The virtual private network (VPN) is freevirusprotection having a moment due to massive marketing budgets and collaborations with influencers. It’s not easy to navigate the growing VPN market, and some of the claims made about its features and benefits might not be accurate. Consumer Reports’ online security expert Yael Grauer recommends searching for open-source software, reliable builds and up-to-date support for industry-standard protocols.

CyberGhost offers a compelling argument for its zero-logs policy, which promises to not record your internet activities or your IP address. the apps are compatible with all major operating systems and come with 256-bit encryption with a kill switch, leak protection and the ability to connect via a random port. It also scored better in our tests of speed on the internet than many of the other VPNs we tested, although that might be a fluke or a result of traffic shaping by your ISP. It also offers extra tools like Threat Protection, Onion Over VPN and Double VPN.

Nord is a different option that was a top performer in our tests. It also had a great showing in our geoblocking test and streaming tests. Its apps are powerful and a bit user-friendly, but a mapping-based interface can be a little cumbersome on smaller screens. It’s compatible with a range of routers and Kodi TV set-top boxes and is one of the largest geographical coverages of our choices. It’s also a good choice for streaming overseas Netflix and has dedicated servers called ‘Windflix’ for this reason. It recently added a feature known as Perfect Forward Secrecy that protects information with a new key each session. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to decrypt previous activity.