Top 10 VPN Service providers which ensure that your browsing stays private an...

abgsedapmalam · Post time 19-3-2015 11:21 PM

BY MAYA KAMATH

Techworm brings you the top 10 VPN service providers who provide privacy and security

Virtual Private Network -VPN is a network technology which links the private network over internet using encryption methods. VPN is generally preferred by corporates, educational institutions, Government agencies and private citizens to facilitate easy access of remote users to secured private networks. VPN is economical as it is much cheaper when compared to private networks, it provides flexibility, not only that VPN users can maintain their anonymity as well as protect themselves from being snooped. VPN works on 4 protocols:

IP security (IPSec): IPSec utilizes two methods to encrypt its user’s data :a) transport mode or b) tunneling mode. Transport mode means encryption of message within the data packet also termed as Payload. Tunneling mode means encryption of the entire data packet.
Point-To-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP): This is the most widely used protocol; PPTP uses the tunneling method wherein PPTP stores data within the PPP packets which are further stored inside the IP packets which are transported to their destination.
Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP): It works on two major features: L2TP Access Concentrator (LAC) and L2TP Network Server (LNS). LAC: this is a device which terminates the call and LNS: this authenticates the PPP packets as seen earlier in the PPTP.
Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) i.e. TSL/SSL: This method uses a combination of the authentication and encryption methods which leads to transportation of the data between the servers and client.

There are several VPN service providers which vary in the way the data is secured during its transit over the public network infrastructure. Out of the various VPN providers, Techworm brings you the Top 10 VPN service provide you with privacy and data security :

TorGuard:

No logs are monitored. In addition to a strict “no logging policy” TorGuard also provides second layer of data security with a shared IP configuration due to which it becomes next to impossible to trace the user’s IP address. TorGuard VPN has multiple Socks proxy servers and VPN’s around the world. The entire data is wrapped into single packet by encryption via tunnel method through secure servers and then this data is again connected to the BitTorrent cloud which gives it the second layer of insulation from being attacked. TorGuard currently maintains 1000+ servers in over 44 countries across the world and are in continuous expansion. TorGuard retains its control on all hardware though it seeks partnerships with data centers who can adhere to strict security criteria. All servers are arranged and managed exclusively by TorGuard’s in house networking team through a single, secure key. TorGuard advises its clients to use OpenVPN connections only and for encryption use AES256 with 2048bit RSA for better security. URL : bit.ly/torguardvpn

Mullvad

Logs are not monitored. Here again a second layer of data security is ensured by making users to share their IP addresses both for IPv4 and IPv6. Users are normally not monitored however only in case of extreme network abuse the basic tools are used to tackle such network exploitation. This service does not maintain any personal information of the user. It supports BitTorrent. Open VPN using Mullvad client program is the most secured VPN connection. Mullvad assigns a unique number to each downloaded program. This account number identifies user’s account which can be used to make payments and to enable the program to connect. Due to the unique number assigned it helps in the security of the data. URL : mullvad.net/en

IPVanish

This creates a secure environment for day to day web usage. Before user logs onto the net, it is essential to establish IPVanish VPN connection, which will convert entire online data into encrypted tunnel including emails, data transfers, online banking, instant messaging and all online browsing. The encrypted data cannot be intercepted by any third party including ISP (Internet Service Provider). It supports P2P traffic. It uses OpenVPN, L2TP, and PPTP Protocols for its operations. URL : bit.ly/ipvanis

LiquidVPN

Logs are not retained. LiquidVPN uses the ‘Modulating IP’ technology, wherein the user’s IP address is changed continuously making it very difficult to track the actions of user on internet. Added to this is the use of shared IPs, great encryption standards, and a very low starting price. For mitigation of network abuse the SNMP and Mikrotik Layer 7 firewall rules works at hardware level and Zabbix and OSSEC at host level. Their data centers are on short term lease across the world. URL : liquidvpn.com

