When it comes to accessing restricted content safely, using a reliable VPN is essential. But not all VPNs are created equal. Some VPN services may promise fast speeds and privacy but fall short in certain areas. To ensure you’re getting the best protection and performance, there are 6 key features you must look for in any VPN service. Without these features, I wouldn’t recommend using that VPN.
In 2024, the need for a secure VPN has never been more important, especially as governments around the world enforce stricter online surveillance and restrictions. Whether you're bypassing geo-blocked content, maintaining privacy, or ensuring fast, uninterrupted access, the right VPN can make all the difference. This article will guide you through the 6 critical features you need in a VPN to make sure you're fully protected online.
Let's dive into the 6 features that every trustworthy VPN should offer. If your VPN lacks even one of these, you should reconsider your choice.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a tool that helps keep your internet connection secure. It works by creating a private "tunnel" through which your data travels, so no one can see what you are doing online. When you use a VPN, your real location and IP address are hidden. Instead, it shows the IP address of the VPN server, which makes it harder for websites or hackers to track you.
Imagine you are using public Wi-Fi at a coffee shop. Without a VPN, someone sitting nearby could see what you’re doing online and steal your information. But with a VPN, it’s like putting your internet activity inside a locked box that only you can access. This keeps your information safe from anyone trying to spy on you.
Originally, VPNs were mainly used to protect users on public networks. But today, they do much more. For example, VPNs can help you access websites or content that may be blocked in your country. If you want to watch a show on a streaming service that’s only available in another country, a VPN can make it seem like you're browsing from that country, allowing you to watch the show.
In short, VPNs help you stay safe, private, and free online. Whether you’re browsing on a public Wi-Fi network or trying to access content from another country, a VPN is a useful tool for protecting your privacy and improving your internet experience.
Now that you understand what a VPN is and how it works, let’s look at the 6 essential features that make a VPN truly effective. If a VPN doesn’t have these features, it might not be the best choice for your online safety and privacy. These features will ensure that your VPN keeps you secure, private, and offers the best experience while browsing the internet. Let’s explore each of these features in more detail.
Kill Switch: Automatically disconnects your internet if the VPN connection is lost, ensuring your real IP address and data are never exposed.
Tracker Blocker: Prevents third-party trackers from collecting your personal data while browsing, blocking intrusive ads and ensuring privacy.
DNS over VPN: Encrypts DNS queries to protect your browsing history from being exposed to your ISP or third parties.
No-Logs Policy: Ensures the VPN provider does not store or log any data about your online activities, offering complete privacy.
Simultaneous Connections: Allows multiple devices to use the VPN simultaneously, so you don’t have to purchase multiple subscriptions.
Open-Source Protocols and Strong Encryption: Provides transparency with open-source VPN protocols and guarantees strong encryption, keeping your data safe from hackers.
A Kill Switch is a vital security feature found in most high-quality VPN services. It’s designed to protect your privacy by ensuring that no data is exposed when the VPN connection is lost. When the VPN disconnects unexpectedly, the Kill Switch automatically stops all internet traffic, preventing your real IP address and sensitive data from leaking. Without this feature, if your VPN drops, your internet traffic may continue to be transmitted without encryption, which could reveal your identity and location to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or anyone else monitoring your connection.
When you use a VPN, all your internet activity is routed through an encrypted tunnel. This keeps your data private, hiding your real IP address and encrypting your browsing activities. However, if your VPN connection suddenly drops—whether due to network instability, a temporary failure, or other technical issues—the Kill Switch feature kicks in. It immediately blocks your internet connection until the VPN reconnects, ensuring that no data is transmitted unprotected.
This is particularly important for people who are concerned about privacy and want to ensure that no information is exposed while using the internet. Whether you're browsing, streaming, or downloading sensitive files, a Kill Switch guarantees that there are no gaps in your security. It is especially important when using public Wi-Fi networks or when accessing geo-restricted content, where privacy risks are higher.
A great example of this feature in action is ExpressVPN. It provides a robust Kill Switch feature called Network Lock. If the VPN connection drops, Network Lock immediately halts all internet traffic, preventing your data from being exposed. This feature is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, and routers. It's particularly useful for those who stream videos or access sensitive content, as even brief drops in VPN service can compromise privacy.
