VPNs are considered a powerful tool for everyone looking to protect their online privacy and security. It allows users to connect with a server across the globe and browse anonymously from any location. No one will ask you about your details or anything else. VPNs are available both in premium and free options. With the promise of privacy and cost savings, a no-cost VPN is gaining more popularity. 

But are free VPNs really secure for online business? Don’t they offer the same level of security as the premium one? Keep in mind if you don’t pay for any product, you will become a product, as in this digital era, there’s nothing free. Let’s discover how free VPNs are dangerous and what are the potential pitfalls of using a costless VPN.

What is a VPN? Why are People Turning to VPNs?

A VPN is a virtual private network that establishes a protected connection while using a public network. A VPN disguises the online identity of the users and makes it hard for internet service providers to identify it. VPNs are preferred due to a number of following reasons;

Online Privacy: Keep online activities and personal details of the users hidden and private from others while using the internet. This is what a VPS does. With an encrypted connection, a virtual private network makes sure your privacy is safeguarded from intruders and cybercriminals. 

Defend Encryption: An encryption key decrypts a user’s data and information over the internet. Without the key, it would take millions of years to decipher the code language. A VPN locks up the encryption key and makes brute-force attacks impossible.

Access to Regional Content: Regional content and data are not always available to its residents due to government restrictions or political or religious conflict. But this content may be accessible in other parts of the world. You can access your home content that is banned in your region with the help of VPN location spoofing. It allows users to access their regional restricted content while sitting in their home country using a VPN server or any other location where their data is not prohibited. 

Key Point: The best VPN software comes with a monthly or yearly subscription. Many VPN providers also offer unpaid VPN services, but bear in mind free VPNs are limited to only certain features, and they don’t offer as much online freedom as a premium one provides. 

Why Free VPNs Are Dangerous? Check out the Risks

“You can use a VPN for free” is a tempting and appealing phrase for every online user due to a number of reasons. First, a costless VPN service helps users to use free internet. Second, for those who need to use a VPN for a limited time or those who have a short budget, it is a great alternative. But whether they are safe to use is a crucial thing that most people ignore. They are unaware that using a free VPN could land them in a botnet. 

Look at reasons why free VPNs are dangerous to avoid free services for personal or business needs;

Compromised Security and Privacy: 

Although with unpaid VPNs, you are not paying with money, you are definitely paying them with our privacy and security. A free VPN comes with skimpy options, such as there is a lack of resources to maintain proper protection. With a free VPN, you can’t benefit from split tunneling features that separate the traffic in two directions. Some of the traffic passes through a VPN, and some pass through an open network. This feature makes it tough for internet service providers and hackers to define exactly where all the traffic is coming from and allows them to bypass geo-restrictions and get the best streaming experience. 

Key Point: While using a free VPN, you are always at risk of being hacked by anyone. Only with a premium provider you can make sure your data is safe and secure all the time. 

More Prone to Malware Attacks: 

Along with innovation, the rise of hacking has also intensified, making VPNs more essential than ever to protect privacy. But do you know with free VPNs, you are more liable for hacking and malware attacks? Hackers use malware files to destroy the system and slow down your PC to steal your sensitive information, including usernames, email address, and other details. Most costless VPNs rely on outdated encryption methods, such as 

• PPTP: are inherently weak and can expose sensitive information. 
• L2TP/IPSec: although it is considered better than PPTP, it is more vulnerable to threats and virus attacks due to a double layer of encapsulation.
• OpenVPN is a powerful protocol. Free VPNs use an outdated version of OpenVPN that is less secure. 

While most free VPNs are unable to encrypt traffic properly, leaving connections exposed to potential threats. 

While going for no-cost VPN services, you surely face malicious ad issues that are generally considered a way of earning for providers. These ads are not only disruptive but also come with a lot of viruses and tracking software, jeopardizing the security of the user’s data. 

Data Logging Issues: 

Do you think free VPN providers are making money for running in the background and keeping your privacy? If yes, you are completely mistaken. Because a person can’t be in business and demand nothing for its services. Free VPNs are dangerous because they are notorious for monitoring and tracking all of your browsing habits. If they are not charging you for their services, then there is the possibility that they are selling or sharing your information with someone else because they have to generate their revenue in any way. 

