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| PC World - 29 Jan (PC World)Maybe you’re sick of the price hikes. Maybe you’re not keen on the whole password-sharing crackdown thing. Or maybe there’s just nothing you want to watch anymore. Whatever the reason, you might be wondering: Is it time for a Netflix break?
The idea of putting Netflix on pause is more fraught than it is for other streaming services. For many of us, Netflix has been in our lives for decades–heck, I was a Netflix subscriber for nearly 20 years straight–while the other big streamers are barely a few years old.
Because it’s been around for so long, Netflix can start to feel like a utility–you know, something you pay for automatically, like gas and electricity. (Or taxes.)
On the other hand, my attitude toward the newer streamers (like, say, Max or Peacock) is easy come, easy go. When there’s something specific we want to watch, we sign up. Once we’re finished, we cancel. Caught up with the latest season of Hacks or Poker Face? Byeeeee!
What makes Netflix so special, then? Good question–and indeed, after months of flicking through row after row of Netflix videos that I didn’t want to stream, I realized I had a serious case of Netflix fatigue.
Finally, I had enough–I canceled Netflix, and I’m glad I did. We’ll get back to Netflix eventually, but it’ll have to wait its turn while we rotate through the other big streamers, one at a time.
So, repeat after me: You can take a break from Netflix. It’s okay. And just because you leave doesn’t mean you can’t go back.
How to take a break from your Netflix subscription
There are actually a couple of ways to take a Netflix break: either by pausing your membership (a relatively new option) or by cancelling your subscription outright.
What’s the difference between just pausing and cancelling? If you pause your Netflix membership, it will only stay paused for a month, and your subscription will start up again once your month is up. You can briefly “extend” the pause if you wish, but not indefinitely.
Click Manage membership to start the process of pausing or cancelling your Netflix subscription.Ben Patterson/Foundry
If you cancel your Netflix membership, it will (of course) stay canceled. But here’s the thing: Netflix will keep your membership details, including your profiles, watch list, video ratings, and recommendations, for up to 10 months after you click the “cancel” button.
Provided you remember to restart your subscription before those 10 months are up, you’re essentially putting your membership on hold.
Put your Netflix membership on pause
Just want to pause your Netfllix subscription for a month or so? Here’s what you do.
Open Netflix on the web, click your profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen, then click Account.
In the top-left corner of the Account screen, just below where it says how long you’ve been a member (guilt!), you’ll find the Manage membership button. Go ahead and click it.
On the following page, beneath the Finish Cancellation button, you’ll find the Pause for 1 Month option. Click, and that’s it! Your Netflix subscription will pause for a month starting on your next billing date.
You can now pause your Netflix subscription for up to three months at a time.
Ben Patterson/Foundry
A week before your “pause” is over, Netflix will give you the option to pause your membership for another month. Keep in mind that you can only pause your Netflix subscription for up to three months at a time.
Naturally, Netflix makes it easy to un-pause your subscription whenever you want; just visit Netflix on the web on mobile, and you’ll see prominent “unpause your membership?” prompts. If you do, you’ll be charged immediately for the next month, and your billing cycle will change accordingly.
Cancel your Netflix membership
Want to take a longer break from Netflix, or cancel your subscription for good? Go to Netflix on the web, click Account in the top-right corner of the screen, then click Manage membership, followed by Finish Cancellation.
Despite Netflix’s dire warnings about losing access to your personal recommendations, your account profiles and other details will remain safe and sound for 10 months; after that, your Netflix data will be purged. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 29 Jan (PC World)The USB port on the router is often unused and yet it offers practical functions that can make everyday life easier. You can do things like saving and sharing files, mobile charging, or even an automatic backup of your data. We’ll tell you exactly how this works and what else you can do with the USB port below.
Further reading: Solve your Wi-Fi problems with these smart router settings
What can the USB port on the router do?
The USB port on the router offers various functions depending on your model. Here are some of the most useful applications:
Printer sharing: Connect a USB printer to the router to make it available as a network printer for all devices on the network. This saves you having to change cables or drivers back and forth.
Network-attached storage (NAS): Connect an external hard drive or USB stick to store files centrally. You can make documents, photos or videos accessible to all devices in the home network and, with some models, even stream content such as films and music directly.
