Surfshark VPN : Award-winning VPN service

[jasonX]

 

Surfshark Alert launches the ability to monitor your ID safety in 90+ countries

 

Surfshark's Alert feature just got a boost! From now on, you can use it to monitor the security of your ID in not 10, not 20, but more than 90 countries! Let’s get to it.

What is Surfshark Alert?
Surfshark Alert is our product that helps you protect your email addresses, credit cards, and personal identification numbers by monitoring their appearance online.

Numerous websites suffer security breaches daily, resulting in sensitive data leaks. This data can include user passwords, email addresses, credit card numbers, and other details provided during registration. 

Such breaches can lead to identity theft, financial loss, and privacy invasions. It’s crucial to stay vigilant about your information security, and that’s where Alert steps in. It scans the web for breaches and informs you so you can take action immediately.

What did we change?
Previously, Surfshark Alert provided security monitoring for identification documents from just three countries (USA, Bulgaria, & Lithuania).

Now, we’re widening our scope and offering ID protection to 90+ countries. This means that more of our users can closely watch their IDs for any signs of unauthorized access or misuse. 

Why should you try Alert?
Because we give our data away by registering and using online services. And their databases can be breached. Surfshark Alert will monitor all the data you give out. You can monitor the security of your:
 

• Email addresses — to prevent illegal access to your accounts and check if any of your passwords or other data got leaked;
  Credit cards — to protect yourself from criminals exploiting your cards with fraudulent transactions;
  IDs (personal numbers, SSNs, and national IDs) — to avoid identity thieves using your personal info for phishing, impersonation, or identity theft. 
  

And that’s not all. With just one account, you can add an unlimited number of details. This means you can cover your relatives, too! How to start using Alert? Visit the link below and checkout what Surfshark Alert offers you!
 

Surfshark Alert launches the ability to monitor your ID safety in 90+ countries

 

 

 

GET Surfshark Alert HERE!!!

[jasonX]

 

How to secure your email: 8 tips to keep your inbox safe

 

Email has really gone a long way since it's inception! 
From communication at work to online registrations and family catch-ups, email plays a big role in our daily lives. As a result, a lot of sensitive data is shared via email. This may include proprietary business information, financial statements, medical records, and details about your personal life.

Thus, protecting your email accounts is crucial if you want to keep all sensitive data private. Follow along for tips on how to protect your email and identify the signs that it may have been compromised. 
 

How do I know if my email has been hacked?

To properly protect your email, it’s vital to recognize the signs of a hacked account. Here are some of them:
 

• Password resets: unexpected password reset emails or notifications are often an indication that someone attempted to hijack your email or linked accounts. 
  
  
• Inability to log in: if your usual password doesn’t work, chances are it has been changed to lock you out. 
  
• Unusual emails in sent folder: regularly check your sent folder for unfamiliar emails. Your account might have been used to send spam or malicious emails.
  
  
• Complaints from contacts: if friends, family, and contacts report receiving weird or spammy emails from your address, it’s highly likely that your account is compromised. 
  
  
• Changes in settings: changes to email settings, such as new forwarding rules, different recovery options, and disabled 2FA (two-factor authentication), are common tactics used by malicious actors to cover their tracks.
  
  
• Login alerts: security notifications about logins from locations or devices you don’t recognize are warning signs of an intruder in your inbox. 
  
  
• Strange IPs: check your email’s activity log for unfamiliar IP addresses and locations. These are red flags suggesting that someone might be accessing your account without permission. 
  

 

Tips on how to protect your email from spammers and hackers

There are practical measures you can take to protect your email. Let’s go over a few: 
 

• Use a strong original password
  
  This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s one that many people neglect: a strong, unique password is your first line of defense against malicious threats. 
  
  A good password should be hard to guess and tough to crack. Refrain from using clichés like “abc123,” “password,” and “qwerty.” Instead, your password should be a longer mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. 
  
  Don’t recycle the same password for all your accounts, either. While it may be more convenient, it’s unwise. If someone gets hold of your password, they could use it to access all your accounts. This includes your email, which could be used to reset passwords for your other services. 
  
