What Is A Truly Private VPN? Top 6 Things To Look Out For in 2023!
A virtual private network (VPN) is an essential tool for internet users who prioritize privacy and security. However, not all VPNs are created equal when it comes to providing privacy. So What Is a Truly Private VPN?
Many VPN providers claim to offer private VPN services, but in reality, some of these companies will collect and share user data with third-party entities, including advertisers and government agencies. Not to mention VPN service providers that do not provide VPNs that work as they are supposed to in terms of securing personal data from other potential risks.
Therefore, it is crucial to understand what constitutes a truly private VPN and what features to look for when choosing one.
So…
What is a Truly Private VPN?
Well, a truly private VPN should be a service that offers complete privacy to its users by not collecting, storing, or sharing their data. A truly private VPN should encrypt all of the user’s internet traffic and route it through its servers, making it nearly impossible for anyone, including internet service providers (ISPs), hackers, or government agencies, to spy on their customer’s online activities.
So a truly private VPN should always have a clear and transparent privacy policy that explains what data they collect, why they collect it, and how they use it.
Ideally, a private VPN should not collect any personally identifiable information (PII) from its users, such as names, addresses, or phone numbers. If you can find this in a VPN provider then this is a great start. But…
What to Look for in a Truly Private VPN?
6 things to definitely look out for are all the following
- A No-Logs (Zero Logs) Policy: This means that the VPN provider does not keep any records of the user’s online activities, including browsing history, IP addresses, and connection timestamps.
This policy ensures that the user’s data is not available to third-party entities, such as advertisers, law enforcement agencies, cybercriminals, hackers, etc…
- Strong Encryption: A Truly Private VPN should use strong encryption algorithms, such as AES-256, to encrypt the user’s internet traffic and protect it from prying eyes. This encryption ensures that even if a hacker intercepts the user’s data, they cannot read it without the decryption key.
- A Kill Switch: This is a feature that automatically disconnects the user from the internet if the VPN connection drops. This feature ensures that the user’s real IP address and online activities are not exposed even when the VPN connection is lost. Something that can usually mean that your connection has become vulnerable.
- DNS Leak Protection: If a DNS leak occurs this can mean the user’s internet traffic leaks outside of the VPN tunnel, exposing their real IP address and online activities.
A Truly private VPN should have built-in DNS leak protection to prevent this from happening.
- Obfuscation Technology: This is used to hide the fact that the user is using a VPN, making it more difficult for ISPs and governments to detect and block VPN connections.
- Server Locations: The more server locations a private VPN has, the better. A wide range of server locations ensures that users can connect to a server in a location that is close to them, reducing latency and improving connection speeds.
Which VPN If Any is Truly Private?
According to our research and testing, NordVPN is the best no-log VPN on the market. It has a zero-logs policy that’s been independently audited twice, as well as numerous security and privacy features to help you stay anonymous online.
In our opinion, this is truly the most private VPN on the market right now but keep reading until the end for a full breakdown of Nord VPNs security features and how this compares to other paid VPN providers.
What is a Zero Logs Policy on a VPN
A zero logs policy on a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a privacy feature that indicates the VPN service provider does not collect or store any information about the user’s online activities while using their service.
VPN providers usually store user information such as IP addresses, connection timestamps, and the amount of data used for a certain period. This information can be used to track user activities and can potentially be accessed by government agencies or other third parties.
In contrast, a VPN service with a zero logs policy guarantees that no user data is collected or stored by the provider. This means that there is no record of a user’s internet activities, making it harder for anyone to track or monitor them.
It’s important to note that not all VPN providers offer a zero logs policy. Therefore, it’s crucial to research and choose a reputable VPN provider with a transparent privacy policy that aligns with your online security needs.
Can You Still Hack a VPN Which Is Privacy Centric
While a privacy-focused VPN can provide a high level of security and privacy, it is still possible to hack a VPN.
However, it’s important to note that hacking a VPN is not an easy task, especially if the VPN provider has implemented strong security measures.
There are several ways in which a VPN can be hacked:
- Exploiting vulnerabilities: VPNs can be hacked by exploiting vulnerabilities in their software or network infrastructure. Hackers can use known vulnerabilities to gain access to the VPN network and intercept user traffic.
- Social engineering: Hackers can also use social engineering techniques to trick VPN users into revealing their login credentials, allowing them to gain access to the VPN network.
