Author: Bruce

Now that we have amply established why having more VPN servers is better, we can talk about why that isn’t the only thing that matters. This boils down to two things: Server locationsServer infrastructureThe importance of server locationsWe have already touched upon the importance of server locations. They determine speed drop depending on how far away the user is. So having more server locations spread around the globe (Surfshark has servers in 100 countries) means a more universal coverage for many more users around the world. This is preferable to just having a handful of locations, even if they host [more…]

Say you have a single VPN server in Prague. This means that every client connecting to your VPN server will connect via the Prague server. This raises a few issues: All users will be getting IPs in the Czech Republic, which may not be what they desire.That server is going to get clogged up by traffic really fast.Users in Bolivia will experience a larger internet speed drop when connecting to Prague than users in other parts of Europe.Regarding the first point, having a specific IP may be important for people who want to unlock specific foreign content (this includes Czech [more…]

Should I turn a VPN on or off?If you’re using the internet on your iPhone, you should always keep your VPN turned on. There aren’t many cases where having it off is beneficial, but we’ll try and list them anyway. When to turn a VPN on When using public Wi-FiWhen carrying out operations that involve sensitive dataWhen you need to overcome blocks and censorshipWhen shopping online When to turn a VPN off When banking (banking apps can be very fussy about VPN use) When mobile data usage is of critical importanceWhen your connection is slow and you want to stream [more…]

You shouldn’t take the task of choosing a VPN provider lightly. After all, you’ll be putting your privacy in their hands. First, you should rule out free VPNs if you care about online privacy. There are too many cases of free VPN providers selling your data to ad agencies or otherwise mishandling information. We nudge you to try Surfshark when securing iOS devices. Here’s a list of things we cover: Encryption and protocols — security is the most important aspect of any VPN. AES-256 is the industry-leading encryption at the moment, and you shouldn’t settle for anything else. The same [more…]

You can set up and use a VPN automatically (a bit easier option) or manually (takes more time). The quickest way to start enjoying an encrypted connection is by choosing a VPN provider — we’ll talk about that later on — and downloading their app.The easiest way — get an app and use it straight off the bat The advantage of an app is that the setup and most settings are automated — you‘ll save time and won‘t need to fiddle with the different settings of various protocols. A VPN service also has additional functions, like a dedicated IP or [more…]

You should use a VPN on your iPhone to stay secure online and access public Wi-Fi safely, above other things. According to Forbes research, 40% of respondents had their information compromised while using public Wi-Fi. Despite appearing harder to hack, iPhones are as prone to malicious attacks as any other device. In his 2021 interview with Forbes, Gil Shwed, often regarded as the inventor of the modern computer firewall, stated that iPhones aren’t more secure than Androids. Shwed also said that 95% of smartphones accessing core enterprise systems don’t carry security software. A VPN could reduce that number. Also, regardless [more…]

What do we talk about when we talk about tracking?It’s important to first understand what tracking is in this context. There are three aspects to it: Can someone see that you’re using a VPN?What information is available to them?Can they see what you’re doing online?Let’s explore it. Can you be tracked with a VPN?You can’t be tracked when using a VPN because it encrypts your data. As a result, your ISP or bad actors can’t get any information out of your traffic. All they can see is the VPN server IP address, while your real IP and all your online [more…]