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Most users believe that a VPN ensures secure and anonymous web browsing.
However, some VPN providers do not guarantee network security, and some even
share customer data with third parties. VPNs act as filters, transforming all
information into nonsense. VPNs mask IP addresses and hide the browsing history,
but they do not protect from malware. DNS queries and IPv6 traffic leaks can occur
through VPN tunnels if VPN is not configured correctly (Mocan, 1).
There are numerous ways cybercriminals can track all user activities and data, even
if the IP address remains hidden. If a company wants to prevent its online activities
from falling into the wrong hands, it should ensure that the VPN software or vendor
does not store log files or keep connection records. User agreements and privacy
policies must be carefully read and negotiated. Privacy policies should clearly state
that the service does not store information about the client's activity or give it to third
parties (Mocan, 1). In addition, companies should pay attention to the country where
the VPN provider is registered, as it is subject to local law. For example, Finland,
Switzerland, and Panama offer high levels of legal protection to VPN service users
(Jansen, 2).
An important aspect of VPN penetration testing is finding vulnerabilities that are
necessary to accomplish the selected objectives. Numerous tools are available that
test for DNS leakage, IP leakage (IPv4 and IPv6), WebRTC leakage, and VPN
speed (No name, 3).
VPNs are legal in most countries, but any prohibited activity without a VPN is illegal
with a VPN. VPN usage may violate terms of service. For example, using a VPN to
access services such as Netflix is not against the law, but it breaches their terms of
service, and streaming services are getting better at blocking VPNs. Last but not
least, law enforcement can demand information, and some VPN providers will have
to provide it to the authorities; however, companies that do not keep logs won't be
able to. This is another reason why choosing a vendor that does not store logs is
essential (Drapkin, 4).
Sources:
1. Tim Mocan. October 21, 2019. The Top 8 VPN Security Risks (What to Look Out
for).https://www.cactusvpn.com/vpn/vpn-security-risks/
2. Bram Jansen. March 1, 2022. What Country Is the Best for
VPN?https://vpnalert.com/best-virtual-private-network/country/
3. No name. March 11, 2021. VPN Penetration Testing
Explained.https://www.breachlock.com/vpn-penetration-testing-explained/
4. Aaron Drapkin. January 6, 2022. Are VPNs Legal? Your Rights to Using VPNs
Explained.https://tech.co/vpn/are-vpns-legal
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