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| PC World - 5 hours ago (PC World)On Thursday, July 25, Netflix finally rolled out its updated app for Windows on the Microsoft Store, but the new version isn’t likely to get the thumbs up from users. In fact, it’s downright disappointing.
The update was first announced back in May, in which Netflix said the native app would be retired by June. After some delay, the update was quickly tested in July before being pushed live.
Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap
Windows 11 Pro
What’s changed? The biggest difference is that the Windows app for Netflix is no longer a full-fledged app. Annoyingly, it’s now just a simple Microsoft Edge-based web app that runs netflix.com.
Another big change is the removal of downloads, an important feature in the original app that allowed you to save content locally for offline viewing. The removal of this feature—which came in handy while, for example, traveling—is a huge step back for laptop users.
Windows Latest describes the new app as awful and pointless, as you can watch Netflix just as easily via any web browser.
“The new version will now include access to live events, compatibility with ad-supported plans, and more,” Netflix support reportedly said. “Mostly, it will remains same. As the browser streaming does not support Downloads, same way new Netflix App won’t be supporting downloads. Only streaming online can be done. You can continue to watch TV shows and movies offline on a supported mobile device.”
Further reading: The best VPN for streaming Netflix Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 8 hours ago (PC World)Elon Musk, the divisive CEO of Tesla and more recently the owner of Twitter (now known as X), is a fierce critic of the AI industry—but now also a deeply invested participant in that very same industry.
X’s Grok generative AI product is being integrated into the web and mobile versions of the social network, and training itself on billions of tweets thanks to an automatic opt-in for all users. (All large language model (LLM) AI tools need to be trained on massive amounts of text, which is why ChatGPT periodically releases new versions with an updated core database.)
Well, it seems like a constantly refreshed pool of conversations from some of the web’s most active users was simply too much for company xAI to resist, which now automatically scans your “posts as well as your interactions, inputs, and [Grok search] results.”
At the moment, X is using Grok as a chatbot for premium users and to replace human-made summaries of late-breaking news stories, with predictable issues resulting. The flippant and “rebellious” tone of the Grok model’s responses has been criticized by initial users, and its reliance on constantly updated data from X seems to make it particularly susceptible to deliberate misinformation campaigns.
All X/Twitter users are automatically opted into having their data scanned by Grok, whether they pay for premium features or not. Thankfully, it’s possible to opt out manually… though not particularly straightforward.
To keep Grok from scanning your content, go to X’s Settings menu on the web (the option is not available in the official app). Click Privacy & Safety, then Grok, then remove the checkmark from Allow your posts…to be used for training and fine-tuning.
At this point, I can’t help but point out that the word “grok” (a verb meaning “to understand deeply”) entered the mid-century lexicon from Robert Heinlein’s 1961 novel Stranger in a Strange Land. Heinlein, who also wrote sci-fi staples like The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and Starship Troopers, is iconic for both his expansive speculative fiction and heavy-handed libertarian themes. He’s a favorite among Silicon Valley tech CEOs like Musk.
Heinlein was also famously obsessive about the need for privacy and the dangers of losing it, something that he expressed both in his fiction and his personal life. I wonder how he’d feel about a ubiquitous social network scanning every word you’ve written on it (and beyond) without so much as a “by your leave,” for the purpose of training an AI tool. Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 26 Jul (PC World)Once upon a time, Windows was notorious for its poor security, with frequent reports of major attacks by viruses and hackers. With the release of Windows 7, Microsoft started to get its security act together and nowadays Windows 11 is the most secure system to date.
While Windows 11 offers a great deal of security, it also includes many features that monitor your computer usage in order to expose you to personalized advertising. Fortunately, this can be adjusted using various settings and in this guide we’ll show you how to increase both the security and privacy of your computer.
Further reading: 20 smart tweaks that make Windows 11 more productive
Login and accounts
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Windows 11 Pro
A screen lock is a must-have for laptops. Some models support fingerprint and facial recognition, but all can choose a password or PIN. Here’s how to set it up.
Open the Settings > Accounts > Login options. Select the one you want to use and follow the instructions.
Make it even more secure
You can make your login more secure by using only a high-security login method.
Open Login Options and switch on the following: For improved security, you should only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device.
Automatically lock your computer
When you walk away from your computer, you can lock it using the keyboard shortcut Windows + L. You can also let it lock automatically.
