 |
|
|
|||||
VPNs, or virtual private networks, are everywhere. If youve spent any time at all on YouTube, chances are youve seen an ad selling VPNs there have been literally hundreds and thousands of them. We test and review VPNs so you don't have to but what even is a VPN? The pitch is fairly simple: a VPN can mask your IP address and the identity of your device by routing your traffic through a remote server. Sites and services will see a different IP address to your own, and your internet service provider will only be able to see that youre connected to a VPN server, rather than what sites youre visiting. That means a VPN can be an important tool to keep your data private and secure, especially if you need to connect to an unsecured network. If youre on public WiFi, for example, you cant be sure what theyre tracking while youre surfing the internet. With a VPN, theres an additional layer of privacy as long as you make sure the VPN provider can be trusted. But a VPN should not be the end of your security journey. Complex passwords, multifactor authentication and other security basics should be way higher on your checklist. Another commonly advertised feature of VPNs is evading geoblocking techniques that companies use to prevent you from accessing certain content. Because youre connecting to a remote server, a VPN can effectively change your location, allowing you to watch another countrys Netflix content or, say, watch Doctor Who on the UK-only BBC iPlayer. If youre in the EU, it can allow you to access sites that are otherwise blocked due to the regions strict data protection regulations. In the past, VPNs have even been used to skirt political firewalls put up to censor online access. With many VPN makers making sweeping claims about military-grade encryption, digital invisibility and lightning-fast speeds, its tough to know whats true and whats marketing hype. Thats why Engadget started evaluating VPNs in 2023, looking at a number of factors such as security, speed, latency, usage limits and price. And while we don't expect to ramp up to more VPN testing until 2025, our best VPNs guide will continue to be the home base of our coverage. In the meantime, this is our current VPN testing methodology. Background checks Before we install or sign up for a service, our work begins by investigating each products lineage. We reference privacy policies, transparency reports and security audits that are publicly available, and note the security specs of each service. We also look into each companys history of security incidents like data breaches. We rely on some pre-existing academic work from bodies like Consumer Reports, VPNalyzer and others when looking into security specs. Setup The next step in our review process involves a close look at what its like to get set up on the VPN. This involves looking at the various platforms each VPN supports, from certain web browsers to Smart TVs, to better understand how it can be used. We also look to see just how easy it is to get started on a new VPN. Some will automatically connect to a secure server every time you use your device, while others make you jump through hoops to stay signed in. We seek to understand how user friendly and intuitive these VPNs can be. Usage limits While many VPN providers promise that their service works across every device all the time, there is often small print to consider. We scan the terms of service for each of the companys plans to understand what they are offering. Is there a limit to the number of devices a user can have connected at once? Is there a fair use limit that kicks in after a certain amount of traffic? Are advanced features multi-hop connections locked to only the priciest plans? We investigate all of these things so you dont have to. We also conduct many of our more specific tests at the same time, which allows us to verify companies claims about simultaneous device use. Speed and latency The first step in testing speed and latency is to ascertain the baseline of the connection before connecting to a VPN. We then use the quick connect feature on VPN apps to connect to the fastest provider available when testing internet speed. Once connected, we run internet speed tests by Ookla and ping tests with meter.net. When relaying these results, we will note the average speed and ping across these results, as well as the difference between that average and our baseline when not connected to a VPN. Geoblocking We test all VPNs from within the US. To check that a service is able to effectively avoid geoblocking, we connect to a Canada-based server and attempt to access content on Netflix that is only available to users in that country. We then connect to a Hong Kong-based server to attempt to watch a news livestream on a YouTube channel that is exclusively available to users in that region. Finally, we conduct a gaming test by playing on servers in the United Kingdom. Were looking to see not only if we can access the same content from all these servers, but also to test for lag or any other headaches that you could run into when using something. Checking for leaks A DNS leak happens when your device sends an unencrypted DNS query outside of your VPN services encrypted tunnel to an ISPs DNS servers. This effectively nullifies the use of a VPN in the first place by allowing third parties to see and potentially track your browsing activity and IP address. A WebRTC leak is an issue that can occur in modern web browsers that can similarly expose your personal IP address to a website youre on. While you can avoid this by configuring your browser to not send such data, a VPN should be able to prevent this from happening. To check for both of these issues, we use publicly available tools such as NordVPNs IP address lookup tool and ExpressVPNs leak tests before and after connecting to a VPN and make sure neither fault is occurring.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/how-we-test-vpns-175845189.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
Atari and developer Digital Eclipse have announced details of the next paid expansion for Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, a remarkable collection that's both a compilation of many of the publisher's games and a documentary about its half-century history. This second DLC is called The First Console War and it highlights the rivalry with Mattels Intellivision, Atari's first real competitor in the console market. The bundle includes 19 more games and eight video segments that delve into the rivalry, as well as what eventually led to Mattel making games for Atari systems. Atari and Digital Eclipse say the DLC includes more The First Console War DLC features additional interviews, vintage ads and never-before-seen historical artifacts that help tell the story of the battle between Atari and Mattel. As it happens, it was a war Atari ended up decisively winning, as it bought the Intellivision brand earlier this year. The DLC includes prototypes and other games that never saw the light of day until now. The full list is as follows: Air Raiders 2600 M Network Antbear 2600 M Network (unreleased, based on Stern IP) Armor Ambush 2600 M Network Astroblast 2600 M Network Frogs & Flies 2600 M Network International Soccer 2600 M Network Dark Cavern 2600 M Network Star Strike 2600 M Network Super Challenge Baseball 2600 M Network Super Challenge Football 2600 M Network Swordfight 2600 M Network (rare, unreleased) Sea Battle 2600 M Network (rare, unreleased) Tower of Mystery (unreleased prototype, recently rescued) Video Pinball 2600 Basketball 2600 Hardball Atari 8-bit (XE) Final Legacy (prototype) 5200 Xari Arena Atari 8bit Desert Falcon 7800 The Last Console War follows a previous DLC called The Wider World of Atari that arrived in September and added another 19 games to the collection. Factoring in the two expansions, Atari 50 will have around 130 games in total. Those who already have Atari 50 on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 and PS5 will be able to snap up The Last Console War on November 8. If you have the game on Atari VCS, you'll get the DLC as a free update early next year. If you're interested in picking up a bundle of the base game and both expansions, you can do just that with Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Expanded Edition. That'll be available on November 8 as well. The physical edition for Switch and PS5 costs $40. A steelbook for the Switch includes Atari 2600 art cards and other goodies and will run you $50.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/atari-50s-console-war-expansion-adds-19-more-games-on-november-8-181033645.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
The first American-made Polestar EVs are now on the road. The Swedish automaker said on Friday it delivered the first Polestar 3 SUVs to US and Canadian customers. The Inflation Reduction Act, signed by President Biden in 2022, incentivizes automakers to manufacture EVs in the US, offering tax credits for companies and buyers. Polestar began stateside Polestar 3 production in August at its Ridgeville, South Carolina plant. Those vehicles will serve North American and European markets, complementing the companys more established production in Chengdu, China. Tim Stevens for Engadget The automaker says American and Canadian Polestar 3 deliveries will pick up steam in the coming weeks. You can take one for a spin if you live near one of the automakers Polestar Spaces, essentially brand-building fancy showrooms in or near major US cities. The Polestar 3 is billed as the companys coming-out party, expanding the niche reach of the first two models to a more mainstream audience. Engadgets Tim Stevens tested the EV last month and found that, apart from a few early software glitches, the $73,400 and up SUV is great.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/polestar-delivers-the-first-us-made-polestar-3-evs-180002236.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
All news |
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||