Finding a free VPN for expats can be a daunting task when you consider the many dangers of free VPNs, which we’ll be covering soon. However, if you follow the link above, you’ll find several great providers to choose from (one of which features unlimited bandwidth!)
More importantly, you won’t be exposed to the following threats. You probably have enough to worry about as an expat without adding more to the list.
The Hidden Dangers of Free VPNs
People overlook a major issue when it comes to free VPNs. How do the providers make money to run the service if nobody pays a dime? The answer is easy: they sell your data to advertisers. Now, for the most part they stick to selling your browsing history and which network-capable apps you use.
That’s creepy enough by itself, but some free providers managed to leak their users’ data online. 20 million peoples’ browsing habits, emails, addresses, payment info, and more are now up for grabs by shady individuals. These aren’t just isolated cases either.
A study by CSIRO has shown that nearly 40% of free Android VPNs contain malware designed to steal user data. Apple device users aren’t in the clear either. Sure, the tech giant has been lauded as taking user security more seriously on average. However, a group of researchers revealed that 80% of the top 20 free VPNs on the App Store violate its data collection policies.
Finally, we can’t forget that one time a free VPN (Hola) basically used its users’ devices in a cyber attack as part of a botnet. A botnet is basically a network of devices that are controlled from a central location for malicious purposes. These devices are usually infected with malware without the user’s knowledge, though in this case everyone knowingly downloaded the free VPN.
Top Reasons to Use a Free VPN as an Expat
Aside from these glaring issues with a good portion of free providers, expats can still enjoy some of the benefits of using a VPN. Things such as:
- Getting past Internet censorship during government-mandated blackouts. For example, Turkish protesters used free VPNs to evade censorship of Facebook and Twitter a few years ago, with similar cases popping up every so often.
- Bypassing firewalls at work so you can sneak in some social media and other blocked content during downtime.
- Unblocking some content only available back home, such as
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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