Backups: Many routers support automatic backups. Files from the network are automatically backed up to a connected USB storage device, either time controlled or in real time as soon as new files are created. You can find instructions for this further down in this article.
Power supply for IoT devices: Some USB ports are suitable for powering small devices such as IoT hubs, smart LED lamps, or chargers. A practical solution if there is no free socket nearby.
Mobile internet: If your router supports LTE dongles, you can easily switch to a mobile data connection in the event of an internet outage. This is particularly useful if you need a stable connection and your landline connection fails.
Charge devices: Some router models allow you to charge smartphones, tablets, or other devices via the USB port.
Fritzbox with connected hard drive as router NASAVM
Which devices can you connect?
The type of supported devices also depends on the router model. Check the operating instructions to see which devices your router supports and which connections are compatible.
How to use the USB port for automatic backups:
Connect a USB hard drive or stick to the router. In most cases, the storage device will be recognized automatically.
Log in via the router’s user interface and search for options such as “Backup” or “Storage.”
Select the option “New Backup Job” or a similar function and follow the instructions of the wizard.
Decide whether you want a scheduled backup or a real-time backup that saves changes immediately.
Perform the first backup manually to ensure that everything is set up correctly. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 29 Jan (PC World)At a GlanceExpert`s Rating
Pros
Excellent speeds
Well-designed interface
Unblocks all streaming services
Great security and privacy practices
Cons
More expensive than other VPNs
A little light on extra security features
Our Verdict
ExpressVPN provides an exceptional service with fantastic speeds, easy-to-use apps, transparent privacy practices, and solid security. Very few other VPNs right now can match it. It’s pricier than many other services, but you sure do get a lot of VPN for your money.
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When you think of VPNs, ExpressVPN is likely one of the first names that pops into your head. That’s no surprise as the company has grown into a household name over recent years and become synonymous with online privacy.
It is, and has been, one of the most trustworthy and notable VPN providers on the market from the very beginning. And with each successive year the service just keeps improving. Since our last review, ExpressVPN has undertaken two more independent security audits, launched post-quantum encryption for all apps, and added its own suite of identity-theft protection tools. It has become a one-stop privacy and security powerhouse.
Further reading: See our roundup of the best VPNs to learn about competing products.
ExpressVPN in brief:
P2P allowed: Yes
Simultaneous device connections: 8
Business location: British Virgin Islands
Number of servers: 3,000+
Number of country locations: 105
Cost: $12.95 per month, or $99.95 for a year
What are ExpressVPN’s features and services?
ExpressVPN homescreen.
Sam Singleton
When you first open ExpressVPN, it has a simple single-panel interface with a connected/not connected button in the center, and the country selection below it. Then below that it shows the best smart location based on your geo data. The interface looks about the same as it has for a few iterations now and that’s because it’s simple and effective—if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
When connected, the screen remains largely the same except that ExpressVPN will now show a selection of shortcuts to websites and internet-connected apps such as Google, Wikipedia, and Gmail. You can edit these shortcuts to customize them for your uses.
If you click the drop-down menu in the upper-right corner, you can access additional things such as VPN Locations, Options, and Help & Support. The Options menu is where the meat of your settings are located. Here ExpressVPN offers a decent variety of customizable features, the highlights being a kill-switch, split-tunneling, and ability to switch protocols. All of these are fairly standard across all VPN services.
Notably, however, ExpressVPN does not offer a multi-hop feature to allow you to further obfuscate your connection by chaining it through multiple VPN servers rather than just one. This is unfortunate as many competitors already offer multi-hop connections and it’s a useful privacy enhancing feature for users. For a service as robust as ExpressVPN to not have multi-hop is disappointing—it feels like someone didn’t get the memo.
ExpressVPN also offers an optional ad- and tracker-blocking service.
Sam Singleton
Additionally, under the Options menu, you can enable ExpressVPN’s own ad- and tracker-blocking service called “Threat Manager.” There is also the option to turn on parental controls to block adult sites in case your kids are using the service as well. This addition of extra security features on top of the VPN is something that a lot of the top VPN providers such as Surfshark and NordVPN are offering now too. It’s certainly nice to have and you won’t find me arguing against it, but at this point there are likely better stand-alone security suites that offer better blocking and protection.
