{"id":1801409,"date":"2023-01-30T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T19:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/plato-data\/the-fastest-vpn-2023-we-identify-the-speediest-performers\/"},"modified":"2023-01-30T14:30:00","modified_gmt":"2023-01-30T19:30:00","slug":"the-fastest-vpn-2023-we-identify-the-speediest-performers","status":"publish","type":"station","link":"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/plato-data\/the-fastest-vpn-2023-we-identify-the-speediest-performers\/","title":{"rendered":"The fastest VPN 2023: We identify the speediest performers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>      <!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v18.8 (Yoast SEO v19.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ --> <title>Fastest VPN 2023: Speedy performers ranked | PCWorld<\/title>     <!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. --> <\/p>\n<p><!-- There is no amphtml version available for this URL. --><\/p>\n<p> <!-- Non AMP markup --> <\/p>\n<div id=\"page\" class=\"site\"> <a class=\"skip-link screen-reader-text\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/616724\/fastest-vpn.html#primary\">Skip to content<\/a> <!-- #masthead --> <main id=\"primary\" class=\"site-main\"> <\/p>\n<article id=\"post-616724\" class=\"post-616724 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail category-vpn publication-pcworld publication-us-default story_types-best-picks origin-wp\"> <!-- .entry-header --> &lt;!&#8211; <\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/> &#8211;&gt; <\/p>\n<section class=\"layout--right-rail\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\">\n<div class=\"post-thumbnail\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/the-fastest-vpn-2023-we-identify-the-speediest-performers.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt data-hero> <\/p>\n<div class=\"best-pick-badged\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/PCW-Best-of-2023.svg\"> <\/div><\/div>\n<p><!-- .post-thumbnail --> <\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<div id=\"link_wrapped_content\">\n<section class=\"wp-block-bigbite-multi-title\"><\/section>\n<p>When looking for a top-notch VPN, the two most important things to look for are privacy and speed. While privacy is crucial to a good VPN, speed should not be overlooked. Faster speeds mean quicker file downloads and website load times, a better streaming experience, and just a better all-around experience.<\/p>\n<p>To find the fastest VPN, the two most important factors are download and upload speeds. Download speeds are most likely the primary concern because when using the internet, it is imperative to get data from remote servers as quickly as possible. However, upload speeds can be equally as important for some. Gamers, for example, need low server ping in order to register their actions as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n<p>When evaluation VPN connection speeds, we look at both download and upload speeds, focusing on the percentage of the base speed that is maintained (or exceeded). That percentage of speed that is retained is the best measure for the true experience of using a particular VPN. This is due to the fact that numbers can differ quite a bit from ISP to ISP, device to device, or connection type to connection type so retained relative speed is only constant. We\u2019ve tested numerous VPNs and put their servers through countless speed tests to determine the fastest services on average. We then put together a list of the fastest VPNs we\u2019ve tested.<\/p>\n<p>Read below to see our picks for the fastest VPN, as well as our recommendations for best choice for upload speeds and the VPN with the best speeds while staying as private as possible. <\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for even more VPN options, check out our comprehensive <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/406870\/best-vpn-services-apps-reviews-buying-advice.html\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/406870\/best-vpn-services-apps-reviews-buying-advice.html\">roundup of the best VPNs<\/a> in all categories.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Updated 01\/23\/2023:<\/strong> Check out our latest review of <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/407502\/ipvanish-vpn-review.html\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/407502\/ipvanish-vpn-review.html\">IPVanish<\/a>. This appealing U.S.-based VPN has made great improvements to its server spread and speed in recent years and they now have an independently verified no-log policy to top it all off.