November 29, 2021

Best Android phones under $200 in 2021

JOE MARING, JERAMY JOHNSON and NAMERAH SAUD FATMI, 29 Nov 2021




Source: Joe Maring / Android Central


BEST ANDROID PHONES UNDER $200 - ANDROID CENTRAL2021


Believe it or not, there are plenty of great, inexpensive smartphones you should consider, so we rounded up the best Android phones under $200. Smartphones that cost $1,000 and more have quickly become commonplace in the market, and for anyone on a budget, those steep prices can quickly induce a headache. If you need a new handset but only have a couple of hundred bucks to spend, the Moto G Fast is our top favorite with three cameras and a large screen to enjoy all those photos and videos. Today, we're not only talking about the Moto G Fast, but also some of the best phones that bring tremendous value to the low-end space.






Best overall Android phone under $200:Moto G Fast
Best alternative Android phone under $200:Moto G Play 2021 - Blue
Best value Android phone under $200:Nokia G20 - Glacier
Best Samsung Android phone under $200:Samsung Galaxy A12
Best OnePlus Android phone under $200:OnePlus Nord N100 - Midnight Frost
Best battery on an Android phone under $200:Moto G Power 2021 - Silver
Best rugged Android phone under $200:Blackview BV5900 - Rugged Smartphone
Best international Android phone under $200:Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 - Forest Green


Best overall Android phone under $200: Moto G Fast




Source: Joe Maring / Android Central





The Moto G Fast hits the very top of our $200 budget, and all things considered, it's the best phone you can buy when looking at Android devices this cheap.



G Fast's hardware is built far better than you'd expect for a phone in this price tier. It feels substantial when held, doesn't rattle or creak, and all physical buttons feel very clicky. The 6.4-inch LCD is also good, giving you a large canvas with minimal bezels, great colors, and good viewing angles. The HD+ resolution means that things aren't quite as sharp as you may like, but all things considered, it's a fine screen.

You get three cameras on the back, including a 16MP primary camera, 8MP ultra-wide camera, and 2MP macro camera. That 16MP sensor takes surprisingly detailed and vibrant shots, and while the quality dips with the other sensors, it's still a lot of fun to have them for expanded shooting possibilities. Battery life is another strong point, with the 4,000 mAh battery allowing for up to two days of use for some folks. Thankfully, it also charges via USB-C.

Making all of this even better is the Moto G Fast's software, which is excellent. The user interface is reminiscent of what you'd find on a Google Pixel, with Motorola making a few thoughtful changes that only elevate the experience. Moto Display continues to be the best Always-On Display on any Android phone, in addition to Moto Actions allowing you to chop the phone to enable the flashlight and twist it to open the camera app. Of course, only being promised one software update is less than ideal, with no more platform updates after Android 11.

The cherry on top of the Moto G Fast is that it works with all carriers in the United States, so whether you rely on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon, you can buy the phone and use it without a hitch.

Pros:
Large display with minimal bezels
Outstanding build quality
Rear cameras are a lot of fun
Excellent battery life
Compatible with all U.S. carriers

Cons:
No more updates after Android 11
HD+ display doesn't look amazing
Small amounts of RAM and storage

Best overall Android phone under $200
Moto G Fast

The best in this price range


The Moto G Fast has its faults. But if you're shopping with a limited budget, it's the most well-rounded phone out there.



Best alternative Android phone under $200: Moto G Play (2021)







Source: Joe Maring / Android Central


Moto is the king of the sub-$200 category, and the updated Moto G Play (2021) is its most affordable new phone for the year. Of course, it makes a few spec compromises to reach this price tag, but it's still a perfectly enjoyable piece of tech.

The display is a 6.5-inch, 720p HD+ LCD, but it does the job. You also benefit from respectable bezels and a small waterdrop notch, making this a pretty good phone for watching videos or playing light games. You'll find more noticeable downgrades with the 13MP + 2MP dual rear cameras, but they're serviceable for quick uploads to your favorite social media app.

The Moto G Play (2021) has a fingerprint sensor on the rear in the Moto logo, which is every bit as fast and reliable as you could ask for. There's also a headphone jack and support for expandable storage, along with an awesome 5,000 mAh battery and support for all U.S. carriers. Unlike cheaper phones like the Moto E (2020), this device thankfully has USB-C charging (but no wireless charging).

Perhaps the biggest downside to the Moto G Play (2021) is that Motorola has all but confirmed that it would only see one major platform update — and that is to Android 11! That's right, this thing ships with an out-of-date version of Android (10). While Motorola's custom take on Android is just as strong here as it is on the Moto G Fast, offering at least one update would've been greatly appreciated.

Pros:
Large, bright HD display
Huge 5000 mAh battery
3.5mm headphone jack
Motorola's custom software
Works with every U.S. carrier

Cons:
No NFC or official IP rating
Only 3GB of RAM
Ships with Android 10

Best alternative Android phone under $200
Moto G Play 2021 - Blue

Another affordable Moto


The Moto G Play (2021) sports a 6.5-inch HD display and 5000 mAh battery with a headphone jack to help you stream on for hours.



