The best VPNs

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Using VPN (virtual private network) can be a key tool in today’s mobile world, working remotely, as it offers a secure and private way to connect to the Internet even on public Wi-Fi.

VPNs have been used extensively for businesses as they have expanded the private network across the public network to allow people to log in to the office remotely. Now, however, individuals often use them for travel, entertainment, and more.

Most VPN software is easy to use, even if you are not particularly technical, and when you subscribe to a VPN service, you can usually install a version for laptops, pillsAndroid and Apple smartphones, Chromebooksplatforms with web links, including smart TVs and even game consoles.

How do VPNs work?

When using VPN software, you usually select a location on a map or list and connect to an encrypted server there. Once connected, a VPN hides your device’s unique address (IP) by routing requests through that server, which means your browsing activity and IP address are encrypted and secure from prying eyes.

VPNs are sometimes abused to access blocked streaming services – for example, to watch British television from abroad by convincing providers that you are in the UK when you are not. This is contrary to the terms of service of most streaming services such as Netflix. Using a VPN can also have strange side effects, such as your computer offering a weather forecast for Poland or displaying ads in Dutch. You can disconnect whenever you want and use a normal connection.

The use of VPNs has been a key tool for activists in countries such as China, where access to the open Internet is banned. In particular, many VPN companies are based in tax havens, although this does not avoid paying taxes. This is because such countries do not have data retention legislation, so companies cannot be forced to hand over data to the authorities. Good VPN companies focus heavily on user privacy (although not all VPN companies are good).

As a technology writer, I have used VPN services for a variety of reasons – most often for work, as additional privacy is useful to protect work devices. I’ve also heard interesting stories of friends who used VPNs to find cheaper airline tickets by changing the country where they seem to be buying them. I wanted to find out which is the best VPN for 2022.

Which is the best VPN for me?

Choosing a VPN service can be difficult. There are dozens of low-quality free VPN services, some of which specifically block video streaming – which is what many want. At the other end of the price range, some paid subscription services offer attractive add-ons such as antivirus features (although you are looking for best antivirusyou may want to choose a specialized package).

In general, if you are going to use a VPN, it is worth paying a subscription. You usually pay around £ 10 a month, with steep discounts if you sign up for one or two years. I recommend that you sign up for one month first to make sure the VPN fits your needs before committing to the long term.

I asked Paul Bischoff, a privacy advocate at Comparitech, what he was looking for when choosing a VPN.

“I started using VPN when I lived in China to unblock sites, apps, and services that were blocked by the Great Firewall,” Bischoff says. “I also used them to stream and protect my privacy on public wi-fi hotspots.”

Bischoff says the key thing is to check to see if the service won’t keep your data: there should be no log of what you do when you’re connected.

“It would use a modern protocol and encryption scheme such as Wireguard or OpenVPN. It should also operate from countries such as China and the UAE, and be able to access many streaming services from abroad.”

Free VPNs

Poor VPN services can be very bad, Bischoff warns: they can provide inadequate security, cause slow speeds, or keep logs of what users do online when connected to a VPN. Some even hide malware (viruses) that can damage your computers.

“I wouldn’t trust any of the completely free VPNs, as they are often to blame for bad practices like recording user data or speed limits. However, many good paid VPNs offer free versions that can be used until the user transfers a certain amount of data over the VPN. For example, there may be a limit of 500 MB per day or 10 GB per month. “

How I tested the best VPNs

I installed the desktop version and the smartphone version of all the apps and tested the paid version (where applicable) and the free rate. I tested all the features of VPNs and tried common uses such as access to streaming services and news sites that routinely block subscriptions from the UK. I also compared the privacy policies of each VPN.

At first glance: the best VPNs for 2022

1. NordVPN

From £ 2.89 per month, NordVPN.com

The best overall

We liked: High performance at a high price, with many privacy add-ons