Open the Login options, go to When should Windows require you to log in again if you have been away from your computer?, and select Time from the menu on the right. You can also enable Dynamic lock. This means that if you have paired your computer with a pair of headphones or another Bluetooth device, you can lock your computer when the pairing is broken, i.e. when you walk away from your computer.
Integrity
Skip the login
Windows 11 works best if you’re logged in with your Microsoft account, but to reduce monitoring you can skip the login and use a so-called local account.
Open the Settings menu >Accounts >Your information. Under the heading Account Settings, select Log in with a local account instead to launch a settings wizard.
Switch off Windows Ad ID
Microsoft “monitors” your usage to customize advertising to your interests, but this can be turned off.
Go to Settings menu>Privacy and Security>Windows permissions>General information. Here you should disable the feature Allow apps to show customized ads using my advertising ID. You can also control other things that affect Windows privacy from here.
Share less information
You can choose what information Windows can access. By limiting it, you protect your privacy, but lose some functionality.
Open the Settings menu>Privacy and Security>Windows permissions. Here you can stop sharing information related to speech recognition and handwriting features. You can also remove your feedback to Microsoft and the monitoring of your own history. In addition, you can customize your searches.
Control the apps
Foundry
Foundry
Foundry
Even individual apps have access to things like the camera, microphone, and your exact location. You can control these things through App Authorization.
Open the Settings>Privacy and Security>App permissions. Click on the function you want to control, for example Positioning or Camera. You can now switch sharing on or off and choose which individual apps get which permissions. If you’re curious about what private information an app has used, scroll down to Recent activities to see the week’s history.
Stop apps from sharing
By default, apps can share information with each other – but this can be restricted or turned off completely.
Go to Settings menu>Apps>Advanced settings for apps>Share between devices. Click on the arrow and choose how to share.
Stop telling us about yourself
Through the Device Usage feature, Microsoft customises the system (and advertising) to your habits, but you can opt out.
Open Settings>Customization>Device usage. Open it and trigger the Off position on everything there.
Skip the “tips”
Some Microsoft ‘tips’ are perceived by many as advertising, but you can switch them off for good.
Go to Preferences>System>Notifications. Scroll down to Additional settings and remove the functions you do not want to use.
Malware programs
Scan for viruses
Windows 11 has a built-in security programme called Windows Defender. It is automatically activated if you are not running any other security package and it takes care of itself. However, if you want, you can start a virus check yourself.
Open the Settings menu>Privacy and security>Windows security>Protection against viruses and threats. Now a new program will open that is focused on security and here you can dodge Quick scan to start a virus scan. It’s also possible to select Options for searching to perform a full virus scan or one that takes place in offline mode. Under Windows Security there are also other important features. If all icons are green, no action is required, but you can tweak the settings by clicking on the respective feature.
Protect yourself against Trojans
An extortion trojan is a malware that locks your private files and demands payment to unlock them. Windows 11 can protect you against this in advance.
Open Protection against viruses and threats and scroll down to Manage ransomware protection. Switch on the feature Regulated folder access. By default, the standard Windows folders are protected, but you control this yourself by selecting Protected folders.
Avoid false positives
Controlled folder access only allows programs/apps that Microsoft has approved. If it blocks an application that you know is trustworthy, you can “whitelist” the app.
Go to Controlled folder access and select Allow an app in Controlled Folder Access. Click on the Add an allowed app and select Recently blocked apps or Browse blocked apps.
Theft
Find a missing computer
Windows 11 has a feature to help you find a device that has gone missing. With internet and location enabled, you can see where it is and you can have it ring loudly, allowing you to find it with ease. You can also send messages to the finder and, in the worst case, delete sensitive information.
Switch on the feature via Settings>Privacy and Security>Find my device. If your device has disappeared, go to account.microsoft.com/devices on any device and sign in with your Microsoft account. Locate the correct device in the list and tap Find my device. Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | ITBrief - 26 Jul (ITBrief)![NZ Located](/pimages/nzsmall.gif) Being written now Read...Newslink ©2024 to ITBrief | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | ITBrief - 26 Jul (ITBrief)![NZ Located](/pimages/nzsmall.gif) OpenAI is trialling SearchGPT, a new AI that merges real-time web data with its models to offer users timely and sourced answers, enhancing search experiences. Read...Newslink ©2024 to ITBrief | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 26 Jul (PC World)In order to train their models, AI generative text tools like ChatGPT scour the internet for text…which is also something that search engines like Google do. So, why not combine them and just give you everything? That seems to be the thinking behind SearchGPT, a new search engine from ChatGPT maker OpenAI.
