Best VPN services as of February 2023

Topic

New Reply

We are considering using a VPN service.

Key consideration under review include:

• Absence of intelligence-sharing agreements/arrangements,
• Outside of Five Eyes jurisdiction,
• The number and location of servers,
• Location of company headquarters, and
• Compatibility with Windows 10 & 11 as well as a broad range of browsers, including Firefox, Chrome, Android, iOS, and FireTV.

Prime contenders, as of now, include:

• Proton VPN,
• NordVPN,
• Surfshark VPN,
• Express VPN,
• Private Internet Access, and
• CyberGhost

We are interested in learning about your experience with VPNs and your recommendations of a VPN service.

We are also interested in reason for not using a VPN.

Reply | Quote

Replies

Kathy Stevens wrote:

Outside of Five Eyes jurisdiction

* Outside on 14 Eyes jurisdiction.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Fred

Reply | Quote

And  “Outside on 14 Eyes jurisdiction.”

Reply | Quote

Good for you Kathy

Protonvpn is Swiss based and very good.

Nordvpn is Panama based and very good too

PrivateInternetAccess is US based but known for not logging anything!; to me there is no case known that in court they could handover any information.

 

* _ the metaverse is poisonous _ *

1 user thanked author for this post.

Kathy Stevens

Reply | Quote

Proton (mail + VPN) is the only one I’ve used, but I’m very pleased with the services.
Swiss headquartered. They have large numbers of servers both in and out of the US.

Multi platform; I’ll quote their site.

Proton VPN has native apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, Android TV and iOS/iPadOS.

Seems to fit your list of preferences as well as anything I’m aware of.

There are a few sites or blog commenting systems that will give you constant or occasional trouble if you try to access them while connected through a VPN.

Chief among them is Truth Social. Not even embeds on other sites’ forums or content areas are allowed. VPN = iron curtain with them.

Youtube sometimes has issues, I believe it’s related to the number of people per server & how many connections each. If it goes sour, save URL, close browser, switch VPN server, open your page back up.

I really like it, I feel more secure running it on my tablet while I read the daily paper in restaurants on public wifi. My subscription login is safe!

I’ll note that I connect using “Plus” servers accessible to those with paid plans. You might find more IP blockage and other issues during a trial/free account using the always overloaded free VPN servers.

Check them out for more info.
https://proton.me/

1 user thanked author for this post.

Kathy Stevens

Reply | Quote

What is the intent?  IMHO the best VPN for business purposes is your own VPN service on your own servers but clearly what you intend to use the VPN for is key.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

1 user thanked author for this post.

Myst

Reply | Quote

P.S. any reputable business is going to be under a court order at some point in time.  The idea that you can find a firm that is “Absence of intelligence-sharing agreements/arrangements” even for an overseas firm is (again in my opinion) not reasonable.

What you want is what attackers want, and that’s not really what you want. (if you know what I mean)

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

1 user thanked author for this post.

satrow

Reply | Quote

You will understand this if you deal with the misused/mispurposed IP addresses from VPNs/proxys we deal with every day at AskWoody. Thank goodness for our Firewall and Spam Blockers!

2 users thanked author for this post.

Myst, satrow

Reply | Quote

Susan Bradley wrote:

What you want is what attackers want, and that’s not really what you want. (if you know what I mean)

This is just a false argument.

If one seeks and wants privacy than it’s a very good and legitimate reason to look outside the 14eyes jurisdictions, and there are very many reasons to second that!

* _ the metaverse is poisonous _ *

Reply | Quote

I want to be under the legal jurisdiction of a Government where I live.  Court orders and subpoenas can and will be used to obtain information, log files, etc.  This doesn’t destroy privacy.  Absolute privacy on the Internet does not exist, nor do I want it to exist.  I do enough in forensics to know that trails are always left behind.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

1 user thanked author for this post.

Myst

Reply | Quote

And who says the ‘Other Eyes’ would be more desirable to be under??
Not me!

