I once believed that anything for free was always good, until free VPNs burst my bubble and forced me to switch to paid ones.
On the surface level, free VPNs do not charge a dime for their services. They also claim to offer top protection against security threats lurking on the internet. So, people looking for a security tool to safeguard their devices and data stored on them find free VPNs a very attractive option.
Yet, what most people don’t realize is that, someday, they might end up paying a hefty price for using a free VPN. Not all, but some free VPNs may steal your data, which I’ll explain in this article.
Just like that, there are so many reasons not to use a free VPN, and below, I’ll explain them all.
So, let’s get started:
1. Free VPNs Slow Down Your Internet
Not just the free VPNs, but even the paid ones might slow down your internet connection. Let me explain why:
When you connect to a VPN, it creates an encrypted tunnel between its server and your device. And all data that goes out or comes in to your device first moves through this encrypted server, and then heads to its intended destination.
So, you can say that a VPN increases the route your data moves through, and that’s why your internet connection’s speeds might slow down.
That being said, you might not feel the difference if you’ve subscribed to a high-speed connection. A little while ago, I was searching for a high-speed internet service provider (ISP). Eventually, I called Spectrum customer service and subscribed to one of their fastest internet plans.
Speaking from experience, the difference between Spectrum Internet and my previous connection is as clear as daylight. For instance, I play online games, stream HD movies, and browse the web on Spectrum Internet while connected to a VPN. And, not once have I experienced slowdowns.
On the other hand, performing even the basic tasks, such as sending an email while connected to a VPN on my previous connection, was a difficult task.
2. Free VPNs Offer Minimal Protection
As I mentioned above, free VPN providers might tempt you to believe that they safeguard your data. However, that’s far from reality because a free VPN might not offer any sort of protection at all.
Most free VPNs use outdated encryption. It’s because, unlike paid VPNs, free VPNs might not have the required funds to invest in research and development (R&D) of new security protocols and encryption. On the other hand, paid VPNs actively invest in R&D to offer maximum security to their users.
That being said, it’s a fact that technology has strengthened security protocols, but at the same time, cybercriminals have used it as well for their advantage.
Today, hackers use sophisticated methods, such as malvertisements, to target people. And, for a free VPN that uses outdated encryption and security protocols, detecting and countering such cyberthreats might not be possible.
3. Free VPNs Offer Limited Servers
One of the major downsides of free VPNs is the number of servers they offer. Oftentimes, free VPNs offer only a handful of servers, which are congested by huge traffic. As millions of people have to connect to limited servers, they often slow down or do not connect to them at all.
Also, it’s possible that a free VPN provider might disconnect your device after a certain period to cater to newer connections. On the flipside, paid VPNs offer several exclusive servers to their users.
Such servers are often fast and have much less traffic than free VPN’s servers. And, while a free VPN might not let you connect to a global server, paid ones have quality servers spread across different countries.
4. Free VPNs May Steal Your Data
You cannot trust some free VPNs, as they’re quite infamous for stealing users’ data. Well, let me explain why: instead of protecting users’ data, some of these free VPNs steal it.
Firstly, free VPNs do not have a source of income. As they offer their services for free, they need an income source to stay afloat and keep offering their services. Hence, they share users’ data with third-party advertisers for a price or use it for other malicious purposes.
Other than this, most free VPNs also show in-app ads to users, some of which are often personalized ones.
While free VPNs are definitely convenient to use and easy on the pocket, they often have limitations. If you want to keep your data safe and enjoy a smooth online experience, it’s a good idea to invest in a quality VPN that actually protects your device from cyber threats on the internet.
Having a paid VPN gives you peace of mind, better speeds on your devices, and reliable protection for your data.
