# VPN FAQ

# What is a VPN?

A virtual private network (VPN) is a service that gives you online privacy by masking your IP address so that all of your online actions are virtually untraceable unless your VPN provider keeps logs - we highly recommend you to stay away from such providers.

# What VPNs are safe for use?

The only VPNs that should be considered safe are paid VPNs that claim that they do not retain logs. Make sure to do your research while picking a VPN provider. /r/VPN has a VPN comparison table, which is an excellent resource to start with. On top of a VPN with great speed without retaining any logs, you should also double check to see whether if the VPN in question supports crucial features such as port forwarding, split tunneling, or kill switch - such as Mullvad, TorGuard, or Private Internet Access (PIA).

TorrentFreak's Which VPN Providers Really Take Privacy Seriously in 2021? can also be used as a point of reference for paid VPNs feature comparison.

Warning

That One Privacy Site was sold to a third party and is no longer a trustworthy source for VPN comparison.

Warning

Take the top Google search results with a grain of salt - those reviews are often times have affiliations with the service per se.

# Do I need to use a VPN for torrenting?

Using a VPN for torrenting is always a good practice - hence, it is advised. Legal entities acting on behalf of copyright holders have been known to send DMCA letters to the ISP of IP addresses found in P2P network swarms.

# Do I need a VPN for streaming or direct download link (DDL)?

Using VPN for streaming and DDL is usually not necessary unless you are coming from a place that blocks such sites. It is also unlikely you will ever receive a DMCA (or equivalent) notice for streaming or from DDL.

Please note that there are a few streaming sites (both official and non-official) that do not allow VPN use on their services.

# Are there any good free VPNs?

Gambling with free VPNs is highly discouraged. They often come with a lot of risks and drawbacks:

Your internet traffic is likely logged (and can also be potentially sold to unknown third parties for personal gain), which comes with the possibility of receiving a DMCA (or equivalent) notice.
Very limited bandwitdth (upload/download speed).
Often comes with a severe data cap.
Unstable connection.
Might not even allow torrent traffic.

Buying a long-term VPN subscription can be as cheap as $3/month, so please help yourself.

# Is it safe to use a cracked/modded VPN?

Absolutely not. The cracked/modded VPN might be injected with foreign scripts (a disguised malware) that can modify or leak your personal information or data without consent.

# Can I get a DMCA (or equivalent) notice for using a VPN?

If you are using a paid VPN without logs, no. If you are using a free VPN or a VPN that retains logs, it is possible for your VPN provider to receive a DMCA (or equivalent) notice and forward it to your ISP.