ExpressVPN’s Network Lock is one of the most highly regarded Kill Switch implementations in the industry. It not only ensures that your data remains protected if the connection is lost but also guarantees a seamless experience when the VPN reconnects. Once the connection is restored, the service will automatically re-establish your secure connection without any intervention needed from you.
A Tracker Blocker is an essential privacy feature that helps users block intrusive ads, trackers, and malicious scripts while browsing the internet. This tool uses DNS-blocking technology to prevent requests from known ad servers and trackers from loading on your device. By doing this, it stops the collection of your personal data and prevents unwanted ads from popping up during your browsing sessions. Essentially, it ensures that your online experience is cleaner and more private, without any interruptions from third-party data collectors.
When you visit a website, trackers often gather information about your online activities, such as your browsing habits, location, and interests. These trackers can be used by advertisers and other entities to create detailed profiles of you, often for targeted advertising. Tracker blockers intercept these requests and prevent them from reaching your device. They work by using DNS filtering lists that block known tracking domains and ad servers. This ensures that tracking and advertising scripts are blocked before they can gather your data.
Using a Tracker Blocker greatly improves your privacy by preventing third parties from monitoring your online activities. It also reduces the amount of ads you see while browsing, providing a smoother and less intrusive experience. Additionally, blocking trackers can also protect you from malware and other online threats that often come embedded in ads or tracking scripts.
A great example of a VPN with a built-in Tracker Blocker is NordVPN NordVPN offers a feature called Tracker Blocker, which provides automatic blocking of ads, trackers, and malicious websites. This feature works silently in the background, protecting your privacy without requiring any extra configuration. Whenever you browse the internet using NordVPN, the Tracker Blocker feature ensures that tracking attempts are blocked, helping to prevent advertisers from collecting your personal data and showing you targeted ads. It also adds an extra layer of protection by blocking access to websites that are known to be harmful or contain malware.
What is DNS Encryption？DNS encryption, is a privacy feature that ensures your DNS queries are encrypted and routed through the VPN tunnel instead of using your ISP's default DNS servers. DNS (Domain Name System) is responsible for translating human-readable domain names, like google.com, into IP addresses that computers use to identify websites. However, without encryption, these DNS requests are vulnerable and can be monitored by third parties, including your ISP.
When you use a VPN that provides DNS encryption, your device automatically replaces your ISP's DNS server with one provided by the VPN. This means that your DNS requests are encrypted and sent through the VPN server, preventing any third party, including your ISP, from viewing your browsing history or online activities. If you are not using DNS encryption, your ISP can see all the websites you visit, even if you are using a VPN to hide your IP address.
A DNS leak can expose your online activities, even when you are using a VPN. This could happen if your VPN fails to properly route DNS queries or if your device defaults back to the ISP's DNS server. With DNS over VPN, you protect your privacy by ensuring that your DNS requests are secure and private. This helps prevent your ISP from tracking your web activity and protects you from potential data leaks to third parties.
CyberGhost is an excellent VPN choice that offers built-in DNS encryption. It ensures that all DNS requests are securely encrypted and routed through the VPN tunnel. With CyberGhost, you don’t have to worry about DNS leaks because the service provides DNS leak protection, blocking any potential exposure to your ISP or other third parties. CyberGhost also has a No Logs Policy, meaning they do not store any information about your online activities. This further strengthens your privacy protection while browsing.
A no-logs policy ensures that a VPN provider does not keep records of any user activities. This means that the VPN service does not store data like browsing history, IP addresses, timestamps, or other personal information. A clear and transparent no-logs policy is crucial for privacy-conscious users, as it guarantees that your online activities remain anonymous and are not monitored or stored by the VPN provider.
Having a clear no-logs policy is essential for users who want to protect their privacy. If a VPN provider keeps logs, it could potentially hand over that data to authorities or third parties, compromising your security. For example, if a VPN service is subpoenaed or forced to share information, any logs stored could be used to track your online activities. Without logs, there is nothing to hand over.
What data is collected: This may include some basic information, such as account details for subscription purposes, but should never involve sensitive browsing or personal data.
What data is not collected: A good VPN should clearly state that it does not track browsing history, DNS queries, IP addresses, or any other data that could compromise your anonymity.
Data retention period: The policy should state that no user data is stored, and if any logs are collected temporarily (for technical reasons), they should be deleted immediately after use.
