Latest news with #IPVanish
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
Best VPN Service for iPhones in 2025
Not every VPN can be a favorite. These are the ones we reviewed, but they're not full-throated recommendations for one reason or another, including limited features and concerns over adequately hiding your identity. Servers: 2,400-plus in 56 countries Country/jurisdiction: US Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Linux (CLI), Chrome OS, Android, Android TV, iOS, iPadOS, Fire TV, Apple TV Price: $13 per month, $48 for the first year (then $90 annually) or $72 for the first two years combined (then $90 annually) IPVanish is a decent beginner-friendly VPN for folks seeking basic privacy. It does a good job unblocking geographically protected streaming content on multiple services, such as providing access to foreign Netflix libraries. We liked its intuitive VPN apps which, while easy to use even for novices, weren't quite as streamlined as apps from NordVPN or ExpressVPN. While you get privacy fundamentals from IPVanish, its US jurisdiction makes it unsuitable for people with critical privacy needs, like political activists, investigative journalists or asylum-seekers. Its comparatively slow speeds -- we measured a 44% average internet speed loss -- severely lagged behind NordVPN (11%), Surfshark (17%), Proton VPN (21%) and ExpressVPN (25%). Likewise, its relatively small server network of 56 countries is head and shoulders below Nord (111 countries), ExpressVPN (105) countries, Surfshark (100 countries), Proton (91 countries) and PIA (91 countries). IPVanish sets you back $13 per month, $48 for your first year or $72 for two years combined -- but the one- and two-year plans jump to $90 annually after your introductory pricing period. For the price, you can get a VPN with faster internet speed maintenance and a much larger web of servers. Read our IPVanish review. HotSpot Shield Servers: 1,800-plus in 80-plus locations Country/Jurisdiction: US (Five Eyes member) Platforms: Windows, Android, MacOS, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV Price: $8 per month or $95.88 billed annually. Month-to-month plan at $13 Hotspot Shield VPN's TLS-based Hydra Catapult protocol, US jurisdiction, 128-bit AES encryption support and large percentage of virtual servers might strip away our trust in its ability to provide more privacy protections than its competitors. Those are all key components to its ability to achieve the blazing speeds it delivered during its most recent speed tests. It effortlessly delivers smooth-streaming media and can dance between server connections without missing a beat, no matter how many interruptions you throw at it. A 26% speed loss puts it in second place, falling behind Surfshark (which lost just 16.9% of its speed the last time I tested it) and knocking Express down to third place with a 51.8% speed loss at the last measurement. Speed losses on UK connections were under 8%. When it comes to gaming, torrenting, browsing and streaming, these speed-dependent services won't be slowed down for Hotspot Shield users. We're not excited about Hotspot's privacy and security. Since the services use a closed-source proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol, instead of the more transparent open-source OpenVPN protocol, we'd like to see Hotspot give the public more third-party audits, which is a necessary step to bring Hotspot up to speed with routinely audited VPNs like TunnelBear. As recently as April 2021, review site VPNMentor discovered a DNS leak in Hotspot Shield's plug-in for Google Chrome. Hotspot acknowledged the issue at the time and aimed to improve the product. We're also not thrilled about the amount of user data Hotspot collects and its privacy policy. With its premium product, it gathers and retains much more information about users than most other VPNs. If you're using the free version of its product, it shares that information -- along with even more finite data, including your MAC address and specific phone identifier -- with advertising companies. While its interface is user-friendly and its speeds are thrilling, spending time with Hotspot is going to leave your wallet a little lighter than you might prefer. Its current price is higher than its nearest competitors, its speeds slightly slower and its privacy more questionable. If you're looking for a VPN purely on the grounds of speed, we still recommend passing on Hotspot until it improves. Read more: Hotspot Shield VPN review: This speedster costs more than its faster, more private competitors TunnelBear Average speed loss: 63% Number of countries: 48-plus Jurisdiction: Canada, with US parent company Price: $3.33 per month, or $120, for a 3-year plan TunnelBear has gotten a lot of hype in the last couple of years. When we looked under its hood and compared it with its VPN competitors, our excitement waned. TunnelBear's speeds are reasonable. We lost nearly 63% of internet speed overall when we used it, which is about average for a VPN. TunnelBear's speeds have steadily improved over the years as measured by other review and testing sites, and the US scores we recorded saw a speed loss of only 54%. On the plus side, TunnelBear is holding its own in the transparency competition among VPNs by publishing the results of its independent security audits and annual transparency reports. No IP address, DNS or other potentially user-identifying data leaks were detected during our testing, but in the past TunnelBear was observed to have been leaking WebRTC information. TunnelBear's VPN encryption is standard AES-256 and it supports Perfect Forward Secrecy. It's also a Canadian business owned by US-based McAfee, so if you're looking for subpoena-proof international online privacy, you're playing with fire. It holds a paltry 23 server locations from which you can't manually choose your VPN server or even a city. It doesn't offer Tor-over-VPN, it offers split tunneling only on Android and it can't even unblock Netflix. On a per-month breakdown, the least expensive TunnelBear plan is its $120, three-year plan. You can also go month to month for $10, or pay $60 upfront for a single year. Either way, TunnelBear accepts payment via credit card and Bitcoin. Unlike other VPNs, it doesn't take PayPal, plus it doesn't support Amazon Fire Stick or Android TV. Read