Best value Android phone under $200: Nokia G20







Source: Michael Hicks / Android Central


None of the phones on this list are considered expensive, but if you're trying to spend your money on something reliable, the Nokia G20 is for you. Sitting towards the upper limit of $200, it's worth considering at the end of the day. You can get a lot of value from every dollar spent on the G20 instead of the cheaper G10.

The Nokia G20 is equipped with a 6.52-inch IPS LCD, making it larger than its cheaper predecessors. While it costs a bit more, you get an HD+ resolution of 1600, a MediaTek processor, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of expandable storage (up to 512GB). Unfortunately, there's no fast charging, but you shouldn't have to mess with it too much, thanks to the generous 5,050 mAh battery.

The Nokia G20 is powered by Android One, which means you'll get two years of Android upgrades and three years of monthly security patches, which should get you through 2023. The phone ships with Android 11, but it's slated to get Android 12 in the future.

The phone comes with a lovely textured back available in two colors, with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. You also get a quad-camera setup, including a 48MP primary camera that is surprisingly decent.

Pros:
Clean software with Android One
Large 5,050 mAh battery
Quad cameras
Storage is expandable

Cons:
No IP rating or fast charging
Weak processor
Pricier than other options in this list

Best value Android phone under $200
Nokia G20 - Glacier

How low can you go?


Trying to stretch your investment as much as possible? Go with the Nokia G20. It gets the basics done and then some, coupled with many years of updates for security.



Best Samsung Android phone under $200: Samsung Galaxy A12







Source: Samsung


When you think of the best Samsung phones, your mind probably drifts to devices like the Galaxy S21 and Note 20 Ultra — big, flashy, and expensive phones that are sure to break the budget. However, if you're eager to own a Samsung phone for yourself but need to keep costs low, the Galaxy A12 is a solid device.

First thing's first, the Galaxy A12 has an impressive display. It's fairly large at 6.5-inches, goes edge-to-edge with the phone's left and right frame, and has a teardrop selfie camera cutout with a small bottom bezel. So if you do a lot of media consumption, the A12 will make your movies and games stand out wonderfully.

Around the back, the A12 boasts a total of four cameras — consisting of a 16MP primary, 5MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth sensors. The image quality won't blow you away, but the cameras get the job done for social media and allow some image-taking (especially with the ultra-wide camera). Other highlights of the Galaxy A12 include expandable storage, a very generous 5,000 mAh battery, USB-C charging, and Samsung's custom One UI software loaded with endless features and settings.

Pros:
Modern display with small bezels
Large 5,000 mAh battery
Charges with USB-C
Samsung's One UI software
Expandable storage

Cons:
Cheap plastic back
No NFC

Best Samsung Android phone under $200
Samsung Galaxy A12

Samsung on the cheap


Another great handset is the Galaxy A12. It boasts an impressive display, features, and software package with One UI.



Best OnePlus Android phone under $200: OnePlus Nord N100







Source: Android Central


Even though OnePlus made a name for itself by offering flagship-quality phones at more affordable price points, it wasn't until the Nord introduction series that it really started to produce true budget-level phones. Unfortunately, the original Nord and Nord 2 did not release in North America, though those in the U.S. and Canada can get their hands on the true value phones in the Nord lineup, including the Nord N10 5G and N100.

Coming in at under $200, the OnePlus Nord N100 is a pretty impressive package. It features a 6.52 LCD screen, a 5,000mAh battery, and 64GB of on-device storage with the ability to expand up to 512GB via the microSD slot. In addition, there is a triple camera setup on the back along with a fingerprint sensor, and it features dual stereo speakers up front.

Just about the only real downside to the N100 is that it ships with Android 10 and OnePlus's OxygenOS 10.5, and there's no word if or when it will receive Android 11 or future platform updates. However, if you've always wanted a OnePlus phone but couldn't afford it, this is a great option. Alternatively, if you can swing a little more, you can pick up the newer OnePlus Nord N200 5G for around $240.

Pros:
Large, bright display
Large 5,000 mAh battery
Charges with USB-C
OnePlus's OxygenOS software
Expandable storage

Cons:
Cheap plastic back
No official waterproofing
Ships with Android 10

Best OnePlus Android phone under $200
OnePlus Nord N100 - Midnight Frost

The budget-phone killer


OnePlus has consistently offered flagship-killer devices, and with the Nord N100, it has its sights set on the lower end of the Android market.



Best battery on an Android phone under $200: Moto G Power (2021)







Source: Joe Maring / Android Central


The Moto G Power (2020) was one of our favorite budget phones of 2020, so we were excited when Motorola announced that the device was getting a sequel. However, that excitement dampened once we learned about some of the upgrades (or downgrades) featured in its 2021 model.

