Because of the current situation, VPN use is widespread in Azerbaijan. So many people look for a free VPN and come across all sorts of options. Some of the free VPN options carry a big risk, while the ones that don't are paid.
By risk, at such a critical time, we mean the risk of your data being stolen. But to fully understand that risk, let's first answer the questions: what is a VPN, and how does it work?
What is a VPN?
A VPN, short for Virtual Private Network, is a network system that makes it possible to change the IP address of the device you use. In other words, these programs keep you safe by hiding the user's real IP address.
How does a VPN work?
When you use it, the program creates a virtual network adapter on the device, and through that adapter the IP address of a country you choose, or one the program picks automatically, is set as your main IP address. Every website you visit from that device is sent your newly assigned IP address. This lets you open websites that are blocked in a given region.
What is the risk of a VPN?
The VPN program you use creates an extra tunnel between your device and the server you connect to (the machine where the website lives). This means all your data passes through that tunnel and the VPN can see it. Most programs say they don't store this data, but it's hard, even impossible, to know whether that's true. That's why we should research the VPN program we use in advance and not hand our personal data to a third party.
Which VPN programs are risky?
There are hundreds of VPN programs on the market, and choosing between them is quite hard. To make your choice easier, I'm sharing the “Dangerous VPNs” list researched by Tariyel Aghazada. If any of these VPNs is installed on your device, it's recommended that you remove it right away.
The list: SecureVPN, Hoxx VPN, VPN Area, VPN.ht, Hola, Ra4w VPN, VPN Gate, AzireVPN, BTGuard, Ace VPN, Touch VPN, Betternet, Speedify, DotVPN, Ivacy.
Which VPN is safe and free?
As someone who has tested many VPN programs, I can say that Psiphon is ahead of the others in both ease of use and security. Created by Psiphon Inc. in 2007 and downloaded more than 100 million times, the system has been tested by users ever since. Publishing its source code openly shows that the program takes security seriously. Psiphon is made for both mobile devices and computers running Windows.
How do you install Psiphon?
Go to the Psiphon download page, choose your operating system, then download and install it. When you open the program, it picks the most suitable country automatically and connects. If you like, you can also configure it manually.