more: TunnelBear VPN Review: The Overpriced Ursine Has Trouble Living Up to the Hype CyberGhost Number of servers: Over 8,000 worldwide in 91 countries Number of server locations: 111 Jurisdiction: Romania, with UK parent company Number of simultaneous connections: 7 $2.03 a month or $60 for a two year plan (plus four free months). Month-to-month plan at $13. In CNET's previous coverage of virtual private networks, we've praised CyberGhost for its roster of competitive features. Our in-depth review of CyberGhost in 2019 included speed testing, security verification and an analysis of its full suite of privacy tools. Since then, the VPN company has increased its number of servers and is prepared to roll out new privacy tools, all while remaining one of the cheapest VPNs we've reviewed, at just $2.03 per month for a two-year plan. As we've bolstered our approach to VPN reviews, CyberGhost has raised some red flags. Its parent company's history warrants skepticism, our previous tests have shown it to expose your VPN use to your ISP, its website and app trackers are more numerous than warranted and its ad blocker uses an untrustworthy method of traffic manipulation no VPN should even think about. Its low price previously made it worth considering if you needed to change the appearance of your location online, but not if you wanted best-in-class security. While CyberGhost's connection speed and security features appear to be improving, we don't currently recommend using the VPN service provider if you're in a country where VPNs are illegal. We also recommend that anyone in the US review CyberGhost's parent company before deciding whether to pay for a subscription. On the plus side, CyberGhost was still faster than Norton Secure VPN and less taxing on the processing power of our devices. It also offers split tunneling in its Windows client and has its servers neatly organized into categories: NoSpy servers, servers geared for torrenting, servers best for streaming and servers best for use with a static IP address. CyberGhost imposes no data caps, allows unlimited server switching and offers a 45-day money-back guarantee on subscription plans of a year or more. Read more: CyberGhost VPN review: Competitive Features, but Its Parent Company Concerns Me Norton Number of countries: 30 Number of servers: 1,500 (1,200 virtual) Number of server locations: 200 in 73 cities Country/jurisdiction: US $40 for the first 12 months for five devices Norton LifeLock, long known for excellence in security products, has a relatively limited offering in its VPN product. Norton Secure VPN does not support P2P or BitTorrent, Linux, routers or set-top boxes. It's Netflix and streaming compatibility is somewhat limited. Even worse, during testing, we experienced privacy-compromising data leaks. During CNET's testing, Norton Secure VPN speeds were comparable to other mid-tier VPNs but not particularly competitive. Although its VPN is only available on four platforms -- Mac, iOS, Windows and Android -- Norton gets points for its 24/7 live customer service phone support and 60-day money-back guarantee. Norton Secure VPN's pricing structure is a bit different than what you typically find in the industry. Pricing is tiered based on how many simultaneous connections you want with your account. For a single device, you'll pay $30 for the first year and $50 for any subsequent years, or $4.99 a month for the monthly. For five simultaneous connections, the price jumps to $40 for the first year and $80 for subsequent years, or $8 a month for the monthly plan. If you want up to 10 simultaneous connections, the price is $60 for the first year and $100 for subsequent years, or $10 a month for the monthly plan. Read more: Norton Secure VPN Review: Why We Don't Recommend It Mullvad Number of servers: 684 Server location: 44 countries Number of simultaneous connections: 5 Jurisdiction: Sweden Price: $5 a month Mullvad is an independently owned and open-source VPN provider focused on building trust through transparency with its commitment to protecting the privacy and security of its users. Although some other VPNs are considerably more well known in the industry, Mullvad's offering is just as polished and easy to use as what's offered by many of the market's bigger players. Mullvad's primary focus is on security. Like most other top VPN providers, Mullvad employs industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption, using the OpenVPN protocol or ChaCha20 on WireGuard, to secure users' connections. Mullvad's kill switch feature and DNS leak protection are enabled by default and can't be disabled. During our testing, the kill switch worked as expected and we detected no leaks of any kind. The company says it doesn't keep any logs of its users' activity, and for the most part it's pretty transparent about how it operates and what it does to protect user privacy. Mullvad is unique in that it doesn't require any personal information at sign-up. While most VPN providers ask users to provide an email address and enter a username, Mullvad generates a random 16-digit account number to activate each new user account. You don't even need to provide any payment information since Mullvad accepts cash sent via mail. Mullvad's source code being entirely open source is a testament to the company's transparency, but we'd still like to see Mullvad issue an annual transparency report to give the public a view of how many legal requests the company gets and where they're coming from. But you don't just have to take Mullvad's word for it: Radically Open Security confirmed Mullvad's no-logs assertions in a 2023 independent audit. With 684 servers across 44 countries, Mullvad's VPN server network is comparatively small. Even so, the network covers the most in-demand locations and is pretty well spread out across the globe. What its network may lack in size, it makes up for in speed. In our latest round of speed testing, we measured just a 13.5% drop in average internet speeds (VPNs will slow you down 50% or more), easily making it one of the fastest VPNs we've tested. Although Mullvad's speeds are fantastic, it's not the best for streaming geographically restricted content. We were able to access Netflix and Disney Plus without any issues but were denied access to stream Amazon Prime Video when connected to Mullvad's servers -- it recognized that we were using a VPN. Mullvad's straightforward approach to pricing is a breath of fresh air, especially with so many other VPN providers concocting ever-more convoluted pricing structures. Mullvad costs about $5 a month, whether you want to use it for a month, a year or a decade, and you're never locked into a long-term subscription plan. If you're not satisfied with the service, you can get a refund within 30 days of purchase. Read more: Mullvad Review: Solid Security and Privacy, but Swedish Jurisdiction Is Concerning
