Utilizing a virtual private network is a great way to remain anonymous while online. Especially for those involved in a lawsuit, VPNs can protect your data from prying eyes and give you peace of mind. With as many as 1,500 corporations reporting ransomware attacks in 2021, it’s time to take data protection seriously.

Choosing the Best VPN

A VPN encrypts your data and creates a tunnel for that data to flow through. It also hides your identity any time you’re using public Wi-Fi. Many VPN service providers also help with blocking malware. Usually, these services are a free add-on feature, so you won’t have to spend extra money on other anti-malware applications.

Not all VPNs are created equally, so let’s examine some characteristics of a good VPN. A decent one will:

• Provide military-grade encryption, an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with 256-bit keys
• Allow streaming and torrenting without interruption or limitations
• Support P2P or peer-to-peer sharing
• Be compatible with Mac, Windows, iOS, Android or whatever operating system you’re using

For those in a large household with multiple users, a VPN with an unlimited number of connections is ideal. If you require more than 10 simultaneous connections, you may need to run the VPN through a router. Remember, the router itself is considered one independent connection, so you would only truly have nine simultaneous connections if you choose to set up your VPN this way.

Personal information Collected by VPN Providers

When you initially sign up, VPN providers will ask for some of your personal information. That is considered normal, but how each provider stores your information is what’s important. If your data is not properly protected and there is a breach, personal data could wind up in the hands of thieves or unscrupulous investigators. 

Even so, you will have to part with some details such as the email you want to use for signing up and managing your account, payment data, and possible cookies that identify your location. You can always create an email address through sites like proton mail to sign up rather than using your regular email address.

How VPNs Store Your Data

A reputable VPN site will have a clear privacy policy that is transparent and published on their website. Most of the time, data that’s associated with user activity is not stored or logged. Occasionally, this lack of storage can create problems at sign-in, so be sure to jot down your username and password because they probably are not going to be stored.

Auditing

Third-party auditors sometimes provide reports to provide further transparency for users and make them feel more comfortable using the site. Other providers do internal audits, which may or may not be available for public viewing.

The number one VPN user concern is, of course, privacy. If you suspect you are compromised, many VPNs have a kill switch that automatically disconnects when there is an internet outage. The immediate disconnection feature protects your data from being exposed when your internet connection goes down.

Involved in a Lawsuit? Use a VPN