  
• Enable two-factor authentication
  
  Most email providers, including Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and Outlook, offer two-step verification to enhance account security. When enabled, you must verify your identity using more than just your email address and password during login. 
  
  Common 2FA methods include:
   
  • - Security codes sent to your phone via calls or text messages;
    - Codes generated by authenticator apps like Google Authenticator;
    - Verification codes sent to alternate email addresses. 
    - Some providers also allow physical security keys, while others support biometric verification. For instance, Apple Mail lets you use Face ID or Touch ID for authentication. 
    
  
  This extra layer of security means that even if someone has your password, they can’t access your account without clearing the second verification step. 
  
  
• Regularly run software updates
  
  Make sure that you’re running the latest versions of your operating system and email app. Regular software updates are essential as they patch security flaws that could be exploited. If not addressed, these vulnerabilities could be used to access your private data or hijack your email. 
  
  Software updates also typically introduce new security measures or improvements to existing ones to protect against the latest threats. Plus, they modify or get rid of the older features that might be vulnerable to attacks.  
  
  
• Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when checking your email
  
  A premium VPN like Surfshark enhances your email security by encrypting all the data you send and receive. Once encrypted, any sensitive information in your emails — whether it’s trade secret, private chat, or hotel booking — turns into complete gibberish to anyone who might attempt to intercept your data. 
  
  
• Block spam and unauthorized senders
  
  Spam emails aren’t just a nuisance but are also downright dangerous. They often contain malicious links or attachments that can infect your device with malware, such as viruses, Trojans, or ransomware.
  
  To keep your email safe, set up a spam filter and swiftly block any suspicious senders to ensure you don’t accidentally interact with harmful content. Most email clients have a “report spam” feature that you can use to inform your email provider about potential spam, protecting yourself and others by doing so.
  
  
• Keep an eye out for phishing attacks
  
  Phishing emails usually impersonate well-known brands and companies to trick you into sharing sensitive information like passwords and bank details. They might even try to get you to transfer money or install malicious software. 
  
  Look out for signs of phishing, such as urgent or threatening language, sloppy grammar and spelling, and offers that seem too good to be true. Be sure to examine the sender’s email address, too. Phishers often use domain names that closely resemble those of legitimate companies. 
  
  Like spam, you should quickly report and block phishing emails. If in doubt, verify the sender’s identity by contacting the company directly using contact details from their official website.
  
  
• Protect your real email address with aliases
  
  Sharing your email address might seem harmless, but it can reveal significant details such as your full name, workplace, and location. Using an email alias helps shield this personal information. 
  
  An alias works just like a forwarding address — emails sent to it are redirected to your main inbox, keeping your real email address hidden. This means you don’t have to give away your actual email address when signing up for online platforms, discounts, newsletters, and other services. 
  
  You can also ditch the alias if it receives too many spam and phishing emails or if it’s compromised. Your main account remains unaffected and you don’t lose any vital emails.
  
  To make this even easier, Surfshark offers Alternative ID with all its plans. This feature allows you to create alternative emails complete with personas, including an alternative name, last name, and even address. The best part about it — you can create it all in a matter of seconds. No need to set up new accounts in detail every time.
  
  
• Avoid checking your email on public Wi-Fi
  
  Public Wi-Fi at malls, airports, and hotels might be convenient, but it’s far from secure. These networks often don’t have the necessary protection, leaving your personal information, including emails, vulnerable to hackers. 
  
  Checking your email while on public Wi-Fi means that you risk exposing both your email contents and login details to cybercriminals. If they gain access and take over your account, they can misuse it to launch attacks, spam, or engage in other malicious activities.  
  
  To protect your email, always use a VPN when you’re checking your account on public Wi-Fi. A VPN encrypts all traffic to and from your device, keeping your email account and content private.
  
  Everyone should be informed so we are always protected. Choosing to ignore the signs is foolish. Read on the Surfshark Blog link below to get the full information.
  

 

How to secure your email: 8 tips to keep your inbox safe

 

GET Surfshark HERE!!!

[jasonX]

 

Surfshark Apps Version Changes

Surfshark for Windows Surfshark 5.8.2, 2024-07-02

What’s new:
 

• We updated our Kill Switch and resolved internet connectivity issues related to it.
  
