A virtual private network, or VPN, is a powerful device for anyone concerned about their online security and privacy. It operates by connecting your device to a server, that then relays your data to the site you wish to visit. This process makes it difficult for hackers to steal data and also helps stop snooping by the government or other entities.
However, free vpn services come with a variety of disadvantages that need to be considered prior to using one. These concerns range from inadequate security protocols, data caps and slow connection speeds. Additionally, free vpn services often use ads that are intrusive to make money, and may expose official website users to malware.
In some cases the free vpn service may keep logs of your online activity and sell this information to third party. This could compromise your data and privacy.
Free vpn services also tend to restrict the number of servers you can connect to, which can be problematic if you need to bypass geo-restrictions. Some countries still consider VPNs illegal, therefore using one of these free services could land you in legal trouble.
Free vpn services usually have data limits that are designed to help users upgrade to the paid version. This can be frustrating particularly if you utilize your VPN often. The data plan you have will quickly expire. VPN connections can also use more bandwidth and data than unprotected Internet connection since your data will be sent through the VPN server.
