With data breaches and identity theft running rampant, everyone should have access to a VPN. A VPN protects your online privacy and data. While we’ve put together a very in-depth guide to what a VPN is and what they do, a more basic definition is:
A VPN routes all your device’s incoming and outgoing data through a secure server which it encrypts while obfuscating the sender and receiver.
There are hundreds of various VPNs available on the market. Not all of them are equal. Some may not even do the basic job of protecting your privacy. When choosing a VPN, you want to make sure all the following requirements are met:
- Use of modern encryption and protocols
- TunnelBear does not log or leak your online activity
- They obfuscate your identity
This may sound complicated, but TunnelBear VPN exceeds all of these requirements while being extremely user-friendly. It’s one of the best options for those who are new to using a VPN.
TunnelBear Review
TunnelBear is a VPN based in Canada that is owned by the cybersecurity giant, Macafee. Macafee has taken a hands-off approach and allows TunnelBear to operate on its own to maintain their reputation of privacy. While TunnelBear is geared toward ease of use, it does check all the boxes on what a VPN should deliver.
How To Use TunnelBear
TunnelBear is extremely easy to set up. It’s available on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows and offers browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. Installation is simple. Just download TunnelBear from their website and follow the instructions.
Once you follow the prompts, TunnelBear is always on unless you turn it off. There are no difficult VPN configurations to manage. You literally just flip a switch.
This will keep your online identity hidden and your data encrypted whether you are surfing the web at home or on a publicly accessible wifi network. Here are all the benefits of using TunnelBear VPN.
- Stops Password Theft – TunnelBear encrypts passwords and data over insecure public WiFi. This blocks hackers from stealing them and keeps you secure.
- Access Content around The Globe – Some content is only available if you are in a certain region of the world. Sports blackouts are a good example of this. TunnelBear provides you virtual locations around the world to unlock that content. You can even unblock apps at work or school.
- Protect Online Privacy – TunnelBear encryption keeps network admins from monitoring your activity online. They provide you with a new IP address, hiding your actual one.
TunnelBear Pricing
Plans cost $59.88 for the year. That comes to a monthly cost of $4.99. You can opt for a monthly payment plan, but the price goes up to $9.99. If you sign up for a 2-year plan, you can save even more money. Currently, a 2-year plan costs $99 which comes to $4.17 per month.
You can start using TunnelBear free. However, there is a 500 MB data monthly data cap. The paid plans offer unlimited monthly data protection and you can install TunnelBear on up to 5 devices.
TunnelBear Specifications
The specifications listed below are for the paid subscription to TunnelBear.
Encryption: TunnelBear uses AES-256 encryption which is the gold standard for encrypting data online.
Supported Protocols: TunnelBear supports OpenVPN, which is generally considered the industry standard. They also support IKEv2/IPSec.
Number of Devices: You can install TunnelBear on as many devices as you want. However, you can only have 5 devices using TunnelBear at a time. Data and Bandwidth usage are unlimited.
Number of Servers: TunnelBear has roughly 1500 servers in 22 countries.
Client Support: TunnelBear supports Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. TunnelBear also has Chrome, Firefox, and Opera browser extensions.
Privacy: TunnelBear doesn’t require your name to sign up. You can use any email address. You can also pay by Credit card, PayPal, or Bitcoin. They have a no-logging policy with added transparency (we explain below.) While TunnelBear is based in Canada, it’s parent company Macafee, is based in the U.S.
TunnelBear Strengths
Transparency is TunnelBear’s biggest strength. Not only does TunnelBear pledge not to log any of your sensitive information. They even hire an independent 3rd party auditor to conduct a security and published the findings for all to see. They also immediately addressed the findings from the audit. Very few companies are this open about their products. TunnelBear takes transparency and privacy very seriously.
They also offer top of line encryption and they don’t even require you to give a name. For those serious about privacy, they could create an anonymous email address to use just for TunnelBear and pay in Bitcoin. This is an ideal level of online anonymity.
TunnelBear Weaknesses
TunnelBear is a top-notch VPN. If I had to find flaws I would have to say that 1500 servers in 22 countries aren’t as much global coverage as some VPNs. Also while TunnelBear is based in Canada, it is owned by a U.S. company. This possibly makes it susceptible to U.S. search warrants and the U.S. has broad powers relative to other countries when it comes to online privacy.
TunnelBear Review Score
We recommend TunnelBear for those new to VPNs and seasoned users alike. It uses top of the line encryption and protocols, has exceptional transparency, and values their users’ trust. The only factors that keep this review from a perfect score are TunnelBear’s ownership is connected to the U.S. and only having servers in 22 countries. We rate them 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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