Additionally, VPNs are compatible with all internet-related apps, offering comprehensive privacy across your device. Unlike proxies, top VPNs encrypt all device traffic and route it through a private server, helping safeguard your internet activity from prying eyes. And even if a VPN extension provides encryption, that encryption will be limited to your web browser, rather than your total internet traffic. The problem is that proxies lack the encryption and security benefits that make VPNs valuable. But a proxy acts as a filter, allowing you to access websites without sharing your true IP address. When you access a website, your browser sends data containing your IP address, revealing information about you. Although a VPN extension hides your IP address for that specific app, it likely lacks the encryption and comprehensive protection VPNs offer. They’re not the same.Ī VPN limited to the Google Chrome browser is more like a proxy than a proper VPN. What’s the difference between a standard VPN and a VPN extension for Chrome?īefore we dive deeper into the problems with free VPNs, we need to understand the difference between standard VPNs and VPN extensions for Chrome. Companies that exist to enable privacy and security should be in a different business than selling the exact data they promise to protect. The truth is that many free VPNs make money by selling their users’ data. Put another way: How do free VPNs make money? So, when a VPN company offers free access to that network, you should always ask yourself: How can they afford to provide this service for free? Renting or owning server locations across multiple countries is a costly undertaking. VPN companies rely on heavy server power to maintain their network. Many free VPNs are problematic for the same foundational reason: a business model that does not support the prioritization of customer security. While it’s true that different free VPNs can pose slightly different threats, we can also generalize to a degree. In those articles, we’ve broken down the specific risks of VPNs across different web browsers and devices. This article is part of a series of posts we’ve created tackling the dangers of free VPNs. Why the words “free” and “VPN” should never mix In this article, we’ll explain how useing a free VPN extension for Chrome can be dangerous, discuss the key features you should look for in a trustworthy VPN, and break down a few tips for selecting the best VPN for your device. Then there’s the browser extension part of it all. Most free VPNs call themselves 100% secure in their marketing material while failing to deliver on their promise with any actual encryption or data protection. The truth is most free VPN extensions can be dangerous when it comes to your data and the health of your device. But it may come with more security risks than it is worth.

This article was originally published on BGR.A free VPN extension for Chrome sounds great at first. More from BGR: Huge sale drops price of Google Nexus 6P to under $400 Google says that YouTube ads are 80% more effective than TV ads

Google might build its own digital city of the future But if you'd rather stick with Chrome, Betternet is the way to go. If you're not happy with Chrome and unlimited free VPN appeals to you, definitely give Opera a try. It's not trying to turn a profit with this service, so it hopes to maintain the same model indefinitely. In a nutshell, Betternet offers an optional premium version and monetizes its mobile apps for iOS and Android, and that covers the company's operational costs. How is it possible that Betternet offers free VPN service while other companies charge for it? Check out this page on the company's site, which explains how it makes money.

You don't even have to register an account. So how does it work? Simply visit this link from your Chrome browser and install Betternet's Chrome extension. There are a few services that offer free VPN using a couple of different models, and our favorite among them is Betternet. And the best part is that it's not complicated or convoluted at all. Whether or not you want to guard your browsing with a VPN service all the time or only when the need arises, there's an easy way to add unlimited free VPN capabilities to Chrome. Of course, some people don't mind companies tracking them and for those people, VPN services aren't quite as essential most of the time. VPN services can completely hide your identity from companies that try to track you and prevent them from building the online profile they so desperately want. And no, the private browsing mode baked into your web browser isn't the same thing at all. In an age where your private browsing data is being hunted down by everyone from advertisers to hackers, VPN service is becoming more and more of a necessity.

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