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VPN security: how do VPNs ensure safety?

  • Encrypt your internet traffic
  • Obfuscate your VPN use
  • Maintain your online privacy
  • Protect your sensitive data
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How secure are VPNs?

A reputable, top-tier VPN (Virtual Private Network) provides a secure connection by using industry-leading encryption and VPN protocols and ensures no activity logging.

A VPN creates an encrypted communication tunnel between your device and the internet and masks your IP (Internet Protocol) address. That means the data sent through the secure tunnel is encrypted and nearly untraceable.

How secure are VPNs?

How does a secure VPN work?

Once you download a VPN app and hit Connect, this is what a secure VPN does:

  1. Your device connects to the VPN provider’s server with specified credentials.
  2. The credentials are authenticated by the server.
  3. Your VPN app sets up a tunneled connection to the server and manages the encryption.
  4. Your device establishes and maintains a secure VPN connection.

Two main things happen after you turn on the VPN: your IP address changes to the server’s IP you’re connected to, and all your online traffic is encrypted.

Let’s say you start browsing after turning on the VPN. 

Now that the app and the VPN server have an “agreed upon cipher,” every bit of data is encrypted before it reaches your ISP (Internet Service Provider). When the data reaches the VPN server, it gets decrypted.

That’s how your internet connection becomes more secure and private.

How does a secure VPN work?

What are the main VPN security features?

Obfuscation

Obfuscation

Obfuscation hides your data and the fact that you’re using a VPN connection. This technology ensures that even your ISP won’t know you’re connected to a VPN.

Kill switch

If your VPN connection drops, a kill switch shuts off your internet connection. This way, you don’t stay online without VPN protection and prevent sensitive data from leaking.

Split tunneling

VPN split tunneling allows you to choose which apps and online data should go through the VPN’s encrypted tunnel and which can be transmitted directly without encryption.

No user tracking

A reputable paid VPN won’t track users by keeping usage logs. In other words, a no-logs VPN doesn’t log your online activity.

Latest protocols

VPN protocols define how a VPN works. They authorize, authenticate, encrypt, and transport traffic. A VPN service should have the latest industry-standard protocols: Wireguard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN.

DNS leak protection

DNS leak protection

DNS (Domain Name System) servers are databases of all public domains on the internet. A DNS server changes URLs like surfshark.com into IP addresses. A good VPN protects you from leaking your DNS requests.

Get the best VPN for online security worry-free

Surfshark is a secure VPN provider, and you can try it out before committing to it in the long term. Giving it a go is easy with Surfshark’s 30-day money-back guarantee. If you want a refund, request it within the first 30 days of your subscription, and you’ll get your money back, no questions asked.

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Why do you need a secure VPN?

Use public Wi-Fi safely

Free public Wi-Fi isn’t secure, and hackers can easily compromise Wi-Fi hotspots. If you connect to a fake or compromised hotspot, you risk sharing your credentials, log-ins, and credit card info. A VPN will encrypt your data before it leaves your device, making it useless to the hotspot hacker.

Avoid censorship

Avoid censorship

Staying in countries where governments censor the internet could infringe on our right to freedom of speech and expression. Use a VPN with obfuscated servers to avoid censorship and access the free web wherever you are.

Protect personal data from snoopers

Your online activity benefits data brokers, internet providers, and the government, who can inspect your data traffic anytime. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, so no snoops or extra eyes can spy on your online activities.

Access home entertainment

Access home entertainment

Some internet content may not be available in certain regions because of censorship. When traveling, connect to a VPN server in your country and browse as if you were at home, with access to your favorite content and media sites.

Remove bandwidth throttling

Your ISP can slow down your connection if you’re streaming shows or downloading files. Connect to a VPN to binge your favorite series in the privacy of your home without internet throttling.

Disclaimer: Please note that using Surfshark services for any illegal activities is strictly forbidden and violates our Terms of Service. Make sure that any use of Surfshark services for your particular activities conforms to all relevant laws and regulations, including those of any service providers and websites you access using Surfshark.

Are free VPNs secure?

No, generally, free VPNs are not secure. You should stay away from free VPN services because, in the worst-case scenario, they can harm your online security by selling your data to third parties or infecting your device through malware or malvertising.

Are free VPNs secure?

Independent audits

Surfshark takes pride in being among the most reputable VPN providers globally. To verify the credibility of its services, Surfshark has undergone independent audits by some of the most accredited auditing companies. 

Cure53 audited Surfshark’s server infrastructure and found no significant concerns. They also evaluated our browser extensions, proving their robust security. Another company, Deloitte, verified Surfshark VPN’s compliance with its no-logs policy.

The successful completion of these audits proves that Surfshark is a legitimate and reliable VPN service provider.

Independent audits

Enjoy online security

whenever and wherever

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Frequently asked questions

Common VPN security issues are mostly related to free VPN providers and data leaks. Some free VPN services aren’t transparent about collecting user data and are known to sell or leak user data. So, it’s best to pick a paid VPN provider to avoid such risks.

Not really. The right to privacy is no grounds for suspicion, and using a VPN is legal in most parts of the world. VPNs with obfuscation even hide that you’re using a VPN.

However, using the Tor browser with a VPN may attract attention from your ISP because of Tor’s association with the dark web.

Thanks to a VPN, you are safe from many of the hackers out there. But remember that if you click on a malicious link and download a virus or some other malware, a VPN won’t be able to help you. A VPN only protects your online connection.

To test if your VPN is working, go to what is my IP and check if it’s different from your original one. To see if your VPN works securely, you can check if it’s leaking your data by doing a DNS or WebRTC leak test.

Yes, Surfshark VPN is safe. Surfshark uses only industry-leading VPN protocols and encryption algorithms to ensure security and privacy. Surfshark also doesn’t log your activities online and has passed multiple independent audits to prove the legitimacy of its services.