🍻

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

Reply | Quote

Well in my mind it comes down to what you use the VPN for. I’m not looking to hide my tracks because of p0Rn or sketchy motives. I use my VPN for accessing my webservers if I goof and block myself (done that more than I care to admit). I use it to check site performance from different locations.

In my mind if the VPN is free what’s the catch? Even if it’s paid, who’s to say they wouldn’t garner your data and potentially use it against you???

That said, I use IVPN occasionally for the things I mentioned above. Probably not worth the $70 per year I pay for such limited use, but it works well. Good speed and they seem to be OK. YMMV

Never Say Never

1 user thanked author for this post.

Kathy Stevens

Reply | Quote

Should say if I used public or different networks I would certainly run through a VPN.

Never Say Never

Reply | Quote

I the case you can just use your own server\router based VPN

🍻

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

Reply | Quote

Kathy Stevens wrote:

We are also interested in reason for not using a VPN.

Some independant information, not colored by personal or political views, you can get in the various Governementalsites, for instance

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/device-security-guidance/infrastructure/virtual-private-networks

* _ the metaverse is poisonous _ *

Reply | Quote

Security experts say you no longer need a VPN — here’s why

..Yet the conventional wisdom that touts the importance of paying for one of the best VPNs may be outdated — unless you know you’re being personally targeted by hackers, stalkers or government agents and need to stay anonymous online.

“For most day-to-day browsing, a VPN isn’t needed, and may make things worse,” said Jacob Hoffman-Andrews, a senior staff technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Here’s why you may not need to invest your time, effort or money into paying for a VPN — and when using a commercial VPN still makes sense…

3 users thanked author for this post.

Myst, TechTango, b

Reply | Quote

Fred wrote:

Some independant information, … , for instance

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/device-security-guidance/infrastructure/virtual-private-networks

But that’s all about incoming VPN connection to a business (“These allow remote users to securely access an organisation’s services.”), not outgoing via a VPN service:

Windows 11 Pro version 22H2 build 22621.1485 + Microsoft 365 + Edge

1 user thanked author for this post.

Alex5723

Reply | Quote

A VPN is only really required for external access to your business site. Browsing from a business site is secure via HTTPS and the only information you give up is IP destination or maybe DNS lookup.
Internet access should be via a proxy anyway so your machines and the programs on them don’t have direct internet access.

cheers, Paul

Reply | Quote

So far contributors to this topic have acknowledged using:

• Protonvpn and
• IVPN

In the past we have used the Tor browser.

The Tor website  https://www.torproject.org suggests that you, “Defend yourself against tracking and surveillance. Circumvent censorship.”

They go on to summarize the reasons for using Tor including:

• BLOCKING TRACKERS – by isolating each website you visit so third-party trackers and ads can’t follow you. In addition, any cookies and browsing history are automatically cleared when you’re done browsing;
• DEFENDING AGAINST SURVEILLANCE – by preventing someone watching your connection from knowing what websites you visit;
• RESISTING FINGERPRINTING – by making all users look the same, making it difficult for you to be fingerprinted based on your browser and device information; and
• MULTI-LAYERED ENCRYPTION – by encrypting your internet traffic three times as it passes through the Tor network.

We believe that the Tor project gives credibility to using a VPN in that it was developed by the United States Naval Research Laboratory during the mid-1980s and by 2005 the Laboratory had released the Tor code to the public.

Perhaps the most important component of Tor – and other VPNs – is the encryption of traffic as it travels from its originating device to the VPN’s server(s). To some extent, the encription reduces the need to fax sensitive documents.

So, I ask again, what VPN service do you use and do you recommend its use to others?

 

Reply | Quote

Kathy Stevens wrote:

We believe that the Tor project gives credibility to using a VPN in that it was developed by the United States Naval Research Laboratory during the mid-1980s and by 2005 the Laboratory had released the Tor code to the public.

Perhaps the most important component of Tor – and other VPNs – is the encryption of traffic as it travels from its originating device to the VPN’s server(s).