BTGuard

This service is based on proxy service where the user is able to hide their true IP address from the rest of the world. This is a service specially built for the BitTorrrent users to protect their anonymity. BTGuard was just a basic proxy service that user would need to configure to avail the BitTorrent service however now BTGuard is becoming a handy tool with its easy to install software to protect their anonymity. BTGuard also has an encryption tunnel software for users who require special security for their data. BTGuard stores username, password and e-mail addresses however the IP addresses are never stored. URL : btguard.com

BolehVPN

It hides true location of the user by encrypting and encapsulating the entire data which passes through the VPN hence making it difficult for the snoopers or the third party to intercept or decode the internet traffic. Various features of BolehVPN can be listed as : it protects the user by masking the IP address, the data is encrypted throughout i.e. to and fro when it passes the VPN server, it accelerates the P2P, It also hides the true location of user due to which user appears to hail from a different location and last it also helps users to bypass certain corporate firewalls. It is based on Open VPN and SSL VPN. URL : bolehvpn.net

HideIPVPN

It is based on combination of PPTP, SSTP, L2TP, IPSec, OpenVPN and SmartDNS. It is compatible with a huge list of operating systems Windows, Mac, Linux, Routers etc. HideIPVPN offers a very high quality of anonymity to its users on the internet wherein user can access even the blocked websites, surf the web anonymously, hide the IP address and encrypt user’s data. HideIPVPN does not restrict access to any online sites or services. All data going out and coming in via VPN is encrypted, secured and it also hides IP address which means one can safely access secure websites without anyone intercepting the connections. The encrypted data is hidden from user’s ISP and network administrator too which means only user and the destination will be able to see what is being sent. SmartDNS service helps the user to access more than 35 online media services from around the world hence it is ideal for anyone who has limited cable access to TV channels, by using HideIPVPN user can change their DNS name and hence get easy access to the blocked TV / media servers. URL : hideipvpn.com

SlickVPN

An IP address acts as a digital signature which helps to detect the location of the user to any website or to the Internet Service Provider i.e. ISP. SlickVPN hides the true IP address of user by assigning them an anonymous one hence enabling user to hide their location from snoopers. If any user connects to SlickVPN, a connection will be created between user’s computer and our servers. SlickVPN encrypts any data transmissions or online activity so that user’s presence is anonymous; in addition the connection is also secured by SlickVPN so that the Internet activity, usernames, passwords, emails, instant messages, downloads, uploads, etc. are shielded from third party. URL : slickvpn.com

Unspyable

This uses an Off-Shore VPN service wherein VPN encrypts the entire internet connection and creates an encrypted tunnel between the user’s computer and the server chosen by user from the preferred list of servers. Now whenever user browses the internet, all the web sites which user visited would see the address of the remote server and not the real IP address of the user. Due to the encrypted tunnel between user and server, user’s IP address is now anonymous. Hence none of user’s information is available on the local network nor to the local ISP or to government censors and monitoring. For users who want a higher security Unspyable also offers the Multiple Hop VPN wherein just as in Off Shore VPN the data is made to pass through a multiple off shore hops / servers which is very difficult to crack. Major benefits of this VPN

rovide secure and private offshore email logs which is not saved or monitored, correspondence is secured using hot spots, Anonymity of IP address. URL : unspyable.com

NordVPN

This provides a great 256bit AES OpenVPN protection and there are PPTP and L2TP/IPSec connections available. As soon as user connects to the NordVPN a tunnel is created between user and the server and all the data in this route is encrypted. NordVPN is also one of the only VPNs to allow Tor over VPN and has a double-hop encryption system which cannot be cracked. Tor over VPN is an advanced privacy solution provided by NordVPN.

The basic principle here : User first connects to NordVPN server which then routes all traffic through a widely known Tor network. Here the data is encrypted within NordVPN layer at the initial stage and later sent to the Tor network. The Tor is more safer for privacy as the encrypted data is made to route through a few Tor hops and finally reach its destination helping in maintaining the anonymity of user’s vital information and also DNS traffic is also routed through the Tor network user’s will be able to access ” .onion websites” or the hidden websites just using NordVPN. URL : nordvpn.com

The above are the top VPN services that we like, however there may be others which are better those given above. If you have found a better VPN service, drop the name of the provider in the comments section so it can help other users to stay secure and private.