Would you like to access an Internet site that is not visible. Would you like to surf anonymously on the Net without communicating your real IP address to the outside and, therefore, without detecting your true identity? For these and many other purposes, the password is only one: VPN . I’m sure you’ve already heard about it, but today I want to help you shed more light on the subject.
VPNs (short for Virtual Private Network ) are extremely useful tools, thanks to which you can disguise your connection and bypass regional restrictions applied by Internet sites (as they make the connection appear as coming from other countries). To simplify the concept as much as possible, they are intermediaries that act as links between the user’s computer and the sites visited, thus hiding the identity of the latter.
Perhaps you think it is too complex a subject for what your computer skills are, but I assure you that you are wrong: using VPNs is less complex than it seems and, above all, does not require the payment of money (not necessarily at least). Do not you believe it? So, take five minutes of free time and look at the list of the best free VPNs that I have prepared for you: I bet you will be amazed by the potential and flexibility of this tool, not to mention the simplicity with which you can use it!
What does VPN mean
Ready to enter the VPN universe? Perfect, I want to start right away by explaining in detail what this word means: VPN is the abbreviation of the English phrase Virtual Private Network , which we can translate into a “virtual private network” , and it is a special technique designed to make invisible unauthorized looks (whether they are cybercriminals, censorship bodies, surveillance bodies or other) information on what takes place on the Internet.
In detail, this camouflage d <sselle activities is obtained through a specific type of encrypted connection (or tunnel , in jargon) that is created between the device that connects to the Internet and the server that offers the VPN service: to be precise, speaking Internet browsing, the VPN server is required to navigate on its own account, and the navigation data is exchanged between the server and the device from which it is navigated, in protected and encrypted mode , so as to prevent anyone from accessing it from the outside .
VPNs allow users to hide their IP address and data from websites, ensuring privacy. They can be used for both browsing and exploitation of the internet. Even internet service providers cannot trace back traffic generated through a VPN, allowing managers to know about users’ usage without knowing about data exchange.
VPN tunneling can be utilized in professional sectors, especially when a company permits employees to work from outside the headquarters. This allows employees to access internal local networks from home or other locations, ensuring secure communication and protection from outside surveillance.
How to use VPNs
Including what I have explained so far, you will certainly be thinking that understanding how to use a VPN can be difficult for you: let me say that you are wrong, because thanks to the explanations I am about to give you everything will be very clear. Time a few minutes and you will be able to do everything autonomously even without being a genius of information technology.
VPNs protect and encrypt internet traffic through a virtual tunnel between users and the VPN. To create this tunnel, users must identify the VPN best suited to their needs, register, download, and configure the necessary programs or apps, and then create the tunnel.
VPN tunnels restrict external visibility and intercept of data traffic, similar to a satellite losing sight of a car entering the tunnel. In addition, as I have already mentioned, Internet services do not know the real position nor the IP address of those who exploit them, but those of the VPN. This means that your manager can not know what is happening inside the tunnel, but at a cost, often paid in terms of speed: if the VPN service is not fast, or the servers are particularly far from the geographical position of those who exploit them , there could indeed be significant slowdowns in the use of the Internet. Is this clear? Well, let’s move on and move on to discovering the best free VPN services together.
Best free VPN services
Before entering into the heart of the matter and giving you the list of what I think are the best free VPNs , let me warn you about a couple of things: first, exploiting VPNs of dubious origin can be risky, because the server same could record your traffic (it is able, being the tunnel configured inside it) for advertising or data analysis activities. Let’s be clear, the VPNs that you will find in this list do not (at least not at the time when I’m writing) profiling activities, but always read well, and carefully, the terms of service , which you can consult during registration.
Also, understand that using a VPN does not make it safe from the law, as there is no way to avoid leaving traces of your online activities. I want to emphasize this because many people mistakenly believe that using VPNs gives them permission to engage in illegal activities. I guarantee you that it is not so, since a crime remains a crime even from inside a tunnel, and the judicial authorities could – always with mandates and particular legal files – go back to the IP address of those who exploit a VPN, in the case of a investigation, and punish him severely. It therefore exploits this practical service with awareness, conscience, and in full respect of the law.
That said, keep reading the following to find out which are currently the best VPN services that you can take advantage of for free.
Opera VPN
Opera VPN is the best free VPN example: it is integrated directly into Opera, the famous browser for surfing the Internet (which I also mentioned in my tutorial on the best browsers). In reality, the service lacks structure as it does not guarantee optimal speeds and does not give you the choice to select the part of the world from which to simulate the connection.
Opera VPN is a service that allows you to easily mask your IP address while surfing the Internet, enabling you to access blocked sites in your country. However, it only protects browsing the Internet and only applies to sites visited through the browser.
Without this premise, it’s time to explain how to activate Opera VPN: if you use a Windows or MacOS , download the browser from this page by pressing the green button Download Now , open the file you just downloaded and, if you use Windows, presses the button Accept and Install , then click on the Yes button , while if you use macOS drag the Opera icon to the Applications folder of your Mac.
To enable VPN protection on Windows or macOS, open Opera, click the red O button, and enable the VPN in the Settings item. Return to browsing activity and deactivate the service. To use the Opera VPN app on Android or iOS systems, you can download it from Google Play or the App Store. Once downloaded, you can start the app, skip the entry, proceed to authorization, click OK, and then connect. The VPN allows you to change position in the mobile version. To disconnect, recall the notification area, tap the VPN connection banner, and press the Disconnect button.