• We uplifted our Antivirus scan window so you can now access all other features while scanning your device.
  
• We worked on finding bugs for app installation, performance, and connectivity issues and implemented the necessary fixes. 
  

Surfshark for Android version 3.8.2 2024-07-02

What’s new:
 

• This release includes Alternative Number improvements and a few minor bug fixes to better your Surfshark experience.
  

Surfshark for macOS version 4.14.0 May 6, 2024
 

• This time we focused on your experience. We slightly improved app performance & implemented some minor visual fixes.
  

Surfshark for iOS version 3.18.2 Jul 1, 2024
 

• This time we focused on your experience. We slightly improved app performance & implemented some minor visual fixes.
  

Note: 

(from Surfshark CS)
For the extensions, users can find the changes/updates in the 'Extension' store for that specific browser. As for the Apple TV, Fire TV, and Linux, Surfshark does not have any changelogs for them.
 

GET Surfshark HERE!!!

[jasonX]

 

 

SURFSHARK PLANS

 

What plans does Surfshark offer?

 

Surfshark offers three plans — Starter, One, and One+. Each provides a secure VPN service and a different number of additional online safety products and features.

 

Surfshark Starter

Surfshark Starter offers essential features that help you increase your privacy and security online — VPN and Alternative ID.

VPN changes your IP address, so you can hide your location, surf the web with no browsing trace, and protect your data on public Wi-Fi.

Surfshark VPN has 3200+ RAM-only servers in 100+ countries and provides unlimited simultaneous connections for all your devices. With Surfshark, you can encrypt your data twice with Dynamic MultiHop — our double VPN feature — and choose specific apps and websites to bypass the VPN with Bypasser — our version of split tunneling. Surfshark VPN also provides an ad blocker and cookie pop-up blocker, and doesn’t track what you do online.

With Alternative ID, you can generate new personal details and an email to use for online registrations or on websites you don’t trust. This will help you avoid getting scammed or spammed.

If you subscribe to the Starter plan for 24 months, it will cost you $2.19 USD per month. 12 months of this plan costs 2.79 USD per month. If you choose the monthly plan, the price would be 15.45 USD per month.


 

Surfshark One

Surfshark One provides everything the Starter plan does (VPN and Alternative ID), and includes additional products like i. Surfshark Antivirus, ii. Surfshark Alert, and iii. Surfshark Search.

Antivirus continually scans your devices and protects them in real-time from viruses, malware, and spyware. Antivirus also has Webcam Protection, which allows you to control which apps can access your webcam.

You also get Alert, a data monitoring tool that notifies you if any of your added emails, passwords, IDs, or credit card information gets leaked online. We now monitor 90 countries’ IDs.

Another product that comes with this plan is a private search engine Search. With it, you can browse in your chosen region ad-free and get organic search results unaffected by your past searches.

Subscribing to Surfshark One for 24 months will cost you 2.69 USD per month. 2 months of this plan costs 3.19 USD per month. If you’re not ready to commit to a 2- or 1-year plan, get the monthly one for 15.95 USD per month.


 

Surfshark One+

Surfshark One+ is the ultimate cybersecurity bundle. You get all the features from the Surfshark One plan, plus another Surfshark product — Incogni.

Incogni is a service that contacts data brokers on your behalf and asks for your personal data to be removed from their databases. It allows you to sit back and watch the updates as your personal data like name, address, contact details, and other information, is being removed from databases and search sites.

What otherwise would take you hundreds of hours of manually requesting data removal from various databases, with Incogni, it only takes a few minutes! Quickly register for the service and let Incogni do the rest.

Getting Surfshark One+ for 24 months would cost you 4.29 USD per month. Subscribing for 12 months costs 5.09 USD per month. If you’re considering trying it out for one month, the price would be 17.95 USD.

 

 

GET Surfshark HERE!!!

[jasonX]

 

 

 

Alternative ID


Alternative ID is a Surfshark product that generates a brand-new online identity and an alternative email address. You give us the details about the identity you want us to create — we produce a new profile with an email address, keeping your true identity under wraps. 

