Hotspot Shield, CyberGhost, and TunnelBear VPN Review
If you're looking for a private internet connection, you've probably considered using one of the many VPN services out there. There are a few to choose from, including Hotspot Shield, CyberGhost, and TunnelBear. Before you make a decision on which is best for you, it's important to understand which features and benefits each offers.
Private Internet Access
One of the best ways to secure your data and privacy is to encrypt it with a VPN. A good VPN service will provide you with one or more simultaneous connections. It also allows you to change your port settings in-app or via the user interface. Moreover, the company flies under the radar of most governments by keeping no logs of your traffic and by maintaining a high degree of transparency.
In the VPN universe, Private Internet Access is the champ. It has an impressive list of security credentials including a kill switch and a number of encryption algorithms. Fortunately, the company has kept its wits about it by winning a number of prestigious awards over the years.
The company notably took on the likes of Netflix and Hulu. However, it may not be the best suited for your needs. While the company has some of the cheapest prices around, it still offers a range of quality services to its devoted fanbase. For example, the company supports routers and Linux-based desktops in addition to OpenVPN and VPN apps.
Despite its stellar performance, the company has been dragged through the US court system a couple of times. As such, its security credentials haven't been fully tested. If you are looking for a solid and reliable solution, you can do much worse than TunnelBear. Their website is well designed and easy to navigate.
CyberGhost
While CyberGhost and TunnelBear are both good VPN solutions, they are a bit different. Choosing a VPN is a responsible choice, so users should make sure that the provider they choose offers all the features they are looking for. Likewise, it is a good idea to look for a provider that offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Those who are looking for a fast and secure VPN should consider either CyberGhost or TunnelBear. Both companies have excellent features, but CyberGhost is better when it comes to speed. It also boasts a wider variety of functions.
CyberGhost's most important feature is a high degree of privacy. The company does not store any personally identifiable information, but it does collect non-identifying data using cookies and other methods. This information is then aggregated and used to help maintain the network infrastructure.
On the other hand, TunnelBear boasts a surprisingly sophisticated interface. But it does lack some of the most useful features, including live chat and direct support. In addition, the company does not offer any P2P file-sharing capabilities.
If you are in the market for a good VPN, you should look for one that has a wide range of servers. For instance, CyberGhost has over 4900 servers in 59 countries. Compared to TunnelBear, which only lists 22+ countries as its server farms, the latter has a broader base of servers to draw from.
Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield is a popular virtual private network service (VPN) provider. It uses advanced encryption technology to protect your data and privacy. The company has over 650 million users worldwide. This makes it one of the biggest names in the VPN space. However, there are other services that provide a better, more secure online experience.
Betternet is another popular virtual private network (VPN) provider. Although it does not offer the same number of servers as Hotspot Shield, its free plan offers the same basic security features. But, the free version is limited to a select number of locations, so you'll have to sign up for the paid version to access all the locations.
Betternet also has a strict no-logging policy. That means it does not log your activities, such as how long you are using the service or which websites you visit.
Betternet is only compatible with Windows and Mac. And, while it has more than 8100 servers in 80 countries, it has fewer than a third of the number of US and EU servers that Hotspot Shield has.
On the other hand, TunnelBear has more security features and is a lot more compatible with a wider range of devices. If you're worried about the Chinese government's censorship, TunnelBear may be the way to go. In addition, the service offers a stealth feature that allows you to connect to servers in Hong Kong.
No-logs policy
If you're looking to purchase a VPN, it's important to know the no-logs policy of your chosen provider. A no-logs VPN won't store data that could identify you, such as your IP address or browsing history. No-logs providers keep no logs of your online activities, and never record or share your Internet traffic with third parties.
Several government demands have been made to VPN providers for user data. These requests have been rejected by many of them because they don't comply with their no-logs policies. However, a VPN's no-logs policy must be proven in real-world situations.
The no-logs policy of a VPN is based on the privacy policy of its parent company. In turn, the privacy policy of Aura is based on Betternet's no-logs policy.
While the no-logs policy of IPVanish is relatively strict, it does keep a log of your Internet activity. This includes information on your server usage and session lengths. It does not link this data to your account, however.
On the other hand, Proton Technologies has a reputation for fighting for user privacy. However, the company has been criticized in recent months after it was forced to hand over data to the French police through Europol. Fortunately, Proton Technologies recently won an exemption from traffic monitoring requirements.
Another no-logs VPN is TunnelBear. Although it does not keep connection logs, it does ban torrenting across all endpoints.
No extensions for Microsoft Edge or Mozilla Firefox
If you have been using Microsoft Edge on your Windows 10 powered PC, you may have noticed some strange new features. One of the most egregious is a new "Friendly URLs" feature. As the name implies, these friendly URLs aren't particularly friendly but they do the trick.
This is not the first time that Microsoft has been caught in a web browser bind. A number of legitimate extensions have been flagged as bogus by their makers. They are being used to make a quick buck. It is also a matter of concern that hackers could access your personal data, and use it to their advantage.
The Microsoft Edge has had its share of security blunders as well. Users have reported strange injections, and redirected links. In response, officials have instructed users to turn off extensions. For the most part, the company's response has been cordial. However, it hasn't been completely clear whether the company's stance will change in the future.
Other notable mentions include the fact that the Microsoft Edge has a slew of features aimed at improving security. On the other hand, there have been reports of malware and spoofing. There is also a notable lack of customer support. Luckily, there are many alternatives. Many of these solutions also offer a plethora of features that the Edge's built-in tools cannot. So, if you're looking for an all-rounder, you won't have to rely on Edge to deliver you a quality browsing experience.
Server selection
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a secure way to browse the internet. It encrypts all of your web traffic and hides your identity. To find the best VPN for your needs, it's important to choose a provider that offers a good selection of servers. This is particularly true for streaming services such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
A good way to measure a provider's performance is to compare it to another popular VPN. For example, TunnelBear offers an impressive array of features for a fair price. They use military grade AES-256 encryption to keep your data safe. The company also uses IKEv2 protocol to boost security. Their server coverage is fairly extensive and they have an impressive number of servers across the globe. In addition to this, their customer support team is knowledgeable and helpful.
One of the most impressive features is their proprietary VigilantBear service. This is a fancy piece of software that works like a firewall to protect users from data leaks and malicious attacks. The company even goes so far as to offer a 45-day money back guarantee.
On the other hand, TunnelBear has a number of minor flaws. Its service has no kill switch and does not come with a hefty price tag. Plus, it's not always the easiest to get a hold of. Fortunately, it offers ticket-based support, making it a worthy contender.
