Here is the Avira Phantom VPN Vs. BullGuard VPN review.
As you can see, they are both VPN services by Antivirus companies i.e. Avira and BullGuard.
Nonetheless, we will look closely at what you can get from each VPN service provider.
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Avira Phantom VPN Vs BullGuard VPN – Which Is Better?
Owners and VPN Base
Both Avira Phantom VPN and BullGuard VPN emanate from prestigious antivirus companies, and are part of a security software suite.
Avira Phantom VPN is a German-based VPN owned and managed by the Avira from Germany.
On the other hand, BullGuard VPN based in the UK is a joint venture between BullGuard cybersecurity firm and NordVPN.
The similarity here is that both are based in Europe, in the 5/9/14-eye Alliance.
Log Keeping
Avira Phantom VPN does not keep a log of its users' information such as IP address and location; neither does it store your browsing history. It, however, keeps a record of the amount of bandwidth consumed by users, classifies users based on subscription, and other diagnostic data. You can choose to turn off this data logging in its configuration area.
BullGuard VPN has a strict ‘no log' policy; hence, it does not keep records of users' activities or data.
Servers and Location
Avira Phantom VPN has 38 VPN servers, most of which are in the US and Europe.
Similar to Avira Phantom VPN, BullGuard has 16 VPN servers located in Europe and a few in the US and Canada.
Streaming
Avira Phantom VPN can unblock Netflix US, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and other Geo-blocked streaming services. This seems much good news to Netflix lovers out there.
BullGuard VPN is also suitable for streaming geo-blocked content from Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, etc. and the likes since most of its servers are in the US and Europe.
Torrenting
Avira Phantom VPN’s servers are dedicated P2P servers optimized for high-speed torrenting at maximum security.
BullGuard VPN: you can also enjoy high-speed torrenting with BullGuard’s optimized servers. Also, since BullGuard has DNS servers, your information is sure to enjoy total anonymity while torrenting with BullGuard VPN.
Connectivity Speed
Avira Phantom VPN got it all when it comes to speed. Since it uses the Catapult Hydra VPN protocol, you’re sure of enjoying high-speed connectivity between 20mbps and 89mbps.
Since BullGuard VPN is a joint venture with NordVPN, I did expect nothing less when it comes to speed. Even when connecting to a distant server, you’re sure of hitting between 19mbps to 85mbps. This makes BullGuard an equally formidable VPN when it comes to speed.
Security
Since both Avira Phantom VPN and BullGuard VPN come from giant anti-malware firms and are part of a security software suite, I wouldn't expect anything less in terms of security.
Both Avira and BullGuard use the AES-256 bit encryption protocol, which provides the most reliable encryption for data transmitted via VPN.
Also, both have an built-in kill switch, which protects your data by breaking-off internet connection when the VPN goes off accidentally.
Also, a significant concern is IP and location leakage. Running DNS and WebRTC leak tests, both performed well, and there was no issue of IP leakage.
Compatibility
Both Avira Phantom VPN and BullGuard VPN are compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac OS. However, they do not offer browser extensions like other top VPNs.
No of Devices: Avira allows an unlimited number of devices connected to a single account subscription, while BullGuard VPN permits a maximum of 6 devices connected to a single account.
Avira Phantom VPN Vs BullGuard VPN – Recommendation
Given the stiff competition between Avira Phantom VPN and BullGuard VPN, I would recommend Avira Phantom VPN since it has more server base than BullGuard VPN. Also, Avira Phantom VPN does not limit the number of devices you can connect to a single account. Unlike BullGuard VPN which limits it to a maximum of 6 devices.
Tor browser is good, but there are other better Tor browser alternatives you didnt know. In this post, we will show you some of them.
Everyone needs a browser every day. Whether it is checking the mail, managing bank accounts, or catching the latest football game live, the use of a browser is unlimited. Sometimes, netizens might need more security capabilities than the basic browsers could provide.