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
Best VPN Service for Android in 2025
Not every VPN can be a favorite. These are the ones we reviewed, but they're not full-throated recommendations for one reason or another, including limited features and concerns over adequately hiding your identity. Servers: 2,400-plus in 56 countries Country/jurisdiction: US Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Linux (CLI), Chrome OS, Android, Android TV, iOS, iPadOS, Fire TV, Apple TV Price: $13 per month, $48 for the first year (then $90 annually) or $72 for the first two years combined (then $90 annually) IPVanish is a decent beginner-friendly VPN for folks seeking basic privacy. It does a good job unblocking geographically protected streaming content on multiple services, such as providing access to foreign Netflix libraries. We liked its intuitive VPN apps which, while easy to use even for novices, weren't quite as streamlined as apps from NordVPN or ExpressVPN. While you get privacy fundamentals from IPVanish, its US jurisdiction makes it unsuitable for people with critical privacy needs, like political activists, investigative journalists or asylum-seekers. Its comparatively slow speeds -- we measured a 44% average internet speed loss -- severely lagged behind NordVPN (11%), Surfshark (17%), Proton VPN (21%) and ExpressVPN (25%). Likewise, its relatively small server network of 56 countries is head and shoulders below Nord (111 countries), ExpressVPN (105) countries, Surfshark (100 countries), Proton (91 countries) and PIA (91 countries). IPVanish sets you back $13 per month, $48 for your first year or $72 for two years combined -- but the one- and two-year plans jump to $90 annually after your introductory pricing period. For the price, you can get a VPN with faster internet speed maintenance and a much larger web of servers. Read our IPVanish review. HotSpot Shield Servers: 1,800-plus in 80-plus locations Country/Jurisdiction: US (Five Eyes member) Platforms: Windows, Android, MacOS, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV Price: $8 per month or $95.88 billed annually. Month-to-month plan at $13 Hotspot Shield VPN's TLS-based Hydra Catapult protocol, US jurisdiction, 128-bit AES encryption support and large percentage of virtual servers might strip away our trust in its ability to provide more privacy protections than its competitors. Those are all key components to its ability to achieve the blazing speeds it delivered during its most recent speed tests. It effortlessly delivers smooth-streaming media and can dance between server connections without missing a beat, no matter how many interruptions you throw at it. A 26% speed loss puts it in second place, falling behind Surfshark (which lost just 16.9% of its speed the last time I tested it) and knocking Express down to third place with a 51.8% speed loss at the last measurement. Speed losses on UK connections were under 8%. When it comes to gaming, torrenting, browsing and streaming, these speed-dependent services won't be slowed down for Hotspot Shield users. We're not excited about Hotspot's privacy and security. Since the services use a closed-source proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol, instead of the more transparent open-source OpenVPN protocol, we'd like to see Hotspot give the public more third-party audits, which is a necessary step to bring Hotspot up to speed with routinely audited VPNs like TunnelBear. As recently as April 2021, review site VPNMentor discovered a DNS leak in Hotspot Shield's plug-in for Google Chrome. Hotspot acknowledged the issue at the time and aimed to improve the product. We're also not thrilled about the amount of user data Hotspot collects and its privacy policy. With its premium product, it gathers and retains much more information about users than most other VPNs. If you're using the free version of its product, it shares that information -- along with even more finite data, including your MAC address and specific phone identifier -- with advertising companies. While its interface is user-friendly and its speeds are thrilling, spending time with Hotspot is going to leave your wallet a little lighter than you might prefer. Its current price is higher than its nearest competitors, its speeds slightly slower and its privacy more questionable. If you're looking for a VPN purely on the grounds of speed, we still recommend passing on Hotspot until it improves. Read more: Hotspot Shield VPN review: This speedster costs more than its faster, more private competitors TunnelBear Average speed loss: 63% Number of countries: 48-plus Jurisdiction: Canada, with US parent company Price: $3.33 per month, or $120, for a 3-year plan TunnelBear has gotten a lot of hype in the last couple of years. When we looked under its hood and compared it with its VPN competitors, our excitement waned. TunnelBear's speeds are reasonable. We lost nearly 63% of internet speed overall when we used it, which is about average for a VPN. TunnelBear's speeds have steadily improved over the years as measured by other review and testing sites, and the US scores we recorded saw a speed loss of only 54%. On the plus side, TunnelBear is holding its own in the transparency competition among VPNs by publishing the results of its independent security audits and annual transparency reports. No IP address, DNS or other potentially user-identifying data leaks were detected during our testing, but in the past TunnelBear was observed to have been leaking WebRTC information. TunnelBear's VPN encryption is standard AES-256 and it supports Perfect Forward Secrecy. It's also a Canadian business owned by US-based McAfee, so if you're looking for subpoena-proof international online privacy, you're playing with fire. It holds a paltry 23 server locations from which