Sure, you may suspect that it could have its drawbacks, but you might not think that it’s something to worry about. Actually, if you’re not careful and choose the wrong VPN, you could be sharing more information than you’d like. Discover how you can spot a bad VPN and stay safe online. For a limited time only, get an extra 3 months when you sign up with ExpressVPN for only $6.67/mo. Get this special VPN deal.
Promises that Are Too Good to Be True
Every VPN will brag about everything it has to offer its users, but if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. A VPN could be the world’s fastest in some areas, so that could be true in a way. When a VPN claims that it can unblock every site it comes across, or it uses logos of known streaming services making you think you can easily access it when it doesn’t clearly state it, you know you have to be careful. Take note if you come across a VPN that claims that it can protect you from all kinds of online threats or that it can make your Internet connection four times faster.
It’s Not Changing Your IP Address
The idea behind a VPN is for you to feel secure and give you another IP address. A bad VPN won’t change your IP and will also be leaking your information to the world as well. To see if your VPN is working properly, go to What Is My IP Address and take note of what your IP address is without the VPN on. Once you have your IP address, turn on the VPN and refresh the IP address site. If you see the IP address you wrote down without the VPN on, then it’s time to get rid of that VPN.
Vague Details on the Company Who Created the VPN
A company that has nothing to hide will give you as much information about themselves as possible. A site that has a VPN you can trust will have a dedicated page where you can read up on at least the basic information about the company. A bad VPN will have very little or no information on the creators of the VPN. A red flag will be that they won’t even have a site so you can get customer support. You also won’t be able to count on any info that will help you fix any issues you might be having with the VPN.
Keep These Red Flags in Mind
If you see that a VPN is asking for way too much information to sign up, it’s best to find another one. The less info you have to give about yourself the better. A lousy VPN will also have a short or very hard to follow Privacy Policy. A bad VPN will obviously not care about keeping your information safe and might even leak your real IP. With these types of VPNs, you are most likely to not see any kind of protection from IP leaks. It’s a good idea to make sure this is a feature they mention on their spec list. If the VPN you’re using doesn’t have a kill switch, then it’s time to uninstall it. You should be in control of when you use the VPN and when you don’t. A bad VPN will only have universal benefits and won’t even give any info on the countries it covers or the protocols it supports. A reliable VPN will bombard you with all the great features it has to offer.
Conclusion
Just because you found the VPN in a Google search doesn’t mean that you should blindly install it without doing your homework. Do as much research as you can on the VPN you’re thinking of using to stay safe and always read what others who have used it have to say about it. What do you look for in a VPN? Share your thoughts in the comments.