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-product-chart product-chart\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item\">\n<p><h3 data-p_name=\"1. Hotspot Shield\" class=\"product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title \" id=\"1-hotspot-shield-fastest-vpn-period\"> 1. Hotspot Shield \u2013 Fastest VPN, period <\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"large-pro-cons-product-chart-section\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-item__image-wrapper\"> <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1200\" class=\"product-chart-item__image\" alt=\"Hotspot Shield - Fastest VPN, period\" src=\"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/the-fastest-vpn-2023-we-identify-the-speediest-performers.png\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"product-chart-body\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-columns\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-column\">\n<p class=\"product-chart-subTitle\">Pros<\/p>\n<ul class=\"product-pros-cons-list\">\n<li> Very fast <\/li>\n<li> Large country selection and plenty of servers <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div class=\"product-chart-column\">\n<p class=\"product-chart-subTitle\">Cons<\/p>\n<ul class=\"product-pros-cons-list\">\n<li> Domain visits are recorded, though not tied to you <\/li>\n<li> Expensive <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"product-content\">\n<p>To readers of our VPN reviews this first choice will come as no surprise. The fastest VPN we\u2019ve tested is HotSpot Shield and it\u2019s not even close. HSS is in a class of its own, retaining 67 percent of the base speed. That is simply a standout score. HSS has its issues, as we haven\u2019t been fans of the company\u2019s privacy policy, though it\u2019s slowly getting better. Of course, it may simply be that to provide the speeds that it does HSS requires the analytics it collects. We can\u2019t really say. Regardless, if you\u2019re interested in pure download speeds and nothing else matters then HSS is the one you want. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> Read our full <a class=\"product-chart-item__review-link\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/395084\/hotspot-shield-vpn-review.html\"> Review Hotspot Shield<\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item\">\n<p><h3 data-p_name=\"2. ProtonVPN\" class=\"product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title \" id=\"2-protonvpn-second-fastest-overall-fastest-upload-speeds\"> 2. ProtonVPN \u2013 Second-fastest overall, fastest upload speeds <\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"large-pro-cons-product-chart-section\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-item__image-wrapper\"> <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"932\" class=\"product-chart-item__image\" alt=\"ProtonVPN - Second-fastest overall, fastest upload speeds\" src=\"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/the-fastest-vpn-2023-we-identify-the-speediest-performers-1.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"product-chart-body\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-columns\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-column\">\n<p class=\"product-chart-subTitle\">Pros<\/p>\n<ul class=\"product-pros-cons-list\">\n<li> Fantastic speeds <\/li>\n<li> Easy-to-use multi-hop feature <\/li>\n<li> Supports TOR over VPN connections <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"product-content\">\n<p>The second place winner is ProtonVPN, which is still quite a ways back at around 57 percent of the base download speed. ProtonVPN is expensive compared to other services, but the privacy policy is better than HSS in terms of the amount of data collected from its users. It\u2019s not as fast as HSS, but ProtonVPN is about as close as you can get with an improved privacy policy.<\/p>\n<p>Upload speeds are a different story. In that competition, HSS doesn\u2019t even crack the top 20. Proton, however, is the leader there, retaining more than 80 percent of the base upload speed. If you want something that offers a higher degree of privacy, and has top-rated download and upload speeds, then ProtonVPN is the way to go. ProtonVPN also has extra features that may interest some, such as a multi-hop VPN, called SecureCore, support for Netflix and other streaming services, and a few TOR-friendly routers to boot.<\/p>\n<p>Other honorable mentions for upload speeds include <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/407892\/ivacy-vpn-review.html\">Ivacy<\/a>, <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/398777\/nordvpn-review-3.html\">NordVPN<\/a>, <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/395012\/expressvpn-review-2.html\">ExpressVPN<\/a>, and <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/403379\/private-internet-access-2019-vpn-review.html\">Private Internet Access<\/a>. Any of those VPNs will do the job nicely if upload speeds are a bigger concern than downloads. Ivacy, Nord, and Express are also excellent choices for extra features that go beyond just upload and download speeds, from various locations around the globe. These services also promise features similar to ProtonVPN such as Netflix compatibility, multi-hop VPNs, and more.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> Read our full <a class=\"product-chart-item__review-link\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/402413\/protonvpn-vpn-review.html\"> Review ProtonVPN<\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item\">\n<p><h3 data-p_name=\"3. Mullvad\" class=\"product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title \" id=\"3-mullvad-the-most-private-speed-demon\"> 3. Mullvad \u2013 The most private speed demon <\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"large-pro-cons-product-chart-section\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-item__image-wrapper\"> <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" class=\"product-chart-item__image\" alt=\"Mullvad - The most private speed demon\" src=\"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/the-fastest-vpn-2023-we-identify-the-speediest-performers-2.