No-log VPN: What is it, and does Norton Secure VPN keep logs?
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Privacy
What is a no-log VPN?
Written by a NortonLifeLock employee
Virtual private networks, or VPNs, allow people to use public Wi-Fi hotspots safely by encrypting the data sent or received during the user’s online session. This shields users’ online privacy and anonymity and helps protect the personal information they transmit while on public Wi-Fi.
Many VPN providers also safeguard their customers’ anonymity by offering a no-log network, or logless VPN.
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What does a VPN without logs mean?
A no-log VPN means that the virtual private network provider does not collect, or “log, ” any information transmitted through the network. They don’t save information about your personal details, where you go online, what you download, or what you search for. Therefore, your online privacy and anonymity are protected from everybody — even your VPN provider.
What’s so great about no-log VPNs?
Why do VPN service providers do this? If you’re entrusting a company to encrypt and protect what you do online, shouldn’t you fundamentally trust that business to follow the same practices? Most VPN companies believe the answer is yes. They don’t log any of your information because they don’t want it. These no-log VPN service providers won’t build databases of your personal information to sell to third parties.
Does the Norton VPN keep logs?
No, Norton Secure VPN does not keep logs.
Some VPN providers do collect a minimal amount of user information, such as your email, but these exceptions to the rule should be available in their privacy policy.
As stated in the NortonLifeLock Global Privacy Statement, Norton Secure VPN collects subscriber information for communication purposes, mobile device data, and aggregate bandwidth usage. Norton Secure VPN does not log information about where you go on the internet.
Remember: All VPN services are different. Not all VPN providers operate logless networks, so you should choose your VPN service carefully if this is important to you.
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Best Anonymous (No-Log) VPNs to Use in 2021 | CyberNews
One of the most important reasons to use a VPN is to protect your online privacy from your Internet Service Provider (ISP), government, and other snoopers. But how do you know your VPN isn’t also collecting your data and selling it on? Unfortunately, most VPNs do exactly that. Therefore, it’s vital to choose a VPN with a zero-logs policy – a pledge to not collect any user data.
However, it can be difficult to find a trustworthy VPN, particularly as a lot of providers will claim to have a no-logs policy even if they don’t. In this guide, we will talk you through our favorite anonymous VPNs that don’t keep any of your information. So, read on for everything you need to know.
Best no-logs VPNs for privacy
NordVPN –
best no-logs VPN in 2021
VyprVPN –
cheapest no-logs VPN
Surfshark – amazing speeds and no logs
Private Internet Access (PIA) – no-logs VPN with the most servers
Mullvad – a super-private no-log VPN
LIMITED OFFER: Use coupon code “CYBERNEWS” to get NordVPN, now 72% OFF + 3 Months FREE!
Best no-logs VPNs – our detailed list:We have researched a lot of VPNs and have pulled together a list of genuinely anonymous VPN providers that operate strict zero-logs policies. This means that there is no danger of your data being sold on, hacked, or accessed by outsiders.
Editor’s disclosure: We are aware of and concerned about the Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) recently released by the US Department of Justice. It names Express VPN’s CIO Daniel Gericke among the persons who received monetary penalties and agreed to “full cooperation with the relevant Department and FBI components” due to their past misuse of covert surveillance tools, targeting US citizens, as well as journalists and political parties.
At the moment, there are no direct connections established between the misuse of such tools and ExpressVPN. However, in order to offer our readers only the most reliable and safest VPN solutions available, we are temporarily removing ExpressVPN from our lists until further privacy, data security, and ethical evaluations are completed. You can read our full story about the agreement here.
Here are our favorites:
1. NordVPN – best no-logs VPN in 2021
Based in:PanamaServers/countries:5, 500+ servers in 59 countriesUnblocks Netflix:YesCurrent deal: Get NordVPN, now 72% OFF + 3 Months FREE!
Visit NordVPN
Whatever your requirements for a VPN, NordVPN has it all: it is fast, reliable, and quite possibly the most secure VPN we have ever tested. It operates a strict zero-logs policy that has been independently audited twice by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Few VPN services can boast of something similar!
