Choosing the right VPN provider

Choosing a real VPN provider can be uneasy for an inexperienced user. In this article, we describe the main reasons for using a VPN connection trying to choose a VPN provider that suits your needs.

VPN or Virtual Private Networks is widely used by large companies and small businesses for better security and provides access to network resources (shared files, databases, devices). When VPN creates encrypted connection, all traffic between a user and a VPN server is secure and cannot be tracked or intercepted. This makes VPN attractive to people looking for privacy protection.

Since a VPN-connected user looks to the world as if he were browsing from the VPN server on his own with the IP address changed, this technology can be really useful for removing websites or using geographically locked content, such as regional online television.

There are various VPN providers across the globe offering VPN accounts. However, choosing the right one can be a problem for an unprepared user. There is basically only one question you need to ask to choose the VPN provider that is right for you.

What is the main reason for using a VPN?

First, let's talk about security. Usually, 128-bit encryption is a standard security level. This means that all traffic between you and your VPN server is encoded with a 128-bit key, and even if a hacker captures it, it will be impossible to decode it without the correct key. If your answer is security and you are looking to encrypt your traffic in the best possible way, look for those that offer 256-bit AES encryption, it provides even better security level.

How to change your IP address to a specific region, make sure your VPN provider offers such a service. There are companies that are dedicated to providing, say, a UK or German IP address, which allows you to work with specific regional services that are closed to other parts of the world.

You also need to consider connection methods. The most typical is PPTP, it is supported by Windows and is easy to configure. However, it may be unavailable for some reason or it may be prohibited from using it in your corporate network. If you need VPN to remove site blocking, consider using Open VPN protocol for better flexibility. You will need to install a third-party software that will allow you to connect even from the network dedicated to pure web browsing.