Best VPN for Windows 2018

Microsoft Windows is one of the most popular operating system used all over the world.  With successful versions such as Windows XP and Windows 7, Microsoft holds a dominant user loyalty in the operating systems market.  Having said that, all Windows users know that the system has various vulnerabilities and any tech geek, like me, would perhaps agree that other operating systems provide better overall security than Windows has ever been able to provide.  Among various threats, you are exposed to different privacy concerns: threat of information leakage to hackers, spammers, governmental agencies, etc. In addition to this, you are blocked access to geo restricted websites.  VPNs offer a great way to bypass geo-blocked content and let you browse an internet without borders.

Here are some of the best VPN for Windows of 2018

HideMyAss VPN	Pure VPN	IpVanish VPN	Nord VPN	CyberGhost VPN
$9.99/Months	$9.95/Months	$10.00/Months	$11.96/Months	$11.98/Months
190 Countries 860 Servers	141 Countries 750 Servers	60 Countries 1000 Servers	60 Countries 3000 Servers	30 Countries 1000 Servers

Some of the advantages of using a Windows VPN:

• Strengthened security (encryption & protocol)
• Secure internet browsing
• Unblocking Geo Restricted Content
• Fast streaming
• Masking your IP address / Anonymity

Why do I need a VPN?

Most of the Western world’s internet is relatively free and unrestricted.  You can visit the vast majority of websites without fear of prosecution, and be served the same content as users in other countries – for no extra cost.

Unfortunately, your internet freedom does not travel with your passport (and laptop).  Travel to South Korea for example, and you’re subject to South Korean internet laws meaning will only have access to restricted content.  Also, some services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video will be geo-blocked, meaning you’ll be served smaller libraries than you’re used to at home. The flipside is that if you travel to the US and connect to the web, your Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video libraries will swell.

A VPN offers you a way around location-based internet.

Protect Yourself

This is where Windows VPN comes in to play: providing security via encryption and tunneling your data through secure protocols.  It is imperative that you secure your private information and all your sensitive data; in this world that is filled with cyber-goons looking to exploit the vulnerabilities in Windows.

A Windows VPN is the best tool that you can use to negate all the malevolence present over the internet.  It will strengthen your security levels, working alongside with Anti-Virus and Firewall. Using different security measures, masking your IP address, and providing anonymity, a VPN on Windows will also allow you access to Geo Restricted content as well.

Choosing VPN

Choosing the right VPN can be confusing. Here are the four main features you need to look out for.

1. Server location

VPNs rely on their own network of servers. If you want to watch US Netflix for example, pick a VPN that has multiple servers in the US. Likewise, if you based in the UK and want to watch BBC iPlayer when you’re abroad, pick a VPN that has several servers based in the UK.

2. Is it in a ‘Five Eyes’ country?

If you’re employing a VPN for privacy reasons, this should be near the top of your priorities list.

The Five Eyes agreement is between the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and is designed for the free sharing of intelligence between these nations.

What this means is if your VPN provider is based in a Five Eyes nation, a government within could, in theory, demand to access data from your VPN provider. If this is something that concerns you, choose a VPN that’s not based in one of these countries. Better yet, choose a VPN that doesn’t keep logs of your activity as well.

3. How fast is the VPN

The performance of your VPN is also a huge factor as you will only be able to browse the web at the speed your VPN server allows – regardless of what connection speed you have at home. Of course, the speed of VPNs will vary from minute to minute, but the reputation of the VPN’s speed is definitely something you want to pay attention to.

4. Multiple OS support?

It’s hard to believe, but some of the major VPNs still don’t offer multi-platform support. Buffered, for example, doesn’t have an iOS app, instead, you have to download OpenVPN and battle through pages of settings to get started.

The best VPNs will have dedicated apps that run on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and some even support Linux. Check the table above for more details.

Share this post