In recent years, numerous scandals linked to the leak of personal data and phishing have frequently been recorded. And these cyberattacks spare no one. This is why the majority of Internet users are concerned about their online data and traces of their digital identity. Even if you have nothing to reproach yourself for, it's completely understandable to want to protect yourself and preserve your privacy on the internet.
Good news, there is a tool to secure your web traffic and your privacy: VPN for “Virtual Private Network” or Réseau Privé Virtuel in French. How do these apps achieve this? Can you choose any VPN provider? The answers here.
Secure your data on the web using a VPN
VPNs were designed to protect the privacy of Internet users and that starts by securing all their data that passes online. To better understand, let's look at what's going on. When you are normally connected to the internet, all of your traffic goes through your Internet Service Provider (ISP) which will redirect you to the site you wish to visit. We quickly understand that the latter has access to all your requests sent.
Your ISP may then resell your browsing history for marketing purposes, or sometimes even pass it on to the government. And your data isn't just visible to your ISP. Malicious people can also monitor your browsing and take your personal information (login identifiers, passwords, banking details, downloaded files, communications, etc.) against your will to harm you. Although you don't have anything to hide, there is no harm in imagining that you want to secure your data.
Using a VPN avoids all of this since your web traffic is routed to a server which will encrypt all your data end-to-end, creating a secure channel between your device and the internet network.
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In general, the encryption in question is AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) with a 256-bit key. This is a robust algorithm currently used by intelligence services and major global banks. Your encrypted data is then unreadable by third parties so that even if they managed to intercept it, they would not be able to translate it in the face of all the possible combinations. Even super computers don't have the resources to do this.
VPNs also rely on various security protocols (OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP, WireGuard, etc.) to determine the method of connection to servers. In this way, VPNs help protect your online activities from your Internet service provider, public authorities and hackers.
The encryption operated by Virtual Private Networks is not the only way to guarantee optimal confidentiality for Internet users.
IP hiding for absolute anonymity
You are certainly aware that the websites you visit can identify you through your IP (Internet Protocol) address. The IP address is a digital label assigned to each Internet user in order to identify them. User location can also be determined by IP address. It is therefore through your IP that certain websites can trace back to you.
The most effective solution for being anonymous on the internet therefore consists ofto hide your IP address. To achieve this, the solution is to use a VPN. As we saw before, when Internet users establish a connection to the VPN, their traffic is redirected through a remote server. It is therefore the IP address and physical location of the chosen VPN server that will be visible. Your real IP address and geolocation will be hidden.
VPNs assign you a virtual identity which allows you to browse the internet anonymously and prevent anyone from tracking you. This is a great way to maintain your privacy in 2024.
Note that to maximize online anonymity, it is recommended to take several precautions in parallel with activating the VPN such as, for example, opening a private browsing window and disconnecting from your Google account and social networks. The best thing is to use secure search engines.
The selection of the most secure VPNs in 2024
Now that anonymity and online security no longer hold any secrets for you, all that remains is to choose a VPN to take advantage of its undeniable advantages. On the other hand, we draw your attention to the fact that not all service providers are equal. After several tests, we found that some key features were missing. Here are the three most secure VPNs that are unanimously approved by Internet users and our team in 2024.
1) ExpressVPN, the champion of online security
This ranking starts with ExpressVPN. It is a pioneer in the VPN industry since it was created in 2009. Since then, this provider has been impeccable, both in terms of the security it provides to its users and the anonymity .
First, you should know that ExpressVPN isa guaranteed no-log VPN provider. Logs include activity registers and connection logs. In other words, it does not collect any data that could compromise the anonymity of its customers. Additionally, it was recently audited by KPMG and Cure53. Both reviews confirmed that ExpressVPN's security features were on point.
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Besides that, ExpressVPN provides a 100% encrypted connection via AES-256 algorithm so that no one can get a hold of your data and decrypt it. Simply activate the VPN by clicking on the connect button. Encryption is then immediate and you no longer risk people knowing what you are doing on the internet.
ExpressVPN has an infrastructure of more than 3,000 servers that guarantee you complete anonymity by hiding your IP address and physical location. TrustedServer technology is required to guarantee an even more secure experience. At the same time, you will be able to access geo-blocked content by changing your location to another. It's up to you to select one from the 105 countries in which ExpressVPN servers are present.
If you want to browse securely and anonymously, you can trust ExpressVPN, which is also very easy to use. For the most reluctant Internet users, the service provider has set up a free 30-day test allowing you to test the application and learn more.a review on ExpressVPN. The subscription is subject to reimbursement without any conditions.
2) CyberGhost VPN, privacy at the forefront
CyberGhost is a Virtual Private Network provider just as serious as ExpressVPN. The Romania-based service was launched in 2011 with the primary aim of protecting Internet users' online privacy.
CyberGhost offers end-to-end encrypted browsing and several secure protocols to hide your activity. Of course, it does not keep any logs of its users. As proof of its reliability, it even publishes transparency reports every three months listing the complaints received by government authorities. Since CyberGhost does not record any browsing data or IP addresses, it cannot deliver anything.
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CyberGhost VPN has over 9,000 servers in 90 countries. When you connect, it assigns you a new IP address and a virtual location in order to respect your anonymity wherever you are. Indeed, the CyberGhost application is compatible with computers, smartphones, tablets, televisions and connected boxes as well as certain routers. Also, seven simultaneous connections are provided when subscribing to the service. You will therefore be able to protect multiple equipment and activate it at any time, even during trips abroad.
Good to know, CyberGhost VPN offers a 45-day money-back guarantee on these plans lasting more than 1 month.
3) NordVPN, unique features for anonymity
Let's finish the selection of VPNs for security and anonymity with a player more publicized than its competitors: NordVPN. It will also give you a more confidential online experience.
NordVPN uses AES-256 technology to encrypt traffic entering and exiting your device. In addition to OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, the NordLynx protocol has recently emerged for optimal connection speed without compromising security. Its more than 5,500 servers also hide your IP address and geographic location which are replaced by those of the selected server. So far, nothing surprising.
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Where NordVPN differentiates itself is in connection features. To offer greater anonymity to Internet users who need it, the service provider provides Double VPN servers which route your internet traffic to two different servers. Therefore, your data is subject to two encryptions. Security is therefore improved, as is your anonymity. As your real IP address is not visible to the second server, the risk of leaks is significantly reduced.
NordVPN also offers Onion Over VPN servers intendedto Internet users who wish to access the Dark Webvia the Tor network and benefit from an additional layer of security. Your Internet service provider will not be able to know that you are using the Onion router. This total confidentiality is particularly sought after by people who live in countries that censor Internet access such as China, Turkey or Russia.
The NordVPN app is available on macOS, iOS, Windows, Android and Linux. Please note that the money back guarantee is valid for 30 days.