you can't manually choose your VPN server or even a city. It doesn't offer Tor-over-VPN, it offers split tunneling only on Android and it can't even unblock Netflix. On a per-month breakdown, the least expensive TunnelBear plan is its $120, three-year plan. You can also go month to month for $10, or pay $60 upfront for a single year. Either way, TunnelBear accepts payment via credit card and Bitcoin. Unlike other VPNs, it doesn't take PayPal, plus it doesn't support Amazon Fire Stick or Android TV. Read more: TunnelBear VPN Review: The Overpriced Ursine Has Trouble Living Up to the Hype CyberGhost Number of servers: Over 8,000 worldwide in 91 countries Number of server locations: 111 Jurisdiction: Romania, with UK parent company Number of simultaneous connections: 7 $2.03 a month or $60 for a two year plan (plus four free months). Month-to-month plan at $13. In CNET's previous coverage of virtual private networks, we've praised CyberGhost for its roster of competitive features. Our in-depth review of CyberGhost in 2019 included speed testing, security verification and an analysis of its full suite of privacy tools. Since then, the VPN company has increased its number of servers and is prepared to roll out new privacy tools, all while remaining one of the cheapest VPNs we've reviewed, at just $2.03 per month for a two-year plan. As we've bolstered our approach to VPN reviews, CyberGhost has raised some red flags. Its parent company's history warrants skepticism, our previous tests have shown it to expose your VPN use to your ISP, its website and app trackers are more numerous than warranted and its ad blocker uses an untrustworthy method of traffic manipulation no VPN should even think about. Its low price previously made it worth considering if you needed to change the appearance of your location online, but not if you wanted best-in-class security. While CyberGhost's connection speed and security features appear to be improving, we don't currently recommend using the VPN service provider if you're in a country where VPNs are illegal. We also recommend that anyone in the US review CyberGhost's parent company before deciding whether to pay for a subscription. On the plus side, CyberGhost was still faster than Norton Secure VPN and less taxing on the processing power of our devices. It also offers split tunneling in its Windows client and has its servers neatly organized into categories: NoSpy servers, servers geared for torrenting, servers best for streaming and servers best for use with a static IP address. CyberGhost imposes no data caps, allows unlimited server switching and offers a 45-day money-back guarantee on subscription plans of a year or more. Read more: CyberGhost VPN review: Competitive Features, but Its Parent Company Concerns Me Norton Number of countries: 30 Number of servers: 1,500 (1,200 virtual) Number of server locations: 200 in 73 cities Country/jurisdiction: US $40 for the first 12 months for five devices Norton LifeLock, long known for excellence in security products, has a relatively limited offering in its VPN product. Norton Secure VPN does not support P2P or BitTorrent, Linux, routers or set-top boxes. It's Netflix and streaming compatibility is somewhat limited. Even worse, during testing, we experienced privacy-compromising data leaks. During CNET's testing, Norton Secure VPN speeds were comparable to other mid-tier VPNs but not particularly competitive. Although its VPN is only available on four platforms -- Mac, iOS, Windows and Android -- Norton gets points for its 24/7 live customer service phone support and 60-day money-back guarantee. Norton Secure VPN's pricing structure is a bit different than what you typically find in the industry. Pricing is tiered based on how many simultaneous connections you want with your account. For a single device, you'll pay $30 for the first year and $50 for any subsequent years, or $4.99 a month for the monthly. For five simultaneous connections, the price jumps to $40 for the first year and $80 for subsequent years, or $8 a month for the monthly plan. If you want up to 10 simultaneous connections, the price is $60 for the first year and $100 for subsequent years, or $10 a month for the monthly plan. Read more: Norton Secure VPN Review: Why We Don't Recommend It Mullvad Number of servers: 684 Server location: 44 countries Number of simultaneous connections: 5 Jurisdiction: Sweden Price: $5 a month Mullvad is an independently owned and open-source VPN provider focused on building trust through transparency with its commitment to protecting the privacy and security of its users. Although some other VPNs are considerably more well known in the industry, Mullvad's offering is just as polished and easy to use as what's offered by many of the market's bigger players. Mullvad's primary focus is on security. Like most other top VPN providers, Mullvad employs industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption, using the OpenVPN protocol or ChaCha20 on WireGuard, to secure users' connections. Mullvad's kill switch feature and DNS leak protection are enabled by default and can't be disabled. During our testing, the kill switch worked as expected and we detected no leaks of any kind. The company says it doesn't keep any logs of its users' activity, and for the most part it's pretty transparent about how it operates and what it does to protect user privacy. Mullvad is unique in that it doesn't require any personal information at sign-up. While most VPN providers ask users to provide an email address and enter a username, Mullvad generates a random 16-digit account number to activate each new user account. You don't even need to provide any payment information since Mullvad accepts cash sent via mail. Mullvad's source code being entirely open source is a testament to the company's transparency, but we'd still like to see Mullvad issue an annual transparency report to give the public a view of how many legal requests the company gets and where they're coming from. But you don't just have to take Mullvad's word for it: Radically Open Security confirmed Mullvad's no-logs assertions in a 2023 independent audit. With 684 servers across 44 countries, Mullvad's VPN server network is comparatively small. Even so, the network covers the most in-demand locations and is pretty well spread out across the globe. What its