It’s also worth mentioning that while I focused on the Windows app for the purposes of this review, ExpressVPN does offer incredibly broad device and browser support. Besides Windows, it’s available for MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, ChromeOS, Fire Stick, Android TV, capable routers, and most recently Apple TV. Not to mention that ExpressVPN’s browser extensions from Chrome and Firefox let you fully control the app from the browser instead of acting as simple browser-only proxy connections.
How much does ExpressVPN cost?
ExpressVPN offers three different subscription options for its service: a monthly plan, a 1-year plan, and a 2-year plan. The monthly plan costs $12.95 per month, which makes it one of the most expensive VPNs on the market if you subscribe month-to-month.
The 1-year plan becomes a bit more reasonable at $6.67 per month and throws in an extra three months for free for subscribers. The 2-year plan becomes the most affordable option—if you’re okay paying the sum total upfront—as it drops to $4.99 per month and you get an extra four free months upon sign-up.
ExpressVPN offers a 7-day free trial for new members as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee on all subscription plans if you decide that it isn’t for you.
Subscriptions can be paid for via credit card, PayPal, or Bitcoin.
How is ExpressVPN’s performance?
When testing how fast a VPN is, I rate the service’s speeds across servers in six different countries all around the world over the course of a few days and then compare them to my baseline internet speed during that time.
In my testing, ExpressVPN server speeds were once again excellent. Across all locations tested, the average download speed was 70 percent compared to the base speed and the average upload speed was an equally impressive 80 percent compared to the base. That firmly puts it into our top five fastest VPNs, up there as one of the speed kings—the Ferrari to NordVPN’s Red Bull, if you will.
The speeds this time around did drop about 1 percent from last year’s tests, but that shouldn’t be cause for concern as internet speeds are notoriously fickle. It’s still a lot faster than most services we’ve evaluated and is more than sufficient to accommodate a home user’s online activities. You aren’t likely to notice much, if any, buffering issues while streaming or lag while gaming.
ExpressVPN has long promised that it will unblock Netflix and that still holds true. In fact, it not only unblocked Netflix, but also any other major streaming service that I tested including Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney Plus, and AppleTV.
As far as user privacy is concerned, there aren’t many better VPNs out there than ExpressVPN.
How is ExpressVPN’s security and privacy?
ExpressVPN offers two different VPN protocols: OpenVPN and its proprietary Lightway protocol. It uses this proprietary Lightway protocol to connect by default—this can be changed under the Options menu if you wish.
In just the last year, ExpressVPN has made significant upgrades to the Lightway protocol, upgrading it to DTLS 1.3 for better encryption. Along with this comes post-quantum protection across all major platforms, future-proofing the VPN’s encryption standard against quantum computers.
ExpressVPN offers its own Lightway and OpenVPN protocols.Sam Singleton
The Lightway protocol is also open source and you can find it on GitHub. It has also undergone a security audit by the penetration testing firm Cure53. For those who don’t want to use Lightway, there is the option to use OpenVPN instead. IKEv2 and L2TP/IPSec protocols are available as well depending on your operating system.
Another added privacy feature that ExpressVPN implemented recently is ShuffleIP. This feature, active by default, automatically changes your IP address for each website you visit rather than remaining static like many other VPNs. This privacy-enhancing feature makes it much more difficult for potential third parties to track your online activity.
As far as user privacy is concerned, there aren’t many better VPNs out there than ExpressVPN. It claims not to log any of your browsing history, or other personal data such as DNS queries, IP addresses, connection timestamps, or session duration. It does keep diagnostic and crash reports, but one thing that I really like is that ExpressVPN’s app on Windows asks you up front if you want to contribute this data. More of these options in the future, please.
The service is remarkably upfront about what it does and doesn’t track and it backs up its claims too with numerous independent audits. In 2022 alone, ExpressVPN underwent 12 audits on various parts of its service. In 2023, it undertook an additional audit and most recently in 2024 it completed two more—the latest being in June by Cure53 of its browser extension.
Surely, the sheer number of independent audits makes ExpressVPN unmatched among all VPN providers. It’s a level of transparency that can only be applauded.
