In our last article we answered the question: What is a VPN and why you should use one? Today we are going to look at the 8 best VPNs for hiding your IP address.

Do you ever pay attention to the possibility that someone could be eavesdropping on your online information? If you do, then probably you’ve thought about the best VPN to secure your information.

This article will provide a selection of some of the best VPNs you can try out.

For starters, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) enhance your online privacy by making your activity anonymous.

When you are logged onto a public Wi-Fi, anybody on that network can monitor your activity.

This exposes your sensitive information such as bank account details to security breaches.

VPNs will help you to establish a secure connection on such networks.

Here is a list of some of the best VPNs available.

What are the Best VPNs

Many organizations develop VPN software. However, these VPNs are not standardized. Some perform better than others.

Here is a ranking of the best VPNs.

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the VPN that can work on a wide range of platforms. These VPNs are not just limited to work on better known operating systems such as Android, Linux, Mac, and blackberry. You can get their customized version for routers, streaming media services, and Smart TVs among other devices.

ExpressVPN has a dedicated website that offers live 24- hour chat assistance. Besides, they provide detailed guides and tutorials to help you get acquainted with the service.

Features:

• Access to more than 3,000 servers spread across 94 countries and 160 locations.
• It can support a maximum of five devices simultaneously.
• It can run on close to all platforms.

2. Surfshark

Surfshark is one of the fastest VPNs you can get. It boasts of having one of the simplest user interfaces around. If complicated menus turn you off, Surfshark is the best reprieve for you.

Surfshark has the capability of supporting unlimited devices. There are no restrictions whatsoever. It is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac desktops. On mobiles, Android and iOS are the only operating systems currently supported.

Features:

• Fast connections to over 1000 servers.
• It can support unlimited devices simultaneously.
• AES – 256 encryption to protect your information and a kill switch to prevent information leaks when connections fail.

3. NordVPN

NordVPN can access over 5800 servers spread across more than 55 locations. It has a 2048 – bit encryption and strong DNS leak protection. All this is geared to provide high-quality security to your data.

NordVPNs have a SmartPlay feature. This feature helps circumvent geo-restrictions imposed by internet service providers or in some cases, the government. The feature is also very helpful in unblocking streaming services.

Features:

• It can support up to a maximum of six users at a time.
• Access to over 5800 servers spread in over 55 locations around the world.
• Proxy extensions for Chrome and Firefox web browsers.

4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost VPN is supported on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices. It allows torrents as well and it is equipped with quick live chat support. In addition. The service blocks ads, malicious websites, and trackers from infringing on your privacy.

On the flipside, CyberGhost’s desktop is a bit complicated. With time and practice, you should be able to get acquainted with this. There have also been reports that the speeds are usually slower in other countries apart from US and European countries.

Features:

• Torrent support.
• Access to over 5700 servers in over 110 locations.
• Supports up to 7 users at a time.

5. IPVanish

IPVanish is the kind of VPN that offers unlimited P2P traffic. It has over 40,000 shared IP addresses with over 1300 servers spread in 70 countries.

IPVanish is compatible with most operating systems. In desktops, it can work on Windows and Mac. Android and iOS mobile phone devices support it too. The speed is above average and it has the capability of unlocking some streaming services.

Features:

• It supports torrents.
• Supports up to 10 connections at a time.
• Kill switch to enhance your security during failed connections.

6. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access can run on almost every platform. It is supported on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux. It also has browser extensions that enable it to be compatible with Chrome, Firefox and Opera browsers.

Private Internet Access can automatically secure your information on unsecured Wi-Fi. Besides, it has a kill switch that improves protection when the VPN falls. The browser extensions are equipped with flash blocking, cookie cleaning and camera, and microphone protection facilities.

Features:

• Access to more than 3300 servers in over 50 locations.
• It supports a maximum of 10 users at a time.
• Browser extensions for Opera, Firefox and Chrome browsers.

7. Hotspot Shield

This VPN comes in two versions. The free version and the premium version. With the premium version, you will be able to enjoy unlimited bandwidth without the interference of ads.

The VPN is quite simple to use because of its friendly interface. It can access more than 3200 servers in over 70 different locations. The access and download speeds are favorable, to say the least.

Features:

• A Catapult Hydra Protocol that restricts the functionality of its app to Windows, Mac, Android and iOS operating systems.
• Supports a maximum of 5 devices at a go.
• Access to over 3200 servers in more than 70 locations.

8. TunnelBear

This is one of the extremely user-friendly among the best of VPNs. Its menu has a few low-level tweaks that make it simple to use. Tunnel Bear’s apps are supported on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices. It also has extensions for Chrome, Opera and Firefox browsers.

Tunnel Bear’s flipside is that it does not allow the user to change the protocol. If the user is interested in setting up the VPN manually on other devices like routers, they may not find much information on their support website.

