If all you’re using to protect your digital privacy and security is a VPN and your own vigilance, you’re still leaving yourself vulnerable to various online threats like phishing, malware, identity theft and ransomware. To fully protect yourself, you need to start putting together an arsenal of privacy and security tools.
Using a trustworthy VPN is a great start because a VPN can boost your online privacy by encrypting your internet traffic and masking your true IP address. But a VPN is only one piece of the puzzle. A VPN can’t stop you from entering your personal information into a phishing site, protect your device if you mistakenly download malware or keep track of your online login credentials. Similarly, antivirus won’t save you from the perils of weak, easily cracked passwords. For thorough protection, you’ll need several services, like a password manager, antivirus software, cloud storage, secure email and identity protection.
In the past, you’d have to get each service individually from separate providers. Although that segmented approach is still valid, a handful of VPN companies have made things a bit easier by bundling various privacy and security services under one umbrella.
The convenience of bundling is undeniable, but what about potential pitfalls? Is it really cheaper to bundle all of your privacy and security tools? Is it safer to take a diversified approach rather than sharing more of your data with a single entity? Do you trust your VPN provider to deliver a top-notch antivirus software, password manager, cloud storage or email client, or is it better to choose an established dedicated provider of these additional services?
That’s something you’ll ultimately need to decide on your own, but I’m here to help you make an informed decision, based on more than a decade testing and reviewing services like VPNs and password managers. Here’s everything you need to know about bundled VPN subscriptions and whether it’s the right path for you to take.
What services can you bundle with your VPN?
Each VPN approaches bundling differently and not every VPN that offers bundled services offers the same suite of tools. With some VPN companies, you can only access the additional services when you bundle them with the VPN. Others offer a bit more flexibility, allowing you to get each service on its own. If you choose to bundle, the provider you go with will largely depend on the specific services you need. Generally, you can expect VPN bundles to include some combination of the services I’ve highlighted below.
Password managers
With a password manager, all you need to do is remember a single password, and the password manager takes care of the rest -- suggesting strong passwords and keeping track of all of your login credentials for each individual online account. This frees you up to create strong, unique passwords for all of your accounts, and helps minimize your risk of falling victim to brute force and credential-stuffing attacks.
Antivirus
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