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The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Best free VPN 2025, tried and tested by a tech expert
I get the appeal of free VPNs. Why pay for something if you don't have to? But when it comes to virtual private network services, history has taught me that free almost never means free. I've seen so-called free VPNs log your activity and inject ads into your browser sessions. Worse, some will sell your browsing data to advertisers, which kind of defeats the whole point of using a VPN in the first place. That's why I've been very, very picky when it comes to selecting and reviewing the best free VPNs. While you can find hundreds of free VPNs littered throughout the internet, hardly any of them pass muster. In the past, some have been caught hijacking browser traffic and redirecting users to partner websites, while others haven't published a transparency report or audit in years. A few of the top free VPNs on the charts right now don't even say who owns them. They don't have a developer website, never mind a privacy policy. The best VPNs usually cost money. Not just because servers are expensive to run, but because they don't rely on ads or trackers to fund their business model. While I always recommend opting for a VPN you pay for (because it should offer better privacy), after testing tens of free services, I've found just three that I've tried, tested and actually trust. That said, they all come with trade-offs, whether that's slower speeds, data caps or a lack of features you'd get with a full paid-for subscription. The best paid-for VPNs in 2025 Before I get into how I picked the best free VPNs, it's worth flagging the top paid options too. These cost money, but you're getting faster speeds, more features and better reliability, all for just a few quid a month. If you're after the best overall VPN experience, these are the ones I'd go for. If you want a VPN that does everything well, NordVPN is my pick of the bunch – it took the top spot in my review of the best VPNs. It's fast, secure and has some really neat features. Things such as Double VPN, which routes your traffic through two servers instead of one for an extra layer of privacy, and Onion over VPN, which adds the anonymity of the Tor network, without needing a separate browser, are two standouts. I also really like Meshnet, which lets you create secure, encrypted connections between your own devices to help you securely access your files or share a private network when you're away from home. It's also incredibly fast. NordLynx, the provider's custom protocol built on WireGuard, gave me near-identical speeds to my regular connection, even when testing long-distance servers. I could stream UK content without buffering, and there are more than 7,100 servers across 118 countries to choose from. It's kind of everything I need and want from a VPN. This is a really good VPN if you want a service with loads of features, but don't want to pay extortionate prices. It's owned by the same parent company as NordVPN but operates independently. The interface is nice and tidy, speeds are fast, and it's got loads of features for which you'd expect to pay more. You get unlimited device connections on a single plan, plus split tunnelling, MultiHop and an effective kill switch. It also recently added split tunnelling to iOS, fixing one of my main gripes with the service. My speeds only dropped by about 5 per cent on UK servers and 11 per cent on international ones. I also really like the camouflage mode, which enabled me to hide my VPN usage from my ISP, while the broader Surfshark One suite includes lots of add-ons, such as antivirus and breach alerts. The easiest VPN I've ever used, this is the best option for beginners. The interface is the same across every device, with a big 'on' button and a short server list that's easy to follow. Speeds are really fast, too. The new Lightway Turbo protocol meant no slow-loading pages or buffering while streaming. There aren't as many features as NordVPN, but it's just so simple to use. In early 2025, it also added post-quantum encryption to its protocol, future-proofing security in a way few others have. There's also a built-in password manager, ad blocker and an 'identity defender' tool that helps you remove your personal data from broker sites – these features are reflected in the price, however. While Proton is my pick for the best free VPN, I think its paid-for tier is also worth the money. If you care about your privacy, Proton is the one to go for. It's open-source, independently audited and based in Switzerland. On the paid plan, you get access to full-speed servers in more than 100 countries, streaming service support, secure core multi-hop routing, and advanced features such as split tunnelling, port forwarding and custom connection profiles. It also includes services such as Proton Mail, Drive and Proton Pass, so it's more than just a VPN subscription. But the best part is it's much more transparent in terms of pricing than NordVPN and Surfshark. Unlike its competitors, Proton doesn't increase the price astronomically when your plan renews, so while it might be more expensive at the start, it more than makes up for it when it comes to renewal. How I tested the best free VPNs Before even downloading a single VPN, it was important that I looked closely at each provider's website, privacy policy, no-logs claims and any independent audits or transparency reports. If a VPN didn't clearly state what it did (or didn't) collect, or hadn't been independently audited, it was immediately a red flag, meaning it was struck off my shortlist. I also checked whether the service had ever been caught injecting ads, tracking users or been involved in any data scandals. Anything shady in its past made for a hard no. I then tested each free VPN on an iPhone, MacBook, PC and Android