What to Look for in a VPN for Travel

There are many reasons a person abroad would want a VPN. For some, it’s as simple as accessing Netflix. Others utilize a lot of public WiFi and want to keep data secure. Privacy advocates take it even further by protecting their information from government surveillance (an even bigger problem in some countries overseas).

Whatever the reason, there are a few things to keep an eye out for:

1. Cost – The rise in privacy-awareness incentivized many VPN providers to offer their services for free in exchange for poor security and even selling your information á la Facebook. This is one area where you don’t want to go cheap: Get a paid VPN service, you can find a good one in the $10–20 range.
2. Security – Be sure find one that secures your traffic, preferably with multiple layers of encryption through stringent protocols like L2TP, Ipsec and SSL.
3. Availability – You’ll want a variety of server locations (or at least one that’s in the country with access to Netflix). While location doesn’t affect security (for reputable companies), it will affect your connection speed, so you’ll want to choose a server that borders your destination country.
4. Speed – VPNs are preferable to the uber-secure TOR network because of its speed and ease of use, though not all providers will have the same data rate. Speed won’t matter if all you’re doing is emailing people, but for streaming YouTube, you’ll want a VPN that can keep up.
5. Mobility – If you’re going to need your smartphone, find a provider that allows mobile connections.
6. Legality – VPNs are legal in the United States, but some countries like China and Iran banned its use.