The product was announced as a prototype on OpenAI’s website, inviting users to join a wait list to access the tool. According to the company, it’s designed to “combine the strength of our AI models with information from the web to give you fast and timely answers with clear and relevant resources.” The prototype tool is “temporary,” at least for the moment, but at least some of its features and functionality will be integrated into the wider ChatGPT product and its accompanying apps and APIs.
It makes sense. ChatGPT’s language model is a huge and unwieldy collection of data, so users can only access updated versions of it periodically — the current ChatGPT-4 model is trained on data that stopped updating in April of 2023. So adding in indexed search data that’s far more recent could give more accurate and timely information to queries and other tools reliant on ChatGPT’s various features. For an immediately relevant example, ChatGPT-4 can’t accurately tell you who the current nominees for the 2024 US presidential election are, but a search engine can get them right away.
OpenAI has been criticized for training its models on copyrighted pages and data without permission, and it’s showing awareness of that criticism in SearchGPT’s announcement. “We’ve partnered with publishers to build this experience and continue to seek their feedback,” says the page, and the search engine will include “a way for publishers to manage how they appear” in it. Animated examples on the promo page show links to the source of generated answers. Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 26 Jul (PC World)Keeping your online activities and data private is a top priority nowadays. VPNs, or virtual private networks, are one of the best ways to do this. Not only do they encrypt your internet connection, but they reroute all of your traffic through a private tunnel to keep it safe from prying eyes. Even the best VPNs can have problems though.
Maybe you’re not sure if your VPN is working properly. Or maybe you just want to test out the service for yourself to better understand how it safeguards your privacy. Here I’ll show you an easy method to check if your VPN is working and to feel confident it’s operating correctly.
Check your VPN status
An icon such as this from ExpressVPN indicates your connection status.
An icon such as this from ExpressVPN indicates your connection status. Sam Singleton
An icon such as this from ExpressVPN indicates your connection status. Sam Singleton
Sam Singleton
The first thing you should do to ensure your VPN is working is to verify whether or not it’s connected — simple, I know, but necessary. Every VPN that I’ve ever encountered has an icon displayed somewhere on the VPN application indicating your connection status.
This icon or symbol most often comes in the form of a red or green power button or on/off switch. When the VPN is connected it should display green or the status will show “On.” Alternatively, when the VPN is disconnected it will likely change to red or display the status “Off.” Check your VPN client or application for these status indications.
Further reading: The best VPN services
Compare IP addresses
The next simplest way to check if your VPN is working is to compare your home IP address to the VPN IP address. When connected to a VPN, your IP address should change based on the VPN server you connect to.
Here is how to check your IP address:
Make sure your VPN is disconnected.
Go to a website such as whatismyipaddress.com and note your original home IP address provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Open up and connect to a VPN server.
While connected, reopen or reload the same IP checking website. If your IP address is different, then the VPN is working correctly. If not, then there is some issue with your VPN.
Check for leaks
One of the most crucial steps when testing to see if your VPN is working properly is to make sure that none of your data is accidentally leaking outside of the encrypted VPN tunnel. The best way to do this is to run both DNS and WebRTC leak tests.
I personally run these tests on every new VPN that I use both for personal and review purposes because it’s that important. You don’t want to pay for a service to keep your data private and then find out it’s actually being exposed without you knowing.
DNS leak test
In this leak test I connected to a VPN server in Los Angeles. All queries correctly show LA meaning my VPN has no DNS leaks.
In this leak test I connected to a VPN server in Los Angeles. All queries correctly show LA meaning my VPN has no DNS leaks.
Sam Singleton
In this leak test I connected to a VPN server in Los Angeles. All queries correctly show LA meaning my VPN has no DNS leaks.
Sam Singleton
Sam Singleton
DNS, or Domain Name System, can be thought of as the phonebook of the internet. It translates web addresses into their corresponding IP addresses. While your VPN may be hiding the IP address, it could be leaking the DNS instead, accidentally exposing your traffic to the owner of the DNS server — likely to be your internet service provider.
A DNS leak test can be done in order to make sure that your VPN is properly routing DNS requests to a private DNS instead. Here’s how to do it:
Note your home IP address from the step above.
Connect to a VPN server.
