A guide to selecting the best no-log VPN

The internet is a wonderful place – as long as you are not under surveillance. It is even greater to choose a VPN that works for you.

However, the choice of VPN matters, rather than just choosing anything 4you come across just because it sounds promising. One of the conditions to look at is the logging policy.

What is the logging policy, you may ask? How do I even know about this ‘logging thing’?

Well, we are glad you asked. This article will dive into the logging aspect of VPNs, what it means, and how you can find a VPN that keeps your privacy intact due to its logging policies – which is very important for you to look out for, since it determines your long term online security.

What does VPN no-log policy mean?

Regardless of the VPN you want to choose, you will likely see that the first thing you see on their website will be something to do with their logging policy. All VPN services will promise that they will provide you with the best policies regarding logging your data – however, this will not be the case for all of them.

The sad reality is that this is just a PR game – it is all a way of attracting new customers and boosting their sales. Because of this, it is very important to be as careful as possible when you are selecting a VPN service.

That said, you might wonder what VPN logs are and what they mean. It is even more confusing when someone tells you that you need a service that provides a no logs VPNS policy, and you wonder why this is the case.

Logging is quite simple to explain – it all has to do with your data. Therefore, these logs are the information that the VPN service will store in their catalogue and use it to track you. When you use the VPN, all your activity goes through the servers and the provider will store the data – this includes a wealth of information, such as the number of times you logged into your VPN account, what you searched for on the internet, the websites you visited, and so on.

Reading this, you already notice a problem here – the main reason you probably downloaded a VPN is because you wanted to surf the internet while protecting your identity, or you want to visit the internet anonymously.

Other than that, you do not want to leave one tracking company and go to another. This is why you will need to pay close attention to what a provider is offering you, as it is always better to know what you are doing or signing up for.

What to check when looking for no-log VPNs

Connection logs

There is no VPN service that operates entirely without logging any data. Many VPN providers will need to maintain a certain amount of logs regarding the connections they have, and they can use this for maintenance of their services or improving their user experience aspects.

These are referred to as metadata logs, and they range from the most minimal ones to the most detailed. The data can include information such as the timing of your connection, the times you logged in and out, the amounts of data that were transferred in every login, the outgoing IP addresses (what the VPN server assigns to you) and the incoming IP addresses (the web address on your device).

Looking at all this information, it makes sense that providers will want to know the number of users that are using their servers at certain times, so that they have an easier time optimizing the experience.

Keeping these connection logs is not a dangerous idea, unless the server is tying them to you, which is in form of Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Your actual IP will fall under this category, so the provider should never store your IP address if they state they will not keep your PII. This data can quickly be traced to you, so keeping the connection logs in this case is a bad idea.

Usage logs

It is always a red flag when you see a VPN provider keeping your usage logs. Even though there are numerous categories, all VPN providers will divide the logs into traffic/usage logs, and connection logs.

Though connection logs are not entirely something to worry over, usage logs are always a danger. This is because they will encompass all the activities you do while you are on the internet – going on social media, sending and reading emails, the websites you are visiting, the files you upload or download, the purchases you are making, and even the software you use to access the internet; such as Xbox, Google, Bit torrent, and so on.

Usually the worst culprits are the free VPN services, since they need to make their money somehow – and they will do it by selling your information from the usage logs to third parties. If you want to maintain your privacy and security online, it is a better idea to invest in a decent and secure VPN.

If you see a VPN provider that keeps usage logs, stay away from them. Their policies defeat the purpose of having a VPN in the first place, because they never maintain your privacy.

Final thoughts

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that you will find a VPN provider that will not entirely keep some of your information. However, there are a few aspects you can keep in mind when it comes to this.

The first thing is making sure you are double checking all information. Even though all VPN providers will tell you they never keep logs, they are still in business at the end of the day; and they will do the best they can to attract customers. Read their privacy policies and understand what they are saying, and always avoid the free VPN services. Additionally, always note where the service bases their headquarters in, as there are many countries that have very strict reporting laws.