The Snapdragon 662 processor is a step back from 2020's 665, and the clock speed is slower than the older model. In addition, the 2020 version had an HD+ display, but the 2021 model maxes out at 720p. And while Motorola kept the headphone jack, it again left NFC, wireless charging, and official IP water resistance off the spec sheet. On top of those issues, this device ships with Android 10 and received only one major platform update (Android 11).

Don't get us wrong — the Moto G Power (2021) is still a solid, capable, and affordable Android smartphone. It's just not the second act we were hoping for. Nonetheless, if you're looking for a three-camera setup, a bright and big screen, and a giant battery, it's hard to beat this offering.

Pros:
Large, bright HD display
Huge 5,000 mAh battery
3.5mm headphone jack
Motorola's custom software
Works with every U.S. carrier

Cons:
No NFC or official IP rating
Slower chipset than 2020 version
Ships with Android 10

Best battery on an Android phone under $200
Moto G Power 2021 - Silver

Powerhouse phone


The Moto G Power (2021) is a step back in terms of chipset and screen, but the 5,000mAh unit is still more than enough for most.



Best rugged Android phone under $200: Blackview BV5900







Source: Blackview


Putting a case on the phone is an excellent way to ensure it stays safe throughout your daily use, but some phones were designed to be rugged and durable right out of the box. One such phone is the Blackview BV5900, and if you're prone to clumsiness or work in a physically demanding environment, the BV5900 is a solid choice.

The design of the BV5900 makes its ruggedness unmistakable, and it has durability ratings to back it up. Not only is there an IP68 dust/water resistance rating, but you also get a MIL-STD-810G certification. This means the BV5900 was tested to survive drops of up to five feet.

Moving beyond its design, there are plenty of other highlights for the BV5900. It has a massive 5,580 mAh battery, USB-C charging, NFC for contactless Google Pay payments, and a fingerprint sensor on its side. There's also 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage that can expand to 128GB.

Blackview's design of the BV5900 certainly isn't for everyone, but if you're someone that knows you'd benefit from a ruggedized handset like this, it's certainly worth a good, hard look.

Pros
Military-grade durability rating
IP68 dust/water protection
Gigantic 5,580 mAh battery
Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
USB-C and NFC

Cons
Design might be too much for some people
Very chunky and heavy

Best rugged Android phone under $200
Blackview BV5900 - Rugged Smartphone

Designed to withstand anything


Thanks to its military-grade durability rating and IP68 protection, the Blackview BV5900 is perfect for people with butterfingers.



Best international Android phone under $200: Xiaomi Redmi Note 9







Source: Xiaomi


Rounding out this list, we have the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9. This is an international phone, so that means no warranty for U.S. users, and it's missing some LTE bands. However, those are pretty much the only real downsides.

The Redmi Note 9 is a darn impressive phone. The 6.53-inch Full HD+ display has very slim bezels and an unobtrusive hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera. Meanwhile, the situation on the rear involves four cameras, with the 48MP primary lens being the only one worth mentioning. Nevertheless, you can capture some unexpectedly great shots with it. Xiaomi also has a few fun colors to choose from, with Forest Green being our favorite.

Under the hood, the Note 9 comes equipped with the MediaTek Helio G85 processor, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, and a huge 5,020 mAh battery. We're also fans of the USB-C fast charging, 3.5mm headphone jack, and IR controller on the phone's top frame.

Xiaomi's custom MIUI software can feel rather bogged down at times, but in just about every regard, this is an astonishingly good phone. Even though the Note 10 is now available, you can still get good mileage out of the Note 9.

Pros:
Beautiful design
6.53-inch FHD+ display with slim bezels
Four rear cameras
128GB of storage
5,020 mAh battery
Fingerprint sensor

Cons:
Doesn't come with a warranty
Lacks support for all U.S. LTE bands

Best international Android phone under $200
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 - Forest Green

An enticing international option


If you don't mind venturing into international waters, the Redmi Note 9 is a fantastic purchase. It's gorgeous, powerful, and affordable.



Bottom line

Just a few years ago, $200 couldn't buy you much in the way of the best Android phones. In 2021, however, it's pretty surprising just how many options you have in such a low price segment. There are plenty of "cheap" Android phones that are pretty great. We think the best Android phone under $200 is the Moto G Fast out of everything currently available.

For the average person shopping for a new phone, the Moto G Fast is excellent. The display looks good enough, the performance is great for most apps and light games, the three rear cameras are a bunch of fun to use, and that 4,000 mAh battery is a life-saver. Although newer phones like the Nokia G20, the Moto G Fast is yet to be toppled over as the value king of the sub-$200 segment. It all boils down to the powerful SD 665 chipset combined with underrated features like 4K video recording and water resistance.

The other phones on this list are certainly worth checking out, too, but if you want to keep things simple, go with the Moto G Fast and continue with your life. We think you'll be pleased with it.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide


Joe Maring has been talking/writing about Android in one form or another since 2012 and often does so while camping out at the nearest coffee shop.


Jeramy Johnson is proud to help to Keep Austin Weird and loves hiking in the hill country of central Texas with a breakfast taco in each hand. When he's not writing about connected home devices and wearables, he's defending his relationship with his voice assistants to his family. You can follow him on Twitter at @jeramyutgw.