Betternet
Although the malware detection service of this VPN is lacking, I still chose to include it among the best free VPNs because Betternet is completely free. Show a small advertisement before each connection and include in-app suggestions, but this is an acceptable exchange for free use of the service; also because the VPN offered by Betternet has no data limits, nor devices that can be used simultaneously, the connection speed is quite good, and there are several positions available to “simulate” a connection.
Betternet is available on Windows computers, as an extension for Google Chrome and Firefox browsers , as well as on Android and iOS platforms. To use the app, simply go to the download page for your operating system and click the blue button “Get The App.” If you are using Windows, download the file BetternetForWindowsxyz.exe and double click to start it. Follow the prompts to install the app.
To install the Google Chrome extension, connected to the Chrome Web Store and click on the Add and Add Extension buttons, while on Android and iOS you simply need to download the Betternet app from your smartphone / tablet store.
To take advantage of this VPN there is no need for registration and, as I have already explained to you, all you have to do to use it is to view a small advertisement at every connection. I recommend that you do not visit sites that are notoriously full of malware, and that you have a good antivirus while browsing through Betternet: as I told you, this VPN does not offer an effective malware detection service.
TunnelBear
TunnelBear is certainly one of the best VPN services in circulation, which guarantees anonymity and protection to those who decide to rely on it, and which can hide only the data related to surfing the Internet, taking advantage of the extensions for Google Chrome and Opera browsers , and the entire Internet traffic between the device and the server, taking advantage of programs for Windows or MacOS computers , and apps for Android and iOS .
To install TunnelBear on Windows or macOS, download the program, double-click on it, and follow the installation instructions. For macOS, drag the TunnelBear icon to the Applications folder and recall the program. For Google Chrome, add the extension from the Chrome Web Store page, and for Android and iOS, download it from the app store.
The VPN offered by TunnelBear has a completely free use mode, through which you can enjoy free 500 MB of VPN traffic per month, provided you make a simple registration from this page : enter a valid e-mail address and a password in the checkboxes, presses the Create Account button and follow the instructions that you will be sent via email to validate your registration. You can use the credentials obtained in the programs or apps I mentioned earlier.
In addition, if the data limit is tight or you decide to invest some money in your security, you can subscribe to the service by paying about $ 10 a month or $ 60 a year.
Avira Phantom VPN
Have you heard of the name Avira talking about antivirus for computers? Avira Phantom VPN, offered by the same manufacturer, provides extremely stable servers and the ability to use IP addresses for both navigation and access to Internet services in multiple countries around the world. The VPN solution is not causing confusion, you are.
Avira Phantom VPN is a program for Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS that protects browser activities, data traffic, and multiple devices simultaneously. To install, download the free VPN, wait for the file, and double-click.
Now, if your operating system is Windows, click on the green Accept and Install button, then on the Yes button, and wait for the installation of all the services to complete. Otherwise, if you are using macOS , drag the downloaded file to the Applications folder, then click on the Accept and Install button and wait for the installation to complete. The program will start automatically at the end of the procedure.
Avira Phantom VPN is among the best VPNs ever and allows you to take advantage of 500 MB of free traffic per month after a simple registration to Avira services (you must then enter the credentials in the programs or dedicated apps). As an alternative, it is possible to use the PRO version for free for one month, without limit of data, and then proceed with the subscription of a pay subscription at the price of € 7.95 / month.
WindScribe
Windscribe is a top-rated free VPN available on various platforms, including Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, BlackBerry, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Kodi, Amazon FireTV, Nvidia Shield, DD-WRT plugin, Tomato, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and SOCKS5. To use it, download the program, double-click on the icon, accept the license agreement, and finish the setup by pressing Next and Finish.
If you use macOS , after downloading Windscribe to your computer, simply drag the downloaded file to the Applications folder on your Mac and then start the program by double-clicking. As for Android and iOS, you do not have to do is install the app through the store of your device.
The free version of Windscribe allows you to take advantage of 10 GB of monthly traffic and connect from multiple devices simultaneously by pressing the blue button “Use For Free”. However, some locations have limitations on access, with only paid users being able to access them. This does not mean that, overall, the quality of the service is good and that the speed of navigation offered, despite the free nature of data traffic, is absolutely acceptable.
To eliminate traffic and location restrictions, you need to sign up for a Pro subscription, which is not that expensive: it costs $ 4.50 a month or $ 45 a year.
Hide Me
Hide Me is a free VPN service with servers in 22 countries, offering fast connections and global encryption. Available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, users can download the app by connecting to the appropriate download page, pressing the blue Download Now button, and installing it on Windows or macOS.
Like the solutions I proposed at the beginning, the free version of Hide Me offers 2 GB of monthly traffic after registration. It also ensures anonymity and security by not storing any activity logs of its users, thus guaranteeing the security of actions done via the VPN. To unlock the data limit, you can subscribe to the service at a price starting at $ 4.99 a month, directly from this page.
Did you see? Not only have you easily learned what a VPN is and what you need, but now you are able to move securely between the various free VPN services and choose the one that suits you best. How do you say? Now that you understand what it is, do you think that using a VPN is too much for your purposes since you simply need to access blocked Internet sites while you surf? Then I invite you to consult my tutorial on how to hide IP, in which you can find solutions that are more suitable for your purpose.