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"product-chart-body\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-columns\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-column\">\n<p class=\"product-chart-subTitle\">Pros<\/p>\n<ul class=\"product-pros-cons-list\">\n<li> Good speeds <\/li>\n<li> Higher level of anonymity possible than with most VPN services <\/li>\n<li> Windows desktop is easy to use <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div class=\"product-chart-column\">\n<p class=\"product-chart-subTitle\">Cons<\/p>\n<ul class=\"product-pros-cons-list\">\n<li> Not guaranteed to work with Netflix <\/li>\n<li> Lacks the extra services that some VPNs offer <\/li>\n<li> No password protection for your account <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"product-content\">\n<p>If you don\u2019t want to compromise on privacy and anonymity, while still getting solid speeds, then Mullvad is the best choice. This super-simple VPN supports connections via 38 different countries, and it costs 5 Euros per month (around $5.70 at this writing). We\u2019ve often referred to Mullvad as the \u201cSwiss bank account\u201d version of VPNs, because Mullvad actively resists obtaining any of your personal information. <\/p>\n<p>Instead of signing up for an account with the standard email and password, Mullvad assigns you a random account number and that\u2019s it. No birth date or anniversary passwords to give you away. One number and that\u2019s it. In our tests, Mullvad was sixth place for download speeds, though its upload speeds were on the weaker side, maintaining just under 60 percent of the base speed.<\/p>\n<p>After Mullvad, we have to turn back again to ProtonVPN since it\u2019s so fast, and the privacy promises are good, though you won\u2019t get the same amount of anonymity as you do with Mullvad, as email and password combos are the norm.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> Read our full <a class=\"product-chart-item__review-link\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/395038\/mullvad-vpn-review-2.html\"> Review Mullvad<\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item\">\n<p><h3 data-p_name=\"4. ExpressVPN\" class=\"product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title \" id=\"4-expressvpn-the-bronze-medalist\"> 4. ExpressVPN \u2013 The bronze medalist <\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"large-pro-cons-product-chart-section\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-item__image-wrapper\"> <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"708\" height=\"348\" class=\"product-chart-item__image\" alt=\"ExpressVPN - The bronze medalist\" src=\"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/the-fastest-vpn-2023-we-identify-the-speediest-performers-1.png\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"product-chart-body\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-columns\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-column\">\n<p class=\"product-chart-subTitle\">Pros<\/p>\n<ul class=\"product-pros-cons-list\">\n<li> Consistently good speeds <\/li>\n<li> Easy-to-use desktop program <\/li>\n<li> Broad device support <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div class=\"product-chart-column\">\n<p class=\"product-chart-subTitle\">Cons<\/p>\n<ul class=\"product-pros-cons-list\">\n<li> Logs data transfer amounts <\/li>\n<li> More expensive than many competitors <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"product-content\">\n<p>Our current all-star as the best VPN overall is a good choice for speeds. It ranks third overall in our download speed tests, retaining more than 53 percent of the base speed in our testing. For uploads, it ranks in the top 20, though the differences in speeds there are much slimmer than in downloads. ExpressVPN is one of the more costly VPNs out there at $100 per year. For that money, however, you get solid speeds, a promise to work with Netflix, split tunneling, and a wide range of device support. The app is also pretty easy to use and there are a wide range of country locations to choose from.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> Read our full <a class=\"product-chart-item__review-link\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/397547\/expressvpn-2019-vpn-review.html\"> Review ExpressVPN<\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item\">\n<p><h3 data-p_name=\"5. NordVPN\" class=\"product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title \" id=\"5-nordvpn-honorable-mention\"> 5. NordVPN \u2013 Honorable mention <\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"large-pro-cons-product-chart-section\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-item__image-wrapper\"> <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" class=\"product-chart-item__image\" alt=\"NordVPN - Honorable mention\" src=\"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/the-fastest-vpn-2023-we-identify-the-speediest-performers-3.