 

 

Have you experienced the need to sign up for a newsletter but don’t want to give your email? Most often you (as a wary individual) don’t want your data on many websites in case they get breached? This is where 'Alternative ID' comes in as a solution!

Formerly, Alternative ID has only been included in the Surfshark One and Surfshark One+ bundles. But from now on, it’s available on all bundles (Starting with the 'Surfshark Starter bundle) for new and existing users! Every 'Starter' bundle user can now protect their personal information with Alternative ID. Users can now avail of 'Alternative ID' when registering for websites, and set it to forward messages to your primary email address. If it gets too spammy, simply create a new alternative email for a fresh start.

 

Introducing Alternative ID (Privacy Beyond VPN!)

With Alternative ID, you can keep up to three (3) different alternative email addresses, but there is no limit to the number of online personas you can generate. And best of all — this is now included in your subscription for free. 
 

Surfshark launches Alternative ID

What is Alternative ID?

How to set up Alternative ID

How to use the Surfshark Alternative ID auto-fill function

How to edit Alternative ID

Alternative ID is now included in the Starter bundle

Product Site

 

Alternative Number

 

Introducing Alternative ID and Alt Number

 

Take your 'Alternative ID' to the next level by purchasing a separate virtual phone number, available in addition to any Surfshark plan. In comes 'Alternative Number!'

 

Generate a virtual phone number
Create an alternative phone number for online accounts and listings. Mask your real number from unwanted eyes.

Get better deals without the spam
Register for discounts using your alternative number. Keep your phone number spam-free.

Don’t give your phone number to strangers
Put your privacy first. Mask your real number to minimize data sharing, robocalls, smishing, and identity theft.


What is Alternative Number?
Surfshark's Alternative Number is a new product that generates a virtual phone number that you can use to mask your regular phone number from online threats. It allows you to receive messages and calls to the Surfshark app without sharing your personal data.


What are the benefits of Alternative Number?
There are risks of using your personal phone number since it can be added to databases and leaked, which then exposes you to SPAM, Scam and other dangers. With Alternative Number, you can avoid exposing your phone number. Alternative Number can be used globally, although only USA numbers are available at the moment.

Note:
Alternative Number is sold separately from Alternative ID (not a part of Surfshark Starter bundle) and can be used exclusively to receive calls and messages. Only USA numbers are available at the moment. Does not support verification codes.
 

What is Alternative Number?

How to set up Alternative Number

How to use Alternative Number

 

Surfshark PLANS can be seen HERE

GET Surfshark HERE!!!

[jasonX]

 

Surfshark One annual plan changes August 2024

 

Surfshark has announced a new pricing plan for Surfshark One starting August 8, 2024. 


Surfshark One annual plan will change to $3.39 per month, totaling $50.85 annually from the previous $3.19 per month. 


The NEW DISCOUNT will be 79% off + 3 months free from the previous 80% off + 3 months free. 

 

Surfshark Home Page HERE

 

[jasonX]

Twitter to be banned in the UK?

 

We all know and experienced since the Twitter takeovere that it's owner, Elon Musk is and continous to be vocal about certain aspects of his takeover and how his "X" is well to be considered apart from the old Twitter. There has been news of Twitter / X being banned in the U.K. because of Musk's recent tirand on the U.K. governement. Read on below for aditional info. 

Could Twitter be banned in the UK?

Elon Musk has been criticised for his handling of disinformation on Twitter / X as he clashes with Keir Starmer over far-right riots which have gripped parts of the UK.

The US businessman, who bought the social media platform in 2022, launched a tirade of posts in which he mocked and criticised the UK prime minister. Following a statement from the Labour leader criticising the attacks on Muslim communities, Musk questioned why “all communities” should not be protected.

He later reposted this comment, alongside several memes which depict the UK’s criminal justice system as racially biased, as well as calling the Labour leader “#twotierkeir.” This echoes a far-right talking point which alleges that policing in the UK is more severe towards right-wing people.

Source: Independent



X Faces Potential UK Sanctions Over Musk’s Protest Comments

On the day same day as X has launched legal action against the World Federation of Advertisers for advising industry members not to advertise on X, due to brand safety concerns, Musk is also facing sanctions in the U.K. over his incendiary posts about ongoing tensions in the country.

