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In previous posts, Privacy Hive discussed the importance of choosing a privacy-enabled browser and browser extension, as they can help you block trackers, ads, and malware and enhance your online privacy and anonymity. However, these tools are not enough to protect your privacy and freedom on the internet, as your internet service provider (ISP), government, and hackers can still monitor and interfere with your online activities. That’s why you need another layer of protection: a personal VPN.

A personal VPN, or virtual private network, is a service that creates an encrypted connection between your device and a remote server operated by the VPN provider. This way, your internet traffic is routed through the server, hiding your IP address and location from prying eyes. A personal VPN also helps bypass geographic restrictions, censorship, and network throttling. This article will explain the different types of personal VPNs, their benefits, and the top five most popular VPNs.

Benefits of Personal VPNs

Using a personal VPN can provide you with several advantages, such as:

  • Privacy: A personal VPN can hide your IP address and location from websites, apps, and third parties that may track and monitor your online activities. This way, you can prevent them from collecting and selling your data or targeting you with ads and malware.
  • Security: A personal VPN can encrypt your internet traffic, making it unreadable and untraceable by hackers, ISPs, and governments. This way, you can protect your sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card details, and messages, from being intercepted and stolen.
  • Freedom: A personal VPN can help you access geo-restricted content, such as streaming services, social media, and news sites, that may be blocked or censored in your region. This way, you can enjoy online entertainment, communication, and information without compromising your privacy and security.
  • Performance: A personal VPN can improve internet speed and quality by avoiding network congestion, bandwidth throttling, and packet loss. This way, you can have a smoother and faster online experience, especially for gaming, streaming, and downloading.

Five Popular Personal VPNs

Many personal VPNs are available on the market, but not all are equally reliable, secure, and user-friendly. Here are five popular private VPNs that we suggest reviewing, along with their links to their sites:

  • ProtonVPN: This VPN is the best overall VPN, as it offers unmatched transparency, top-notch security, access to the Tor network, and a generous free plan.
  • PIAVPN: This VPN offers a secure connection to over 90 countries, unlimited devices, quality privacy tools, and an audited no-logs policy.  
  • NordVPN: This VPN offers fast and stable connections, many features, diskless servers, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Surfshark: This VPN is a low-cost VPN, as it offers unlimited simultaneous connections, lots of unique security features, and a low price.
  • ExpressVPN: This VPN is the goof for global location spoofers, as it offers a large and diverse network of servers, excellent for streaming, and a 1-year Backblaze subscription.

To sum up, a personal VPN is essential for anyone who values online privacy and freedom. A personal VPN can hide your IP address and location, encrypt your internet traffic, and help you access geo-restricted content. There are different types of private VPNs, each with advantages and disadvantages, but they all share the same goal: to protect your online activities from unwanted surveillance and interference. Whether you use a laptop or a phone, you should always use a personal VPN online, as it can enhance your privacy and anonymity.