Namerah Saud Fatmi is a freelance writer for Android Central. She has a passion for all things tech & gaming and has been an honorary Goodreads librarian since 2011. When she isn't writing, she can be found chasing stray cats and dogs in the streets of Dhaka or slaying dragons in the land of Skyrim. You can reach her on Twitter @NamerahS.


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Source: https://www.androidcentral.com/best-android-phones-under-200

November 1, 2021

Free VPN providers: Which ones are the best, and are they even worth it?

 A free VPN can do more harm than good, but only if you opt for a sketchy provider.

Opting for a free VPN for Android or any other device isn’t always a great idea. Some providers have bad intentions and will sell your personal info or your browsing history (or both) to the highest bidder. That’s why we always recommend paying a few bucks per month for a reputable VPN service.

However, a few trustworthy VPN providers offer free plans, but they have quite a few limitations in place. Almost all of them give you a monthly data allowance, and some even automatically select the location for you. If that doesn’t bother you, a free virtual private network may be a good option for you.

Related: The best VPN routers available

We’ve rounded up the best free VPN services for Android you can get, all of which are also available on other platforms. But before we dive into the list, let’s first talk about what VPNs are and why you should use one.

The best free VPNs for Android:


What is a VPN, anyway?

If you already know what a VPN is, how it works, and why you should use it, feel free to skip this section and scroll down to check out the list of the best providers. Everyone else, keep reading.

A VPN — short for virtual private network — routes your data through its servers and encrypts it before sending it to the website you are visiting. To put it simply, a VPN changes your IP address, making it seem like you’re located somewhere else than you really are. For example, if you live in Germany and connect to the internet via a VPN server located in the US, the website you’re visiting will think you’re based in the US.

This has a lot of advantages. One of them is that you can bypass geo-restrictions put in place by various streaming services. For example, Netflix offers way more content to its US subscribers than those in most other places around the globe. So by connecting online via a US VPN, you can get access to a lot more movies and TV shows.

A VPN also gives you access to popular services like BBC iPlayer, a free streaming service with loads of great content that is only available in the UK. Just connect online via a UK VPN server, visit www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer, and start binge-watching your favorite shows and movies.

A VPN gives you complete anonymity online. Using it hides your browsing history from everyone — if the VPN provider has a no-logging policy — including your ISP. Yes, your ISP can see your browsing history if you don’t use a VPN and can sometimes sell it to third parties such as advertisers, which is something we’ll talk about in more detail a bit later. Additionally, a VPN encrypts your data, which comes in handy when browsing the web on a public network — more on that later on as well.

This is a brief overview of what a VPN is. If you want more details on how it works, check out our dedicated post by clicking here, or just watch our very own Gary Sims explain it in the video below.


1. PrivadoVPN

Promoted

PrivadoVPN is a free premium zero-log VPN service based in Switzerland that offers a whopping 10GB of access per month with unlimited speeds and zero ads. It’s also the only free VPN that supports streaming services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer as well as torrenting.

It’s a breeze to set up and includes free apps for everything from Android to Windows, iOS, macOS, Fire TV, and Android TV. Once you download your app of choice, you can instantly connect to any server, change protocols, and even activate the built-in Internet Kill Switch.

The service offers complete end-to-end 256-bit AES encryption and a strict no-logs policy throughout its proprietary global network. Whether you stick with the free plan or opt for a premium option, you’ll get unlimited speeds 24/7 with no threat of throttling.

If 10GB of monthly data isn’t enough, you can always upgrade to a paid plan at just $4.99 per month when you pay for a full year. It adds unlimited data to the mix, access to all servers in all 43 countries, as well as access to the SOCKS5 proxy — great for torrent-heavy users that will increase transfer speeds without compromising your privacy. Premium upgrades are also protected by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

The nitty-gritty:

  • Free data allowance: 10GB per month
  • Server selection: Automatic or manual — 12 locations available
  • No-logging policy: Yes
  • Paid plans: Start at $4.99 per month

2. TunnelBear free VPN

The TunnelBear free VPN for Android, which McAfee owns, gets you 500MB of data per month. It’s super simple to use and doesn’t require a credit card to sign up. You can choose between servers in 23 countries, including the US, Germany, Australia, India, and more.

TunnelBear has a strict no-logging policy for peace of mind and isn’t ad-supported despite being free (hooray). It offers additional free data valid for the month to those who tweet about the provider, download the TunnelBear app on their PC, or invite a friend who then signs up for the service. Unused data does not roll over to the next month.

If you need more data than 500MB per month, you’ll have to upgrade to a paid plan. Pricing starts at $3.33 per month if you prepay for three years.