Over the past week, a series of riots have ensued in the U.K., sparked by far-right groups who are protesting the country’s current stance on immigration. More than 400 people have been arrested and hundreds of charges have been laid thus far.

This post has been widely criticized in the U.K., while Musk has continued to criticize the British government, both for its policies and its policing of the unrest.

Source: Social Media Today


If the ban really happens, Surfshark VPN is ready and will provide help to millions of it's subscribers like what happened in the 'X" ban in Brazil HERE


 

Stay safe on Twitter (X) in 2024 — use a VPN

 

PERTINENT LINKS

 

Surfshark VPN Product SITE

Surfshark Pricing HERE

[jasonX]

 

Surfshark's Internet shutdown tracker

 

Internet shutdown tracker

Undemocratic governments can disrupt their countries’ network connection and social media access as a means to silence the public in times of political unrest. The Internet Shutdown Tracker unmasks the countries guilty of taking these measures according to internet watchdog NetBlocks and other media and NGO reports. The study includes cases that occurred from 2015 onwards.

 

 

Surfshark's Internet shutdown tracker

 

PERTINENT LINKS

 

Surfshark VPN Product SITE

Surfshark Pricing HERE

[jasonX]

 

Surfshark updates August 2024

 

A bit late here but news nonetheless of Surfshark. So here we go!
 

• Alternative Number and Alternative Number
  
  We recently announced here in post#35 about 'Alternative ID', a product that generates an online name, email, and address, is included in all Surfshark subscriptions free of charge. 
  
  Alternative ID now offers auto-fill function
  Filling forms isn't a thing all of us enjoy, yes? So Surfshark incorporated an new 'auto-fill' function to ease things up for all users! For those using our Chrome extension, activating this feature is very straightforward. Just look for the clickable Surfshark logo icon in the form entry field and click it! 
  
  Post#35 also delved into another update which is — Alternative Number.
  
  This phone number protection add-on generates a virtual phone number to mask your real one from online threats. Use it anytime you need to give out your number but want to keep it spam-free. Let it noted that 'Alternative Number' is sold separately from Alternative ID and can be used exclusively to receive calls and messages. Only USA numbers are available at the moment.
  
  
  
  
• Release of a native Windows ARM app
  
  Surfshark launched a new app for ARM-based computers, including devices like Microsoft Surface laptops, Samsung Galaxy Books, and more. Whether you own one of these devices or are operating a virtual machine on your macOS, you can now enjoy the native performance of Surfshark directly on your device.
  
  
  
  
• Alert now monitors even more data
  We’ve enhanced our data leak detection tool, Alert, to now include monitoring for malware attacks. This means that if your email address is compromised due to malware on your device, Alert will promptly notify you.
  
  
  
  
• Surfshar partners with Shark Trust
  
  Our commitment to environmental causes goes beyond the waves. We actively participate in global initiatives and local engagements to support a sustainable future. Last July, for Shark Awareness Day, Surfshark has partnered with the Shark Trust for the second year in a row. We aim to express our gratitude to these magnificent creatures and highlight their crucial role in our marine ecosystems. Check out this article for more details on our Shark Awareness Day initiative.
  
  So there it is! A bit late here but news nonetheless! Cheers!
  
   
  
  New Alert feature, Alternative Number, Apple TV update | Surfshark Updates August
   
  
  Surfshark VPN on Windows (2024 Tutorial)
   
  
  Surfshark VPN on Android (2024 Tutorial)
  
  
   
  
  Surfshark updates: August 2024
   
  
  PERTINENT LINKS
   
  
  Surfshark VPN Product SITE
  
  Surfshark Pricing HERE
  
  
  
  
  Content lifted from Surfshark Blog with permission
  
  

[jasonX]

 

What are the different types of VPNs

 

In this day and age of internet crime and all, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a necessity because it creates a secure connection between your device and the internet, allowing you to protect your privacy and improve online security. You may already be using one, but do you know what type of VPN it is? You may have got one because it is needed for work (or for your own reasons) but most of time time like any products, shoes, t-shirts, etc., we always go for the brand. But here, Ms. Emma Pennell of Surfshark shares us in-depth insights to the different kinds of VPNs. 