Furthermore, ExpressVPN is located in the British Virgin Islands which is not subject to any international signals intelligence-sharing alliance or data-retention requirements. Meaning it’s much more difficult for any government to force ExpressVPN to share any data about users or servers. Turkey even forcefully seized ExpressVPN servers in 2017 and still came up with nothing anyway—I call that the ultimate independent audit.
Is ExpressVPN worth it?
The short answer is, absolutely. In fact I don’t think that there are many VPN services out on the market today that rival ExpressVPN. Its combination of excellent speeds, ability to unblock every streaming service, and dedication to user privacy hits all of the right notes. Add to that an interface that is dead-simple to use and broad device support and you get a VPN that ticks just about every box. It might lack some tweakable power-user security features and other services may offer a larger catalog of nonessential security addons, but most of us won’t even notice these things.
ExpressVPN isn’t the cheapest option available, but for everything that it does offer, the higher price is more than worth it. Practically everything about this service is top-tier and as a whole, ExpressVPN is still quite simply one of the best VPNs around.
Editor’s note: Because online services are often iterative, gaining new features and performance improvements over time, this review is subject to change in order to accurately reflect the current state of the service. Any changes to text or our final review verdict will be noted at the top of this article. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 28 Jan (PC World)TL;DR: Protect your files with a 10TB lifetime subscription to the ultra-secure Internxt Cloud Storage on sale for $$244.99 (reg. $2,999) with code STORAGE30.
Whether you’re storing sensitive files for work, personal finance records, or a few old assignments from school, privacy matters. That’s why it’s important to make sure your cloud storage is actually secure. A lot of them aren’t.
Internxt is a cloud storage platform that made security its top priority. If you want a single, secure place to keep all your files, check out Internxt’s 10TB lifetime subscription while it’s still marked down to $244.99. That won’t last much longer.
Why Internxt
Unlike many popular services, Internxt uses zero-knowledge encryption, meaning not even their team can see what you’ve uploaded. The files are encrypted, broken into fragments, and distributed across their network. Nobody’s seeing what you’ve got saved without your permission, but sharing your files is quick and painless. Whether you’re sharing a high-res photo album or syncing a document across devices, the system is fast and reliable.
Internxt works seamlessly across platforms, with dedicated apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, plus a web app for browser access.
Internxt is completely GDPR compliant and has independent security audits, so you can trust your files are locked down.
Keep your files safe forever.
Until February 2 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get an Internxt Cloud Storage 10TB Lifetime Subscription for $244.99 (reg. $2,999) with code STORAGE30.
Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan – $249.99
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StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 28 Jan (PC World)Microsoft plans to soon remove its official web page for Windows themes and desktop wallpapers. The company has not given an exact date for when this will happen. The site, which Microsoft says is outdated, has previously offered visitors downloadable theme packs for both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Instead, Microsoft is encouraging its users to download new themes and desktop wallpapers directly from the Microsoft Store.
However, Windows Central points out that a clear difference between the official website and the Microsoft Store is that the website organizes all themes by different categories, such as animals, nature, etc. The Microsoft Store does not do this, which can make it harder for users to find what is on offer.
Further reading: Want more Windows themes? Check out the Microsoft Store
This article was translated from German to English, and originally appeared on pcwelt.de. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 28 Jan (PC World)At a GlanceExpert`s Rating
Pros
Flawless setup and client interface
Fast, glitch-free performance
Syncing briefcase with online editing (Pro version) or separate service
Unlimited backup
Cons
Mac Client requires third-party software for briefcase functionality
Our Verdict
The adjective that Livedrive inspires is “smooth”: Smooth signup, smooth setup, and smooth operation. Offering unlimited storage backup with online/device sync, we also find the pricing more than reasonable.
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After two tire-kickings of the Windows version of Livedrive, I struggle to find anything about the service that isn’t first-rate. Signup was a breeze, the client installed quickly, and operation proved easy to both understand and use.
Most importantly, Livedrive never glitched. In fact, it never even hinted at glitching. That inspires confidence — something that’s essential when trusting your precious data to an online backup service. It also proved far faster than I expected for a service with its data centers overseas. Sweet.
See how well Livedrive compares to the competition in our big online backup roundup.
Note: For more about data backup, see our best Windows backup software roundup.