The nitty-gritty:

  • Free data allowance: 500MB per month
  • Server selection: Manual — 23 locations available
  • No-logging policy: Yes
  • Paid plans: Start at $3.33 per month

3. Kaspersky VPN Secure Connection

The free VPN by Kaspersky works like a charm but has its limitations, like the rest of the services on this list. It offers 200MB of data per day, which translates to about 6GB per month. That’s not bad considering it’s free, but the service still isn’t suitable for power users. Unfortunately, there’s no option to score additional free data.

There are many server locations available, but you can’t choose which ones to connect to using a free plan — the service will automatically choose “the closest server” automatically. The app is easy to use, allowing you to start browsing anonymously with just a simple tap. Signing up for the VPN is a breeze as well, and prices are pretty accessible.

The nitty-gritty:

  • Free data allowance: 200MB per day
  • Server selection: Automatic
  • No-logging policy: Yes
  • Paid plans: Start at $4.99 per month

4. Hotspot Shield free VPN for Android

A few things make Hotspot Shield one of the best free VPN services for Android you can get. It offers 500MB of data per day or around 15GB per month. That’s not enough for heavy usage, but it is more than what you get with most other free virtual private networks.

It’s also super easy to get started, as you don’t have to share your email address or your credit card info with the provider. Just download the app on your device, tap Connect, and you’re ready to go. The major drawback is that you can’t select the server you want to connect to — the app will do that for you automatically. There are also ads present in the Android app, which is annoying.

Like the rest of the services on this list, Hotspot Shield has a no-logging policy. It also offers paid plans starting at $7.99 per month that get rid of the ads and the rest of the limitations.

The nitty-gritty:

  • Data allowance: 500MB per day
  • Server selection: Automatic
  • No-logging policy: Yes
  • Paid plans: Start at $7.99 per month

5. Avira Phantom free VPN for Android

Avira’s Phantom free VPN Android service offers a monthly data allowance of 500MB. However, the service allows you to connect to any of the 40 locations available, unlike some of the competition that automatically selects the server.

Read next: Best cheap VPNs — what are your options?

The sign-up process is hassle-free. Just download the app, select a location, and then turn on the VPN to start browsing anonymously — no need to share any personal data with the provider. The free version offers everything you get with a premium plan, with a couple of exceptions. There’s no kill switch available for disabling internet access if the VPN connection drops, and you don’t get any tech support.

The nitty-gritty:

  • Data allowance: 500MB per month
  • Server selection: Manual — 40 available
  • No-logging policy: Yes
  • Paid plans: Start at $10 per month

6. Hide.me

This Android VPN limits you to 10GB of data per month, which is quite generous. There are five server locations available to choose from — Netherlands, Canada, Singapore, and the US (east and west coast).

Hide.me promises it won’t log your activities, giving you peace of mind that the provider won’t sell your data to the highest bidder. It’s easy to set up and start using, without the need to share your credit card info. All these things combined make it one of the best free VPN services to use.

If you need more data, there are a few paid plans to choose from. Pricing starts at $4.99 per month, and goes all the way up to $12.95 per month, depending on the length of the subscription.

The nitty-gritty:

  • Data allowance: 10GB per month
  • Server selection: Manual — five available
  • No-logging policy: Yes
  • Paid plans: Start at $4.99 per month

7. Speedify free VPN for Android

Speedify offers 2GB of free data per month and can only be used on one device. It’s easy to set up, as you don’t even need an account. Download the app, connect, and you’re ready to go.

The service can automatically connect you to the fastest VPN server based on your location, or you can select the server yourself. Like the rest of the VPNs on this list, Speedify promises a no-logging policy, meaning it provides full anonymity online.

If 2GB per month isn’t enough for you, the company also offers paid plans with unlimited data. Pricing is set at $9.99 per month, but you can get it down to just $2.99 per month if you opt for a three-year plan.

The nitty-gritty:

  • Free data allowance: 2GB per month
  • Server selection: Manual — 37 locations available
  • No-logging policy: Yes
  • Paid plans: Start at $2.99 per month

8. Windscribe VPN

Windscribe is quite a generous free VPN, offering 10GB of data per month. But only if you share your email address with the provider. If you don’t, you’ll have to do with just 2GB of data per month.

You have the option of manually selecting the server you want to connect to. There are plenty of them to choose from — there are servers in 10 different countries. There are also loads of great features available, including Split Tunneling, which allows you to choose which apps go over the VPN.

If you like using Windscribe but don’t like the data limits, you’ll need to step up to a paid plan. A monthly subscription will set you back $9, but you can get the price down to $4.08 per month if you prepay for the entire year.

The nitty-gritty:

  • Free data allowance: 2 or 10GB per month
  • Server selection: Manual — 10 locations available
  • No-logging policy: Yes
  • Paid plans: Start at $4.08 per month

9. ProtonVPN

The last provider on our best free VPN list is ProtonVPN, which stands out because it doesn’t have a data limit (you’re limited to “medium speeds”). You can browse anonymously online with your Android phone or any other device for as long as you want, but your speed will take a hit — especially when there are many users online. There are three locations available which include the Netherlands, Japan, and the US.