 

VPN TYPES: HOW DO THEY WORK?

VPN types are not the same as VPN providers. If we compare VPNs to cars, the VPN type would be like a type of car: hatchback, sedan, SUV, and so on. They differ in implementation and function. VPN providers, then, would be like car manufacturers: your car may come from Toyota, Ford, or Mercedes-Benz, while your VPN may be provided by Surfshark, Nord Security, or some other company. Our tech specialists up to the CTO level say there is no set-in-stone way of sorting VPN types and no SI-system-approved table. But everyone still does it anyway, so here’s our take:
 

 

• Remote access VPNs
  
  A remote access VPN allows a user (you) to establish a secure connection to a network remotely. The most likely application of this is in a business setting to access your work network from home. 
  
  How do remote access VPNs work?
  
  With a remote-access VPN, you will have a VPN client (app) installed on your device. This client establishes a secure VPN tunnel to the VPN server. Any data passing between the client and remote private network is encrypted, so it’s hidden from observation even when you use regular public internet to maintain the connection.
  
  What does this mean?
  
  For businesses, this means allowing your data, files, and other resources to be accessed remotely and kept safe.
  
  For individuals, this also means keeping your data safe. Many commercial types of VPNs operate the same way. You, the user, connect to a VPN server, which allows you to access their network — the internet.
  
  As a result, you get benefits like:
  
  Websites and services see the server’s IP address and consider the server’s location yours; Firewalls and other blocking mechanisms see that you’re connecting to the VPN server, not YouTube or Roblox, so they let the connection go through.
  
  
  
  
• Site-to-site VPNs
  
  Sometimes this type of VPN is referred to as 'router-to-router VPNs', connect two or more remote private networks.
  
  A site-to-site VPN is usually used by organizations to connect different branches or locations to one big private network. For example, a company office in Kiribati connects to the office in Warsaw. This is called an intranet-based site-to-site VPN.
  
  In an extranet-based site-to-site VPN, one company could allow another to access only specific data needed for their partnership.
  
  Site-to-site VPNs are complex to set up, so they’re used mainly by large businesses.
  
  How do site-to-site VPNs work?
  
  A site-to-site VPN often uses routers to connect the private networks of two organizations. One router acts like the client, and the other like the server the client connects to. This is more complicated than the remote access model, where the client is simply a phone or computer app.
  
  Alert now monitors even more data
  We’ve enhanced our data leak detection tool, Alert, to now include monitoring for malware attacks. This means that if your email address is compromised due to malware on your device, Alert will promptly notify you.
  
  
  
  
• Personal VPNs
  
  A personal VPN is a VPN you, the user, set up to securely access your home network. Say you want to use your printer at home for some remote printing. This could be accomplished via a secure personal VPN connection — you set up the server at home, connect to it from somewhere else, and you can securely access the devices at your home.
  
  On the other hand, you can call consumer VPN services like Surfshark personal VPNs because they’re meant to be used by individual customers — personally. A residential VPN that uses the IP addresses of other users across the globe could also be considered a personal VPN.
  
  When looking for the best personal VPN, it’s important to consider factors like ease of use, encryption standards, and server network size.
  
  How do personal VPNs work?
  
  You, the user, download the VPN app and connect to your chosen server. And that’s it — your work is done. The server and the client on your device handle all the data encryption and decryption. 
  
  So, the function of a personal access VPN is similar to that of a remote access one. The difference is that a remote access VPN opens up into a relatively small corporate network, while a personal VPN goes out into the internet.
  
  
  
  
• Mobile VPNs
  
  If you’re accessing the World Wide Web (www.) on your phone, you may also want to use a VPN. Mobile VPN is a virtual private network that works on your phone. It is very helpful when traveling, connecting to unreliable free Wi-Fi hotspots, and getting past restrictive local firewalls that bar access to certain websites.
  
  How do mobile VPNs work?
  
  Mobile VPNs exist mainly in Android and iOS varieties. Both systems have their own built-in VPN support. But for the best mobile VPN experience, you want to get a commercial VPN with client apps compatible with your phone. That will be practically all of them, including Surfshark. 
  