There are only a few people who read the terms and conditions of the free VPN services, while their terms come with hidden details related to data usage, like

• Your data and information are safe with us, while secretly they collect information and data from the browsing history of the users. Some of the information that they can store includes the time a user spends on a website or their details, etc.
• Most free VPN provider’s terms include sharing data with third parties, such as advertisers or marketers. This information may be shared or sold with the highest bidders.
• Most VPN provider’s terms include a clause that their responsibilities are limited to protecting your data. That means your identity is liable to other suspects. 

Impacts Internet Speed: 

If you are choosing a free VPN service, then be prepared to face slow internet and limited bandwidth issues. With free VPN services, providers don’t claim to provide your guaranteed internet speed or unlimited bandwidth. When more users flock to use costless services, it will impact the speed of the server negatively and end up in high buffering and high latency. Hence, you will not be able to stream or browse at the same speed as the premium one. 

Furthermore, most free VPN service providers impose strict data caps. If users are unable to hit the data caps, they will experience slow services. This compels users to upgrade their plans to the provider’s premium services if they need more data. 

Limited Server Location: 

Freebie virtual private networks limit users to a few server locations. As compared to paid counterparts, you can only access a few server locations, about 1-5, depending on your providers. Due to server congestion, you only have access to geo-restricted content in some other countries. At the same time, it will make it hard for you to bypass internet censorship in different countries. If you are planning to buy freemium VPNs to access banned TV shows or movies, then it is a useless option. As with a free VPN, you can’t access these exclusive features. 

Lack of Expert Support: 

Imagine being stuck in a problem and having no support to resolve your issues. One of the other factors that show free VPNs are dangerous is the lack of expert support. All online services always require hands-on support to assist users while passing through a technical challenge. So, no customer support with a free VPN may lead to many problems. You will not be able to contact experts in case of any troubleshooting or technical issues. 

Having a free VPN service is alluring; you can avail of this offer even if you can bear significant risks. These solutions are insecure and provide limited server locations. In addition, you will also face a lot of issues as mentioned above.  

• Opt for paid VPN services that facilitate you with excellent expert support and split security features to shield your privacy and security while browsing online. 

Benefits of Choosing a Premium VPN 

A paid virtual private network solution provides users with a lot of advantages as compared to a free VPN service. With a premium VPN, you will experience; 

• Strong encryption and data privacy policies, including no-log activity 
• Threat protection features 
• Kill switch feature
• DNS and IP leak Protection
• An extensive server network 
• Ability to bypass restricted content 
• Dedicated IP address
• 24/7 customer support 

How to Choose The Right VPN Provider for Paid VPN Services?

Consider the following points while selecting a paid VPN service to stay safe online;

• Make sure the provider you choose offers solid encryption and security features. These features must be upgraded to cope with all types of viruses, phishing, and malware attacks. Your VPN must support P2P file sharing and provide a military-grade level of security. 
• Your VPN provider must have a good reputation in the market. You can evaluate their services through online reviews from their experienced customers. 
• Obviously, no one wants to subscribe to a package that offers slow speed. So, make sure your VPN facilitates high speed, regardless of traffic flow. 
• Compare the pricing plans of multiple VPN providers, along with the services they are offering. Then go for one whose services are reliable for privacy protection with an affordable budget. 
• Check how many server locations you can access while buying a premium package. It is better to choose a service provider, you operate from within your country for better results. 
• Choose bandwidth plans according to your business needs, if you have a large business handling sensitive data, better to select one that offers unlimited bandwidth. 
• Read the service terms and conditions of your VPN provider. It must have clear privacy policies, along with a promise not to share your information with any other person. 
• Along with phone apps, your provider must have a desktop application or extension for Chrome. So that you don’t need to move any other provider to secure your privacy on your desktop. Furthermore, your plans must include connection to multiple devices simultaneously without affecting internet speed and server performance. 
• Make sure your provider is offering 24/7 customer support with a multi-channel support system. It will enable you to contact them immediately to solve your issues. 
• Most VPN providers offer a money-back guarantee along with their virtual private network solution for a refund in case you are not satisfied with their services.

Conclusion: 

VPNs are crucial tools to safeguard the online security of the user’s data while staying online. With ExtremeLive Vpn VPN services, you will enjoy solid security features, no log privacy, dedicated customer support, and many other features that will keep your data secure. On the other hand, free VPNs are dangerous in various ways. They don’t provide much online freedom and also restrict access to certain server locations. Furthermore, a free VPN also has limited security features due to which the user’s identity and online activities are liable to external attacks. So, if you are planning to use a VPN for securing your browsing history and personal information, better to choose a paid VPN to benefit from great encryption features with dedicated support.