Go to a DNS leak test website like dnsleaktest.com or ipleak.net.
Start the test (either Standard or Extended will do).
Check the IP address. If it matches the location of your VPN server and not your home IP address then there are no leaks. If it still matches your home IP address then you should consider switching VPN providers.
WebRTC leak test
While connected to a VPN, the WebRTC leak test successfully shows that my IP address is not being leaked by my browser.
While connected to a VPN, the WebRTC leak test successfully shows that my IP address is not being leaked by my browser.
Sam Singleton
While connected to a VPN, the WebRTC leak test successfully shows that my IP address is not being leaked by my browser.
Sam Singleton
Sam Singleton
WebRTC, or Web Real-Time Communication, is a browser technology that allows for video and audio communications without the need for extra software. When two devices communicate over the internet, they need to know each other’s IP addresses, which means another party can identify your IP address through WebRTC.
A good VPN should be able to prevent your home IP address from leaking through WebRTC and only display the VPN IP address to the other party. Here’s how to check for WebRTC leaks:
Note your home IP address from the step above.
Connect to a VPN server.
Go to a WebRTC leak test website like expressvpn.com/webrtc-leak-test.
It will automatically run the test and display your IP address.
If the IP address matches the location of your VPN server then there are no leaks. If it instead matches your home IP address then a leak is occurring and you should consider switching VPN providers.
Run a speed test
Here you can see speed tests both for my baseline internet and while connected to a VPN—note the drop in performance while connected.
Here you can see speed tests both for my baseline internet and while connected to a VPN—note the drop in performance while connected.
Sam Singleton
Here you can see speed tests both for my baseline internet and while connected to a VPN—note the drop in performance while connected.
Sam Singleton
Sam Singleton
VPNs, by nature of their encryption and routing systems, will likely decrease your internet speed. By first encrypting your traffic and then rerouting it through its own server(s), not only will the physical distance your data needs to travel increase, but the VPN’s server loads can also have a hindering effect. Sometimes this speed difference is unnoticeable and other times it can be so bad that it makes even simple web browsing unbearable — think old dial-up modem days.
Testing your VPN’s speed is less about if your VPN is working — if you can connect then your VPN is probably working — and more about optimizing the connection. I’ve written a whole article about how to test your VPN speed, but I’ll summarize it below:
Disconnect from your VPN.
Go to a speed test website such as speedtest.net or fast.com. Click the start button on the speed test and note the results for your home internet. The larger the number in Mbps, the faster your internet.
Now connect to your preferred VPN server.
While connected, rerun the speed test and note the new speed. Now you can compare how fast your home internet is in contrast to your VPN connection.
If your VPN speeds are significantly slower, you can try different VPN servers. Many things can affect both your home internet as well as a single VPN server connection at any given time (server load, distance, time of day, etc.). It’s best to test your speeds across a few days and with different servers to find the most accurate result. If your VPN’s speeds are consistently slow, you may consider switching to a faster VPN like any of the great services in my roundup of fastest VPNs.
Change your streaming location
VPNs are a great way to access location restricted streaming content. I personally am a huge fan of Studio Ghibli movies, so I often use my VPN to access Netflix in the U.K. in order to view the library of Miyazaki content.
Streaming services can be another way for you to test if your VPN is working correctly. Simply connect to a VPN server in the country you wish to view content and then load the streaming service. If you get a message that says you’re using a proxy or VPN, this means that the site has identified that you’re using a VPN and has blocked the connection. Try connecting to a different server in the same country (if available) and reload the streaming site. If you get the same message, you may want to consider switching to a VPN that’s compatible with your streaming service such as those in my roundup of best VPNs for Netflix. Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | ITBrief - 25 Jul (ITBrief)![NZ Located](/pimages/nzsmall.gif) Qualys unveils AI-driven API security features in Web Application Scanning, addressing complex vulnerabilities and offering a free 30-day Beta trial to businesses. Read...Newslink ©2024 to ITBrief | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 25 Jul (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
ProsImaging, file, and folder backup, cloningUses Window’s own VHD format for imagesEasy and flawless operationallyConsNo boot disc for disaster recoveryRental only — no perpetual license, though restore remains possibleMinor interface peccadilloesOur VerdictThough it can’t be used for disaster recovery, UBackIt otherwise shines in simplicity and operation. Our main secondary gripe is the lack of a perpetual license, though you can always restore backups using Windows own functionality.
