There’s not much to it for a casual user: you install the app, log in, press “Quick Connect,” and that’s it — your connections are encrypted. But there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes.

Once your device connects to a VPN service, it authenticates your client with a VPN server, which uses encryption to secure the information you send and receive. It then creates an encrypted tunnel for your data to pass. No one can get inside that tunnel – it’s safe from hackers, your ISP, and network administrators.

Using a virtual private network is legal in most countries. A few have banned them altogether, and some have strict laws in place to regulate how VPNs are used. These laws are usually there to ensure the government can track its citizens’ actions online, but the best VPN service providers can bypass these restrictions.

If you plan to travel to a country with government censorship and wish to keep your connection with home, we suggest downloading the NordVPN app and getting your subscription before you set off.

You should consider a few factors when choosing a VPN — speed and security are the most important ones. Check what protocols the VPN provider offers and how many servers it has. The more servers there are, the faster your connections will be. Pay attention to their locations as well – your device will connect faster to a server that’s closer, so a large selection of countries is essential.

When it comes to security, you should once again pay attention to the VPN protocols the provider offers – some are faster, while others are safer. Next, make sure they use modern encryption algorithms to protect your data. Additional security features are also important since they help you protect your online privacy – look for a kill-switch, double VPN, and obfuscated servers. And lastly, always opt for a provider that has a zero-logs policy.

No. Using free VPNs is the same as giving your information away to a stranger online. Free virtual private network providers have to maintain an infrastructure to keep their service running, so they need to make money somehow. Since you’re not paying for their service, they may collect your data and sell it to advertisers, use your device as an exit node for paying users, or even add your computer to a botnet network. It will also most likely won’t work well – the connection is usually unstable and slow, internet data is left unencrypted, and your IP address and location aren’t sufficiently hidden.

The best VPN providers with zero-knowledge architecture will respect your privacy and protect your data. So instead of risking your data, find a reliable VPN service. Still not sure? You can try NordVPN risk-free with our 30-day money-back guarantee.