network may lack in size, it makes up for in speed. In our latest round of speed testing, we measured just a 13.5% drop in average internet speeds (VPNs will slow you down 50% or more), easily making it one of the fastest VPNs we've tested. Although Mullvad's speeds are fantastic, it's not the best for streaming geographically restricted content. We were able to access Netflix and Disney Plus without any issues but were denied access to stream Amazon Prime Video when connected to Mullvad's servers -- it recognized that we were using a VPN. Mullvad's straightforward approach to pricing is a breath of fresh air, especially with so many other VPN providers concocting ever-more convoluted pricing structures. Mullvad costs about $5 a month, whether you want to use it for a month, a year or a decade, and you're never locked into a long-term subscription plan. If you're not satisfied with the service, you can get a refund within 30 days of purchase. Read more: Mullvad Review: Solid Security and Privacy, but Swedish Jurisdiction Is Concerning
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
Best VPN Service for Streaming in 2025
Not every VPN can be a favorite. These are the ones we reviewed, but they're not full-throated recommendations for one reason or another, including limited features and concerns over adequately hiding your identity. Servers: 2,400-plus in 56 countries Country/jurisdiction: US Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Linux (CLI), Chrome OS, Android, Android TV, iOS, iPadOS, Fire TV, Apple TV Price: $13 per month, $48 for the first year (then $90 annually) or $72 for the first two years combined (then $90 annually) IPVanish is a decent beginner-friendly VPN for folks seeking basic privacy. It does a good job unblocking geographically protected streaming content on multiple services, such as providing access to foreign Netflix libraries. We liked its intuitive VPN apps which, while easy to use even for novices, weren't quite as streamlined as apps from NordVPN or ExpressVPN. While you get privacy fundamentals from IPVanish, its US jurisdiction makes it unsuitable for people with critical privacy needs, like political activists, investigative journalists or asylum-seekers. Its comparatively slow speeds -- we measured a 44% average internet speed loss -- severely lagged behind NordVPN (11%), Surfshark (17%), Proton VPN (21%) and ExpressVPN (25%). Likewise, its relatively small server network of 56 countries is head and shoulders below Nord (111 countries), ExpressVPN (105) countries, Surfshark (100 countries), Proton (91 countries) and PIA (91 countries). IPVanish sets you back $13 per month, $48 for your first year or $72 for two years combined -- but the one- and two-year plans jump to $90 annually after your introductory pricing period. For the price, you can get a VPN with faster internet speed maintenance and a much larger web of servers. Read our IPVanish review. HotSpot Shield Servers: 1,800-plus in 80-plus locations Country/Jurisdiction: US (Five Eyes member) Platforms: Windows, Android, MacOS, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV Price: $8 per month or $95.88 billed annually. Month-to-month plan at $13 Hotspot Shield VPN's TLS-based Hydra Catapult protocol, US jurisdiction, 128-bit AES encryption support and large percentage of virtual servers might strip away our trust in its ability to provide more privacy protections than its competitors. Those are all key components to its ability to achieve the blazing speeds it delivered during its most recent speed tests. It effortlessly delivers smooth-streaming media and can dance between server connections without missing a beat, no matter how many interruptions you throw at it. A 26% speed loss puts it in second place, falling behind Surfshark (which lost just 16.9% of its speed the last time I tested it) and knocking Express down to third place with a 51.8% speed loss at the last measurement. Speed losses on UK connections were under 8%. When it comes to gaming, torrenting, browsing and streaming, these speed-dependent services won't be slowed down for Hotspot Shield users. We're not excited about Hotspot's privacy and security. Since the services use a closed-source proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol, instead of the more transparent open-source OpenVPN protocol, we'd like to see Hotspot give the public more third-party audits, which is a necessary step to bring Hotspot up to speed with routinely audited VPNs like TunnelBear. As recently as April 2021, review site VPNMentor discovered a DNS leak in Hotspot Shield's plug-in for Google Chrome. Hotspot acknowledged the issue at the time and aimed to improve the product. We're also not thrilled about the amount of user data Hotspot collects and its privacy policy. With its premium product, it gathers and retains much more information about users than most other VPNs. If you're using the free version of its product, it shares that information -- along with even more finite data, including your MAC address and specific phone identifier -- with advertising companies. While its interface is user-friendly and its speeds are thrilling, spending time with Hotspot is going to leave your wallet a little lighter than you might prefer. Its current price is higher than its nearest competitors, its speeds slightly slower and its privacy more questionable. If you're looking for a VPN purely on the grounds of speed, we still recommend passing on Hotspot until it improves. Read more: Hotspot Shield VPN review: This speedster costs more than its faster, more private competitors TunnelBear Average speed loss: 63% Number of countries: 48-plus Jurisdiction: Canada, with US parent company Price: $3.33 per month, or $120, for a 3-year plan TunnelBear has gotten a lot of hype in the last couple of years. When we looked under its hood and compared it with its VPN competitors, our excitement waned. TunnelBear's speeds are reasonable. We lost nearly 63% of internet speed overall when we used it, which is about average for a VPN. TunnelBear's speeds have steadily improved over the years as measured by other review and testing sites, and the US scores we recorded saw a speed loss of only 54%. On the plus side, TunnelBear is holding its own in the transparency competition among VPNs by publishing the results of its independent security