phone, focusing on the following: Ease of use: Whether the apps were clear and easy to navigate was a consideration. Speed: I ran multiple speed tests using both with and without a VPN active, to see how much of a hit my connection took. Reliability: A stable connection is still a must, even for free VPNs, so I looked for services that automatically reconnect if the connection drops. Extra features: I considered whether ad blocking, split tunnelling or kill switches were available, and whether they were restricted behind a paywall. Why you can trust us Alex Lee is The Independent 's senior tech critic and has been reporting on internet security, privacy and digital rights since 2017, investigating everything from surveillance capitalism to online scams, as well as reviewing the best VPNs and more. He's personally used VPNs for everything from streaming UK shows while travelling abroad to keeping his online activity private, so he understands which features actually matter. His recommendations are based on hands-on testing, detailed research and comparisons of key essentials such as speed, security and pricing. Having also written extensively about cybersecurity, he knows all the complicated tech to look out for beyond superficial user interfaces. The best free VPNs for 2025 are:
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Microsoft's agentic AI roadmap had a flaw that let hackers take over browsers — here's what to know and how to stay safe
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Microsoft is quickly heading towards AI agentic browsing — that much is obvious with Edge's AI makeover and an open project called NLWeb that can be used to give any website AI power. But while this all sounds good on paper, it does open the door to a whole lot of security risks, and the company's agentic aspirations have already been hit by a flaw that is concerningly simple. Fortunately, it has been patched out, but it does start a bigger conversation we need to have about staying safe while agentic browsing. Let's get into it. So what happened? NLWeb is envisioned as 'HTML for the Agentic Web.' Announced back at Build 2025, this is the framework for AI browsing on your behalf, but researchers Aonan Guan and Lei Wang found what is called a "path traversal vulnerability". This is a pretty standard security oversight that hackers can take advantage of by having an agentic AI visit a specially-made URL that can grant the attacker access to sensitive files like system configuration files and API keys. What can be done with this information is what can amount to stealing your agent's brain. Attackers at this point can get to the core functions of your AI agent and do a wide-ranging amount of things like look at/interact with emails on your behalf, or even get into your finances. The flaw was found and reported to Microsoft on May 28, 2025, and the company patched it out on July 1, 2025 by updating the open-source repository. It was a simple exposure that had huge problematic potential. 'This issue was responsibly reported and we have updated the open-source repository,' Microsoft spokesperson Ben Hope told The Verge. 'Microsoft does not use the impacted code in any of our products. Customers using the repository are automatically protected.' How to stay safe while agentic browsing We've seen a significant shift towards agentic browsing over the last 12 months — spearheaded by the likes of OpenAI Operator, Opera launching the world's first on-device agentic AI browser, and Rabbit R1's LAM Playground. This serious flaw may have already been patched out by Microsoft, but it's clear that this won't be the last security issue we come across. For example, there's the Model Context Protocol (MCP), which is an open standard launched by Anthropic to allow AI assistants to interact with tools and services on your behalf. Sounds good on paper, but researchers have already identified the risks of account takeover and token theft: when a hacker gains access to personal authentication tokens and essentially gets the keys to your kingdom. So it's clear you need to be extra careful in the agentic era. Here are some key steps you can take: Be cautious with OAuth permissions (Image: © OpenAI) If your AI agent is asking to connect to a service like Gmail or Google Drive, read the permissions carefully. Don't approve full access if only read access is needed, so avoid clicking 'allow all' without thinking about it. On top of that, if you want an additional layer of security, use a separate account. That way you can see what the agentic AI will be able to do without putting your sensitive information on the line. Don't 100% trust any agent (Image: © Future) Think of any agent as a teenager you just gave the car keys to — effective most of the time, but not averse to mistakes (my battered Vauxhall Corsa can attest to this). By that, I mean check the agent you use is from a reputable company to start with. That means don't install any browser extensions that claim to 'autonomously browse the web.' And whatever you're using, don't let them auto-fill forms, send emails or make purchases unless you explicitly tell them to. Sanitize your browsing and app permissions (Image: © Future) For Chrome users, head over to Google Security Checkup and get rid of any third-party services that have access to your account. This will limit any potential exposures, as much as turning off autofill or password auto-saving will too. And for an additional layer of security, use agentic web tools in incognito/private windows to limit cookie or token leakage. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. More from Tom's Guide OpenAI ChatGPT-5 live blog: Countdown and all the big news as it happens This Windows 11 feature drove me nuts. Microsoft's finally fixing it — sort of I tested ChatGPT vs Gemini 2.5 Pro with these 3 prompts - and it shows what GPT-5 needs to do
