Australian VPN Buyers Guide: Dos and Don'ts

android-vpn-main-100707310-orig.jpg

android-vpn-main-100707310-orig.jpg

Credit: Dreamstime

Choosing a VPN in 2020? Here are some quick do’s and don'ts to make the process that little bit easier. 

Do: Your Research

There are dozens of different VPNs to choose from and it’s almost always worth the time to find the right one that suits your budget, security and speed-related needs. Read both professional and user reviews, read guides like this one and feel free to ask around. 

VPNs are much more commonplace than they used to be and being referred to a reliable VPN by a trusted friend can usually be a safer bet than searching online. 

Don’t: Sign up for a long-term subscription if you don’t need to

Credit: Surfshark

 Most VPNs give your choice of either a monthly, bi-yearly or yearly subscription. Opting for the more expensive options here can reduce your potential monthly cost to a dizzying low number. 

For example, throwing money at Surfshark’s 24-month subscription reduces your monthly membership cost from AU$15.99/month to just AU$1.99/month. 

However, as tempting as that deal might seem, it’s important to keep in mind that there’s no rush to lock yourself in and you will have to pay the first 24-months of the subscription in advance. Unless you’re certain that you’re actually going to use your VPN over the long-term, it’s probably not gonna be worth locking yourself into that kind of commitment. 

If you’re expecting to be using your VPN for only a month or two, it's worth trying to minimise your overall investment by using the free trial period and then sticking with it for a single month afterwards. If you are still using your VPN regularly after that point, then maybe it’s time to consider longer-term payment plans. 

Do: Check The Fine Print

It’s always worth taking a closer look at the fine print before you sign up for a VPN. Specifically, when it comes to logging policies. If the VPN you’re looking at doesn’t have a no-log policy, you might want to resist the urge to sign up with them - no matter how good a discount they’re offering.

Credit: Illustration 168578093 © Visual Generation - Dreamstime.com

A no-log policy is an assurance from your VPN provider that they don’t keep logs of your online activity. The need or desire to surf the web in private is one of the biggest reasons people sign up for VPNs but if your VPN doesn’t have a no-log policy, your search history isn’t as anonymous as you think.

Don’t: Leave your VPN enabled when you don’t need to

There’s nothing more frustrating than wondering why your download of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands has been bottlenecked all night only to discover that you left your VPN-on after watching some late-night Netflix. 

Always remember to turn your VPN off when you don’t need to be using it. The privacy and security you get from using your VPN is important but not always ideal for times when you actually want or need to access Australia-specific platforms like iView or download large files or games using the NBN. 

Credit: Photo 120878333 © Prykhodov - Dreamstime.com

See Also:

Join the newsletter!

Or

Sign up to gain exclusive access to email subscriptions, event invitations, competitions, giveaways, and much more.

Membership is free, and your security and privacy remain protected. View our privacy policy before signing up.

Error: Please check your email address.

Tags VPNsSurfsharkAustralian VPNs

Keep up with the latest tech news, reviews and previews by subscribing to the Good Gear Guide newsletter.
Fergus Halliday
Show Comments

Most Popular Reviews

Latest Articles

Resources

PCW Evaluation Team

Cate Bacon

Aruba Instant On AP11D

The strength of the Aruba Instant On AP11D is that the design and feature set support the modern, flexible, and mobile way of working.

Dr Prabigya Shiwakoti

Aruba Instant On AP11D

Aruba backs the AP11D up with a two-year warranty and 24/7 phone support.

Tom Pope

Dynabook Portégé X30L-G

Ultimately this laptop has achieved everything I would hope for in a laptop for work, while fitting that into a form factor and weight that is remarkable.

Tom Sellers

MSI P65

This smart laptop was enjoyable to use and great to work on – creating content was super simple.

Lolita Wang

MSI GT76

It really doesn’t get more “gaming laptop” than this.

Featured Content

Product Launch Showcase

Don’t have an account? Sign up here

Don't have an account? Sign up now

Forgot password?