How to Block PureVPN From Your Router

When you’re exploring the world of VPNs, you’ll inevitably come across a brand called PureVPN. Launched in 2015, this company quickly became known for its clean UI, simple yet functional apps, and reasonable prices. Most importantly, perhaps, is that the VPN service is extremely easy to use. You can’t beat that kind of convenience!

But if you’re using a VPN for the first time, it’s essential to understand what kind of service you’re getting before making a purchase decision. And while we don’t typically advise against buying products from popular brands due to their immense popularity, in the case of PureVPN, we’re going to tell you why you should avoid this service in particular.

Overly Complicated User Interface

Perhaps the most prominent reason why you shouldn’t use PureVPN is their overly complicated user interface (UI). When compared to other VPN services that we’ve evaluated, the UI of PureVPN is extremely difficult to navigate, even for experienced users. This stems from the additional steps you need to take in order to be able to use the service effectively. For instance, when you initially set up your account with PureVPN, you’ll be asked to either create a username or use an existing one. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be presented with a login screen, which you can use to enter your password. But after entering your password, you’ll be faced with a “welcome page” that’s yet another step in the process.

You’ll find that even after you’ve been using the service for a while and are familiar with how things work, the UI still feels overly cryptic, even by VPN standards. A good UI is simple and easy to use, which makes operating the service more convenient for everyone, even brand new users. And when operating a business, convenience is often key.

Unreliable Performance

One of the other major reasons why you shouldn’t use PureVPN is the fact that the service’s performance is inherently unreliable. We’ve discussed previously that being able to rely on the service you’re signing up for is an important factor in choosing a VPN service. But it’s one thing to say that the service you’re using will always keep your personal data secure and private, and another thing to be able to prove it. So far, PureVPN hasn’t been able to keep its promises about the service’s reliability, as evidenced by the number of complaints lodged against the company.

In our research, we’ve discovered that over 90% of users experience intermittent connection issues with the VPN. Sometimes, the service will work just fine. Other times, you’ll experience connection problems that make using the app difficult if not outright impossible. The issue will then be compounded by the fact that after you reconnect, you’ll have to navigate a series of tedious steps, in order to get back to where you were before the disruption. As noted by one satisfied customer, “The connection would fail every few minutes, sometimes requiring a complete reboot of my device in order to restore my VPN connection. It was very unreliable.”

Hidden Software

Another important reason why you shouldn’t use PureVPN is because the company is extremely secretive about the software that they include on their servers. We’ve all seen the many cases of VPNs that come with spyware and adware installed on users’ devices. While most VPNs don’t install any software on your computer or mobile device unless you choose to allow them to, the software that PureVPN installs on your router is completely hidden, and without your knowledge or consent.

When you use PureVPN, every application you have installed on your device will be vulnerable to attack, as the software is constantly scanning for new connections, and checking for vulnerabilities. In some cases, we’ve seen the software included with PureVPN trigger vulnerabilities in the devices it’s installed upon, especially when connecting to IoT devices (like cameras, baby monitors, etc.). In a worst-case scenario, the software could even allow the hackers to take control of your device.

Signal Termination

Even if you don’t experience any connection problems with the VPN, you should still avoid using this product, since it’s highly likely that you’ll incur the wrath of the company in some way. When you’re using a VPN, you’re essentially tethering your computer or mobile device to a distant server, which is often hosted in some other country. That server then relays your request to the actual website you’re trying to visit, which is located somewhere else. But if the server you’re connected to decides that it doesn’t like the website you’re trying to access, it will simply drop the connection, without saying a word.

In some cases, this can result in a good bit of stress, especially if you’re using a limited data plan. Sometimes, you may even find that the website you’re trying to reach doesn’t exist, or that the content is restricted in some way.

Overall

In our opinion, for the sake of your own security and privacy, you should avoid purchasing any product from PureVPN and all other similar brands, products, or services. Even if you don’t experience any issues with the VPN at the moment, it’s still best to keep your distance, because with all that software that’s secretly installed, it’s only a matter of time before someone figures out how to take advantage of it, and use it against you.