A virtual private network, or VPN, is a popular solution that allows users to encrypt and protect their data from third parties. However, while these tools are widely used in Australia, they aren’t without their limitations. In this article, we’re going to look at four VPN alternatives.
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What Is a VPN?
A VPN is a solution designed to reroute user traffic through an encrypted tunnel. Users can install a VPN client on their device and then connect to a remote server or VPN gateway, which will reroute their request, so they can connect to websites while hiding their IP address and personal information.
Many privacy-conscious users choose to use VPNs to prevent internet service providers (ISPs) and other third parties from eavesdropping on their activity, particularly when connecting to public Wi-Fi. Consumers may also use VPNs to get around regional content restrictions implemented by services, such as Netflix, or state infrastructure, such as China’s Great Firewall.
Benefits of Using a VPN
VPNs still present a wide array of benefits to users. Mainly, they provide a simple solution for users to protect their privacy online. A user can connect to a VPN server in seconds and start shielding their IP address and data from ISPs, government agencies and cybercriminals.
This anonymity not only gives them the ability to sidestep geographical content restrictions and to avoid experiencing bandwidth throttling when engaging in particular online activities, but also allows them to protect themselves against DDoS and Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks when connecting to public Wi-Fi.
| VPN | Forbes Advisor Rating (Out Of 5 Stars) | Dedicated IP Address | Number Of Devices | Multifactor Authentication |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN |  | No | 10 | Yes |
| Private Internet Access | | Yes | Unlimited | Yes |
| TorGuard VPN |  | Yes | 12 | Yes |
| NordVPN | | Yes | Six | Yes |
| TunnelBear | | No | Unlimited | Yes |
Downsides of VPN Services
Although VPNs are great at encrypting user traffic, they do have a number of downsides. One of the most notable is that they decrease the user’s connection speeds significantly (by some estimates as much as 50% or more). This drop in speed occurs due to the VPN rerouting each request through a remote server.
Another significant issue is the fact that you have no visibility over what a VPN provider does with your data. This means you have to trust the vendor to disclose that it’s logging your data (even if it claims to operate a no-log policy).
Lastly, most VPNs aren’t ideal for businesses because they aren’t designed to scale to the needs of teams accessing critical resources, applications and data. Thus, in environments where organisations need to implement zero trust access controls, having users connecting via VPNs can increase complexity.
4 VPN Alternatives To Protect Your Privacy
1. Proxies
One of the best alternatives to a VPN is a proxy server. A proxy server acts as a gateway that sits between a user’s device and the internet. The user can activate the server in their web browser and proceed to reroute their traffic through it. This helps to hide their IP address from any web servers that they visit.
While this sounds similar to a VPN, the key difference is that proxy servers don’t encrypt traffic. As a result, proxies are a good choice for users who want to browse anonymously and hide their IP address from web servers but aren’t concerned about encrypting their traffic.
It’s important to note that using a proxy can put your data at risk of eavesdropping. For instance, a hacker can intercept data transmitted via a proxy. This can be problematic if you’re using a free proxy with an unsecure network that’s vulnerable to compromise.
2. SSH Tunnels
Another basic alternative to a VPN is to use an SSH tunnel. SSH tunnelling, also known as SSH port forwarding, is where the user routes traffic through their device’s application ports to a remote device.
The easiest way to do this is by downloading an SSH client and then connecting to a downstream device with an SSH server. This can be used to create an encryption tunnel where data, files and traffic can be transmitted without being exposed to unauthorised third parties.
SSH tunnels can be used in scenarios where users want to transfer files and other data from one device to another. In contrast, VPNs are best used when users want to browse the internet behind an encrypted connection.
3. Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN)
SD-WAN is a cloud-delivered service that provides a high-performance alternative to a VPN. Businesses can use an SD-WAN to route and and encrypt traffic as it travels between SD-WAN-enabled applications across a wide area network (WAN).
Many organisations use SD-WANs to manage user access to applications and data across multiple sites or locations. This includes applications hosted on-premises, or in the public or private cloud.
Not only does this centralised approach offer more visibility over network activity, it also helps to monitor and manage WAN traffic to ensure efficient bandwidth consumption, and to provide a stable experience for end users.
SD-WAN is thus a great alternative to VPNs for businesses that want to optimise performance. That being said, although SD-WAN is good at adapting to real-time traffic conditions, it needs compatible devices in order to function.
4. Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
SASE is a networking framework created by Gartner in 2019, which delivers network and security through SD-WAN, secure web gateway (SWG), cloud-access security broker (CASB), next-generation firewall (NGFW) and zero-trust network access (ZTNA) as part of a single unified cloud solution.
Many businesses use SASE because it enables them to implement zero-trust access controls across a multiple-site environment.
Whereas a VPN would enable a user to connect to a network through an encrypted tunnel, SASE provides IT admins with a solution to manage remote user access to on-premises and cloud-based assets.
5 Reasons To Use a VPN Alternative
Some of the most common reasons to consider a VPN alternative are as follows:
- Increase connection speed: Use a VPN alternative if you want to increase your connection speed, so you don’t have to reroute traffic through a remote VPN server.
- Support high performance: You might want to switch away from VPNs if you’re in an environment where you need to access web apps and real-time media that demand high performance with minimal latency.
- Guaranteeing data privacy: Consider using an alternative solution if you want to guarantee that your personal information isn’t being logged by a VPN provider.
- Bypass website blocks: Some websites will attempt to automatically block connections from VPNs, so changing to an alternative can help sidestep these restrictions.
Featured Partner Offers
1
NordVPN
On NordVPN’s Secure Website
Plan costs
$7.33 AUD per month or $87.95 for the first year
Number of Servers
5,500
Encryption
AES-256
2
Surfshark
On Surfshark’s Secure Website
Price
Starting From $3.07 AUD Per Month
Number of Servers
3000+
Encryption
AES with 256 -bit keys
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do VPNs log data?
Yes. Most VPNs will maintain some record of your online activity. This could include connection logs, details about what you’re doing online, your IP address, the length of your session and even personal information, such as your email address and payment details.
The exact nature of this data is difficult to identify as most vendors don’t disclose what type of data they’re collecting.
Are VPN no-log policies legitimate?
Although some VPN providers claim to have no-log policies, users don’t have a way to verify that these claims are true. Given that VPN providers such as PureVPN, have shared user data with law enforcement in the past, it’s wise to be cautious of no-log policies, and to accept that if you use a VPN, some of your information could be exposed to the provider.
Do VPNs protect against malware?
No. Although VPNs provide a valuable layer of security against MITM and DDoS attacks, they don’t protect against malware, so if you download a compromised attachment attached to a phishing email or from a file-sharing site, your device will still be infected.
Are VPNs legal in Australia?
The legality of using a VPN varies significantly from country to country, so check the rules in your jurisdiction before downloading one.
In Australia and most countries in the world, it’s legal to use a VPN, but a number of countries, including China, Iran, Belarus, Pakistan and Iraq, have imposed legal restrictions on their use. Common restrictions include blocking known VPN traffic or requiring users to select only approved providers.