That is when the Tor browser comes to the rescue for accessing the dark web. However, there is no assurance that the Tor browser is lasting forever. Also, it may be inaccessible to some users for some reason. This post enumerates the best Tor browser alternatives every internet user should make use of for maximum online anonymity.
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Best Tor Browser Alternatives
For the security-conscious internet user needing an alternative to the popular Tor browser, here they are in no particular order
Globus is an excellent Tor alternative for users who will not mind paying a token for online anonymity. Globus takes a double security approach to ensure online privacy. Firstly, it redirects all traffic through its VPN network, which allows the users to choose a preferred location. It then takes advantage of the TOR network for maximum security.
With these features, Globus provides a double service of being a secure browser and a VPN capable of unblocking websites and masking IP addresses. These qualify Globus as one of the best cross-platform Tor browser alternatives available. However, it is not free.
Browser in the Box is a security-hardened browser for users looking for a privacy-conscious Tor browser alternative. It works by sandboxing Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox in a Linux distro, running as a virtual machine. This makes it work like a separate OS. This browser is what the German Federal Authorities use
In addition to malware protection and file upload security, Browser in the Box deletes every browsing data and resets to its default state. The browser is a rather large file, and it is slow to start up, due to the virtual machine packaged with it.
Yandex Browser is a Russian privacy-centered browser which has a lot of robust security and personalization features. On startup, Yandex Browser allows the users to specify their preferred search engine, choosing from Being, Google, or Yandex.
Every file to be downloaded using the browser will be scanned using the Kaspersky antivirus. It also features an adblocker. Yandex Browser is fully compatible with all major operating systems and is free.
Whonix Browser is one of the security browsers which routes connections through the Tor network. It is an open-source chromium-based OS that manages all data flow between a user's device and the internet.
Whonix Browser works by running the device's apps on virtual machines, which creates an extremely-secure environment. This makes Whonix an all-around security toolset for all devices. What's more, Whonix is free with no hidden costs.
Epic is an epic, chromium-based privacy browser that could serve as an excellent Tor alternative. Epic Browser is fully optimized for security, and it blocks all online stalking attempts. It enhances security by blocking all features, which might lead to information leakage.
It has no support for Chrome plugins to ensure users' security. Similar to other privacy browsers, Epic Browser also deletes all browsing history once the browser is closed. If an unfamiliar Tor interface is why you need an alternative, Epic Browser is the answer.
Conclusion
Getting a Tor browser alternative is not as easy as it sounds. While there are lots of browsers that offer security features similar to Tor, it is challenging to find one as secure and easy to use as Tor.
With the aid of this post, finding an easy-to-use Tor browser alternative without wasting time becomes a grain of salt.
Are you in search of cloud hosting provider for your accounting operations?
There was a time in most of the industries when each and every type of business was limited to a handful of business solutions. Well, such a situation didn’t allow any business to gain a competitive advantage and it also forced most of the businesses to move at the same pace in each and every situation.
For example, when it came to accounting solution then most of the businesses used to have only one option, to carry on their accounting operation only through pen and paper. It didn’t matter how big or small your business was, the only way you can deal with your accounting operation was through pen and paper.
But with time and the development of technological solutions, things changed drastically for most of the businesses. Whether it was a small business or a giant business, everyone was thriving on technological solutions. From marketing to HR, everywhere, technological solutions were being used without any second thoughts.
Well, technology has played a major role in giving businesses multiple options when it came to business solutions and the same technology has also shaped the business departments. For example, now in the modern era, recruitment processes have been transformed with the help of technology as in now, interviews can be even done through Skype.
But if you are thinking that technological solutions shaped only HR, marketing and sales department then you are completely wrong. You should know that technology has played a major role in transforming even the accounting industry. Earlier, accounting was considered a dull and boring process but with the advancement of technology, accounting becomes interesting and tech-savvy department as well. And one of the best gifts given by technology to accounting is cloud accounting.