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"product-chart-body\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-columns\">\n<div class=\"product-chart-column\">\n<p class=\"product-chart-subTitle\">Pros<\/p>\n<ul class=\"product-pros-cons-list\">\n<li> Excellent speeds <\/li>\n<li> Enough features to appeal to power users and novices <\/li>\n<li> No-logs policy <\/li>\n<li> Diskless servers <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"product-content\">\n<p>Nord regularly appears at the top of many VPN rankings, and it\u2019s no surprise to see it here. In our tests, NordVPN retained 49 percent of the base speed, which is plenty fast. It\u2019s also inside the top 10 for upload speeds. Of all the VPNs here, NordVPN also has to be one of the most feature packed, rivaling ProtonVPN. It supports multi-hop connections, TOR over VPN, ad and tracker blocking at the server level, and a variety of other options. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> Read our full <a class=\"product-chart-item__review-link\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/398777\/nordvpn-review-3.html\"> Review NordVPN<\/a> <\/div><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"how-we-tested\">How we tested<\/h2>\n<p>Testing is pretty simple. We test the speeds in five countries on a given day, testing each country location three times. These countries are typically the U.S., the UK, Germany, Australia, and Japan, but that can change depending on the locations the VPN offers and if there are any unique testing requirements. <\/p>\n<p>The daily speeds are averaged together to get a daily average speed. We test a total of three days at different times of the day to account for any variation. Then we take the average of each testing day to get an overall average. That overall average is then expressed as a percentage of the base speed. That way the test results provide a sense of how much speed a VPN retains versus hard numbers, which can vary based on internet service providers, routers, and other equipment, time of day, and so on.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-to-pick-a-vpn\">How to pick a VPN<\/h2>\n<p>VPNs are a tricky subject. First of all, many security experts often don\u2019t have a very high opinion of VPNs. That\u2019s due in part to shenanigans from early VPN companies, as well as the fact that the entire use of a VPN is based on trust. You have no way of knowing for sure if your service is doing what it says it\u2019s doing, hence the need for trust. VPN companies are going a long way to improve trust with third-party audits and upholding their privacy promises in court. <\/p>\n<h3 id=\"company-leadership\">Company leadership<\/h3>\n<p>So how can you put your trust in a VPN? There are a few steps you can take. First, make sure you know who is behind the company. It\u2019s easier to trust a company if you know where they are located and who is running the show. Next, consider VPNs that aren\u2019t in exotic locations half a world away. You can raise objections about the so-called \u201cFourteen Eyes\u201d all you want, but if you\u2019re using a VPN to access Gmail, Facebook, and Twitter, then far more sensitive information than your browsing history could potentially be exposed under force of law. <\/p>\n<h3 id=\"logging-policy\">Logging policy<\/h3>\n<p>Once you\u2019re comfortable with the company providing your service, it\u2019s time to see what kind of information they\u2019re logging from your activity, if any. Some VPNs promise to log nothing, some take minimal data to improve their networks, while others log a surprising amount. Ideally, you want a VPN that logs as little data as possible, especially when it comes to which websites you\u2019re visiting\u2013though if speed is your primary concern, you may be able to forgive HotSpot Shield for collecting the TLDs you visit on an anonymized basis.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"server-count\">Server count<\/h3>\n<p>Next, you may want to consider how many servers a VPN has. The more servers there are, the less chance of congestion and reduced speeds. It also makes it easier to switch servers in the same country when you need to for viewing Netflix or other needs.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"free-vs-paid\">Free vs. paid<\/h3>\n<p>Finally, you want to be a paying customer with a VPN when possible. Free and paid VPNs can have differing privacy policies, and free VPNs often have paltry data limits that aren\u2019t helpful. If you only need a VPN for a limited time, many services have month-to-month commitments at prices ranging from $5 to $10. <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"final-points\">Final points<\/h2>\n<p>After you go down the speed rankings behind HSS and ProtonVPN, the speeds start to group up into tiers pretty quickly within the top 10. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/402213\/perfect-privacy-review-the-price-is-high-but-the-speeds-are-good.html\">Perfect Privacy<\/a> make up the third tier after the top two leaders. Then Mullvad, Surfeasy, Private Internet Access, <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/393465\/airvpn-review-2.html\">Air VPN<\/a>, and <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/539944\/hma-pro-review-good-speeds-new-app.html\">HMA<\/a> round out the top 10 for download speeds. <\/p>\n<p>The drop-off for upload speeds is much more gradual making any of the services mentioned in the upload section a good choice if this is your primary concern.