MASTER YOUR VPN

You don’t need to be paranoid or have a desperate desire to see what’s on US Netflix to enjoy the benefits of a virtual private network (VPN). As the UK Prime Minister told the Russian people in an online speech recently: “All you need is a VPN connection to access independent information from anywhere in the world” (www.snipca. com/41726). And Boris Johnson is completely right: even in less oppressed countries, where the internet isn’t censored and the media is free from state control, a VPN lets you access any content you like and prevents you from being spied on while you do so.

With VPNs currently soaring in popularity (and not just in Russia), we decided that now was the perfect time to take a closer look at the subject. Even if you already use a VPN, it may not be offering the fastest speeds, tightest security, best features and largest choice of servers available. And if you’ve never tried one before, you may be wondering if everything you’ve heard about VPNs is true.

Here we review the latest VPN tools to discover what each has to offer. We also expose the truth behind common VPN myths and misconceptions, explain how to tweak hidden settings for optimum speed and security, and reveal exciting new content from abroad you can now unblock.

FIVE COMMON VPN MYTHS BUSTED

All VPNs keep you anonymous

A VPN encrypts the connection between your PC or mobile device and a web server. This disguises your IP address so websites and apps can’t see your location - and neither can hackers or snoopers. However, some VPNs collect usage data, including your IP address, connection times and details of your activities, and sell it to third parties such as advertisers.

Even reputable VPNs may be required to pass your data to government agencies, if they’re based in one of the ‘Fourteen Eyes’ countries. This international alliance is an expansion of the original Five Eyes alliance formed during the Cold War, and includes the UK, United States, Canada, Australia, and France (see for the full list,