  
  
  
• Cloud VPNs
  
  A cloud VPN allows you to securely access cloud-based environments. For example, if a business’s resources, data, and applications are stored in the cloud, you can securely access them with a cloud VPN connection via an app or a website.
  
  The advantages of cloud VPNs are that they’re not limited to specific locations, and the secure and encrypted connection can be rapidly deployed and accessed globally.
  
  How do cloud VPNs work?
  
  Cloud VPNs are usually hosted and managed by cloud providers. They work just like traditional VPNs, creating secure encrypted tunnels between networks, using the same security and encryption protocols — only in the cloud rather than physical infrastructure.
  
  
  
• Double VPNs
  
  Double VPN is a VPN security feature rather than a VPN type. However, it is worth the mention. Instead of routing your internet traffic through one VPN server, Double VPN routes it through two. By encrypting your data twice, it doubles your privacy and online security.
  
  How do Double VPNs work?
  
  This VPN setup configuration encrypts and routes your data via one remote VPN server. Then, it sends the data through a second VPN server and re-encrypts it, making your connection safer and more private. Some VPN providers even let you manually select the entry and exit servers — like Surfhark’s Dynamic MultiHop.
  

 

WHICH VPN TYPE IS BEST FOR YOUR BUSINESS VS. YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS?

Now that we’ve looked into the different types of VPNs, let’s see which one is better for business and which one for personal needs:

 

 

CLASSIFYING VPNs BY PRICE

Consumer-grade VPNs, like Surfshark or any other VPN provider you might use, are mostly classed by price. This type of VPN can combine some of the features described in the previous sections, depending on what service they try to provide. The only big difference, however, exists between paid VPNs — basically any VPN that charges a subscription fee — and free VPNs. On the other hand, the choice may not be so obvious to the consumer. While not paying for a VPN service may seem appealing, the truth is that free VPNs are worse than paid ones in every way. When it comes to functionality, such as the number of servers, server locations, speed, whether or not speed limits exist, the app’s usability, platforms supported, and so on, paid VPNs always win.

 

 

UNDERSTANDING VPN PROTOCOL TYPES

No matter what type of VPN you use, they all rely on a VPN protocol. If we continue with the car metaphor, a VPN protocol would be like the car’s engine — it’s what makes it work. And just like with engines, several VPN protocols were developed, improved, superseded by others, and declared obsolete.
 

• IPSec (Internet Protocol Security). 
  
  IPSec, very technically speaking, is not a VPN protocol by itself. It can create a secure tunnel that a VPN needs to work, but it can’t establish secure communication. That’s why IPSec/IKEv2 is more popular: IPSec does the tunneling, and IKEv2 sets the groundwork for establishing it.
  
  
  
• L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol). 
  
  L2TP isn’t the newest protocol, but it isn’t the oldest, either. It is a tunneling protocol that generates a secure tunnel between two L2TP connection points. It is often combined with IPSec security protocol to encrypt the sent data and establish a secure VPN connection.
  
  
  
• PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol). 
  
  PPTP was developed with the cooperation of several companies, including Microsoft. As such, PPTP was bundled with Windows as part of the native VPN capability. However, multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered over the years, making PPTP fairly easy to crack.
  
  
  
• SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security).
  
  SSL and TLS aren’t exactly VPN protocols. They are certain types of encryption used to secure your everyday internet use — that’s what puts the S in the HTTPS bit you see when entering a web address. So, you don’t really get to choose whether to use them.
  
  
  
• SSH (Secure Shell). 
  
  SSH is very close to what you could consider a VPN protocol. It operates on similar principles, with one key difference: it only protects one connection to a specific target, while a VPN can encrypt all your traffic.
  
  
  
• OpenVPN. 
  
  OpenVPN is an open-source VPN protocol, one of the mainstays of the VPN protocol business. It has been relentlessly tested over years of use in all sorts of settings. It may not be the freshest design ever, but it is reliable, which counts for a lot.
  
  
  
• WireGuard. 
  
  WireGuard is one of the newest VPN protocols out there. It’s faster and smoother than others, even OpenVPN. Over the past few years, it has steadily claimed more and more space in the consumer VPN market.
  

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