<\/p>\n<p>Speeds aren\u2019t the only consideration one can have for a VPN, but for many people it\u2019s the primary one. We\u2019ll also be looking soon at the best VPNs for other uses including streaming, torrents, mobile, and more.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-block faq-block\">\n<h2 class=\"faq-block-title\" id=\"faq\"> FAQ <\/h2>\n<hr class=\"block-horizotal-divider\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block\">\n<div class=\"faq-save-content\"><span class=\"faq-rank\">1.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>What does a VPN do<strong>?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip\">\n<p>A VPN (virtual private network) encrypts your internet traffic and disguises your identity while browsing the internet. A VPN will anonymize your online traffic and keep your ISP or other third parties from snooping on your internet browsing.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, VPNs allow you to connect to servers all across the world. So if you\u2019re looking to access location-restricted content, such as streaming services, you can connect to the appropriate country\u2019s server and gain access that way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block\">\n<div class=\"faq-save-content\"><span class=\"faq-rank\">2.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"how-does-a-vpn-work\">How does a VPN work?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip\">\n<p>A VPN hides your IP address by redirecting it through a remote server hosted by the VPN company. To anyone looking in, the VPN server then becomes the source of your data instead of yourself. These remote servers can be in your own country or located in different countries around the world. All of your network traffic from your computer to the VPN is sent over a secure and encrypted connection.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>When connected to a VPN while browsing the internet, the VPN acts as a middleman between your computer and a website. Your computer sends a request to the VPN which then passes it on to a website. The website then sends its response back to the VPN which forwards it through the secure connection to your computer. All of the traffic rerouted through the VPN shows as coming through their server rather than your own computer. This keeps your ISP and other third parties from snooping on your internet activity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block\">\n<div class=\"faq-save-content\"><span class=\"faq-rank\">3.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"can-you-use-a-vpn-to-watch-netflix\">Can you use a VPN to watch Netflix?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip\">\n<p>Yes! If you\u2019re located in a country where particular Netflix content isn\u2019t accessible, you can use a VPN server located in a different region to access that content. While certain streaming services try to prevent VPN connections, you can usually find a server that isn\u2019t blocked. <\/p>\n<p>Good VPN companies offer thousands of servers in which to connect to from all over the world. If your intended use for a VPN is to watch a streaming service such as Netflix, connection speeds and unblocked server availability will be the most important factors to look out for. (See our roundup of the <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/406870\/best-vpn-services-apps-reviews-buying-advice.html\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/406870\/best-vpn-services-apps-reviews-buying-advice.html\">best VPNs<\/a> for our recommendation for Netflix streaming, as well as a host of other use cases.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block\">\n<div class=\"faq-save-content\"><span class=\"faq-rank\">4.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"will-a-vpn-affect-my-internet-speeds\">Will a VPN affect my internet speeds?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip\">\n<p>In the past, VPNs were notorious for slowing down internet speeds. But nowadays it\u2019s the exception rather than the norm.<\/p>\n<p>When you connect to a VPN, it reroutes your traffic through its own servers. Depending on where these servers are located, the extra distance can lead to a higher ping. While one of the great features of VPNs is to encrypt your data, this can lead to slower download and upload speeds because it takes time to encrypt and decrypt your data\u2014affecting everything from page load times to video buffering speeds. Thankfully, advances in encryption technology and server optimization by modern VPN providers have significantly lessened these impacts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block\">\n<div class=\"faq-save-content\"><span class=\"faq-rank\">5.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"do-vpns-protect-against-malware-and-computer-viruses\">Do VPNs protect against malware and computer viruses?