having to be on the same network physically (although these are not the ones we will analyze).
Does it give me anonymity?
Not necessarily, in fact you could use the best VPN and they know who you are.
Does the VPN make me at least more private?
Maybe, just like in a carpentry shop, a tool alone will not assemble a cabinet, and the best screwdriver is of little use if you can't even read the instructions?
So why do I want a VPN?
I'll explain it to you right now:
- For what they were created for,** to connect devices to a network without having to expose it to the entire internet.
- In a public network or in your own home your data will be more secure and private (Your ISP will not be able to see what you are doing).
- Being able to view content from other countries.
- Access content blocked by your ISP. For example in Turkey they have ever blocked Youtube https://wikiwand.com/en/Censorship_of_YouTube#/Turkey Have providers ever blocked a website for various reasons, from political to pressure from companies...
Let's see below what minimum requirements you would look for in a VPN in order to use it. > Always remember that a VPN will not make you anonymous and does not free you from the possibility of them collecting information about you.
- Kill Switch functionality which means that if our VPN fails or "disconnects" our internet is also disconnected, thus avoiding data leakage outside of the connection made.
- Audits carried out by prestigious external companies.
- Strong encryption.
- Allow OpenVPN and Wireguard (opensource VPN protocols and therefore auditable by anyone).
- Allow Multihop, which means that your information will pass through more than one server before reaching its destination and if one is compromised, you are still protected.
- If you have an application, both the app and the software used by the VPN should be OpenSource. It is important to be able to audit the code, as this provides greater transparency for users.
- Be able to pay in crypto or cash.
- At most, it should require a username/password, although it is preferable that it does not require anything at all.
- Do not use google ads or similar.
Having said this, we are left with 3 options: iVPN, MullVad and ProtonVPN.
They are all very good VPNs with a lot of prestige behind them.
Each one has its pros and cons, let's see:
To use Proton you need to have a username and password (you don't have to identify yourself), but iVPN and Mullvad allow you to simply log in with a code. One thing in favor of proton is that it is in Switzerland (outside the 14 eyes) iVPN is in Gibraltar and Mullvad is in Sweden.
Which VPN is better?
There is always a debate here, as there is really nothing to single out one over the others, simply which one gives you the most confidence. All 3 are top in their field, if anything there is a little more willingness for MullVad or iVPN for not needing an account.
I use Proton, but really any of the 3 will work great, they all meet good and high requirements so you will be satisfied with any of them.
Although there is always the alternative of creating your own VPN and not depending on third parties and that would be your best option or use tor bridges (I will structure it in a future post).
Remember that a VPN will not make you totally anonymous, that is not its objective, but it does help you to preserve your privacy a little more, among other things.
Many people use a VPN before connecting to the TOR network. I consider this a mistake if you use a third-party VPN. While by default it may be true that your provider doesn't keep a log of everything, by a judge's order they could do it and you wouldn't know they were doing it. Proton doesn't keep IP logs but it happened at one point that they lost a lawsuit and had to collect the IP of the person in question for a couple of months until they found it (Switzerland being one of the countries that is most protective of your privacy). That's why you can't know if they are doing it by superior orders, they can't disobey the law, your subscription doesn't keep your company The fact that in an audit it says that they don't do it doesn't mean that they can't do it.
If you are trying to seek anonymity, use TOR (as I always say, along with good habits). There is a lot of controversy on this subject and I could go on much longer, but I really believe that although these 3 are reliable, they are not infallible against governments with a mission.
Good surfing