Read next: The best VPNs for torrenting

Setting up the VPN is easy, although you do have to make an account. But once you sign up, you get a full-featured seven-day trial for free. The Android app also doesn’t contain any ads, regardless if you’re on a free or paid plan.

ProtonVPN has a strict no-logging policy and can only be used by a single device at a time by free users. Paid plans start at $4 per month and go all the way up to $24 per month.

The nitty-gritty:

  • Data allowance: Unlimited
  • Server selection: Manual — three available
  • No-logging policy: Yes
  • Paid plans: Start at $4 per month

Are free VPNs even safe?

Yes and no — it depends on the provider you choose. Using one of the VPNs listed above is probably safe, although we can’t make any guarantees. However, there are many sketchy VPN providers out there that should be avoided at all costs.

The reason why is that some will try and make money off of you somehow. Running a VPN service is expensive, and the provider has to make money one way or another. So if it is not making it via subscription fees, it could be making it either via ads (which is understandable but annoying) or by selling your personal info or your browsing history — or both — to the highest bidder. Basically, a free VPN provider could be doing the exact thing it should be protecting you from.

Read next: The best VPN routers for gaming, business, and personal use

To put things into perspective, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) reviewed 283 VPN apps on the Play Store a few years back and found frightening results. 18% of the VPNs didn’t encrypt data, while 75% used third-party tracking libraries. Yikes! That just goes to show that you really have to be careful about which free VPN service you opt for.

When deciding whether or not a certain VPN is trustworthy, research is key. Do some digging online and check out what various publications and users are saying about it. Also, make sure the company isn’t based in a country with a bad track record on online privacy, like China or Russia. You could never be sure if a VPN is sticking to its promises, but research will at least give you some peace of mind.


Which platforms do free VPNs support?

In addition to Android, all the free VPNs on this list also support Windows, Mac, and iOS devices. Some also support Linux and offer extensions for various browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.

Can I install a free VPN on my TV or gaming console?

VPNs don’t play well with TVs. While you can download and use them on Android TVs, most other smart TVs don’t support them. The same goes for gaming consoles like the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. However, there are hacks you can use to get around these restrictions.

One of them is to install a VPN on your router, which will then protect every device on the network, including TVs, gaming consoles, computers, and tablets. That means you don’t have to install a VPN app on every single device you use anymore. By having a VPN on your router, your device is protected as soon as you go online.

However, not all VPNs support this feature. From the providers on our list, the only ones that do are Hide.me, Windscribe, and ProtonVPN. Additionally, you need a supported router as well. But even if you have one, we don’t recommend installing a free VPN on it just to protect your TV or gaming console. The reason why is that the data limits offered by free VPN providers are too low for you to play games or watch content online frequently — we’ll talk about this more in the next section. Installing a VPN on a router makes much more sense if you have a paid subscription.

Do free VPNs work with Chromecast or Fire TV Stick?

You’re probably wondering why you should go through all the trouble of installing a VPN on your router just to get access to more Netflix shows via your TV app if you can just cast the shows from your phone to the TV via a Google Chromecast. Well, the problem is that VPNs and Chromecasts don’t play well together. While your phone is connected to a VPN, your Chromecast is not, so the two can’t communicate with each other. The way to get around this is to connect both the devices to the same VPN server, which you can do by installing a VPN on your router.

Things are a bit different for Amazon’s Fire TV Stick since the device doesn’t need to be paired with a phone. All you have to do is download a VPN app to the Fire TV Stick, switch it on, and you’re ready to go. The free VPN providers on this list that offer an app for the Fire TV Stick are Hotspot Shield, Hide.me, and Windscribe.

It’s a similar story with the latest Chromecast with Google TV, since it has a user interface, offers access to the Play Store, and doesn’t need to be paired with a mobile device to work.


Can I use a free VPN for Netflix?

Sure, you can, but you have to keep data limits in mind. If you want to watch an hour or more of Netflix or any other video streaming service per day, a free VPN likely isn’t for you. As explained in our “How much data does Netflix use” post, you’ll burn through around 300MB of data per hour when streaming at just 480p. When watching 4K content, the data usage per hour jumps to as much as 11.5GB. If you go down the middle and opt for Full HD (1080p) streaming, expect to use around 3GB per hour.

Netflix can use as much as 11.5GB of data per hour.

By comparing those numbers with the data limits set in place by free VPN providers, you can quickly figure out that free VPNs aren’t the best for Netflix. Speed may be questionable for some providers, especially ProtonVPN, which will reduce your speed when there are many users online. This may translate to a bad Netflix experience, as the video may stop and buffer multiple times while you’re watching it.

You also have to consider that many free VPNs will automatically select your location, which means they are more or less useless for Netflix. You would have to opt for a provider that offers manual server selection — like Windscribe, for example — so you can connect to a US server to get access to a larger library of content.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Netflix doesn’t like it when people visit its website via a VPN. The service constantly blocks VPN servers once it identifies them, so the one you go with may not work. This applies to both free as well as paid VPN providers, however.


Will a free VPN keep me safe on public networks?