Cloud accounting solutions like QuickBooks hosting for accountants become famous in a very short period of time because it fulfilled the need and requirement of businesses without the need of pouring lots of money. But you should know that even with so much of popularity and with so much of uses, there are many businesses that are still confused between cloud-based QuickBooks and in-house server.
If you also belong to a group of such people who are confused between these two accounting solutions then you have come to the right place. In this blog post, we are going to discuss about the difference between these two so that you can decide which one is better.
If you will look from the price point of view then you realize that the hosted cloud accounting solution is much better than the in-house server. If you will go for the in-house server solution then the first thing that you will need is to install the server on your premise. Well, this means building a complete It infrastructure that will suck a big portion of your budget.
You will need many different types of hardware-based technological equipment in order to build a proper cloud server. In addition to this, you will also have to spend money on hiring, training and managing IT professionals so that they can take care of your IT infrastructure and make sure that it is always available for you.
But when you will choose the hosted accounting solution then you will not need to install an IT infrastructure as your accounting software will be hosted on the cloud server of the cloud hosting provider. In addition to this, you will also don’t need to hire IT professionals since you will not be having any type of on-premise IT infrastructure to manage.
Management
Well, if you are running a small or medium-sized business then there are maximum chances that you will not have any type of technological background and this is one of the main reasons why such businesses don’t want to deal with any type of IT infrastructure management. This type of management will increase the workload on the business owner and they will not be able to deal with their critical business operation. Well, with an in-house server, there comes the obstacle of managing the IT infrastructure on your own. From taking care of the updates to managing the uptime, everything will be dependent upon you.
But when you will use the hosted solution then you will not have to manage anything on your own. You should know that in the hosted solution, you will get round the clock customer support from the cloud hosting provider and that too without paying even a single extra penny. This allows small and medium-sized businesses to thrive on cloud without actually dealing with the hassle of IT infrastructure management.
Scalability
If you are running a small or medium-sized business then there are maximum chances that your business will grow at a very fast pace since you are currently at the initial stage of your business lifecycle. Well, there is nothing wrong with growing in the industry because this is what every business owner expects but you will also need to fine-tune your business solutions in order to match the pace of your growing needs. You should know that changing the need from your in-house server is a very complex process and that’s why most of the SMEs don’t prefer it.
But when you will use the cloud-hosted accounting solution like cloud based QuickBooks hosting then you will be able to scale up or scale down without any hassle. All the cloud hosting services are highly scalable and just by making a simple request to your cloud hosting provider, you will be able to scale up your cloud hosting needs in order to match the pace of instant growth.
As you can see, cloud hosting services are much better than in-house servers in many ways. There is no denial in the fact that if you are running a small or medium-sized business then it will always be the best option for you to use the cloud-hosted accounting solution instead of preferring the in-house server as it is costly, complex and rigid as well.
Jeff Morgan is currently associated with NetworksGrid as a technical content writer. Through his long years of experience in the IT industry, he has mastered the art of writing quality, engaging and unique content related to IT solutions used by businesses. Topics like network security, NOC services and cloud computing are his favorite.
In this post, we will review one of the versatile security suite for your PC and mobile devices – ZoneAlarm Extreme Security Suite.
ZoneAlarm is a leading security solution for both single and multi-users, small and large business enterprises. It is responsible for protecting millions of PCs, mobile devices across the world from hacking, and other forms of attack.
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What is ZoneAlarm Extreme Security?
ZoneAlarm Extreme Security is a software suite that includes a robust antivirus engine, free two-way firewall, anti-ransomware, antispyware, threat prevention tools, and advanced anti-phishing technology for maximum security and protection against attackers, thus making ZoneAlarm Extreme Security Suite a mega-suite with high-performing security features.
Benefits of ZoneAlarm Extreme Security
Using ZoneAlarm Extreme Security offers you all-round protection which includes:
Protection from malicious malware threats and attacks
Real-time, and accurate phishing protection
Protection from Identity theft and privacy protection while online
Prevention of ransomware attacks
Hard-drive protection
Parental control feature to protect your kids while online
ZoneAlarm Extreme Security Features
Antivirus and Anti-spyware engine
ZoneAlarm Extreme Security has a robust antivirus and antispyware engine that protects your devices from new and emerging threats. It can detect and remove all forms of cyberthreats.