Better still, NordVPN is legally based in Panama, which is a very privacy-friendly country. This transcontinental nation is not a member of 14 Eyes – the biggest surveillance agreement in the world whose member states have agreed to share intelligence with one another.
NordVPN comes with military-grade AES-256 encryption, a highly customizable kill switch, protection against IP leaks, and powerful bonus features like Onion over VPN. It uses the NordLynx tunneling protocol, which is a modified version of WireGuard that is even more secure. And it accepts anonymous payment methods, such as cryptocurrency, so you don’t even need to risk revealing your bank details when you sign up. They do not store any of your sensitive information, including traffic logs and user logs.
As well as providing impressive security and privacy policy, NordVPN is one of the best VPNs we have ever tested for features, speed, and usability. It comes with 5, 413 servers in 59 countries, which makes it ideal for bypassing geo-restrictions on international streaming services.
It offers up to 6 simultaneous connections and is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV.
Pros
Most secure VPN
Independently audited no logs policy
Impressive encryption
NordLynx makes things extra secure
Based in Panama
Accepts anonymous payments
Highly customizable kill switch
Dedicated servers for torrenting
Cons
No router app
Torrenting only supported on some servers
2. VyprVPN – cheapest no-logs VPN
Based in:SwitzerlandServers/countries:700 servers in 70 countriesUnblocks Netflix:YesCurrent deal: Get up to 12 months FREE!
Visit VyprVPN
If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to NordVPN that still protects your privacy, VyprVPN is a really good choice. It’s kinder to your wallet than most of its competitors, and yet it still has a strict no-logs policy that is independently audited. This service is based in Switzerland, which is not a member of 14 Eyes and it has an excellent data privacy record.
VyprVPN uses military-grade AES-256 encryption, as well as a kill switch, public Wi-Fi protection, a malicious website blocker, and their own DNS system – VyprDNS. The VPN also has the super-fast WireGuard protocol, which makes the performance great.
VyprVPN stands out from the VPN crowd because it is one of the best providers if you live in a country that restricts VPN use. This is thanks to the Chameleon 2. 0 tunneling protocol, which disguises VPN traffic as regular traffic. It is ideal for bypassing censorship in countries like China. As a sidenote, VyprVPN is also great if you want to access streaming platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and others.
VyprVPN has more than 700 servers in more than 70 countries and offers up to 5 simultaneous connections. It delivers fast speeds and it is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Finally, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it out.
It’s worth noting that VyprVPN does not accept anonymous payment methods – the only chink in this VPN’s privacy credentials.
Great value for money
Based in Switzerland
Chameleon 2. 0 makes it great where VPN use is banned
Can unblock pretty much any geo-restricted content
Great for torrenting
Doesn’t accept anonymous payment methods
Only has 700 servers
3. Surfshark – amazing speeds and no logs
Based in:British Virgin IslandsServers/countries:3, 200+ servers in 65 countriesUnblocks Netflix:YesCurrent deal:Get Surfshark, now 81% OFF!
Visit Surfshark
If you’re after a super-fast VPN that doesn’t skimp on security, Surfshark is a great option. It boasts a strict zero logs-policy and is based in the British Virgin Islands, which has rigorous data privacy laws.
Surfshark is also very secure, offering AES-256 encryption, DNS-leak protection, a kill switch, Camouflage Mode, and RAM-only servers that can’t store any of your data beyond the first reboot. It uses OpenVPN, WireGuard, ShadowSocks, and IKEv2(IPsec) protocols. And it accepts anonymous payment methods.
Surfshark has more than 3, 200 servers in 65 countries, and it comes with a NoBorder Mode, which means it can bypass location restrictions, including the Great Firewall of China. This makes it perfect for streaming international content that isn’t available in your country.
Another of Surfshark’s main selling points is that it comes with unlimited simultaneous connections, which makes it a fantastic option if you want a VPN for all the family. It is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and Fire TV.
It is also one of the fastest VPNs we have tested, as it uses the cutting-edge new tunneling protocol, WireGuard.
For all this, Surfshark is one of the cheaper VPNs on the market. With that said, its no-logs policy is yet to be independently tested.
