The virtual private network (VPN) is experiencing a boom, thanks in part to massive marketing budgets as well as influencer collaborations. It’s challenging to navigate through the burgeoning VPN market, and some of the claims made about its capabilities and benefits aren’t true. Consumer Reports’ online security expert Yael Grauer suggests looking for open-source software, reproducible builds and current support for protocols that are industry-standard.
CyberGhost’s zero-logs policy is a fantastic selling feature. It promises to not record your online activity or IP address. Apps are compatible with the majority of operating systems, and come with 256-bit encryption, a kill button, leak protection, and the option of connecting via a random port. It also scored better than most VPNs in our speed test, though this could be due to the shaping of traffic by your ISP. It also has additional tools, such as Threat Protection, Onion Over VPN and Double VPN.
Nord is a different alternative that is highly rated in our tests, with an impressive performance in our geoblocking and streaming testing. Its apps are very powerful and user-friendly. However, a user interface based on maps may be a bit cumbersome when used on smaller screens. It’s compatible with a variety of routers and Kodi TV set-top boxes, and has one of the most extensive geographical reach among our top picks. It’s an excellent choice for watching Netflix internationally and also has dedicated Windflix servers for this reason. Recently, it introduced a new feature known as Perfect Forward Secrecy that protects the data by using a unique vyper vpn trial key for each session. This makes it difficult for hackers to crack past activity.