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip\">\n<p>Unfortunately, no, a VPN will not protect you from malware or viruses. If you use a VPN and accidentally click on a malicious link or download a file containing a virus, there isn\u2019t anything a VPN can do to help. In conjunction with a VPN, it is highly recommended that you use <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/407277\/best-antivirus-for-windows-pc.html\">an antivirus program<\/a>. Alternatively, you can find a VPN provider that offers additional threat protection features to help keep you safe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n<p><!-- #post-616724 --> <\/main><!-- #main --> <main id=\"primary\" class=\"site-main\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"coupons custom_coupon\">\n<h3>Coupon Codes<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/main> <\/div>\n<p><!-- #page--> <!-- Start Subscriber Embed Code --> <!-- End Subscriber Embed Code --> <!-- Google Tag Manager (noscript) -->   <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) -->  <\/p>\n<ul class=\"plato-post-bottom-links\">\n<li class=\"plato-post-bottom-link-amplifi\">SEO Powered Content &amp; PR Distribution. <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amplifipr.com\">Get Amplified Today.<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"plato-post-bottom-link-platoblockchain\">Platoblockchain. Web3 Metaverse Intelligence. Knowledge Amplified. <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/platoblockchain.com\">Access Here.<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"plato-post-bottom-link-source\"><span>Source:<\/span> <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/616724\/fastest-vpn.html\">https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/616724\/fastest-vpn.html<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1801410,"template":"Default","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","type":"","auto_type":false,"post":"","stream":"","stream_url":"","waveform_data":[],"duration":0,"bpm":0,"downloadable":false,"download_url":"","purchase_title":"","purchase_url":"","post-count-all":0,"like_count":0,"download_count":0,"editor_note":"","copyright":"","captions":[]},"genre":[78],"artist":[99],"mood":[],"activity":[],"station_tag":[3618,16120,8917,12801,5446,37936,3619,12638,38838,13176,8382,5380,38649,38307,37753,3620,25541,37755,8320,6449,13279,10841,10404,13655,3765,5803,37904,3705,5650,27577,38204,6031,8905,12559,7759,3787,39556,38126,37757,37905,3625,13769,37805,13942,13780,22214,5586,38472,3791,39088,37759,37848,3766,13602,13613,5851,5893,3857,5655,3795,3632,5455,39099,5928,7981,38027,38430,7999,38504,37852,37992,37944,7215,37762,38619,38589,3741,3796,13280,3797,13184,38160,6348,38161,5597,10493,3634,38063,5456,39482,38028,38119,12547,38628,5929,12635,38055,12496,5601,37764,13808,5757,39375,3769,3713,8357,37860,37816,10343,3636,5758,3805,38548,13929,8299,3745,38072,38431,5258,3637,3638,38336,3746,3810,3811,5814,177,5521,38074,13656,38000,10715,37771,3817,3772,5611,5406,37864,26513,13528,3714,5408,13353,38196,3821,35146,37772,3748,5566,3643,7293,7682,5237,3715,38076,5667,6006,13776,38213,3716,38143,9612,5668,26940,5413,13534,3774,11150,7237,9998,11534,3645,3646,12634,7770,5221,37870,5239,5223,6008,5616,38340,38716,5416,3718,37962,3649,5760,37775,6960,37918,5531,37919,3719,37874,37920,37776,13347,5476,8742,13382,37963,10497,7339,3654,7433,29119,3655,32396,3861,6154,3830,13603,12550,37780,13952,6102,5539,11925,5879,39483,37782,6423,3659,3754,15068,35887,3755,5673,13386,3834,5880,3757,37784,13653,37785,13187,37829,37877,37970,9817,10839,38008,38580,38647,3664,39215,13189,37971,37972,38078,37878,6426,13258,18719,18714,18729,5267,10846,6013,6014,13080,37830,38199,5545,3723,37789,38361,6132,13190,6036,10823,5951,7309,5432,37831,3671,3776,8628,13768,38010,38024,38011,38343,38344,37923,5906,3726,17820,15089,37834,5675,5705,6992,37791,37925,13181,38416,7404,10398,6135,5439,5575,5822,7438,7504,5632,3675,3780,37794,13794,3677,13771,6029,10485,10925,10215,34408,5744,39266,5491,38466,38272,13777,3679,9020,10523,3681,37889,37795,12964,5800,6088,5442,37929,3760,37798,12280,6462,7261,8041,37840,37799,3684,6488,5962,3869,13782,37800,3689,5748,5889,8947,3690,7476,5231,37801,38171,6441,12967,12552,38040,3692,37802,13414,12561,3783,13814,10936,5845,38172,3693,3694,37897,3846,6038,37984,3847,15441,3696,37898,37843,37844,39110,12562,7477,37986,3733,5500,8746,10406,8747,11314,10000,7926,3872,3873,10001,37899,3697,3852,37901,3698,3853,3701,3764,5701,5279,3703,13000,18708],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/station\/1801409"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/station"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/station"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1801410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1801409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"genre","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/genre?post=1801409"},{"taxonomy":"artist","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/artist?post=1801409"},{"taxonomy":"mood","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/mood?post=1801409"},{"taxonomy":"activity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/activity?post=1801409"},{"taxonomy":"station_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/station_tag?post=1801409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}