What to Expect From a Fast VPN Service?

When shopping for a VPN provider, it is easy to get confused by the services and features offered. Security and speed are the top priorities for those looking into VPN services, but it is important to understand what a VPN is before opting for a fast VPN service.

What is a VPN?

The term VPN stands for ‘Virtual Private Network’, and as a service it stands for ‘Virtual Private Networking’. Virtual Private Networking is the process of connecting two separate networks to a public network via an Internet connection. A VPN creates a secure tunnel between the user’s device and the Internet. All data passing through the tunnel is encrypted and safe from malicious third parties. This prevents data loss and circumvents location based IP blocking.

VPN Protocols:

The fastest VPN providers offer the following three protocols:

OpenVPN:

OpenVPNoffers the highest security and fastest speeds.It has 256 bit encryption and reliable speeds even over high latency networks.OpenVPNdoes not support most mobile devices,however,and requires additional software to use. Despite that, OpenVPN remains the preferred protocol for desktops and other supported devices.

L2TP:

For smartphones and other mobile devices, L2TP is a good choice. L2TP does not have its own encryption and is used with IPSec to secure the connection. However, since it encapsulates and encrypts data at both ends of the connection, it requires additional CPU processing to use. L2TP/IPsec is recommended if the user values security and their devices donot support OpenVPN.

PPTP:

PPTP is a fast VPN protocol that is built in to most desktop, tablet, and mobile operating systems. However, PPTP lacks 256 bit encryption and is far less secure tha
OpenVPN or L2TP/IPsec.If easy setup and speed are the user’s top priorities, PPTP is the recommended protocol.

Unlimited Bandwidth:

If a provider offers limited bandwidth,its users typicallyexperience restrictions on speed. On the other hand, a fast VPN service with unlimited bandwidthoffers more reliable connection speeds.Alternatively, free VPN services often rely on third parties,which results in slow, unreliable connections. Premium providers own their own servers and can guarantee the quality of their service.

Mulitple VPN Servers:

Distance from the server can affect the speed of the service.

The fastest VPN providers offer VPN servers in the US, EU, and Asia. This allows users to connect to the closest VPN server and improve VPN speed. Users should choose providers that offer free server switching, many IPs, and no limits on VPN usage.

Finally, providers offering multiple protocol options and server locations should have 24/7 support to helpconfigure the VPN if help is required.