Best Prices Today: Wondershare UBackit
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$11
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All things being equal, simple and effective are what you want in backup. At least if you’re not running an IT department backing up a fleet of hardware.
Simple and effective describes Wondershare’s UBackIt to a tee. It’s easy to use, doesn’t confuse the issue with myriad trivial options, and proved 100 percent reliable in my testing.
Alas, the program lacks a boot disc, so it’s not for disaster recovery. It’s also rental software, which makes it expensive over time.
Further reading: See our roundup of the best backup software to learn about competing products.
What are UBackIt’s features?
UBackIt offers both plain file and folder (files are copied as is), and full drive and partition backup. It will also clone disks, i.e. duplicate them. It doesn’t offer a lot of hand-holding other than a dedicated Outlook email backup job, but it’s easy to select files on your own.
The program offers its own restore functionality, however, it lacks a boot disc so there’s no way to run the program in case your system goes belly up. In fact, in a first for me, the help page at the Web site actually recommends another program (Aomei Backupper) for the system backup/disaster recovery role. A worthy contender alongside our top-rate R-Drive Image.
UBackIt made a clever choice in using Windows’ own VHD (Virtual Hard Drive) format for image containers. It means you can use Windows disk manager to mount (Attach) and browse your backups — even without UBackIt installed. It also means one less feature to implement and stress over.
To say UBackIt doesn’t offer a lot of options is an understatement. You can schedule backups to go off daily, weekly, monthly, or continually (nice!), and encrypt with a password, but that’s about it. If you’re looking for something with email notifications, run after completion, etc., UBackIt isn’t your deal.
In UBackIt’s defense, I rarely if ever use those options, so the simplicity doesn’t faze me in the least. It does the job, and does it well with a minimum of fuss.
How easy is UBackIt to use?
The short answer to this is: very. That said, the interface, while visually uncluttered and good looking, had some issues. Drives was spelled “Drivers,” the main window wasn’t resizable except for full screen or minimize, and there’s a weird scrolling mechanism for jobs with options that are hidden (click on either end — there are no visible controls) depending on the level of Windows display zoom you’re using.
Also, the tool tips were super small and difficult to read on my 4K display. Additionally, the encryption and rename functions were under the “…” menu while scheduling was under its own small icon that looked suspiciously like a settings icon. All these should be under one umbrella.
Poke around a little bit and you’ll be up to speed in no time.
Regardless, as there aren’t a lot of options, and only two steps: choosing the source, and choosing the destination, both of which are super facile, I won’t complain about UBackIt’s ease of use. Poke around a little bit and you’ll be up to speed in no time.
How much is UBackIt?
Full confession, I understand companies need revenue stream, but I hate the concept of rental software. Programs are a product, and you should be able to buy them outright. Therefore the $10 monthly, $20 quarterly, and $30 yearly options for UBackIt leave me cold. Given the lack of disaster recovery and small number of options, I was thinking $30 perpetual would be about right.
Ameliorating that somewhat… As file and folder backups aren’t encrypted or in containers, and images use the standard VHD format, you can restore your data even having abandoned your subscription.
UBackIt is, unfortunately, not available with a perpetual license.
UBackIt is, unfortunately, not available with a perpetual license.
UBackIt is, unfortunately, not available with a perpetual license.
I wasn’t particularly happy about having to create an account to run the trial software either. But I’m old school, and most users are used to giving away their info on a regular basis, so that’s a mild complaint. At least they didn’t ask for payment info, or I would’ve waited for the media relations folk to get back to me.
How fast and reliable is UBackIt?
To be honest, I was having a run of backup programs misbehaving and suffering numerous operational glitches. As of late, however, thanks to Macrium Reflect 8, and now UBackIt, I feel back on solid ground.
Completed backups are always a good thing to see.
Completed backups are always a good thing to see.
Completed backups are always a good thing to see.
That’s my roundabout way of saying that UBackit completed every task I threw at it with nary a stutter or hint of malfunction. It also was rather speedy. That folks, is what we want to see in backup programs. Kudos.
Note that UBackIt will remain in operation until you explicitly exit using the context menu for its system tray menu. This keeps you from accidentally interrupting a backup by closing the main window.
Should you buy UBackIt?
If it weren’t rental software, I’d be all over UBackIt. I love that it uses VHD containers, I love the simplicity, the continuous backup is a great feature, and I love that it’s glitch-free operationally.
