A VPN can safeguard your data by ensuring that your connections are secure and private. But while sweeping claims of military-grade encryption or complete digital anonymity may entice you, Consumer Reports’ Yael Grauer advises you to look for more specific indicators that a service is legitimate before you sign a contract.

An excellent first step is compatibility. You should look for a service that is compatible with at the very least the most well-known operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. You’ll want to know how many devices are supported by the service and the number of http://www.allvpnnow.com/secure-your-board-documentation-with-a-limited-access-feature/ connections it will allow simultaneously. Finally, you’ll want to look at the number of servers available and their locations around the globe. This can help you select one close to your home or one that has fast speeds when you’re traveling across the globe.

Some services provide specific functions, such as dedicated “Netflix servers” that unblock geo-restricted sites, or extra security features, such RAM-only servers that wipes data every when the service is rebooted or switches to dark web monitoring and security features to guard against threats. Find out the ownership structure of the company and if there have been any data breaches or privacy issues in the past.

NordVPN was the best overall service we test. It offers thousands of servers spread across the world in 94 countries. It also provides AES-256 encryption, ChaCha20, a reliable Kill Switch split tunneling, a split tunneling, and an encrypted server. It’s also one of the few providers to publish its detailed no-logs policy and engages PricewaterhouseCoopers for annual audits. It’s not cheap, but you get a lot for your money. A long-term plan that is generous includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.