Some free VPN providers might seem appealing, however others aren’t. They use unethical business practices to generate income and compromise your digital security, like selling your data or bombarding you with ads. Many free VPNs are located in unsavory jurisdictions that can be difficult to regulate and identify untrustworthy operators.
Free VPNs often bombard you with shady ads that eat up your data and slow your connection. This is a method for them to make money and offset the costs of their servers and services. It can be a hassle but it’s even worse if you are using a VPN for business. A slow internet can negatively affect productivity.
Many free VPNs sell your personal data to advertising firms and inject spyware in order to track your activities and send you targeted advertising [*]. This can lead malware or phishing and create other security risks. One example is when the free VPN Hola was used to create a botnet that attacked 8chan.
Paid VPNs have a paying user base that enables them to invest in improving the quality of their servers, feature development, and privacy and security on the internet. They also have a better reputation which can help avoid shady operators and trust a company that takes its clients security seriously. A reliable VPN provider will offer affordable plans with advanced features and secure encryption protocols. They also offer solid customer service.