audits and annual transparency reports. No IP address, DNS or other potentially user-identifying data leaks were detected during our testing, but in the past TunnelBear was observed to have been leaking WebRTC information. TunnelBear's VPN encryption is standard AES-256 and it supports Perfect Forward Secrecy. It's also a Canadian business owned by US-based McAfee, so if you're looking for subpoena-proof international online privacy, you're playing with fire. It holds a paltry 23 server locations from which you can't manually choose your VPN server or even a city. It doesn't offer Tor-over-VPN, it offers split tunneling only on Android and it can't even unblock Netflix. On a per-month breakdown, the least expensive TunnelBear plan is its $120, three-year plan. You can also go month to month for $10, or pay $60 upfront for a single year. Either way, TunnelBear accepts payment via credit card and Bitcoin. Unlike other VPNs, it doesn't take PayPal, plus it doesn't support Amazon Fire Stick or Android TV. Read more: TunnelBear VPN Review: The Overpriced Ursine Has Trouble Living Up to the Hype CyberGhost Number of servers: Over 8,000 worldwide in 91 countries Number of server locations: 111 Jurisdiction: Romania, with UK parent company Number of simultaneous connections: 7 $2.03 a month or $60 for a two year plan (plus four free months). Month-to-month plan at $13. In CNET's previous coverage of virtual private networks, we've praised CyberGhost for its roster of competitive features. Our in-depth review of CyberGhost in 2019 included speed testing, security verification and an analysis of its full suite of privacy tools. Since then, the VPN company has increased its number of servers and is prepared to roll out new privacy tools, all while remaining one of the cheapest VPNs we've reviewed, at just $2.03 per month for a two-year plan. As we've bolstered our approach to VPN reviews, CyberGhost has raised some red flags. Its parent company's history warrants skepticism, our previous tests have shown it to expose your VPN use to your ISP, its website and app trackers are more numerous than warranted and its ad blocker uses an untrustworthy method of traffic manipulation no VPN should even think about. Its low price previously made it worth considering if you needed to change the appearance of your location online, but not if you wanted best-in-class security. While CyberGhost's connection speed and security features appear to be improving, we don't currently recommend using the VPN service provider if you're in a country where VPNs are illegal. We also recommend that anyone in the US review CyberGhost's parent company before deciding whether to pay for a subscription. On the plus side, CyberGhost was still faster than Norton Secure VPN and less taxing on the processing power of our devices. It also offers split tunneling in its Windows client and has its servers neatly organized into categories: NoSpy servers, servers geared for torrenting, servers best for streaming and servers best for use with a static IP address. CyberGhost imposes no data caps, allows unlimited server switching and offers a 45-day money-back guarantee on subscription plans of a year or more. Read more: CyberGhost VPN review: Competitive Features, but Its Parent Company Concerns Me Norton Number of countries: 30 Number of servers: 1,500 (1,200 virtual) Number of server locations: 200 in 73 cities Country/jurisdiction: US $40 for the first 12 months for five devices Norton LifeLock, long known for excellence in security products, has a relatively limited offering in its VPN product. Norton Secure VPN does not support P2P or BitTorrent, Linux, routers or set-top boxes. It's Netflix and streaming compatibility is somewhat limited. Even worse, during testing, we experienced privacy-compromising data leaks. During CNET's testing, Norton Secure VPN speeds were comparable to other mid-tier VPNs but not particularly competitive. Although its VPN is only available on four platforms -- Mac, iOS, Windows and Android -- Norton gets points for its 24/7 live customer service phone support and 60-day money-back guarantee. Norton Secure VPN's pricing structure is a bit different than what you typically find in the industry. Pricing is tiered based on how many simultaneous connections you want with your account. For a single device, you'll pay $30 for the first year and $50 for any subsequent years, or $4.99 a month for the monthly. For five simultaneous connections, the price jumps to $40 for the first year and $80 for subsequent years, or $8 a month for the monthly plan. If you want up to 10 simultaneous connections, the price is $60 for the first year and $100 for subsequent years, or $10 a month for the monthly plan. Read more: Norton Secure VPN Review: Why We Don't Recommend It Mullvad Number of servers: 684 Server location: 44 countries Number of simultaneous connections: 5 Jurisdiction: Sweden Price: $5 a month Mullvad is an independently owned and open-source VPN provider focused on building trust through transparency with its commitment to protecting the privacy and security of its users. Although some other VPNs are considerably more well known in the industry, Mullvad's offering is just as polished and easy to use as what's offered by many of the market's bigger players. Mullvad's primary focus is on security. Like most other top VPN providers, Mullvad employs industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption, using the OpenVPN protocol or ChaCha20 on WireGuard, to secure users' connections. Mullvad's kill switch feature and DNS leak protection are enabled by default and can't be disabled. During our testing, the kill switch worked as expected and we detected no leaks of any kind. The company says it doesn't keep any logs of its users' activity, and for the most part it's pretty transparent about how it operates and what it does to protect user privacy. Mullvad is unique in that it doesn't require any personal information at sign-up. While most VPN providers ask users to provide an email address and enter a username, Mullvad generates a random 16-digit account number to activate each new user account. You don't even need to provide any payment information since Mullvad accepts cash sent via mail. Mullvad's source code being entirely open source is a testament to the company's transparency, but we'd