ExpressVPN is a top choice for privacy-conscious users thanks to its strict no-logs policy. ExpressVPN does not keep any logs of your online activity, including browsing history, IP addresses, DNS requests, or any identifiable information. This is confirmed by independent third-party audits, which verify that the service is in full compliance with its claims.
As ExpressVPN states in its privacy policy, it does not log any connection or activity data. This includes not recording your browsing history, data content, timestamps, source IP addresses, or any other information that could link you to your activities.Even in the unlikely event of a legal request, there is no data to provide, ensuring your online actions remain fully private.
This makes ExpressVPN an excellent choice for anyone looking for a VPN that genuinely respects user privacy and is committed to protecting your data with full transparency.
One important feature when choosing a VPN is the ability to support simultaneous connections across multiple devices. This feature is especially useful in households or for individuals who use several devices at once. A VPN that allows multiple simultaneous connections ensures that all your devices—whether a laptop, smartphone, tablet, or even a smart TV—remain protected under the same VPN subscription, without the need to purchase multiple accounts.
Surfshark stands out for its unlimited simultaneous connections feature, which allows users to connect an unlimited number of devices on a single account. Whether you have multiple gadgets or a large household, Surfshark ensures that you don’t need to worry about reaching a connection limit. This is a major advantage, as it saves you from the hassle of additional subscriptions or accounts for each device.
For example, imagine you are in a household with multiple devices—smartphones, laptops, tablets, and even gaming consoles—and all users want to be protected by the VPN. With Surfshark, you don’t need to pick and choose which devices to connect or worry about exceeding the device limit. You can simply connect everything under one plan, ensuring your entire family's online privacy.
When choosing a VPN, two of the most critical features are open-source protocols and strong encryption algorithms. These features ensure that your VPN connection is secure, your data is protected, and any potential vulnerabilities can be openly examined and addressed by the security community.
Open-Source Protocols like IKEv2, OpenVPN, and WireGuard are considered some of the most secure and reliable protocols in the VPN industry. They are publicly available and regularly audited, meaning anyone can inspect the code for potential flaws or backdoors. This transparency significantly boosts trust and security, as any identified vulnerabilities can be quickly fixed and updated.
The importance of strong encryption cannot be overstated. A VPN needs to protect your data from prying eyes, and encryption ensures that all your internet traffic is scrambled and unreadable to anyone who might intercept it. Advanced encryption methods such as AES-256, combined with strong protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard, ensure that your data remains private and secure.
For example, Mullvad VPN is a great option for privacy-conscious users. Mullvad supports WireGuard and OpenVPN, both of which are open-source protocols. This means their source code is transparent and can be reviewed by independent experts to ensure that no backdoors or security flaws exist. Furthermore, Mullvad employs strong encryption standards, including AES-256, ensuring that all your internet traffic remains protected against any potential threats.
A Kill Switch is a security feature that automatically disconnects your internet if the VPN connection drops. This ensures that your real IP address and browsing activities are never exposed, even if the VPN unexpectedly disconnects. It's crucial for maintaining online privacy.
A Tracker Blocker prevents third-party trackers from collecting your personal data while you browse the internet. It stops intrusive ads and trackers from monitoring your online activities, enhancing your privacy and reducing unwanted ads.
DNS over VPN encrypts your DNS queries, which are typically sent unencrypted by your ISP. This prevents your browsing history from being exposed to your ISP or any other third parties, adding an extra layer of privacy protection.
A No-Logs Policy means that the VPN provider does not track, store, or log any information about your online activities. This is essential for ensuring that your personal data and browsing history remain private and secure.
Many VPN providers offer simultaneous connections, allowing you to connect multiple devices with a single account. Some VPNs, like Surfshark, allow unlimited simultaneous connections, while others may limit the number of devices you can connect (usually between 5 to 10).
Open-source protocols, like OpenVPN or WireGuard, allow experts to review and audit the code for security flaws. This ensures the protocol is transparent and safe to use, minimizing the risk of vulnerabilities or hidden backdoors that could compromise your privacy.
Always choose a VPN provider with a clear, transparent, and verifiable privacy policy. Look for a provider that has undergone independent third-party audits to confirm it genuinely doesn’t log user activity or store any personal data.
Without features like a Kill Switch, No-Logs Policy, and strong encryption, your VPN may fail to protect your privacy and data effectively. For example, a lack of a Kill Switch could expose your real IP address if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly, and weak encryption could leave your data vulnerable to hackers.
