How to Choose a VPN: Key Criteria for Selection

By Ava McKinneyOnline Safety

Criteria for Choosing a VPN

Many people ask themselves: “Which VPN should I choose?” First, it’s important to clarify that a VPN service does not guarantee 100% anonymity. These types of services should be tested, but even thorough testing cannot ensure complete privacy. VPN services are often used for more “sensitive” activities. However, when choosing such a service, you should rely on common sense and follow some simple criteria, which are outlined below.

Of course, there is a lot of talk these days about bans on VPN and proxy services. However, it’s not entirely clear how these bans will be enforced, and, as we know, there are plenty of ways to bypass restrictions. But that’s a topic for another day.

What You Should Know When Choosing an Anonymous VPN Service

  1. Server Location. Pay attention to the country where the server is located. It’s best to choose a country with a strong internet infrastructure, such as Germany or Japan.
  2. Log Retention and Storage. You can ask customer support about their log retention policy, but it’s not always meaningful, as they will likely claim they don’t keep any logs. In reality, every service keeps some logs. Choose a site where logs are kept for no more than 24 hours and only store connection information. Be sure to clarify this point.
  3. Type of VPN Connection. All types of VPN connections are generally suitable for ensuring anonymity. Each has its own advantages, so you may want to research them in more detail.
  4. Payment Method. The best option is Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency. However, you could also use a prepaid card. In any case, make your payment as anonymously as possible.
  5. Reputation. You can look at reviews, but don’t trust them blindly. Try searching for the VPN service’s name in search engines and look for real user feedback on security and anonymity forums (preferably on TOR).
  6. Domain Registration Date. Many VPN services tend to change their domain (for example, hideme after being blocked). You can check the registration date of the VPN service’s domain to see how long it has been on the market, assuming the domain hasn’t changed.

That’s all for now. Good luck!

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