The Antivirus and antispyware engine has the following features:
Kernel-level Virus prevention which protects your devices' OS from threats and invasions
A scan mode that lets you customize your protection level
A fast-updating virus chest to protect your devices from the latest uncatalogued viral attacks.
Advanced Firewall
ZoneAlarm advanced firewall prevents both inbound and outbound attacks. It monitors your device's behavior to detect new and advanced threats that manage to bypass the antivirus engine and other security features.
ZoneAlarm’s firewall has the following features:
OS Firewall which monitors, spots, and stops new attacks that bypass the traditional antivirus engine
Advanced-access Protection protects your devices from advanced and uncatalogued attacks, which can bypass other firewalls. Such attacks include SCM and COM attacks, raw data access, etc.
Zero-hour protection which protects you from new threats that can bypass other security programs without detection
Application control and Early Boot Protection which protects your OS during Startup while other security programs are yet to boot up fully
Anti-Phishing technology
ZoneAlarm’s Anti-phishing engine scans all websites for phishing threats to determine if a website link you click on or visit is safe and genuine before letting you insert personal info on such a website. It will also alert you of any phishing attempt, therefore, ensuring that you enjoy maximum security while browsing.
Zonealarm Identity Protection services provide you with daily reports of credit monitoring and fraud alerts via email. You also get prompt notification of changes in your credit reports for immediate action if changes are unauthorized by you.
The Identity Protection Services also offers free telephone counselling services to victims of identity theft in the US to guide them through recovery.
Threat Extraction
Threat extraction is one of the significant feature of the Web Secure Chrome Extension, which facilitates Zero-Day protection. It works by removing contents vulnerable to attacks from your devices. Such contents can include embedded objects from email messages and downloads. Therefore, Threat Extraction ensures you enjoy a clean work-flow by eliminating potential threats and serving you with threat-free content.
Threat Emulation
Threat Emulation examines suspicious files on the cloud by using four phases i.e., Inspection – Emulation – Prevention – Sharing.
ZoneAlarm Mobile Security
ZoneAlarm Mobile Security provides your devices with three layers of security which are
Wi-fi protection, which detects potential attacks such as Man-in-the-Middle attacks via the WiFi network
Device shield, which alerts you about suspicious processes on your device
Break Alert, which alerts you if someone has unauthorized access to your OS.
Real-time Security updates
Real-time Security updates offer you round-the-clock protection by providing real-time DefenseNet security updates.
Game Mode
The game mode suspend security alerts, virus definition updates, and automatic scans temporarily, thereby allowing gamers to have an hassle-free experience.
Web Monitor
Web Monitor scans every website you visit and downloadable content to ensure they are safe and free from malware.
ZoneAlarm is compatible only with MS Windows Defender. Therefore, to install ZoneAlarm, you must uninstall all other types of antivirus or anti-malware software.
Enjoy 24/7 online customer support experience and online access to information resources. You also enjoy a 30-day satisfaction guarantee or money-back if you’re not satisfied.
Conclusion
ZoneAlarm Extreme Security is the perfect security suite you need for your system because of the unparalleled protection you enjoy on your devices. It also does not slow down your system while performing a comprehensive system scan.
Other amazing features that give ZoneAlarm edge over other security programs include its Zero-day protection, cutting-edge phishing detection technology, and identity protection. Therefore, offering you total protection of devices and information.
Are you looking for a secure email service provider to anonymize your email activity? We’ve got you covered!
Sometimes in our lives, we need to send anonymous emails. You may be an activist trying to report anonymously to the government. You may also be a journalist writing about sensitive topics. In fact, you may want to send an email containing really sensitive information like passwords, bank details, etc.
When this happens, strong encryption of the email is not enough. What you need is a truly anonymous email service provider.
In this post, we'll show you the most secure email service providers in no particular order.