Features:

• Supports a maximum of 5 devices.
• Access to 1000 servers in more than 20 locations.
• Extensions for Firefox, Chrome and Opera browsers.

In a Nutshell

VPNs are essential services to procure if you care about your data protection. They will help you to secure your information on unsecured networks. Additionally, with VPNs, all your online activities will be virtually untraceable as the service will mask the IP address you are using,

A variety of VPNs are available. Your choice of a VPN service provider should be based on your needs. Compare your needs to a VPN’s features before purchasing it. Hopefully, you have gotten some insight into the best VPNs from this article. Consider using the service as soon as possible.

A VPN or Virtual Private Network is a tool that allows you to create a secure connection to another network over the internet. All devices connected to a VPN see their data go encrypted through this virtual network safely, meaning that the network at the other end of the connection will communicate with the VPN instead of you directly.

Following this, you can use the internet as if you were present in the specific region the VPN is located, which is useful for accessing restricted content in the region you are currently living in. For example, you can access the catalog from a particular country’s exclusive service by creating a secure connection to a VPN that shows an IP address from that same country. Once your computer, smartphone, or tablet is connected to the VPN server, the catalog service (or any service in particular) will see you as if you were connected from the VPN server’s country and not your actual location.

Moreover, a VPN is a private and virtual network as said in its name, so that all traffic going over that network is secured and protected from dangerous third parties. This feature can be really useful when we are connected to public Wi-Fi. Every person using the Internet on a regular basis should seek basic knowledge about what is a VPN and how does it work.

A VPN can be a useful tool for many reasons, even for Internet users who only access the most basic online services. Therefore, we go in-depth about the importance and relevance of virtual private networks in this article, for you to learn about the advantages of using a VPN and why you should be using them.

Virtual Private Network and IP addresses

To learn how does a VPN work it’s necessary to know what an IP address is. An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique number that identifies a computer that is connected to the internet.

Your IP address number is a 32-bit number divided into four 8-bit combinations that reference the country you are connected from, or the kind of network you are using. An example of a private IP address is 172.16.254.1. An IP address is necessary for data to travel around the Internet, but sadly, your device’s IP address also makes your geographic location available for every website you try to access.

Because of that, VPNs are important. VPN providers have servers located in many different locations in the world, which makes it possible to redirect your virtual information’s traffic. This way you can use another IP address from those servers and hide your actual IP address. That is to say, a VPN will allow you to navigate the web incognito.

At the same time, a VPN service applies encryption to your data traffic. This way your personal information remains protected and you can access the Internet anonymously.

Why you should use a VPN service?

Encrypt your data is the primary function for a VPN, and that means a series of benefits for any Internet user. A VPN service is not only for Internet geniuses, but it is also a tool that every person connecting regularly to the Internet should know. The following includes every-day examples regarding the use of virtual private networks.

Accessing a work network while on a trip

VPNs are frequently used to access the work network by professionals while they are away either for work reasons or vacations. These professionals can access the work network safely through a VPN tunnel because all resources are kept in the cloud.

Accessing a home network while on a trip

Similarly to accessing a work network, through a VPN, we can access our computer at home as if we were using our local network.

Hide your browsing activity

For instance, if you are connected to a public Wi-Fi at a restaurant, mall or similar places, other people can also connect their devices without a password. In this case, every website you visit without HTTPS connection will be visible for those who know where to look. On the contrary, the information is not visible when using a VPN.

Accessing sites with geographic blocks

The most common way to access a site that is not available in your country or region is by using a VPN. Specifically, a VPN server that should be located in the country where access is allowed, thus communicating with the site in your place and allowing you access. Using virtual private networks is a very popular practice in China where there are over 3,000 blocked websites.

Avoiding Internet censorship

A VPN also works great for accessing without inconveniences certain websites blocked by governments.

Advantages of Using VPNs

Now that it is clear what a VPN is and what they do, it’s time to explain the advantages of using this technology to add up to the reasons why Internet users should learn about them.

• Virtual Private Networks are versatile, as they work on all applications. A VPN can route all Internet traffic, unlike proxy servers that can only be used on your web browser and a few more applications where you can access advanced configuration.
• Additional security in Wi-Fi access points, as long as the connection is encrypted.
• A VPN is easy to use, as they connect and disconnect from a server easily. Once the VPN configuration is set, you can turn the connection on and off with no further work.
• Faking your location to access content restricted to a certain region or avoiding censorship. A VPN is an effective and easy way to do this.
• Extra security layer to protect your personal information. The encrypted connection of a VPN works as a shield to prevent the exposure of your traffic in public and private networks. However, VPN servers do have access to your information, so make sure you are using a reliable VPN provider, otherwise, your information can be compromised.

The usefulness of virtual private networks makes them an invaluable tool for both beginners and expert Internet users. Whether it’s for specific tasks such as accessing restricted content or simply enjoying additional security while surfing the web, every person should make VPNs a part of their daily lives while surfing the web.