Ever since the pandemic, there has been a surge in online streaming. All your favorite shows have migrated from the conventional movie and TV releases to Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, etc. Let alone in Canada, the streaming business is growing at the rate of 6.4% and it is expected that by the end of 2022, there will be only 48% cable tv subscribers left in Canada.
Now instead of viewers moving to cinema houses, relying on their streaming platforms to enjoy the latest releases at home. But there is a drawback that not all the users can easily get to watch them on these streaming services due to geo-restrictions on certain platforms in Canada. Because some of their favorite shows get out of reach due to regional limitations. But luckily, we have VPNs.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have been widely used for safe surfing, browsing control, and security reasons. In the pandemic, VPNs got a wider use on online streaming because of their ability to remove all regional limitations. That is when another trouble began.
So many people turned to VPNs, both paid and free, without considering the ramifications. There has been seen a growth of 206% in VPN use in Canada. “Free VPN” sounds tempting to freebies but if you think about security, it is dangerous to use fully free VPNs. But there are some free VPN Services for Canada having a certain level of free packages with premium quality VPN services. But if you look at fully free VPNs, it is going to cost you a lot more than you think. To help you understand, here are some reasons why we do not recommend any random and fully free VPN to stream your favorite shows in Canada and risk the security of your devices.
Drainage of Bandwidth:
You’re streaming your favorite TV show through a free VPN and suddenly, you face video buffering. That would be a bummer. Turns out, free VPNs tend to slow the internet due to excess load on their servers. This is why, at some peak hours of the day, you’ll find your free VPN the cause of your anger.
On the other hand, paid VPNs to allot a certain level of bandwidth and have fully equipped dedicated servers that maintain your bandwidth speed. If your use is primarily streaming, it is best not to have slow internet due to free VPN.
The promise of security?
The word VPN may be synonymous with security, control, and safety (figuratively, not literally) but that is not the case with free VPN. Before you use a VPN, you must check the security protocols it offers. Many paid VPNs endorse their security protocols as an assurance for their user to feel safe.
Free VPNs lack having security protocols and that can harm your device and its data. Some of the protocols include PPTP, SSTP, IPSec, OpenVPN, etc. They are responsible for bringing you a secure live streaming experience and secure location, none of which is promised in a free VPN.
An entry point for leaks:
Your antiviral software is in a constant struggle to save your credentials from malicious sites. And here you are ruining its efforts by adding a free VPN. A VPN is responsible for your security features like I.P. address and DNS. What’s stopping the VPN from leaking it further?
Think about it! It is a free VPN so they’re not getting anything in return. Also, their policies are not in black and white. This is a major warning sign about the use of free VPNs. Alternatively, we’ve seen this written in bold that I.P addresses are kept secret, hidden, and are not stored on servers in paid VPNs. That’s the kind of security you need in such a risky transaction.
Anonymous or not?
One of the biggest reasons people use VPNs is to maintain anonymity in searches. They are relaxed knowing that their surfing is not logged. That’s a good thing but these logs are temporarily stored and later removed. What if, in this little temporary window, the VPN fails to protect these logs under cyber-attacks? That’s what has happened in the past and continues to happen today.
Granted, these cyber-attacks have happened on paid VPNs as well, but free VPN choices are more likely to be under attack. It is also important to note that paid VPNs have it clearly stated that no user logs are stored. You can’t find this promise on a paid VPN. The anonymity of the person is compromised, and the device is vulnerable to cyber-attacks like ransomware. Free VPNs do not promise that your local ISP and data centers will not be sold the data. So, before you make the bold move, check wisely.
Conclusion
Every year, many VPNs lose precious amounts of data due to cyber-attacks. Research by ThreatMatrix showed there were more than 4.9 billion fraud attacks in 2020. For all Canadians, it is not worth the risk to go for the 100% free VPN options.
If you still opt for a free VPN, there is still a way to check whether it is right for you. Firstly, you must check the security protocols being used by the VPN, followed by their regulations. There is still no guarantee whether the company promises what’s written.
When it comes to matters of security, one must not cheap out by opting for a free VPN. Your favorite shows matter but, by using a secure paid VPN, you can sit back, relax, and feel safe while surfing your favorite TV shows.