But as much as it pains me to say it, having to continually pay to back up doesn’t seem financially prudent given that Windows delivers its own free solutions. Not to mention that more powerful programs with disaster recovery such as R-Drive Image and Macrium Reflect 8 are available for a lot less over the long haul. Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 25 Jul (PC World)At a GlanceExpert`s Rating
ProsExtremely affordable lifetime plan10 simultaneous connectionsFree cloud storage and password manager includedConsSmaller feature setNot the best for streamingOur VerdictFastestVPN is extremely affordable, allows up to 10 simultaneous connections, and has decent enough speeds. A basic feature set and some issues with unblocking streaming services hold it back a bit. The VPN might not be the best, but the lifetime plan gives you the basics for a rock-bottom price.
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$40
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FastestVPN’s name says it all: It aims to be the fastest VPN service around. It’s no easy feat to lead with a superlative like that and back it up. It strives to be a top VPN and at least on the surface, FastestVPN makes a persuasive case for itself.
The company is based in the Cayman Islands, which bodes well for privacy and security. Their service also offers a solid premium feature set with 10 simultaneous connections, P2P and streaming optimized servers, plus a no-logs policy backed up by an independent audit.
FastestVPN in brief:
P2P allowed: Yes
Simultaneous device connections: 10
Business location: Cayman Islands
Number of servers: 800+
Number of country locations: 49+
Cost: $5 per month, $19.95 per year, or $40 for a lifetime plan
Further reading: See our roundup of the best VPN services to learn about competing products.
What are FastestVPN’s features and services?
FastestVPN has once again gone through a redesign and this time it is cleaner and easier to use than ever.
FastestVPN has once again gone through a redesign and this time it is cleaner and easier to use than ever.
Sam Singleton
FastestVPN has once again gone through a redesign and this time it is cleaner and easier to use than ever.
Sam Singleton
Sam Singleton
From the time of my last review, FastestVPN has once again upgraded the design of its interface to make it simpler and easier to use across devices. Upon first opening the application in Windows, you’ll find a list of countries you can connect to separated by category into Countries, Streaming, D-VPN, and P2P. Off to the right you’ll find a large button to connect to your chosen server along with basic info about the connection (IP address and server location). On the left sidebar there are four buttons for the home screen, settings, support, and account info.
FastestVPN’s settings menu might not be the most complex, but it does offer some configuration options.
FastestVPN’s settings menu might not be the most complex, but it does offer some configuration options.
Sam Singleton
FastestVPN’s settings menu might not be the most complex, but it does offer some configuration options.
Sam Singleton
Sam Singleton
The settings screen is similar to what we saw in the last version of the app. Here you have the ability to adjust your VPN protocol, turn on the kill switch, and configure split tunneling, as well as options to Launch at start, Reconnect if connection drops, and Auto connect after launch — all standard fare for most modern VPN applications.
In regards to its server network, FastestVPN claims to have 800+ servers across 49+ country locations, which is a big increase from my last review, but still on the small side compared to services such as Private Internet Access and CyberGhost VPN.
Additionally it offers split-tunneling and D-VPN (Double VPN, also known as multi-hop) features with its Windows app. The addition of multi-hop connections is a nice touch as not all competitors offer the feature and it’s a great way to further increase your privacy by bouncing your connection through more than one VPN server to provide double encryption.
Multi-hop isn’t a guaranteed feature with most VPNs, so the fact that FastestVPN offers it is a nice surprise.
Multi-hop isn’t a guaranteed feature with most VPNs, so the fact that FastestVPN offers it is a nice surprise. Sam Singleton
Multi-hop isn’t a guaranteed feature with most VPNs, so the fact that FastestVPN offers it is a nice surprise. Sam Singleton
Sam Singleton
FastestVPN has done a great job including app support for a ton of devices. These range from the standards such as Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android to others such as Linux, Roku, and Amazon Firestick, among others. It even has browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.
Also since my last review, the company has added server latency numbers next to each server, allowing you to conveniently pick the lowest latency server for the fastest connection. This is in fact something that not only myself, but others had recommended to FastestVPN and its implementation shows that the company genuinely listens to customer feedback.
FastestVPN also provides a few bonus features such as helpful 24/7 chat and email support, a free password manager, and up to 2TB of cloud storage.
The addition of multi-hop connections is a nice touch and a great way to increase privacy.
How much does FastestVPN cost?
