A VPN can be the deciding factor between your privacy and potential threat. Thus, you don’t want a product with faulty functions. Although VPNs have become mainstream in the online security domain, chances are, a new user might not understand how they work. For a VPN to be effective, there needs to be a handful of crucial components within the service and a product. A provider may skimp on some advanced VPN features to amass more profit—sufficient reason to stop using them. Alternatively, you might get drawn into the allure of “free VPNs.”
However, no matter the cause, a user needs to be informed regarding the VPN they are employing. A VPN is essential to your online health, but not all are created equal. Although you may not need a VPN fully loaded with numerous cutting-edge features, some are unavoidable if you want quality service. Thus, we advise our readers to stop using a VPN without the features below. The following list consists of various features needed to make a VPN superb or at least adequate for online safety and privacy. A user can, but shouldn’t do without them.
1. Money-back guarantee or trial period
First, a VPN should have a money-back guarantee or something like a free trial or a free version. VPNs are a costly investment that may require up to a 3-year commitment. Ergo, users often get cheated by unscrupulous vendors. These vendors demean the VPN experience and give the technology a bad name. Thus, a free trial or a money-back guarantee are two pivotal features that let the individual stop using a VPN service if they find it unsatisfactory within, say, 7 to 45 days.
2. Privacy-friendly jurisdiction
VPNs cater to the privacy-centric crowd. Hence, it is necessary to evoke the trust of the user base. One method to do so is having their business registered and set up in a jurisdiction that doesn’t practice data retention. Most governments in the world opt for online surveillance, raising the need for VPNs. But they can also legally force the vendor into handing over user data. Countries have data collection laws that can render a VPN useless in the face of a legal adversary. Thus, when your VPN comes from a land with a privacy-friendly policy, you can relax a bit.
3. High VPN server count
VPNs need servers for an effective network. The relay of servers affects the connection and determines the quality of service. Always go with a VPN with a higher server count in diverse locations. Speed depends on the bandwidth of a VPN network and latency. Bandwidth is the upper ceiling of data traffic within a network, while latency is the distance between them. Thus, a higher count can ensure faster speed and lower congestion, resulting in a stable and fast connection. Also, VPNs are popular for bypassing geo-blocking, only possible with enough VPN servers spread over a wider area. Thus, a VPN with a large server network across different locations is the way forward.
4. Standard security protocol and encryption
VPNs rely on various security protocols to establish tunnels that facilitate network infrastructure. But these differ in terms of ability. Some are suitable for fast streaming but remain insecure. Others may be a tad slower but robust. Our recommended VPN protocol is WireGuard, and if not, then OpenVPN. If the VPN doesn’t offer either, it likely isn’t as good as it claims. Also, protocols and encryption go together. Thus, a supreme protocol will employ the current golden industry standard, AES-256 bit encryption. While the ideal encryption also has PFS (perfect forward secrecy), a user can do without it.
5. Kill switch and leak prevention tools
A good VPN has contingencies in place when things go haywire. Although VPNs are in place to protect your online privacy, they are, for all purposes, digital software prone to issues and errors. Thus, they can fail unexpectedly, leaving your data exposed. But that’s where a VPN kill switch comes into play. Kill switches can automatically terminate internet connection in the event of VPN failure. They are a fail-safe designed to protect your information and prevent leaks. Talking about leaks, a faulty VPN can reveal your IP address and DNS information. Thus, a suitable VPN includes countermeasures to prevent all this from happening.
6. Up-to-date cross-platform clients
VPNs rely on end-user software, i.e., what we call a VPN client. An exemplary VPN is versatile and accounts for the numerous platforms it provides its services. Thus, a VPN needs to offer regular updates to ensure an error-free client. Also, with the mobile technology at the place it’s now, VPNs need cross-platform apps to cover more digital ground.
7. Strict no-logging policy
VPNs are a trust game—users hand over their data to a VPN provider when they connect. These providers have full access, hence a VPN with a shady reputation won’t cut it. Furthermore, users need to figure out which VPNs to trust, and the only way to ensure the reliability of a vendor is by analyzing their logging policy. A VPN that logs data won’t be on our recommendation list because it can misuse said data. Therefore, a decent VPN is one with a strict no-logging policy and only such products can inculcate user trust.
8. (Regular) independent audits
A VPN may claim to be a no-logs VPN, but the question remains, “How do we trust their assertions?” The only way a provider can prove the declaration is to maintain a superb reputation (based on real-life events) and undergo independent audits. The latter represents a time when a VPN provider lets an unaffiliated security firm take a deep look to find exploits and inconsistencies and make a public report. Not many VPNs do so, and even fewer let others conduct audits regularly. If you want to employ one, always go for the vendor who orders a routine independent audit.
9. SmartDNS and DNS server
SmartDNS is a feature that lets VPN spoof IP and geolocations. It is essential if you are looking to circumvent VPN blocking, and not all VPNs offer this feature. We know that VPNs are the go-to for security, but many users employ them for entertainment purposes, too. If you are one, SmartDNS is a feature you’d want. DNS server is a prelude to any DNS functionality. A VPN with a separate DNS server can provide static IP addresses and prevent DNS leaks. It can also ensure a stable inflow of untraceable IP addresses to prevent VPN geo-blocking.
10. Defined simultaneous connections
Today, most of us own multiple digital devices, and we need security for each. Consequently, buying a VPN for every device is impractical, hence users tend to favor services that offer multiple concurrent connections. However, many vendors don’t specify the number of devices you can connect to on a single plan, leading to confusion. Thus, a good VPN is not only the one that offers many (5 to unlimited, let’s say) coexisting connections but also specifies the number.
11. Valid, active Customer Service
Lastly, a VPN is a service, and like every other, it requires human feedback. VPNs may be tricky and a bit technical to use, especially for a newbie. Ergo, providers worth their salt offer Customer Support to enrich the user experience and retain old customers. Customer Care representatives can also help users resolve most queries and further enhance the vendor-user relationship. A good VPN comes with 24×7 support via, for example, email, phone number, IVR (Interactive Voice Response), and live chat.