What are Livedrive’s features?
While I’ve already praised Livedrive for its operational solidity, the attention to detail in the interface is also outstanding. If I had a dime for every poorly rendered, scaled, or translated GUI element I’ve seen in the backup arena, I’d be well on my way to being rich. Obviously, there’s someone at the company other than backup programmers.
That said, it does use the British “centre,” rather than the American “center.” God save the Queen! (Err, King.)
Live drive running on Windows 11.
Though Livedrive automatically selects everything most users want to back up (read: the User folder), you can alter the selections on your own. That’s a good thing for me as I have almost 1TB of VMs, ISO, and storage test files on the desktop — few of which really need to be backed up.
Yes, Livedrive provides unlimited backup, but for speed’s sake, you should always skip anything you can easily recreate and limit backup to anything that will produce negative emotions if lost.
Livedrive backups may be scheduled as granularly as every hour, or in multiples of hours. There’s also a daily option that should be sufficient for most users, depending on what you’re backing up. If your data set changes more often, use the hourly.
In the event you need to restore data, you my use the client software as shown below, or download the data via Livedrive’s web portal.
Livedrive’s restore page.
Livedrive (Pro Suite or separate) also offers sync in the form of the Briefcase, which is where backups from your mobile devices reside. It is accessed via a virtual network drive invoked by the Open Briefcase button on the Briefcase page of the client software.
You may add local folders to the Briefcase via drag-and-drop or create new ones. Folders dragged in are copies of the original folder, not shortcuts — i.e., you’re not syncing the original folder as is the case with folders created inside the drive.
The Livedrive Briefcase mounted as a virtual network drive in Windows.
A Briefcase-related feature is LAN transfer. This is used to sync the Briefcase among computers on your network running Livedrive. This requires the Pro Suite version, or more than one seat license, and bypasses the overhead of downloading the folder from the Livedrive online repository.
Probably my only complaint about Livedrive is that the Mac client requires the installation of macFuse for the Briefcase to function. It’s not alone in using that extension, but it does complicate the dead-easy vibe you get in Windows.
Other Livedrive options include excluding files and folders, file-type priority (which files transfer first), bandwidth allocation (performance), proxy server support (VPNs), and an integrity check (comparing local and online files).
The Livedrive client’s settings page.
For security, Livedrive uses transfer layer security (TLS, the successor to the NSA-supported SSL) and two-factor authentication. The service also ensures that data is distributed across multiple locations and obfuscated so it can’t be linked to an individual account.
It conforms with all EU privacy laws for Britain’s continental brethren. How this fares in light of Brexit, we can’t say. But Livedrive is secure.
Livedrive also provides Android and iOS apps so you can keep your mobile devices backed up. See below
The iOS Livedrive client.
How much does Livedrive cost?
Livedrive’s base pricing is reasonable at $10 a month for unlimited data backed up from a single PC, though it was on sale for $8.33 at the time of this review. There’s also a standalone Briefcase sync service (think iCloud, OneDrive, Dropbox, etc.) with a generous 2TB of space for $17.58 a month (currently on sale for $14.66 per month). The Pro Suite offers both Backup and Briefcase as well as five seat licenses for $27.50 a month ($22.08 on sale).
Nicely, according to the company, the sale prices are also the rollover prices so there’s no unexpected bump in cost when your plan renews.
Note that I evaluated the Pro Suite version which also includes five seat licenses.
Livedrive pricing.
The non-sale prices are up just slightly from those we saw at our last look in 2021.
The Briefcase options are rather pricey considering the aforementioned alternatives, many of which are free for smaller data sets. Online backup competitor iDrive offers sync as part of its standard backup plan.
Nicely, the sale prices are also the rollover prices so there’s no unexpected bump in cost when your plan renews.
How fast is Livedrive?
I was pleasantly surprised by the 5- to 10MBps upload rate I saw from Livedrive. The company’s data storage facilities are in the United Kingdom so it’s traveling a ways from San Francisco, CA, U.S. where I reside. Of course, that speaks as much to continual improvements in internet infrastructure as the company’s operations, but the bottom line is that you don’t have to worry about backup speed as you might have once.
Livedrive starting a backup. It completed successfully in case you were wondering.
