If you’re a fan of TunnelBear VPN, we have some disappointing news for you. McAfee – the owners of TunnelBear – plan on integrating the service into their own VPN. This deal has several ramifications for the end user, some of which we have covered in this article. With the above in mind, it might be worth considering other free alternative VPNs to TunnelBear.
What’s the Risk?
The biggest threat users face is that McAfee is based in the United States. This means that TunnelBear will have to update its privacy policy to reflect stricter guidelines. They’ll be forced to keep logs just in case a warrant is served. We expect to see some radical changes to their Terms of Service and Privacy Policy shortly. With a potential new logs policy, you risk all your information being turned over to the NSA, FBI, or other intelligence agencies. These companies routinely gather data from online users and track activity. Even private companies now monitor the behavior and patterns of users. Your ISP can also sell your data to advertisers to make a little more money on the side.
What are the Five Eyes?
You often hear discussions focused on The Five Eyes, otherwise known as FVEY. The term is synonymous with the UK-US agreement made in 1946. Originally, it was between the UK and the US to share intelligence information. Then, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia joined soon afterwards. ECHELON is the software they use to spy on their citizens. It’s been around since WWII when it was used to monitor the communications of the enemy. This software eavesdrops on telephones, computers, faxes, and bank accounts. Then, the information is stored on special computers which keep track of millions of people. The NSA is only legally allowed to spy on the citizens of the United States in certain ways, but other countries that are part of the Five Eyes have more leeway with foreigners. With the help of outside agencies, the United States learns everything it wants regarding its own people. That’s why you really don’t want a VPN provider based in any of the FVEY countries. Aside from the original five countries, you must watch out for third party partners as well. Denmark allows the NSA to install surveillance on their fiber-optic cables that enter and leave the country. The Nine Eyes agreement adds France, Norway, the Netherlands, and Denmark to the list of countries. Some others have changed the list to the Fourteen Eyes which also includes Belgium, Sweden, Italy, Spain, and Germany. If you’re going to use a VPN provider, make sure it’s not based in any of these countries.
Free VPNs to Avoid
Aside from staying away from the surveillance countries mentioned above, it’s important to note that most free VPNs aren’t safe in the first place. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for (or not, in this case). Most of the time, the price you pay is with your privacy and security. If you’re going to use a free VPN, at least make sure you avoid these notorious providers:
Hola TigerVPN Hotspot Shield Spotflux
These four providers, and many others, often:
Have incredibly slow speeds because of overworked servers. Sell your bandwidth to others. Offer no traffic encryption which means you have no privacy online. Keep logs of your activity and traffic. Direct you to malicious websites. Introduce you to malware that might steal your data through spam, steal your financial information, or make your device inaccessible.
That’s why we also recommend using a paid for VPN service like ExpressVPN. We know that it costs a little bit each month, but your privacy is worth it. They even offer a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it out first. If you’re not satisfied with the service, you can get a full refund with no questions asked. Failing that, one of the free VPN providers we have listed below will suffice.
Free Alternative VPNs to TunnelBear
If you are intent on using a free VPN service, at least choose one of the following that are not based in a Five Eyes country.
1Hide.me VPN
Based in Malaysia Provides PPTP, SSTP, IPsec, and L2TP protocols Superior customer support
If you want a speedy free VPN provider, Hide.me VPN is one of the best. You won’t even need to use your credit card when registering for their free version, and its pretty easy to understand too. They only allow 2 GB per month, but there are three servers to choose from. Start Now – It’s FREE
2Proton VPN
Based in Switzerland Has a no logs policy Easy-to-use interface
This Proton VPN service offers superior security no matter where you are in the world. They offer three servers for the free service and they allow access to one device. They started this company as a crowdfunded project and their customers remain quite loyal. Start Now – It’s FREE
3GooseVPN
Based in the Netherlands Unblocks Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu Keeps no logs
This provider offers a free service for thirty days and then allows another 30-day money-back guarantee. That’s a total of sixty days for free. Their streamlined, clean interface is easy-to-use plus they offer great superior support. Start Now – It’s FREE
4 Windscribe VPN
Based in Canada Offers 10 GB per month Keeps no logs
The Windscribe VPN works on all the major platforms and is easy to understand. They have iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux apps plus 11 servers around the world. They allow P2P sharing and they also provide several paid for options if you decide you need more.
Final Thought
No matter what you do online, you have the right to remain anonymous. Secure your privacy by using a top VPN provider. We highly recommend investing in a paid VPN for plan to achieve the greatest level of security. If that’s not an option, at least opt for a free VPN alternative to TunnelBear that doesn’t surveil its users.