still like to see Mullvad issue an annual transparency report to give the public a view of how many legal requests the company gets and where they're coming from. But you don't just have to take Mullvad's word for it: Radically Open Security confirmed Mullvad's no-logs assertions in a 2023 independent audit. With 684 servers across 44 countries, Mullvad's VPN server network is comparatively small. Even so, the network covers the most in-demand locations and is pretty well spread out across the globe. What its network may lack in size, it makes up for in speed. In our latest round of speed testing, we measured just a 13.5% drop in average internet speeds (VPNs will slow you down 50% or more), easily making it one of the fastest VPNs we've tested. Although Mullvad's speeds are fantastic, it's not the best for streaming geographically restricted content. We were able to access Netflix and Disney Plus without any issues but were denied access to stream Amazon Prime Video when connected to Mullvad's servers -- it recognized that we were using a VPN. Mullvad's straightforward approach to pricing is a breath of fresh air, especially with so many other VPN providers concocting ever-more convoluted pricing structures. Mullvad costs about $5 a month, whether you want to use it for a month, a year or a decade, and you're never locked into a long-term subscription plan. If you're not satisfied with the service, you can get a refund within 30 days of purchase. Read more: Mullvad Review: Solid Security and Privacy, but Swedish Jurisdiction Is Concerning
Associated Press
11-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Best Secure Browser Add-On (2025): IPVanish Named Top Privacy Extension by Software Experts
Boston, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2025) - As digital behavior increasingly shifts toward online transactions, remote work, and cloud-based communication, users are placing a growing emphasis on privacy and secure browsing. In response to this rising demand, Software Experts has recognized IPVanish Secure Browser as the Best Secure Browser Add-On of 2025, highlighting its cloud-based protection model and privacy-first architecture. Best Secure Browser Add-On The recognition comes at a time when more individuals than ever are engaging in sensitive activities online, from banking and shopping to healthcare research and corporate communication. As threats like malware, phishing, and behavioral tracking become more sophisticated, browser-level security tools have moved from niche utility to everyday necessity. Browser extensions that focus on data privacy, anonymization, and session isolation are gaining traction across both consumer and professional use cases. Unlike traditional privacy tools such as VPNs or basic browser privacy modes, IPVanish Secure Browser offers an alternative approach. Rather than operating locally, it routes browsing activity through a remote, cloud-hosted browser. This virtual browser runs on secure servers, creating a temporary session that is completely wiped after use. Nothing is stored on the user's device, and no browsing data is retained. One of the key advantages of this structure is cloud isolation. With browsing activity executed remotely, there is no direct exposure to threats like malicious scripts or infected downloads. Any such attempts are contained within the temporary cloud session and discarded upon closing. This prevents malware from ever reaching the user's operating system or local storage. The browser extension also integrates advanced privacy protections. It blocks common tracking methods including cookies, fingerprinting scripts, cache snooping, and third-party tracking pixels. With support for multiple virtual locations, the Secure Browser also enables users to simulate geographic browsing from various countries. This feature is particularly relevant for professionals managing international workflows, as well as users seeking location-based content or search results. [ This image cannot be displayed. Please visit the source: ] Sessions launched through IPVanish Secure Browser are accessible via browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. For users unable to install extensions, such as those on mobile or locked-down corporate environments, the Secure Browser can be accessed directly through a dedicated website. This provides additional flexibility for on-the-go browsing or situations where device control is limited. According to Software Experts, IPVanish Secure Browser earned its distinction for not only protecting users' online identity but also delivering a user-friendly solution that does not require extensive setup or technical knowledge. The tool can be used for various high-risk scenarios, including opening email attachments, visiting unknown websites, or bypassing content restrictions on public or shared networks. IPVanish includes Secure Browser in its Advanced subscription plan, which is available in monthly, yearly, and two-year pricing tiers. The browser service includes up to 30 hours of virtual browsing time per month. Plans currently include a bundled eSIM for secure mobile data use in over 200 countries. This eSIM promotion is offered for a limited time and provides fast, private connectivity while reducing reliance on unsecured public networks during travel. The review noted that while Secure Browser is not designed to replace system-level antivirus or firewall software, it significantly reduces exposure to browser-based threats. By keeping browsing activity off-device, the tool minimizes the risk of local infection and removes the need for manual cache or history cleanup. It also strengthens defenses against DNS-level tracking and data leakage. The growing interest in browser-level privacy tools reflects a broader shift in internet usage habits. Consumers are demanding tools that go beyond traditional incognito modes or ad blockers. As the average user becomes more aware of how their behavior is tracked online - often without consent or knowledge - the appetite for solutions that offer greater control and transparency continues to grow. Software Experts' review of IPVanish Secure Browser emphasizes how practical solutions like secure browsing extensions are contributing to a new layer of digital hygiene. From protecting sensitive searches and transactions to defending against