Based in the British Virgin Islands
NoBorder Mode is excellent
WireGuard delivers super-fast speeds
Unlimited simultaneous connections
Excellent for torrenting
Not independently audited
4. Private Internet Access (PIA) – no-logs VPN with the most servers
Based in:USServers/countries:29, 000+ servers in 77 countriesUnblocks Netflix:YesCurrent deal:Get PIA, now 83% OFF + 2 Month FREE!
Visit PIA
PIA is a good choice if you want a secure VPN with a staggering number of servers to choose from. It has a strict zero-logs policy, but this is not audited. However, it has been tested in the wild when the FBI demanded user information from PIA (and got nothing useful).
The VPN comes with military-grade AES-256 encryption, and you can even choose different levels of encryption. It also has a kill switch, a free SOCKS5 and Shadowsocks proxy, and Wi-Fi protection. It uses WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN protocols, and accepts anonymous payment methods, such as cryptocurrency.
But if you want to know why PIA stands out from its competitors, it’s because it has a whopping 29, 000+ Servers in 77 countries, which is more than any other VPN we have tested.
PIA offers up to 10 simultaneous connections, and it is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It uses the cutting-edge new WireGuard tunneling protocol to deliver decent connection speeds. and is decent for streaming.
Considering all the features it comes with, PIA is very cheap. The only unfortunate thing is it’s based in the United States, which is not a friend to data privacy in any sense.
No logs policy tested in the wild
Accepts anonymous payment methods
Supports split tunneling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
A staggering number of servers
Based in the US, which is not privacy-friendly
Can’t unblock BBC iPlayer or DAZN
5. Mullvad – most private VPN on the market
Based in:SwedenServers/countries:700+ servers in 36 countriesUnblocks Netflix:No
Visit Mullvad
If privacy is your primary concern, we would strongly recommend Mullvad. Not only does it come with a strict no-logs policy, but it is also audited regularly. Mullvad’s applications were investigated back in June 2020, and its security infrastructure was audited in December 2020. These audits include a check of the no-logs policy, which is extremely reassuring.
Mullvad offers military-grade AES-256 encryption and a kill switch. It relies on the WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols, both of which are secure choices, and there’s a slew of nice bonus features.
What makes Mullvad stand out, however, is its completely anonymous sign-up process. This means that you don’t even need an email address to set up an account and there’s no way it can ever be linked to your account. You can pay for subscribing using anonymous payment methods, like crypto. And, to top it all off, the Mullvad website has no third-party trackers – that’s impressive dedication.
Mullvad isn’t perfect though – it only has 700+ servers in 36 countries and is pretty bad at unblocking streaming platforms, such as Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Netflix. But when it comes to keeping your data off its servers, there’s none better.
Regularly audited
Secure protocols
Completely anonymous sign-up process
Bridge Mode keeps things extra secure
Good value for money
Only 700 servers
No split tunneling
Bad for Netflix
6. CyberGhost – most user-friendly no-log VPN
Based in:RomaniaServers/countries:7, 000+ servers in 90 countriesUnblocks Netflix:YesCurrent deal:Get CyberGhost VPN, now 83% OFF + 3 Months FREE!
Visit CyberGhost
If you are new to using a VPN, CyberGhost is a great option because it is really easy to use across all major platforms. It operates a strict zero-logs policy, but it hasn’t been audited. CyberGhost does keep some minimal statistics, but this does not include sensitive data like IP addresses, so there is no real threat to privacy.
CyberGhost is based in Romania, which is not part of the 14 Eyes and has good data privacy laws. The service comes with military-grade AES-256 encryption and a kill switch. It uses WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 tunneling protocols.
At more than 7, 000 servers in 91 countries, CyberGhost can unblock pretty much any streaming service, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and HBO Max. Better still, its apps are some of the most user-friendly on the market. Having said that, we have found in testing that speeds can be a bit hit and miss, depending on the server.
CyberGhost comes with seven simultaneous connections, and it works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
Overall, CyberGhost is pretty cheap, particularly considering how many features it has. It comes with a money-back guarantee of up to 45 days, depending on which plan you choose. And it even has a free one-day trial, so you can take it for a spin.
