Hidden Dangers Of Using Untrusted VPN Providers

A VPN is a great service to use if you are privacy-conscious. A VPN protects your data by sending it through a secured tunnel that uses encryption and hides your IP address. This way, hackers and prying eyes can’t easily access your data or online activities. However, the problem is choosing a VPN provider that you can trust to keep your data safe.

 

Why Do People Use VPNs?

 

VPNs are used for privacy and anonymity, although VPNs can’t fully create anonymity or protect your data. This service does, however, make it incredibly difficult for people to steal your data or identify your location.

There are a few reasons people use VPNs, but some of the most common are:

• For protection against hackers when using public Wi-Fi.
• To access geo-restricted content.
• To avoid ISP throttling by hiding your IP address so your internet service provider can’t monitor your online activity and therefore throttle it.
• Remote workers use VPNs when accessing sensitive work information.

 

What Makes a Good Quality VPN?

 

A good quality VPN is a service that offers you speed, privacy, and security. These are usually the three most important factors to consider. Additionally, ensuring that your VPN doesn’t sell your data to third parties is also a key feature of a good VPN. Doing research and looking at reviews will help you determine how well each VPN performs in these three categories.

 

 

What Makes a VPN Untrustworthy?

 

An untrustworthy VPN fails at its purpose of protecting your data and achieving anonymity. There are many free and cheap VPNs that are untrustworthy. Here are a few characteristics of an untrustworthy VPN:

 

Lack Of Transparency

 

When details about the VPN’s privacy policy, ownership, and how they handle data are obscured, you can be sure that it is an untrustworthy VPN. Good VPNs are very transparent about all these details.

 

Suspicious

 

Think about it: why would a VPN service be free? They must make money somehow. This is where suspicious business models come into play, which could mean that the VPN provider is selling your data or is malware itself.

 

What Are The Risks Of Untrusted VPNs?

 

There are many risks involved in using an untrusted VPN, so it’s important to be aware of them before you use such a service.

 

Data Logging

 

Some VPNs make money by logging your browsing history, online activity, and personal information and then selling it to third parties. This defeats the purpose of keeping your data private.

 

Security

 

One of the most important features of a VPN should be security. Most free or cheap VPNs lack the resources to deploy robust security measures, and therefore they don’t use up-to-date encryption or protocols, meaning you aren’t getting the best security possible.

 

Slow Speed

 

Most free and cheap VPNs have limited bandwidth, which means they will throttle your internet speed, making online activities extremely slow. This is also an opportunity for these VPNs to push you to upgrade to “improve speed” or to offer more “data usage”.

 

Malware

 

Some of these VPNs, especially free ones, are set up by cybercriminals to act as trojan horses. By downloading these VPNs, you could potentially expose your sensitive data to malware, spyware, or trojans.

 

 

Which VPNs Should You Avoid?

 

Some of these VPNs, especially free ones, are set up by cybercriminals to act as trojan horses. By downloading these VPNs, you could potentially expose your sensitive data to malware, spyware, or trojans.

 

Vague Terms Of Service

 

If the VPN isn’t fully transparent about its terms of service, such as data logging and privacy policies, you should avoid this VPN.

 

Over The Top Promises

 

A VPN should promise you speed, privacy, and security. Over-the-top promises, such as “lifetime subscriptions” or “100% anonymity,” should make you run for the hills.

 

Poor Reviews

 

People are generally honest when they take the time to write reviews, so bad reviews should generally be a good indication. Also, be mindful that some companies pay people to write good reviews about their service.

 

What Are Some Potential Consequences Of Using Untrusted VPNs?

 

Beyond the false sense of security, there are much worse personal consequences to consider:

1. Identity Theft: If your device is infected with malware or spyware, it is easy for cybercriminals to access all your personal data and steal your identity. With a stolen identity, it’s easy to commit fraud.
2. Fraud: Spyware and malware can give criminals access to things like your bank account or bank details, which can lead to unwanted transactions or even drained bank accounts.
3. Illegal Activity: Some untrusted VPNs host servers linked to illegal activities, such as dark web marketplaces. If your data is routed through those servers, you could unknowingly be implicated in such activities.

 

Can You Trust Free VPNs?

 

Free VPNs do not have a good reputation, and this is a service you are advised to tread cautiously with. An article by Forbes suggested that 19% of free VPNs they tested contained some sort of malware.

The question still remains: how do free VPNs make money? It could be through advertisements, but it could also be by selling your personal information, and both options are not ideal.

 

Is a VPN Worth It?

 

A VPN has so many benefits and is crucial for anyone who spends time online. However, choosing one of the best VPN providers will ensure that you experience the full advantages of a VPN. Investing in an untrusted or free VPN could expose you to hidden dangers such as cyberterrorism, data logging, and identity theft. It is easy to spot an untrusted VPN by looking out for suspicious terms and conditions, bad reviews, and over-the-top promises.

When searching for a trusted VPN, make sure to look for one that offers you speed, security, privacy, and transparency, and does not sell your data to third parties. By using these types of VPNs, you will have a safer online experience.