Like a paid VPN, a free one should keep you safe when using public networks in places like restaurants, hotels, and airports.

The problem with public networks is that they aren’t very secure. It’s relatively easy for someone with the right equipment to capture the packets of data that go from your device to the router, allowing them to see exactly what you’re doing online. If the website you’re visiting is using a protocol called Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), the hacker can see your login details if you sign in as well as everything else you do on a website.

To protect your data, using a VPN on public networks is a great idea.

For that reason, using a VPN on public networks is a great idea, since the service encrypts your data so that the hacker can’t see your online activities. You can read more about this in our “How easy is it to capture data on public free Wi-Fi?” article written by the professor himself, Gary Sims.

However, it’s worth mentioning that hackers can’t see what you do online when visiting websites with encrypted connections (HTTPS). A VPN may not be required in this case, but you’ll always have to check whether a website is secure or not. If the connection is secure, you’ll see a green padlock in the address bar of your browser. Most popular websites do offer encrypted connections these days, but not all of them.

Unfortunately, there’s no padlock visible when it comes to Android apps, making it a lot harder to figure out whether a connection is encrypted or not. So in a case like this, using a VPN is a good idea.


Will a free VPN hide my activity from my ISP?

As already mentioned, your ISP can see the websites you visit and exactly what you do on them, provided they don’t have an encrypted connection. If you’re on an encrypted connection (HTTPS), your ISP can still see the websites you visit, but it can’t see what you do on them. For example, it sees you visited YouTube but doesn’t know which videos you watched. By using a VPN, your ISP will see nothing.

That means if the government comes knocking on their door demanding to see your browsing history, it’s out of luck. But you probably don’t do anything illegal online, so this shouldn’t be too big of a concern to you.

A bigger issue is that ISPs in the US can sell your browsing data to third parties like advertisers, which is a big no-no in my book. So by using a VPN, you can make sure your ISP won’t be making any extra money off you.

It’s important to keep in mind that while your ISP won’t see your browsing history anymore if you use a VPN, the VPN provider could. All the major VPN companies promise they don’t log your activities, so this shouldn’t be a concern. But then again, there’s no way you can check if that’s true.

It’s a lot easier to believe this claim if it’s coming from a reputable VPN that charges for its services than the one that doesn’t. As already mentioned at the beginning of this post, if the VPN provider isn’t making money from subscriptions, it might be making it by selling your data.


Free vs. paid VPN: Which one is right for me?

If you’re not a power user and only need an Android VPN now and then for some light browsing at home, and on public networks, a free VPN will do you just fine. But if you want to use a VPN to watch content on streaming services, regularly download stuff from the internet, and keep browsing history private at all times, a paid VPN is the way to go. Simple as that.

There’s a third option as well. If you only need a VPN for a week or so to test it out, you could just sign up for a free trial. Not all providers offer it, but some do. This will get you unlimited data, likely faster speeds than free VPNs, and you won’t have to worry about the provider selling your personal data as much. If you don’t need the VPN after the free trial, just cancel your subscription. To keep using it, pay the subscription fee at the end of the trial and remain anonymous online.

One of the best options for a free trial is ProtonVPN, which gives you full access to its services for seven days without spending a dime — click here to learn more. But if after reading this article you’ve decided to skip free VPNs altogether and don’t care much about free trials, check out the three paid providers we recommend, along with their prices, below:

  • ExpressVPN — from $8.32 to $12.95 per month
  • NordVPN — from $3.30 to $11.95 per month
  • Ivacy — from $1.33 to $9.95 per month

To learn more about good VPN providers, check out our guides for the best VPNs for gaming, torrenting, and Netflix.

Source: https://www.androidauthority.com/best-free-vpn-953904/


March 10, 2021

Microsoft’s big email hack: What happened, who did it, and why it matters

 

  • On March 2, Microsoft said there were vulnerabilities in its Exchange Server mail and calendar software for corporate and government data centers. The vulnerabilities go back 10 years, and have been exploited by Chinese hackers at least since January.
  • The group, which Microsoft has dubbed Hafnium, has aimed to gain information from defense contractors, schools and other entities in the U.S., according to a blog post by Microsoft VP Tom Burt.
  • The hack could lead companies to spend more on security software and adopting cloud-based email instead of running their own email servers in-house.

    One week ago, Microsoft disclosed that Chinese hackers were gaining access to organizations’ email accounts through vulnerabilities in its Exchange Server email software and issued security patches.

    The hack will probably stand out as one of the top cybersecurity events of the year, because Exchange is still widely used around the world. It could lead companies to spend more on security software to prevent future hacks, and to move to cloud-based email instead of running their own email servers in-house.

    IT departments are working on applying the patches, but that takes time and the vulnerability is still widespread. On Monday, internet security company Netcraft said it had run an analysis over the weekend and observed over 99,000 servers online running unpatched Outlook Web Access software.

    Shares of Microsoft stock have fallen 1.3% since March 1, the day before the company disclosed the issues, while the S&P 500 index is down 0.7% over the same period.