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6 Most Secure Email Service Providers
You can find many email service providers on the internet. Though, they all advertise anonymity and secure emails, some spy on your emails and save your IP.
However, these are some of these best email service providers guarantee anonymity.
1. MailFence
This is a secure and private mail service launched in 2013. It uses end-to-end encryption to secure email messages that you send and those you receive. This prevents any third party from having access to the shared information.
MailFence further secures your emails using password encrypted messages (PEM) also known as symmetric password encryption. With this, you can send specially encrypted messages which will require the recipient to decrypt the email on a Mailfence server via a link.
It lets you send encrypted messages to regular mail servers like Gmail, Yahoo mail, etc. There is an inbuilt Keystore where you can manage all your encryption keys.
You can secure your mail account using Two-factor authentication (2FA) which doubles your account login procedures.
MailFence has complete control over their mail servers and all of them are sited in Belgium. Their database centers are secured using staunch security measures like biometrics, camera surveillance, and more. You can use this secure email service for free though there are other paid plans.
eM clients is suitable for both Windows and Mac devices and it comes with additional services such as chat, contacts, tasks and calendar. eM client has a user-friendly interface which supports major service providers such as; Gmail, iCloud, Exchange, Outlook.com and others.
Some of the special features on eM includes but are not limited to:
Email management: eM client save you some trouble by automatically setting up all you need to send secure emails. This management feature also makes it easier to import valuable data from various email service providers.
Security: eM client provides you with a strong security feature which ensures you stay anonymous. Example includes the PGP email encryption. This allows you to either import or create your own pgp keys. With the use of pgp keys sending secure encrypted emails becomes more feasible.
ProtonMail promises a secure email service with zero-knowledge policy, which means that even ProtonMail can’t read your emails. That’s what’s called encryption.
Also, ProtonMail uses PGP encryption to encrypt your emails before they are sent. Furthermore, ProtonMail has mobile apps for Android and iOS devices.
Tutanota promises on its homepage to provide secure emails for everyone. Tutanota provides end-to-end encryption for emails sent by their users. You can also send an encrypted email to a non-user but they will need a password to decrypt them.
Besides, Tutanota is popular among cybersecurity experts and it seems they provide what they promise. Tutanota encrypts your message, your email, everything, and even your IP. So next time you’re sending an email, think Tutanota.
Guerrilla Mail is one of the older email service providers which is used by people who act fast. This is because all emails sent with Guerrilla Mail only last for an hour.
Guerrilla Mail lets you send emails with free emails that are disposed of once it’s used.
They also have a feature called “scramble” that allows you to create a random email address that will be disposed of as soon as it is used. To send anonymous emails that won’t make you traceable, use Guerrilla Mail.
As the name implies, Hush Mail facilitates anonymous email services. To create an HushMail account, you don’t need to provide any personal information and they use a powerful encryption system to make sure your emails are safe.
Additionally, Hush Mail does not log any of your information and you don’t have to fear your information could be snooped on the internet.
Before You Use an Email Service Provider
Before you use any anonymous email service provider, it will be great to read reviews and read their terms and conditions carefully. Check what part of your information is logged and see if you’re comfortable with it. If you’re not, you’re advised to find another.
Final Thoughts
If you are very much interested in email security, you should make use of secure email service rather than the regular ones. Any of these secure email service providers protect the information that you send online thereby preventing prying eyes from stealing them.
Among the listed secure email services, MailFence and eM Client remains our top picks. These platforms incorporate numerous security features that make it ideal for anonymity.
Not to mention, they feature different encryption models which prevents information theft. Also, they support email platforms like SMTP, POP, CalDAV, CardDAV, IMAP, and ActiveSync.
It is no secret that online gaming is the next big thing. It takes more than just having a gaming laptop with out-of-the-world hardware to have awesome online gaming experience. You might not have paid much attention to it, but pc browsers are a major factor when it comes to enjoying your online games.
Playing online games with bad browsers can cause glitches and sometimes, crash your browser.