Nor do you have to worry about the backup’s impact on system performance. Livedrive had backed up 34.5GB of a 250GB backup without my even noticing it. Backups that don’t disturb your computing day are nice.
Should you pay for Livedrive?
Yes. Its flawless setup, minimalist interface, and smooth operation make for a superior experience. If you value impeccability, Livedrive is an excellent choice for online backup. That said, it would be nice if the client provided a secondary backup to local storage — restore from local media, when available, is far faster.
Editor’s note: Because online services are often iterative, gaining new features and performance improvements over time, this review is subject to change in order to accurately reflect the current state of the service. Any changes to text or our final review verdict will be noted at the top of this article. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 28 Jan (PC World)Google Chrome has added a new feature that allows it to split a tab into two parts, allowing the user to view two separate web pages in the same browser window. This feature was first spotted by browser reviewer Leopeva64 via Windows Latest. It’s currently hidden in the latest version of Chrome and cannot be used.
Google is working on a `split screen` feature for Chrome, this feature will allow you to view two websites in one window, it is still in an early stage of development so it doesn`t work yet:https://t.co/9Uc4TqtaPK.https://t.co/5gVxnxS1mC pic.twitter.com/0XhByppVqJ— Leopeva64 (@Leopeva64) January 17, 2025
Once available, it looks like it’ll be possible to split a tab into two different display halves by right clicking on it and selecting the “Split Tab with Active Tab” option.
The same feature has previously been seen in Microsoft’s Edge browser where it’s called “Split Screen” and can be activated via the settings in the three-dot menu. In Edge, it’s also possible to right click on a tab and select “Open in Sidebar” to achieve similar functionality.
At this point, it’s unknown when the split tabs might appear in the stable version of Google Chrome. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 28 Jan (PC World)Maybe you just subscribed to a new VPN service and are already regretting it. Or maybe you’re a long-time subscriber and your old provider just isn’t cutting it any longer. Perhaps your current VPN is in hot water for selling user data or a competitor has better pricing.
The VPN market is in constant flux, with the relative quality of services and features vacillating between providers at any given time. What was the fastest VPN or had the most servers last year may look different now. Given this, there are a myriad of potential reasons to switch VPNs. But should you? I’ll break down the best reasons to help you decide if it’s time to consider a change.
Your VPN is too expensive
On the surface, this reason is pretty simple: Your current VPN costs too much money and a competitor is cheaper. And this is good logic if you’re totally strapped for cash or you just use a VPN to connect to the same server every time. But it’s not the case for most users, and if you dig down a little deeper you’ll find that there is more to consider regarding pricing.
Things such as a VPN’s speeds, server network, and feature set should all be taken into account when looking at a service’s value. Sure, a VPN might charge less than one dollar a month, but you’ll likely find it has poor speeds, a small network, or the most basic of features.
Some of the more expensive services such as NordVPN might charge upwards of $12 per month, but they come with a load of useful tools and features that potentially make them worth that extra dough.
Further reading: The best VPN services
Still, as VPN providers offer larger and larger feature sets, they’re also predictably upping the price on subscriptions. It eventually reaches a point for many where it’s no longer worth it. If you end up still needing a VPN but don’t want to spend so much money, then there are a couple of options to ease the financial burden.
If possible, I’d recommend that you try to switch during common sales events. Times like Black Friday or the holiday season at the end of the year are great opportunities to find excellent discounts on even the top providers. You could potentially lock in a long-term deal during these sales events for half price or cheaper. Otherwise, there are always some VPN deals running throughout the year where you can potentially snag a good discount.
If you’re still unsure about switching, many providers offer money-back guarantees or free trial periods where you can try out the new VPN without having to commit.
A competitor provides better privacy and security
A clearly defined and detailed no-log policy should be a top priority for your VPN.StrongVPN
Many people use a VPN to keep their activities private and secure. Using a VPN that has known security flaws or privacy issues defeats the purpose. Therefore, if you know that your VPN service has any problems with either of these two critical elements, it’s best that you change providers right away.
There are a few common warning signs that you can look out for regarding the privacy and security of your VPN. The first is a recent data breach or hack. This is a clear red flag and an indicator that it’s time to switch services. Regularly checking the news for info about your VPN provider can help alert you to a problem early on.