By far the best aspect of FastestVPN is the extremely affordable pricing on all of its subscription plans.
By far the best aspect of FastestVPN is the extremely affordable pricing on all of its subscription plans.
Sam Singleton
By far the best aspect of FastestVPN is the extremely affordable pricing on all of its subscription plans.
Sam Singleton
Sam Singleton
FastestVPN offers three subscription plans, all of which are extremely affordable. The monthly subscription plan costs $5 per month, about the same as privacy top-pick Mullvad VPN, but much cheaper than other top premium VPNs such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
There is also a one-year plan which will set you back a total of $19.95 annually, which won’t change year-to-year like other services. FastestVPN also offers a pretty incredible lifetime subscription plan for a mere $40, as well. It might be one of the few, if not the only, VPN that offers a lifetime subscription plan for that cheap.
While there is no free trial, all subscription plans do come with a 31-day money back guarantee and can be purchased using either a credit card, PayPal, or AliPay.
How is FastestVPN’s performance?
During my testing I rated connection speeds across FastestVPN’s servers in six different countries around the world and then compared them to my baseline internet speed. This time around I did notice a very slight improvement from my last review. FastestVPN servers averaged up to 50 percent of the base download speed and 68 percent of the base upload speed.
The results don’t quite put FastestVPN into the running for fastest VPN — despite its name. Still, they’re solid numbers and the company’s much-touted upgrade to 10Gbps+ speed servers is obviously making a difference for its users.
FastestVPN does an alright, if unspectacular job at getting around region locks and geo-restricted content. Using their normal servers was rather hit-or-miss when trying to access sites such as Netflix and Disney+. Some servers were able to bypass the region locks while many others were actively blocked and the streaming sites wouldn’t load properly. That being said, FastestVPN has around 19 streaming specific servers, which all worked just fine in our tests. The only catch here is that if you want to access content from countries other than these streaming server locations, you may be out of luck.
How is FastestVPN’s security and privacy?
With the addition of the WireGuard, FastestVPN now offers all of the major protocols options.
With the addition of the WireGuard, FastestVPN now offers all of the major protocols options.
Sam Singleton
With the addition of the WireGuard, FastestVPN now offers all of the major protocols options.
Sam Singleton
Sam Singleton
FastestVPN provides a good number of protocol options including WireGuard, IKEv2, TCP, UDP, and Auto. The recent addition of the WireGuard protocol is more than welcomed as it’s one of the fastest and most secure protocols currently available.
FastestVPN’s official business location is the Cayman Islands. This was on purpose in order to avoid any laws requiring them to keep browsing records on its customers. The Cayman Islands is also not a member of the Five, Nine, or Fourteen Eyes alliances and therefore not subject to any data sharing requirements with other countries.
The company’s privacy policy states that it does not log any information about its customers. The only thing the company keeps, it says, is the email address you use to sign up for the service. In mid-2023 FastestVPN completed an independent audit by AltisIT to successfully verify their no-logs policy. Independent audits are always a huge plus for a VPN company and I’m glad that FastestVPN took the steps to prove to its customers that their privacy is being taken seriously.
The service uses the industry standard AES 256-bit encryption and comes with IPv6 and DNS leak protection. DNS leak tests proved that there were no IP or DNS leaks while using the VPN. This is important as IP and DNS data leaks can allow for outside parties to know your true location and watch your activity while online.
Is FastestVPN worth it?
FastestVPN continues to improve upon its service each time I do a new review, but there are some areas that still need improvement. It’s obvious that it doesn’t have the same resources as some of the largest VPN services, but nonetheless it is still able to make the core VPN features work and it is slowly filling out its feature set with tools such as split tunneling and the introduction of the WireGuard protocol.
Despite what the name states, FastestVPN isn’t truly the fastest, nor does it have the largest server network. But that’s not their main draw anyways. The company seems to know where it stands in the marketplace and it’s leaning heavily on privacy and cost — an arena in which it can compete with the industry titans.
It offers enough speed and security for most everyday uses, and its extras such as free cloud storage and a password manager are nice-to-haves. Ultimately, it’s the price that will appeal to most people and for only $40 for a lifetime plan, it’s certainly worth considering for those on a budget.
Editor’s note: Because online services are often iterative, gaining new features and performance improvements over time, this review is subject to change in order to accurately reflect the current state of the service. Any changes to text or our final review verdict will be noted at the top of this article. Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
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