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Yahoo
You might consider swapping your browser after this free, AI-powered upgrade
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Quick Summary Microsoft has unveiled a new, experimental CoPilot Mode for its Edge browser. It uses AI to help improve your search and browsing experience. And it's free, for now. Microsoft has unveiled what it says is "a new way to browse the web", and it could persuade you to change web browsers to either embrace the new technology or run screaming. That's because it's all about AI. The Edge browser now has an experimental Copilot Mode that combines search, web browsing and a chatbot into a single input box. The promise is a browsing assistant that doesn't just react to your queries but anticipates what you're going to do next, and Microsoft says it "keeps you browsing, cuts through clutter and removes friction to unlock your flow". It's similar to what Google is doing with its Gemini platform, but not as full-on as Perplexity's Comet AI browser. Think of it as an AI-powered browsing companion rather than a full AI browser. What is CoPilot Mode in Microsoft Edge? One of CoPilot's key features is the ability to look through your open tabs – with your permission – to understand the context of what you're doing, so when you search for something, it already knows what you've been looking at. Microsoft gives the example of someone looking for holiday accommodation across multiple sites, saying that they could ask CoPilot which of the current options is closest to the beach and has a full kitchen. CoPilot Mode also supports normal voice navigation, so you can chat to the assistant about what you want it to do. And in a near-future update, you'll be able to give it access to your history and browser credentials so it can carry out tasks on your behalf. For example, you might get CoPilot to find and book something for you and it will not only do that but also "check the weather, make the booking and even suggest sunscreen or tutorial videos to help you prepare." More realistically, it'll be able to convert recipe ingredients or translate web pages. Whether any of this appeals to you depends very much on your thoughts on AI. If you're concerned about the accuracy, environmental footprint or ethics of AI then this is clearly a feature you're not going to want to use. There's also the fact that Microsoft says that this feature is "free for a limited time", so it's going to cost money at some point. However, you can easily enable or disable CoPilot Mode in Edge's settings and if you choose the latter, you'll continue browsing as normal.
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Microsoft (MSFT) Unveils AI-Powered ‘Copilot Mode' for Edge Browser
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is one of the . On July 28, the company announced the launch of a new 'Copilot Mode' for its Edge browser. The Copilot Mode leverages artificial intelligence to improve the browsing experience for its users, helping carry out tasks, organize browsing, and even compare results across tabs without the need to switch between. According to Microsoft, the new feature will enable users to see a page with a single input box combining chat, search, and web navigation features. Moreover, Copilot will also support voice navigation for browsing in Edge. While not available at the moment, users will also be able to permit Copilot to access additional browser context, such as user history and credentials, to take more actions shortly. A hacker on his laptop. Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels It will also be able to access browsing content when enabled, or even provide visual cues to allow users to know when it is active in the background. It will be available at no cost across Copilot markets in Windows and Mac PCs for a limited time. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) provides AI-powered cloud, productivity, and business solutions, focusing on efficiency, security, and AI advancements. While we acknowledge the potential of MSFT as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and Disclosure: None.
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Microsoft launches AI-based Copilot Mode in Edge browser
(Reuters) -Microsoft on Monday launched a new "Copilot Mode" on its Edge browser that uses artificial intelligence to improve the browsing experience, as the tech giant rushes to compete with rivals launching AI-based browsers and web search features. Copilot Mode can help carry out tasks, organize browsing into topic-based queries and compare results across all open tabs without requiring users to switch between them, Microsoft said. The update comes at a time when tech companies have rolled out several AI-powered online search tools. Nvidia-backed startup Perplexity AI launched its Comet browser earlier this month, while Reuters reported on OpenAI's upcoming AI browser. Rival Alphabet earlier this year launched "AI Mode", an AI-only search feature on Google, and last week reported improvements in user engagement on such features. Microsoft said, under the new feature, users will see a page with a single input box combining chat, search and web navigation features. Copilot will also support voice navigation for browsing in Edge, the company added. The users will also soon be able to give Copilot permission to access additional browser context, such as user history and credentials, to take more concrete actions like making bookings or managing errands. Copilot will only be able to access browsing content when users enable it, and will provide visual cues to let users know when it is active in the background, Microsoft said. The feature will be available for free across Copilot markets in Windows and Mac PCs for a limited time and users can choose to opt out of it through Edge settings.
