Which VPN Services Are Not Best Practices?

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are crucial for everyday users, especially those who live or work remotely and need to stay connected to friends and family who are scattered across the globe. However, just because something is necessary doesn’t mean it’s beneficial for everyone. In some cases, a VPN may do more harm than good. Here are some of the worst practices that users should avoid.

Too Many Connections

VPNs are commonly known for establishing a virtual connection between two or more places or devices. This allows users to securely share information, regardless of where they are. If you connect your VPN to too many resources, it will slow down your internet connection and possibly put a strain on the network, leading to dropped connections and poor performance. Some VPNs will even limit the number of devices you can connect to their service, so ensure you aren’t breaking any connection limits.

Check out these top-rated VPNs that work great and don’t put a strain on your internet connection (ranked by our editors).

• CyberGhost
• NordVPN
• PrivateVPN
• PureVPN
• SunVPN

Weak Encryption

Data security is of paramount importance in today’s world, and it’s important for users to remember that VPNs are rarely, if ever, 100% secure. Your data may be vulnerable to hackers or other online criminals, as long as you use a weak or default password and don’t change it frequently. Changing your password is the best way to ensure your data is safe and your account is not hacked. If you’re worried about security, look for a VPN that utilizes strong encryption standards and protocols to protect your data while you’re online. Some of the most notable and popular VPNs that use strong encryption include:

• IVPN
• Nordeau VPN
• PrivateVPN
• ProtonVPN
• ROKU

Excessive Data Consumption

Data consumption is another important consideration when choosing a VPN. Most services will ask you to provide your email address and login info, as well as specify how much data you want to use each month. Some services, like CyberGhost, don’t collect any information at all, so ensure you are aware of how much data you’re using and whether or not it’s necessary.

If you’re using a mobile device, make sure you check out these best VPNs for iPhone, iPad and Android. Many of these services offer great security and have apps available for all three platforms, so you can use them from anywhere. Thanks to new technology, you don’t have to be located near a computer to be able to use a VPN.

Additionally, if you’re using a VPN to unblock YouTube videos or other restricted content, you may be consuming a lot of data. If you’re not using a VPN to access unblocked content, it’s unlikely you’ll need to worry about data consumption, as most services will likely use less data than you’d need to unblock a single restricted site.

No Feasible Way To Recover

If you’re losing access to important accounts, documents, or data due to a mistake or mishap, it can be a pain to start over again. This is why you need to make sure that there is a feasible way to recover from such an incident. Many services will offer you a special code or email address that you can use to get access to your data. If this is not possible, ensure you’re aware of the fact that in some cases, you might not be able to get your data back. If you do lose access to your data, it’s often difficult to find out what happened. The worst-case scenario is that your data was intercepted by hackers or government officials. In this case, you’ll have to start over again, as there’s no way of knowing what information might have been compromised.

If you keep all of this in mind and avoid using weak encryption, password management and excessive data consumption, it’s likely that your VPN will serve only good purposes. Remember: always use a VPN when traveling abroad, as the content you watch or participate in online might be different than what you’re used to, and it might be illegal to do so otherwise. If you’re worried about using a VPN while traveling, consider using a separate device or connection that’s solely dedicated to traveling abroad, so you don’t accidentally expose yourself to online threats while you’re abroad.