Based in Romania
Intuitive apps
Good for torrenting
Speeds can be a bit patchy
How we tested and selected these VPNsWhen choosing our list of the best anonymous VPNs, we considered the following criteria:
No-logs policy. Unsurprisingly, the most important factor when choosing VPNs for our list is a strict no-logs policy. This may sound obvious, but it is vital, as it means your VPN provider is not storing any of your data, so there is no way it can be sold on to a third party.
Security. Strong security is also absolutely essential when it comes to selecting a VPN, so we only selected providers that offer a range of excellent security features, including military-grade encryption and a kill switch.
Speed. If you want to use your VPN regularly, you will need it to be fast, particularly if you’re using it to stream region-restricted content or torrent. So we only chose VPNs that delivered fast speeds.
Whether or not the apps are user-friendly. It is very important to choose a VPN that is easy to use, particularly if you are new to VPNs. That is why all of the VPNs on our list have apps that are easy to use and are compatible with a range of devices.
Whether or not it is good for streaming. One of the main uses for VPNs is to bypass geo-restrictions and access content from other countries. Therefore, we chose VPNs that can unblock most, if not all, of the major streaming services.
Customer support. Just in case anything goes wrong or you need some extra help, it is crucial to choose a VPN that has good customer support. All of the VPNs on our list offer live chat or email support.
Price. We have also looked at value for money and included a range of VPNs that cater to different budgets.
What is a zero-logs VPN? A zero-logs VPN is a VPN service that doesn’t store data about users’ online activities or connections. This means that it won’t save any information about what you do online, including your personal details, banking information, and search history. Therefore, you can retain complete anonymity. Even your VPN provider won’t be able to see what you are doing.
In fact, this is one of the main reasons for using a VPN, as in many countries, ISPs collect information about users’ online activities and store the information for a period of time. This can then be made available to law enforcement or intelligence agencies. And in the US, ISPs are even allowed to collect and sell your data to advertisers.
A VPN can help you get around this by encrypting your data and hiding it from your ISP. All your ISP can see is that you are connected to a VPN server, which then reroutes your traffic, so your ISP is unable to see what you are doing online.
Unfortunately, however, most VPN providers do log at least some user data, and they may also sell your information on to third parties. So it is vital to choose a VPN that operates a strict zero-logs policy, such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or any of the other providers on our list above.
Types of VPN logsVPNs can keep different types of data logs. Here, are a few of the relevant terms and what they mean:
Online activity logs are exactly what the name suggests: this is when a VPN stores information about what you are doing online. Sometimes these are called usage logs. If your VPN provider connects online activity logs, that means it knows what websites you’re visiting, what online services you’re using, etc. Luckily, not all VPNs log this data, and none of the VPNs on our list can see this information.
Connection logs are the most common form of data logs kept by VPNs. And unfortunately, even some VPNs that claim to be completely anonymous keep connection logs. This means that it can keep information related to your VPN session. This can include your IP address, the IP assigned to you by the VPN server, usage timestamps (how long your online session lasted), which protocol you used, and how much VPN data you used.
Personally-identifiable logs are personal information that can identify you. This can include your email addresses, bank details, clear text passwords, date of birth, home address, IP addresses, phone models, device ID, and other sensitive data. Typically, these are not collected through the VPN service, but rather through the website and other means. Many VPNs will give you the choice of whether you want to divulge personally identifiable information (e. g., by offering anonymous payment methods).
Why should I use a no-logs VPN? A no-logs VPN is vital if you care about privacy because it means that no one, not even your VPN provider, can access any of your online activity.
Here are some of the main reasons why that is so important:
It hides your activities from your ISP: In many countries, internet service providers are allowed to collect information about your online activities and store this data for a set period of time. If your ISP logs information about your online activity, it may be obliged to share that information with your country’s law enforcement or intelligence agencies. This can be particularly problematic if you are based in a country like China. If you use a no-logs VPN, however, you can avoid this completely.
Less targeted advertising and more data security: In some countries, including the US, your ISP is legally allowed to sell your data to third parties, such as advertisers. They will then be able to target you with ads. Not to mention, the more people have your data – the bigger the chance it will leak. A VPN will protect you from this by stopping your ISP from gathering any data about your online activity.
