There are many types of VPNs , some free and some paid, and while they all promise privacy, not all deliver. Over time, you will learn to quickly spot the warning signs of a VPN. If a VPN shows any of these signs, you should quickly abandon it before installing it.
8. Unclear logging policy
A no-logs policy is one of the biggest selling points of the best VPNs. If a VPN has an unclear or ambiguous logging policy, that's a big red flag. VPNs are designed to protect user privacy by first hiding IP addresses and second encrypting internet traffic.
If they log your activity, the original purpose is no longer served because you're just transferring your data from your ISP to the VPN company. Additionally, if your VPN provider keeps logs, those records could be turned over if requested by law enforcement. Or, your activity could be sold to third parties or disclosed in a data breach. When reviewing a logging policy, don't just glance at a company's homepage and take their no-logs claims at face value.
7. Based in a country with strict surveillance policies
Where a VPN is based matters more than you might think. A VPN may claim to have a no-logs policy, but this can easily be compromised if it is based in a country with invasive surveillance or strict data retention requirements. It's also important to consider whether the VPN's jurisdiction is privacy-friendly.
The most notorious countries to avoid altogether are those that are part of the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and Fourteen Eyes surveillance alliances, which include the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Belgium. Countries in any of these alliances have agreements to spy on their citizens, share intelligence, and have legal frameworks that can force companies to hand over user data or worse.
6. Lack of transparency in ownership
When you use a VPN , you're essentially handing over your internet traffic to a third party, and as such, you deserve to know who's behind the company. If a provider isn't open about who owns or operates it, that's a big red flag.
Whether or not you trust a provider to take good care of your user data depends on who's behind the curtain. Trust requires transparency and accountability, so if a company hides behind anonymity, it doesn't deserve access to your private internet activity.
5. No Kill Switch
Kill Switch is a feature that disconnects your device from the Internet whenever the VPN connection is unexpectedly lost. This feature prevents your Internet traffic from being sent or received outside the VPN's secure tunnel until the VPN connection is restored.
This feature ensures that in case the connection drops, when you are sending or receiving private information, that information will not be known to your ISP or even bad guys monitoring your traffic. Many factors can cause the connection to drop, including Internet issues, VPN server issues, or even application issues.
4. Lack of anti-leakage protection
In addition to a Kill Switch, leak protection is another important feature to look for when evaluating a VPN. Simply tapping connect to a VPN doesn't immediately guarantee that your activity is private and secure.
Leaks are another thing to watch out for because even with a secure connection, your real IP address, DNS requests, or IPv6 traffic can still leak out of the VPN tunnel. Without a VPN that has leak protection, it's like locking the door while leaving a window open. Don't confuse leak protection with a Kill Switch: a Kill Switch prevents leaks when you disconnect, while leak protection takes care of the problem when you connect.
3. Some servers and server locations
Another red flag to look out for when shopping for a VPN is a limited number of servers and server locations. This may not seem like a big deal, but it plays a big role in service performance and privacy. Fewer servers means more congestion as the number of users increases, as more people will be connecting to a single server.
This results in slower speeds or unstable connections, making the service unusable for low-latency, high-bandwidth activities like streaming, gaming, or downloading large files. Worse still, during peak hours, there may be instances where you can't connect to a particular server or server location due to congestion.
2. Offer lifetime subscription packages
Paying for subscriptions is a pain, especially for VPNs, where the most reliable ones cost around $10/month unless you opt for a long-term plan. At first glance, a VPN that offers a lifetime subscription might seem like a bargain. But for a VPN, that's a red flag.
You see, running a VPN service isn't cheap and it requires ongoing operating costs. Providers have to continually invest in infrastructure, development, security, and support. If a service offers a lifetime subscription, how will they fund ongoing operations? Surely, there won't be enough new customers signing up each month to sustain the service.
1. Does not support modern protocols
The protocol a VPN uses determines how your data is encrypted and transmitted, which directly affects both security and speed. There are several VPN protocols, and most VPN providers support at least two of them. The main protocols include WireGuard, OpenVPN , L2TP/IPsec, IKEv2, and PPTP .
Outdated protocols, such as PPTP, IKEv1, and some older implementations of L2TP/IPsec, are no longer considered secure. So if a VPN only supports these older protocols, don't use them.
That's why even some of the best VPN providers, like ExpressVPN , NordVPN , and Surfshark , are dropping support for older protocols and recommending modern ones like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard. If a VPN doesn't support modern protocols or doesn't mention what protocols it uses, skip it.
Since learning the difference between a good VPN and a bad VPN, many people no longer believe exaggerated marketing claims. These signs are all too common, so if you see a VPN provider that has one of these characteristics, don't risk it. With so many private and trustworthy VPNs on the market, don't make a mistake you'll regret later.