Linux is always a great option for anyone who is concerned about their privacy. First of all, it is open-source, so all the code is transparent. This means that if there are any bugs or omissions, someone will see and they will be fixed very quickly. It is a big community and we are relatively sure that Linux is pretty safe to use. But, if you still want to go a step further and want to be safe while surfing the Internet, then you will probably want to use a VPN service.
As you know, by using a VPN, you are putting another layer of protection on your Internet connection to be anonymous and secure while you are online, although take this word – anonymous – with caution. Your IP address is hidden from your ISP and services that record IP addresses, but you are still not 100 % anonymous. That is important for many reasons, the same as those in regard to the security when using Windows and go on the Internet, above all to keep your private data, such as credit card and bank account numbers, safe given that we do a lot of shopping online nowadays as well as gambling online. An extra step for the latter activity is gained by gambling at trusted casino websites that are rated here. But regardless, a VPN service is something we always recommend and use ourselves on a daily basis.
A VPN provides a certain amount of security while you are on the Internet because your connection is encrypted, and the ISP does not see what you are doing on the Internet. So, if someone tries to steal your data or intercept your Internet connection, they will not be able to do so. The VPN connection is encrypted and almost impossible to intercept and decrypt.
What Linux users have encountered so far is the lack of native Linux applications when they pay for a VPN service. Windows and Mac users almost always get their native VPN application, type in a username and password, and can use a VPN in 30 seconds. Linux users had to manage on their own, download third-party applications, set up an Internet connection to go through a VPN server, etc… However, not everything is so dark. There are several quite good VPN services offered by native Linux applications, and below you will see which ones we have singled out and how you can use them.
ExpressVPN
- Number of servers: 3,000+
- Server locations: 160
- IP addresses: 30,000+
- Number of supported devices: 5
Probably one of the best VPNs that Linux users can take is ExpressVPN. Unfortunately, this VPN provider does not offer a graphical VPN application but only through a terminal, and setting up an ExpressVPN is extremely easy. ExpressVPN offers support for 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and CentOS. If you have another distribution, you can always manually configure OpenVPN using the ExpressVPN tutorial you have on their web pages.
As for the VPN itself, it is registered in the Virgin Islands and offers pretty good performance. The speed is relatively high and consistent. You will not have any problems and it even works great with P2P protocols. It does not log data about its users, it does not log their location or the traffic they operate. Therefore, it should be a good enough choice for most users.
ExpressVPN is fantastic, it offers a handful of features, but it is more expensive than the competition. You have a 30-day trial period, so give it a try. If you are not satisfied, they will refund you that $ 12-13 without too many questions asked. If you like it, we recommend that you buy an annual subscription because then a month costs about $ 6.67, plus you get three extra months for free.
AirVPN
- Number of servers: 246
- Server locations: 72
- IP addresses: N/A
- Number of supported devices: 5
AirVPN runs an OpenVPN-based service and is quite proud to be extremely transparent and open around its service and network. The service is very adaptable to the needs of users. It has a native application (as we said, based on OpenVPN) that you can run on 32-bit and 64-bit Linux distributions, and ARM/Raspberry Pi architectures. Unfortunately, there are some distributions where the GUI will not work and you will have to manage the AirVPN via the command line or terminal, similar to ExpressVPN. So, in terms of launch, use, and security, we only give it positive ratings.
What some resent about this service is the smaller number of servers and the small number of locations where the servers are located. This can only be a problem if you want to use servers that are in some ‘security oases’. Let’s also mention that AirVPN offers a kill switch, which we like. Also, all servers support Open VPN over SSH, OpenVPN over SSL, and OpenVPN over Tor. AirVPN has no logs that record your online activity.
Prices are reasonable and range from $ 1.20 for 3 days of use (or initial service testing) to $ 64 for a year of service.
TorGuard
- Number of servers: 3,000+
- Server locations: 68
- IP addresses: N/A
- Number of supported devices: 8
TorGuard offers 32-bit and 64-bit Debian/Ubuntu, RedHat, and Arch client, along with a detailed guide on how to set up a VPN. Interestingly, users have a bunch of options at their disposal that they can ‘play’ with and that is why this may not be the best choice for beginners. But if you don’t mind ‘getting your hands dirty’ and getting to work, then there is no problem. Just be prepared to spend some time until you set up a VPN the way you want.
What worries us a bit about this VPN service is the speed. It varies quite a lot and sometimes has quite high latency. On the other hand, you have a lot of servers to try. Some have better, some worse connections, so you will need to find one that suits you – in terms of location, speed, and latency. What we additionally like about this service is the fact that the company is seriously committed to safety and user protection. This includes, among other things,
Perfect Forward Secrecy, many supported protocols, AnyConnect SSL and OpenConnect SSL supports, malware blocking, technology that avoids “deep package inspection”… Also, there are no logs about your online activity.
The price is relatively good because if you buy a subscription for 6, 12, or 24 months, then you only pay $ 5 a month. If you plan to take only a month, then the price is $ 9.99.
HideMyAss
- Number of servers: 1,000+
- Server locations: 290+
- IP addresses: 100,000
- Number of supported devices: 5
And for the end, we left HideMyAss (HMA). It is a VPN service that offers relatively easy use through its simple VPN client. However, you can connect to HMA servers in several ways: through the mentioned client, through the OpenVPN client, etc.… We liked the simple client that you can download from the official site.
HMA is a service offered by Avast because it owns it. This instills certain trust in the use of this service because you know that the world-famous company is behind this service, but also behind every server it offers. And it offers over 1,000 servers in over 290 locations worldwide! We would dare to say that it may have the most widespread servers in the world. Perhaps it does not have the most servers but has them in most locations.
As for speed, it is above average in all tests, which is good news. Of course, again, it all depends on the distance of the server, the congestion of the same, the connection… But in general, the speeds are satisfactory. As far as security is concerned, we trust Avast and we are pretty sure that this service is very safe to use. But if you look at its privacy policy, you will see that some sessions and some data are logged for a certain amount of time. They are then deleted, but unlike the competition, HMA has certain information about your online activities. For us, it is a relative deal-breaker, but you may not find it as a drawback.
If you want to try HMA, you can opt for a 7-day free trial and see how it suits you. After that, you pay $ 12 a month if you take one a month. If you take a semi-annual subscription, then the price is around $ 48, i.e. $ 84 for 12 months of use.