increasingly common phishing and social engineering threats, the browser extension meets the evolving needs of modern internet users. For many, a secure browser add-on is no longer a convenience but a requirement. Tools like IPVanish Secure Browser fill that role by helping users retain privacy, protect devices, and manage risk in an online environment where exposure is often invisible and constant. To read the full review and explore more insights from the 2025 evaluation, visit Software Experts. About IPVanish: IPVanish, a Ziff Davis company, is an award-winning cybersecurity provider whose tools and products support internet safety, digital privacy, and online freedom. With a commitment to innovation, transparency, and user-centric solutions, IPVanish is a leading name in the VPN industry. About Software Experts: Software Experts provides news and reviews of consumer products and services. As an affiliate, Software Experts may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided. Contact: Drew Thomas ( [email protected] ) To view the source version of this press release, please visit
Associated Press
11-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Best Cloud Storage Security (2025): IPVanish Recognized as Top Secure Cloud Access Tool by Expert Consumers
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2025) - As cloud adoption continues to grow among both individuals and businesses, cybersecurity experts are increasingly focused on how data is stored, accessed, and protected. In its latest review of cloud security solutions, Expert Consumers has named IPVanish the top provider for secure cloud access in 2025. This recognition marks IPVanish's evolution from a VPN provider into a comprehensive platform for digital privacy. The company's inclusion of cloud storage alongside its core VPN service responds directly to rising concerns about data breaches, remote access vulnerabilities, and the need for stronger user control in a cloud-first environment. Top Cloud Storage Security Provider Evolving Cloud Security Needs With remote work and online collaboration now part of everyday life, files are being shared and stored online more than ever. This shift demands solutions that protect both the transfer and storage of sensitive data. IPVanish addresses these needs through a dual offering that combines encrypted internet traffic with secure cloud backup. In partnership with Livedrive, the platform provides encrypted cloud storage that integrates directly with its VPN. This combination allows users to protect files not just while they are being created or transmitted, but also once they are stored in the cloud. Privacy-First Architecture IPVanish's strength lies in its commitment to privacy. The service follows a strict zero-log policy, meaning it does not monitor or record user activity. This extends to its cloud storage service, offering peace of mind to users concerned about how and where their files are kept. With all data encrypted during both upload and storage, and stored in secure UK-based data centers, IPVanish helps ensure files are shielded from unauthorized access. Whether storing financial records, personal documents, or project files, users benefit from consistent, high-level security across the board. Cloud Features Designed for Everyday Use The Livedrive-powered cloud service included with IPVanish is more than a basic file storage tool. It is designed with real-life usage in mind and provides several key features: These features support a wide range of use cases, from solo users managing personal files to remote teams collaborating across time zones. Combined VPN and Cloud Protection A key advantage of IPVanish is how its VPN and cloud storage services work together to provide end-to-end protection. Users who upload or download files while connected to the VPN can be confident their data is encrypted from the moment it leaves their device to the moment it reaches secure cloud storage. Users also benefit from a unified account experience. Both the VPN and cloud services are managed through a single login, reducing complexity and allowing easier control of all privacy settings in one place. With support for unlimited device connections, the service works across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, giving users flexibility without compromising security. Accessible Pricing and Flexible Plans IPVanish offers flexible pricing structures to meet a variety of needs, with all plans including access to both VPN and cloud storage: All plans come with unlimited device connections, and the annual and biannual options also include a 30-day money-back guarantee. This makes IPVanish suitable for individuals, families, and small businesses looking for a simple, secure solution. Supporting Modern Privacy Expectations Rather than treating file storage and internet privacy as separate concerns, users now expect a seamless solution that secures all aspects of their digital life. By combining secure file storage with encrypted internet connections, IPVanish meets this expectation and offers a practical way to manage both risks with a single service. The integration with Livedrive further enhances this by delivering features tailored to real-world usage, such as automatic backups and remote access. IPVanish has proven itself to be a reliable tool for users who want greater protection without sacrificing convenience. For the full article, visit About IPVanish IPVanish is a leading provider of online privacy solutions, offering VPN and secure cloud storage in one integrated platform. Known for its zero-log policy and strong encryption, IPVanish helps users safeguard their digital activity and protect sensitive files from unauthorized access. Through a partnership with Livedrive, the company provides encrypted cloud backup with automatic syncing, unlimited versioning, and multi-device support. IPVanish supports unlimited connections on all major platforms, delivering full-spectrum digital security for users who want control and privacy from device to cloud. About Expert Consumers: Expert Consumers provides news and reviews of consumer products and services. As an affiliate, Expert Consumers may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided. Contact: Drew Thomas ( [email protected] ) To view the source version of this press release, please visit