User privacy is another key factor that determines the quality of a VPN. It’s a little trickier to determine if your VPN is adequately protecting your privacy though. A VPN should have a clear and comprehensive no-logs policy and preferably back up this claim with a third-party audit.
Further reading: 9 things you realize when you first start using a VPN
Some more shady VPNs, most commonly free services on the app store, have been known to hoover up the private traffic of users and sell it to third-party advertisers and data brokers.
If you suspect that your VPN may be collecting your data or just want to be extra careful, it’s a good idea to first check the company’s privacy policy. Make sure that it has a stated no-logs policy backed up with an independent audit. If not, it’s time to jump ship.
Your VPN’s connection speeds are too slow
Here you can see speed tests both for my baseline internet and while connected to a VPN—it will always drop, but it doesn’t mean your internet should slow to a crawl.Sam Singleton
While privacy and security are the main selling points of a VPN service, connection speeds shouldn’t be overlooked. Choosing a fast VPN can have a huge effect on your quality of life, leading to quicker file downloads, website load times, lower latency while gaming, and higher-quality streaming—basically just a better overall experience.
If you notice spinning wheels or long buffering times while connected to servers with your current VPN, it might be too slow. This is of course all dependent upon your home internet connection speed. All VPNs typically slow down your connection a bit, but if your home internet is already slow, switching VPNs won’t help.
The best way to figure out if your current connection is too slow is to test your VPN speed. Using an internet speed test site such as speedtest.net, you should first test your home internet to establish a baseline. After that, connect to your VPN on your regularly used servers and run the test again. Internet speeds are notoriously fickle, so it’s best to try these tests over multiple days to really get a clear picture.
Further reading: How to test if your VPN is working
These tests will give you a better idea of how much your VPN is slowing your home connection. But really this is going to come down to what you want to use a VPN to do online. If streaming, torrenting, or gaming are your main goals and your current VPN is just too slow, then you should consider a faster alternative service.
You can’t access streaming services with your VPN
Nowadays it’s common for people to utilize a VPN to get around geo-restrictions on streaming content. Simply connecting to a VPN server in a different area or country allows you to access a whole different catalog of shows and movies that you might not have in your home country or while traveling.
If your current VPN doesn’t have a large enough server network to cover the countries you want, then you probably want to choose a different service. Likewise, if you connect to your VPN in the desired country and notice that streaming services are already blocking that connection, you’ll need to switch.
A Top VPN for Streaming
ExpressVPN
VPNs and streaming services are in a constant cat-and-mouse game of blocking and circumvention. Sites such as Netflix pour a ton of resources into finding and blocking incoming VPN users so it’s fairly common to find a blocked connection. That said, the best VPNs for streaming are generally reliable at getting around these bans. Services such as ExpressVPN have long been able to stay one step ahead of even the most formidable streaming watch dogs.
Another VPN offers more features
NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature provides tons of great security tools that you aren’t available with most other VPNs.Sam Singleton
The VPN market is ever-changing and progressing. With a constant inflow of new features and services, VPN providers are always looking for new ways to distinguish themselves and entice users into using their service.
While this may seem irrelevant to some who are happy with just the basic features—most of the changes are nonessential security add-ons—to others it’s a great way to upgrade. Missing out on one or two extraneous features probably won’t make a difference, but eventually they add up. If you’re paying the same amount for your current VPN without all of the nice-to-haves, but a competitor offers them for a similar price, this can be a great reason to switch over.
Best VPN for features
NordVPN
Read our review
Services such as NordVPN and Surfshark offer a veritable treasure trove of features for only a few dollars more per month than many other services. These include advanced protocols, antivirus, ad- and tracker-blockers, configurable multi-hop connections, and post quantum encryption. Each on their own may not be enough for you to drop your current VPN, but all of these features together provide significant value for money.
It’s best to look at your current VPN and compare and contrast the features it offers for the price compared to those of competitors. If you find that your service is lacking features that you need, then switching to an alternative provider makes sense.
It’s also a good idea to consider the overall experience of your VPN. Does it work with all of your devices? Is it easy and intuitive to use? These are seemingly innocuous conveniences that if absent, can be easily remedied by opting for a new VPN provider. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
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