
You’ll then drag the icon to your applications folder - something you’ve probably done a million times already. You’ll likely be asked to click through a few prompts (depending on which service you choose), but they’re usually very straightforward. Open the file, and the program will begin running. Start by heading to your provider’s website, where you’ll set up a user account, select which subscription plan you’d like - generally, the longer you sign up for, the more you’ll save - and enter your payment information. There may be slight differences from service to service, but the gist is always the same. I promise it’s a lot easier than it sounds. Now that you have a good idea of what you’re looking for, it’s time to choose your VPN and get it installed and set up. Do you travel a lot for work and need access to online features from home? What about picking a provider with a great mobile client for your iPhone? These are options you need to weigh when selecting the VPN that’s right for you. You should then prioritize the features you want. Our in-depth look at ProtonVPN has more information on that. Ideally it will have been vetted by a third-party security auditor and be located in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction. If the VPN company you choose uses standard servers, then review its privacy policy to know exactly what information it keeps about its users and how it guarantees your privacy.

Most VPNs will not offer this cutting-edge technology though. This is the gold standard in privacy, and you can read more about it in our review of Express VPN. An emerging trend in the industry is to use a network of RAM-only servers, meaning that anything written to them is gone forever once they’re powered off.

Next, make sure the VPN you’re using doesn’t - or preferably can’t - log your data.

Or you can cut to the chase and read our review of NordVPN, one of the fastest I’ve ever tested. That’s one of the best indicators of how nimble the service is. To make sure you’re selecting for speed, pick a VPN with a large network of servers - preferably in the thousands.