You will have peace of mind: A truly anonymous VPN that operates a strict no-logs policy will give you complete reassurance that no one will be able to view your online activity. A VPN works by encrypting and diverting your traffic, so that no one can see what you are doing online.
Which free VPNs do not keep logs? Unfortunately, most free VPNs make their money by logging data about your online activity, including traffic logs and connection timestamps, and selling it to advertisers. So you would be very unlikely to find a completely free VPN that is actually anonymous.
Aside from this, free VPNs generally deliver slow speeds and are usually blocked by international streaming services. This means you wouldn’t be able to use it to access foreign versions of Netflix or Amazon Prime Video or to unblock geo-blocked apps, such as BBC iPlayer, Hulu, or HBO Max.
We would strongly recommend paying a small monthly fee for a reputable no-logs VPN, such as Surfshark or CyberGhost. But if you really don’t want to pay to use an anonymous VPN, you could try using a freemium VPN. This is a free version of a reputable VPN, which may have a no-logs policy. Having said that, these VPNs usually have much more limited functionality, and they often come with a monthly data cap. You also would not be able to use them to bypass geo-restrictions on international content.
If you want to try it out, we recommend using ProtonVPN or Atlas VPN, both of which have a no-logs policy and have no data limit. Alternatively, you could try Windscribe’s freemium version, which offers a monthly data cap of 10GB.
FAQs
How are no-log VPNs legal?
In most countries, it is completely legal to use a VPN. And a no-logs VPN is legal because a VPN provider is not required to keep any records of your online activity.
Are no-log VPNs safe?
Yes, VPNs that use a strict no-logs policy are very safe to use because they do not store any of your data. This means that no one can view any of your online activities. So, your sensitive data, including your personal information, banking details, and search history, are completely safe from prying eyes.
Which VPNs do not keep logs?
Luckily, there are some excellent anonymous VPNs, such as NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN. CyberGhost, PIA, Mullvad, and VyprVPN also operate strict no-logs policies.
Why do VPN services keep logs?
Unfortunately, a lot of VPN services keep data logs on their users in order to sell that information on to advertisers and other third parties. To get around this, we recommend using an anonymous VPN that operates a zero logs policy, such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark.
More VPN guides from CyberNews:Best Free VPN Services: the best anonymity networks with no cost and no strings attached
7 Best VPNs for Streaming (Movies): the easy way to increase your home library
Best VPNs for Windows: make your laptop or PC extra private
The Best No-Log VPN – Stay Anonymous & Secure | NordVPN
Why is the VPN logging policy important? Without a VPN, all your online traffic passes through your internet service provider (ISP). They can see everything you do online and track your behavior. Sometimes they even hand your internet access data over to advertisers, government agencies, or other third you connect to a VPN server, your ISP can no longer see what you do on the internet. However, your VPN provider does have that power. So it’s crucial to know what kind of logs – details about you and your online activity – the provider keeps. If you want to get a VPN for privacy, compare your options by looking at these details:the types of data the service collects about users and their internet usage;the external support or tracking tools it uses;the country where the service operates and the local legal requirements for collecting user data;the payment options the service offers and how these are linked to the user identity.
Frequently Asked Questions about vpn no log
Which VPN does not keep logs?
Luckily, there are some excellent anonymous VPNs, such as NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN. CyberGhost, PIA, Mullvad, and VyprVPN also operate strict no-logs policies.Oct 11, 2021
Is NordVPN really no log?
We keep no logs of your activity online We offer a zero-logs VPN service. It means that NordVPN does not store connection timestamps, session information, bandwidth usage, traffic data, IP addresses, or other data.
Which VPN is untraceable?
5 Best VPNs to use to become Anonymous in 2021ExpressVPN. www.expressvpn.com. ExpressVPN is the most anonymous VPN. … NordVPN. www.nordvpn.com. … IPVanish. www.ipvanish.com. … Private Internet Access. www.privateinternetaccess.com. … PrivateVPN. www.privatevpn.com.Sep 29, 2021