Was that before 95% of web traffic became encrypted by browsers?

Windows 11 Pro version 22H2 build 22621.1485 + Microsoft 365 + Edge

2 users thanked author for this post.

JohnW, Alex5723

Reply | Quote

Kathy Stevens wrote:

Perhaps the most important component of Tor – and other VPNs – is the encryption of traffic as it travels from its originating device to the VPN’s server(s).

No one guarantees that the data is encrypted from the VPN servers to the destination and back.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Myst

Reply | Quote

Alex

Your post, “No one guarantees that the data is encrypted from the VPN servers to the destination and back.” is a good idea for a new topic.

I started this topic hoping to find out what VPN services other AskWoody members use.

You can start your research on VPN encription by visiting various VPN sites including:

• Tor – “By default, Tor Browser protects your security by encrypting your browsing data.”  https://tb-manual.torproject.org/security-settings/ ,
• NordVPN – “What is VPN encryption and why should I encrypt my online data?” “VPN encryption scrambles your online data so that third parties can’t view nor misuse it. You need an encrypted VPN service to close that window.” https://nordvpn.com/features/next-generation-encryption/ , and
• ProtonVPN – “Our secure VPN sends your internet traffic through an encrypted VPN tunnel, so your passwords and confidential data stay safe, even over public or untrusted Internet connections.” https://protonvpn.com/ .

And you are correct, it is my understanding that the VPN encryption extends from the back of our PCs to the point where the data flow exits the VPN’s last server.

But in our opinion half a loaf is better than none at all.

Reply | Quote

I still didn’t see that you’ve identified what you want to use the VPN for?  What are you protecting?

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

2 users thanked author for this post.

Myst, wavy

Reply | Quote

For sensitive documents I use the sending service SendSafely – others are available.
Easy to use, can integrate into your apps, receive files via a drop box…

cheers, Paul

2 users thanked author for this post.

Kathy Stevens, oldfry

Reply | Quote

I have subscribed to a couple of VPN services over the years, and trialed a few more.

Initially I was interested in a full-time VPN for keeping my browsing history out of the hands of my ISP. I’m based in the US where ISPs have been allowed to sell customer data to third parties since 2017. This practice is not allowed in EU, Canada, or Australia.

https://www.howtogeek.com/724472/do-isps-track-and-sell-your-browsing-data/

Without a VPN, if you are using a secure browser connection (HTTPS) with the websites you connect with, the data content of your web session is encrypted end-to-end. BUT the related metadata associating your IP address, the DNS lookup, and the far-end web server you connect with is NOT encrypted. That is essentially the extra that a VPN buys you.

But while using a VPN from home full-time, I grew weary of random connection issues and disconnects, low-speed servers, blocked IP addresses, etc.

Finally concluded that protecting my metadata wasn’t worth the hassle. But on the upside, I decided that it’s a pretty good idea to have a VPN available on my laptop for when on the move. It’s a must-have for connecting to public Wi-Fi hotspots in hotels, airports, and coffee shops!

Fortunately, I was one of the lucky ones (an early adopter) that got a lifetime license for Avira Phantom VPN Pro for cheap. Doesn’t bother me a bit if it sits unused for a period since I’m no longer paying. It’s always there when I want to use it.

Avira was a bit rough around the edges when I first got it, but it runs great now. Shows the closest server and the average ping times for all servers. Connects quickly, and Speedtest.net shows decent up/down bandwidth, with only a slight loss compared to my raw ISP bandwidth.

Kill Switch – Prevents exposure in the event that your VPN connection drops by automatically blocking your internet connection. For Windows only.

DNS Leak Protection – Prevents your browser from forwarding the websites you visit to your Internet Service Provider.

Plus Mobile plans for Android & iOS.

https://www.avira.com/en/vpn-pro

2 users thanked author for this post.

Fred, Kathy Stevens

Reply | Quote

I have used HMA VPN and Bitdefender. HMA’s UI and Windows client are very good.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Fred

Reply | Quote