    Here’s what you need to know about the Microsoft cyberattacks:

    What happened?

    On March 2, Microsoft said there were vulnerabilities in its Exchange Server mail and calendar software for corporate and government data centers. The company released patches for the 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019 versions of Exchange.

    Generally, Microsoft releases updates on Patch Tuesday, which occurs on the second Tuesday of each month, but the announcement about attacks on the Exchange software came on the first Tuesday, emphasizing its significance.

    Microsoft also took the unusual step of issuing a patch for the 2010 edition, even though support for it ended in October. “That means the vulnerabilities the attackers exploited have been in the Microsoft Exchange Server code base for more than 10 years,” security blogger Brian Krebs wrote in a Monday blog post.

    Hackers had initially pursued specific targets, but in February they started going after more servers with the vulnerable software that they could spot, Krebs wrote.

    Are people exploiting the vulnerabilities?

    Yes. Microsoft said the main group exploiting vulnerabilities is a nation-state group based in China that it calls Hafnium.

    When did the attacks start?

    Attacks on the Exchange software started in early January, according to security company Volexity, which Microsoft gave credit to for identifying some of the issues.

    How does the attack work?

    Tom Burt, a Microsoft corporate vice president, described in a blog post last week how an attacker would go through multiple steps:

    First, it would gain access to an Exchange Server either with stolen passwords or by using the previously undiscovered vulnerabilities to disguise itself as someone who should have access. Second, it would create what’s called a web shell to control the compromised server remotely. Third, it would use that remote access – run from the U.S.-based private servers – to steal data from an organization’s network.

    Among other things, attackers installed and used software to take email data, Microsoft said.

    Do the flaws affect cloud services like Office 365?

    No. The four vulnerabilities Microsoft disclosed do not affect Exchange Online, Microsoft’s cloud-based email and calendar service that’s included in commercial Office 365 and Microsoft 365 subscription bundles.

    What are the attackers targeting?

    The group has aimed to gain information from defense contractors, schools and other entities in the U.S., Burt wrote. Victims include U.S. retailers, according to security company FireEye, and the city of Lake Worth Beach, Fla., according to the Palm Beach Post. The European Banking Authority said it had been hit.

    How many victims are there altogether?

    Media outlets have published varying estimates on the number of victims of the attacks. On Friday the Wall Street Journal, citing an unnamed person, said there could be 250,000 or more.

    Will the patches banish any attackers from compromised systems?

    Microsoft said no.

    Does this have anything do with SolarWinds?

    No, the attacks on Exchange Server do not seem to not related to the SolarWinds threat, to which former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Russia was probably connected. Still, the disclosure comes less than three months after U.S. government agencies and companies said they had found malicious content in updates to Orion software from information-technology company SolarWinds in their networks.

    What’s Microsoft doing?

    Microsoft is encouraging customers to install the security patches it delivered last week. It has also released information to help customers figure out if their networks had been hit.

    “Because we are aware of active exploits of related vulnerabilities in the wild (limited targeted attacks), our recommendation is to install these updates immediately to protect against these attacks,” Microsoft said in a blog post.

    On Monday the company made it easier for companies to treat their infrastructure by releasing security patches for versions of Exchange Server that did not have the most recent available software updates. Until that point, Microsoft had said customers would have to apply the most recent updates before installing the security patches, which delayed the process of dealing with the hack.

    “We are working closely with the CISA [the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency], other government agencies, and security companies to ensure we are providing the best possible guidance and mitigation for our customers,” a Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC in an email on Monday. “The best protection is to apply updates as soon as possible across all impacted systems. We continue to help customers by providing additional investigation and mitigation guidance. Impacted customers should contact our support teams for additional help and resources.” 

    What are the implications?

    The cyberattacks could end up being beneficial for Microsoft. Besides making Exchange Server, it sells security software that clients might be inclined to start using.

    “We believe this attack, like SolarWinds, will keep cybersecurity urgency high and likely bolster broad-based security spending in 2021, including with Microsoft, and speed the migration to cloud,” KeyBanc analysts led by Michael Turits, who have the equivalent of a buy rating on Microsoft stock, wrote in a note distributed to clients on Monday.

    But many Microsoft customers have already switched to cloud-based email, and some companies rely on Google’s cloud-based Gmail, which is not affected by the Exchange Server flaws. As a result, the impact of the hacks could have been worse if they had come five or 10 years ago, and there won’t necessarily be a race to the cloud as a result of Hafnium.

    “I meet a lot of organizations, big and small, and it’s more the exception than the rule when somebody’s all on prem,” said Ryan Noon, CEO of e-mail security start-up Material Security.

    DA Davidson analysts Andrew Nowinski and Hannah Baade wrote in a Tuesday note that the attacks could increase adoption of products from security companies such as Cyberark, Proofpoint and Tenable.

    WATCH: A cybersecurity stock analyst weighs in on the Microsoft email hack

    Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/09/microsoft-exchange-hack-explained.html