Free VPN Servers
Free VPN systems typically fall in to one of 4 categories:
1. Test Platforms: Set up to test new ideas and technologies, these are usually run on a single server using a University's internet connection - so they get overloaded fast. They are also development platforms, so it is not unusual for them to break, lose data, or simply be taken down without notice.
2. Advertising Supported services: Most of these are really just proxy servers support web browsers with some degree of basic SSL protection - so you can't use them for anything that doesn't have a web interface. And because VPN is all about bandwidth, all the services we found limited your viewing of images and blocked or throttled any streaming video or data downloads. It gets old fast folks.
3. Free Trials: These are usually short period (1 or 2 weeks) access periods so that you can test the VPN installation on your PC or smart phone. They may limit your bandwidth during the trial period, as it is really only supposed to let you prove to yourself that it will work in your environment. The credit card and address requirements prevent people from signing up for multiple free trials.
4. Hackers and HiJackers: There are criminal cartels that have the brains and the money to set up phony Proxy Server and VPN services just to skim your personal information. VPNs cost a lot to set up and even more to run. If you find a "free" service, that doesn't need advertising, that doesn't limit your bandwidth, that doesn't restrict what kinds of files you can access, you can bet their motives are not pure. We can't stress this enough - if it's not obvious how they are going to cover their expenses, assume they are looking to get something from you that you did not intend to give up.
With all the caveats above, here is our list of known Free VPN Services:
THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS TABLE - REVIEWS ARE INCOMPLETE!
| Company / Product | Features | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Packetix | A test platform for academic purposes. Somewhat complicated to set up as you must define a server and its settings, then configure your client to connect through it. All bandwidth goes through Japan, so it can be slow and laggy. Abuse for file transfer connections may result in a canceled account. | |
| UltraVPN | A bandwidth limited VPN (500Kps max) that runs through an IP gateway in France. It uses a third level SSL VPN connection so it requires a special client on your PC. | |
| Hotspot Shield | A free browsing only Proxy-server type VPN. It is advertiser supported, so you have to put up with ads, but performance is not that bad. It's a good solution if you are trying to view content that is blocked in your home country. | |
| JAP | Browser only proxy-server with multi-level encryption. May be slow or have outages from time to time. | |
| FreeVPN | Ehhhh - looks like it is a PPTP based VPN, but how it runs and what kind of performance it may have is a mystery to us. We're not installing it on OUR computers. | |