- Man-in-the-middle attacks: A man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack involves intercepting the communication between the VPN client and server. This can be achieved by using techniques such as ARP spoofing or DNS hijacking.
To protect against VPN hacks, it’s important to choose a reputable VPN provider that has implemented strong security measures, such as encryption, two-factor authentication, and regular security audits.
Additionally, users should practice good security habits, such as using strong passwords, keeping their software up-to-date, and avoiding suspicious websites and links.
Which VPNs have been Famously Hacked?
In early 2021, more than 21 million Android users were exposed. Three different free Android VPNs were targeted: SuperVPN, Gecko VPN, and Chat VPN. The cyber attackers harvested deeply sensitive user information and advertised the data cache to the highest bidder on a popular hacker forum.
As for the better-known paid VPN providers, some of these too have been hacked in the past.
Even the most secure VPNs can still be vulnerable to cyber attacks, and it’s important for users to be aware of these risks.
Here are a few examples of VPN providers that have been hacked in the past:
- NordVPN: In 2019, NordVPN disclosed that it had been hacked in March 2018, and an attacker gained access to one of its servers. The company stated that no user data was compromised in the attack.
- TorGuard: In 2019, TorGuard disclosed that it had suffered a security breach in 2018, which resulted in the leak of some user data, including email addresses and hashed passwords.
- VikingVPN: In 2018, VikingVPN confirmed that one of its servers had been hacked and user data had been compromised.
However, still, It’s important to note that while some VPN providers have been hacked in the past, most reputable VPN providers take security seriously and implement strong security measures to protect their users’ data.
Additionally, many VPN providers offer regular security audits and updates to ensure that their systems are secure and up-to-date. So…
Is a More Privacy-Focused VPN Really Worth it?
Using a more privacy-focused VPN is worth it if you want to keep your online activities private and secure. These VPN services offer stronger encryption and more privacy protections, such as a zero-logs policy and additional security features, which help keep your online data safe from prying eyes.
There are several reasons why you might want to use a more privacy-focused VPN:
- Protecting your online privacy: A privacy-focused VPN ensures that your online activities remain private and that your personal information is not exposed to third parties.
- Avoiding government surveillance: Some governments monitor their citizens’ online activities and restrict access to certain websites. A privacy-focused VPN can help you bypass government censorship and protect your online privacy from government surveillance.
- Preventing cyber attacks: A privacy-focused VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it difficult for hackers to intercept and steal your personal information.
- Accessing geo-restricted content: A privacy-focused VPN allows you to access websites and content that may be restricted in your region, giving you greater online freedom.
While a more privacy-focused VPN may come at a higher cost than some other VPN services, the added security and privacy protections can be worth it for those who value their online privacy and security. Ultimately, the decision to use a more privacy-focused VPN comes down to personal preferences and needs.
What Is The Best Private VPN Service?
Now let’s take a look at some of the main paid VPN providers to see how they stack up against each other for truly Privacy Based Features…
Most Privacy Focused VPN Providers
| AES 256 Encryption | Zero Logs Policy | Kill Switch | DNS Leak Protection | Obfuscation Technology | Server Locations | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nord VPN | Yes | Yes | Yes Except with Android Version | Yes | Yes | 5500 |
| Express VPN | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes on some of its servers | 3000+ |
| Pure VPN | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | ? | 4000+ |
| SurfShark | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 3200 |
| Norton Secure VPN | Yes | ? | Yes | No | ? | 1500 |
| CyberGhost | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 6000+ |
| PIA | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | No | 3300 |
| IPVanish | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2000 |
| PrivateVPN | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 200 |
Our Conclusion
For anyone that is really worried about Online Privacy a trustworthy VPN can be a sensible investment. However, your typical VPN company is not without its problems. From the list above Express VPN, NordVPN and Sharfshark are our picks. Express VPN is the most expensive but they do have a good record.
NordVPN and Surfshark are set for a merger so either could be a good choice but really only PURE VPN and Norton I would not recommend. These are 2 examples of companies that have allegedly leaked customers’ data. Not sure how true but all I’ll say is do your research first and try to compare what VPN companies are the best.
Some are better for Speed, International Travel, and IP Cloaking but for Privacy features check out the table above.
Best regards and see you again soon ARRR! 🏴☠️
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