Download the fastest VPN app for your device

A VPN app encrypts your online traffic and routes it through a VPN server, shielding your internet activity from prying eyes. This encrypted connection is often called the “VPN tunnel” because it resembles digging a secure pathway through the open internet. While connecting to VPN servers is the primary function of VPN apps, some may also feature additional security tools, like anti-phishing protection or malware scanning functionality.

Some VPN providers offer VPN protection for free. However, free virtual private networks 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 may also not work well — the VPN connection may be unstable and slow, and your online traffic may be left poorly encrypted or unencrypted at all.

The best VPN providers with zero-knowledge architecture will respect your right to confidentiality and keep your data secure. So instead of risking your data, find a reliable VPN company.

Using a virtual private network is legal in most countries, including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States. A few have banned them altogether, and some have strict laws in place to regulate how VPN clients are used. If you plan to travel to a country with government censorship and wish to keep your link to home, we suggest downloading the NordVPN app and getting your subscription before you set off.

Getting started with NordVPN will take only a few minutes:

• Pick the subscription plan that suits you best and sign up for your account.

• Download a VPN app to your device.

• Open the app, log in, and click “Quick Connect.”

That’s it, you’re all set up. If you need help, check out our tutorials on how to install NordVPN on all your devices.

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 a lot more is going on behind the scenes.

1. 1.

   Your device connects to your VPN.

2. 2.

   The VPN authenticates your client with a VPN server.

3. 3.

   The VPN client encrypts the data you send.

4. 4.

   The VPN server creates a secure encrypted tunnel for your data to travel through.

5. 5.

   Once the data arrives at the server, it decrypts it and sends it to your desired destination.

Speed and security are the most important factors when choosing a VPN. Check what protocols the VPN provider offers and how many servers it has — with more servers, the VPN will be able to distribute server loads better. Connecting to VPN servers close to your physical location gives you best connection speeds, 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 the VPN encrypts your online traffic with advanced algorithms. 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.

There are, but not many — the benefits usually outweigh the drawbacks.

The main drawback of using a VPN is a slower internet connection. After all, your online traffic has to first go to a VPN server before traveling to your desired website. This little detour naturally takes at least some time. That’s why you have to look for a VPN that offers the best speeds. For example, if you choose NordVPN’s NordLynx protocol, you’ll hardly notice any difference at all — it’s one of the fastest on the market.