VPN is the tool that allows you to browse the internet anonymously, and it also bars ISPs and other entities from tracking your activities. For this purpose, most VPN companies also don’t keep a log to ensure that no one could link your online activities to you. However, some VPN Companies do keep a log which practically voids the purpose of using VPN. In this Usenet guide, we will explain why it’s important for you to pick a VPN Company with a no-log policy and everything else you need to know about it. Let’s dive right into it.
What are the different types of logs VPN Companies keep?
When it comes to VPN companies, you will see many claims like “no logs,” “zero logs,” and more. As a user, it’s important that you understand these different terms and know what data your VPN Service provider keeps.
When it comes to log, most VPN Companies keep a log to ensure that you have a better user experience. However, the difference lies in how they process the collected data. Most reputed VPN Companies only keep logs for a certain session, and once that session is over, they discard the log, and that’s it. However, some VPN companies, mostly Free VPNs, don’t delete those logs, which potentially allow them to track their users’ activities. Let’s have a look at different types of Logs.
Connection logs
Connection Logs is one of the most common types of logs which many VPN Companies keep to improve their overall service. Connection logs are also known as diagnostic logs, usage logs, or metadata.
In these logs, companies usually keep data like the VPN Server the user used, time stamps, bandwidth details, etc. Usually, connection logs don’t pose any threat to users’ privacy because these logs don’t have the data which could potentially link the user to online activities, and it’s completely safe.
However, there are some companies that use Personally Identifiable Information (PII), which may allow the company to identify the users’ activities. However, most companies don’t keep logs this way, and they only use general information for improving their service.
IP Address logs
An IP Address is a unique combination of number which basically serve as your identity on the internet. If the company keeps logs of the IP Addresses, it allows it to link online activities with that user, which poses a serious threat to the user’s privacy.
Now when it comes to VPN services, most companies have a “no logs” or “zero logs” policy which means that the companies won’t keep your IP Address logs. However, if a company keeps your IP Address logs with the timestamp, it could allow them to link your online activities and track you using your IP Address.
Traffic Logs
Traffic Logs is arguably the worst type of log because it allows the companies to track everything you do online. These logs include your browsing history, downloads, purchases, messages, and other minor details.
When it comes to VPN Services, most companies don’t keep Traffic logs because it practically voids the purpose of using a VPN. However, some companies, especially free VPNs, might keep these logs for profit. Data collected through Traffic Logs allow these companies to understand what users do online, and they can potentially sell this data to advertisers and other agencies to get profit. When using any VPN service, read their privacy policy to ensure they don’t keep the Traffic Logs.
What are Five Eyes and Fourteen Eyes?
Five Eyes and Fourteen Eyes are the alliances that allow the member countries to pool their resources to gather Intel for their national security.
Following countries are part of Five Eyes.
- United States (US)
- United Kingdom (UK)
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
Fourteen Eyes includes the following countries
- United States (US)
- United Kingdom (UK)
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Denmark
- France
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Belgium
- Germany
- Italy
- Sweden
- Spain
Now when it comes to users’ privacy, these alliances are the biggest threat because these countries compel the VPN Companies operating in their jurisdiction to share their users’ data for threat assessment and other national security issues.
VPN Keep Logs
Some countries are also forcing VPN Services for encryption backdoors which would allow these countries to access user’s activities. Many VPN companies have raised their voices against these actions, and they have shifted their operations to lands with strong privacy laws. For example, NordVPN operates from Panama, which has strong privacy laws.
What are the best VPNs with No-Log Policy?
There are tons of VPN services available, and many of them claim to be the best option for privacy enthusiasts, but most of them are not really an ideal option. Many of them come with a weak privacy policy, making it easier for them or other entities to track your online activities. In this section, we will our most recommended VPN Services, which are known for their impeccable service and strong privacy policies. Let’s take a look.
NordVPN
NordVPN is our #1 recommendation when it comes to VPNs. The company has been around since 2012, and it’s known for its quality service. NordVPN has over 5500 servers across 59 countries worldwide.
The company also has a very clear “No-log” policy which means that it won’t track any activity online. It also doesn’t keep any other logs that could link you to your online activities when using NordVPN. On top of that, it comes with state-of-the-art 256-bit AES encryption, which means that the traffic between your device and the NordVPN’s Servers will be totally encrypted, and not even NordVPN can know what you are doing online.
Also, the features like DoubleVPN and Kill Switch are icing on the cake. So, if you want a VPN with impeccable service and a strong privacy policy, NordVPN is surely an ideal option. If you want to learn more about NordVPN, check our detailed NordVPN Review, where we have discussed everything in detail.
PureVPN
PureVPN is one of the oldest players in the VPN industry, and the company is known for its quality services. It has over 2000 servers across 140 countries, which means that you can easily bypass geo-restrictions and access exclusive content of various regions.
When it comes to privacy, PureVPN has a very clearly defined privacy policy. Like most reputed VPNs, PureVPN also doesn’t keep a log of your activities. It also won’t keep data like timestamps, IP Addresses, browsing activities, DNS Requests, or anything.
On top of that, all the communication between your device and the PureVPN’s Servers will be protected by 256-bit AES encryption which means that the company can’t know what you are doing online. It will also bar any tracking entities from tracking your activities as the whole traffic will be encrypted. Overall, PureVPN is a very trusted VPN Service, and it’s surely a great option for you. If you are interested in PureVPN, we strongly recommend that you check our PureVPN review, where we have discussed various aspects of the service in detail.
VPN Keep Logs
Conclusion
When choosing a VPN for you, make sure that you read the privacy policy to ensure that it doesn’t track your online activities. VPN is a tool for online privacy, and if the service you are using is tracking your activities, it voids the purpose of using a VPN. If you need help with choosing VPN, check this guide, where we have discussed various things you must consider when choosing a VPN. Also, don’t forget to check our VPN FAQ section, where we have answered your frequently asked questions in detail.