The main purpose of a VPN is to keep you safe online. Therefore, you must choose wisely. Betternet is a great VPN service provider, with many strengths and a few weaknesses. It is based in Canada, has servers across the globe, and offers a free version of its VPN. Continue reading to find out if Betternet is safe and determine if it is the right VPN for you!
The Basics
Betternet covers your real IP address by using one of its many IP addresses. They have servers in the US, Europe, and Asia, so you can connect to any of those servers and appear as an Internet user from Hong Kong or the Netherlands. Since no one can find out what your real IP address is, no one will know what you are doing online, including your Internet service provider and government.
Data Encryption
Although your IP address is masked, that’s not enough to keep your data and personal information safe. Betternet provides top-notch encryption for the utmost security of any info you share online. If you use the IPSec protocol, your data is protected with strong 128-bit AES-CBC encryption. This VPN provider also works with military-grade 256-bit AES encryption through the OpenVPN protocol.
OpenVPN is regarded as the best VPN protocol nowadays. It’s extremely adaptable and can work on any port, which helps you stay safe even when you use a public Wi-Fi network or open an unsecured website.
Betternet has also introduced its own Hexa protocol, which is almost impossible to block. You can use the Hexa protocol if you opt for the HexaTech app, which you can download from Play Store or iTunes. It is currently available for Android and iOS only.
Additional Security Features
The biggest advantage of Betternet is that it’s free and therefore doesn’t require any personal information upon download or activation. You don’t have to create an account, you don’t have to leave your name, credit card number, not even your email address. Betternet keeps you safe even before you actually activate the app.
For extra safety, Betternet has a strict no logs policy, which means it doesn’t save any of your activity logs, ports or personal information. This is very important because if the authorities ask for any information, there is no information to give.
Devices
Betternet works on almost any major platform. It’s compatible with Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS. You can protect your computer, tablet, smartphone or iPad and use them safely whenever you want. There are also extensions for Chrome and Firefox in case you want to protect your browser separately.
Disadvantages
As with any other VPN service provider, there are a few shortcomings. Unfortunately, Betternet doesn’t have any advanced features like kill switch or special DNS protection. Furthermore, in case you opt for the Premium membership, you’ll have to share your bank card info since Betternet doesn’t accept BitCoin for now.
Final Thoughts
All in all, every VPN comes with advantages and disadvantages and it’s up to you to choose the one that can best fit your personal requirements. If you are worried about your online safety, you can rest assured that Betternet is safe. If you want to know more about this VPN provider, take a look at our Betternet review.