Chrome is unarguably one of the best browsers of our time. It is a fast, cross-platform browser developed and maintained by Google. Chrome also has a good user interface and great graphics which is relative to responsiveness and ease of access. However, Flash is no longer supported by Chrome, so if you are a Flash gamer, you would have to look at other alternatives provided below. In all, Chrome remains a fantastic browser for mostly Html5 online games.
Mozilla Firefox
Firefox is bouncing back into the race for the best browser after its decline over the years. Mozilla pumped some fantastic upgrades into Firefox this year and it has been working for them. Firefox Quantum update made the browser lighter and loads pages faster because it makes use of less RAM. The edge Firefox has over Chrome is that it still supports flash games and works most efficiently with augmented and virtual reality, which for me, is a huge plus for Firefox.
If you have a PC with low performing hardware or poor internet connection, opera is the browser for you. The good news for mobile online gamers is that Opera helps in compressing data to enable faster page loading. Opera also blocks adverts automatically.
Safari
Just like other browsers listed, safari is also a great browser for online gaming – for only Mac and Ios gamers. Safari browser boasts of great graphics and a good interface. Safari11 has options that let you disable ads, thereby making your online gaming experience distraction-free.
Internet Explorer 11 is not as fast as the other browsers listed above, but Microsoft makes up for its slow speed by using your Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) to render text and graphics which efficiently processes pages with heavy graphics.
Edge, a modern browser from Microsoft, has not gained popularity among online gamers but it is also one of the best browsers for online gaming. Worthy of mention is the fact that Edge has a perfect sync with Xbox live! This list of best browsers for online games would be incomplete without Internet Explorer and Edge.
Listed above are the best browsers from the lot. You can try other browsers if curiosity still gets in your way but trust me, these browsers above are the best browsers for online gaming. In the end, selecting a suitable browser for online gaming depends on your preferences (the type of game you want to play, features of the game and so on).
In this post, we will be showing a short list of some of the best secure web browsers.
With secure browsers, you can access the internet safely without compromising your privacy online. Also information like:
Your browsing history which is a list of all the websites you have visited
Your login details
Personal information like your name, address, phone numbers, etc. can be accessed or collected by third-party if you’re not browsing with a secure browser.
Even when you use the best VPN to protect your privacy while online, WebRTC leaks and browser fingerprinting can expose your identity, location, and original IP address to third-party.
Given the above, we will be discussing some of the best secure browsers for accessing the internet.
Brave Browser is a web browser developed for privacy protection. This browser has an built-in ad-blocker
Here are some features of Brave-browser
It has a built-in script blocker
It automatically upgrades to HTTPS
Brave Browser protects against fingerprinting
It has a built-in ad and tracker blocker. Of recent, Brave Browser launched its ad program, which is a model designed based on a revenue-sharing formula.
Tor browser is a version of Firefox designed to run on the Tor network. Tor browser is designed to protect you from Browser fingerprinting by routing network traffic through three hops. This eventually reduces your download speed and also slow down your browsing.
However, Tor browser has its drawbacks such as slow speed, malicious exit nodes, and acclaimed ties with the US government.
Waterfox is an open-source browser developed from Firefox. The Browser has the same features with Firefox, but its major setback includes a slow security update. Despite that, it is considered a better alternative to Mozilla Firefox. Also, it can double as a secure web browser due to its privacy features.
Are you looking for a parental control software to manage your kids' online activities? Qustodio is one of the best parental control app for this purpose.
This parental control software incorporates features for both parents and kids. Nonetheless, the quality is backed up with a price point. Relatively observing, let's quickly check what Qustodio is all about.
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What Is Qustodio?
Qustodio is an easy-to-use parental control which can be used for different purposes. Unlike some other parental control software tools that only work on a family PC, Qustodio supports platforms such as Windows, Android, iOS, and Mac. The app keeps its performance at a high standard and boasts about its features, which include web filtering, robust app blocking, and an activity log. You can manage all operations and configurations through the tool's dashboard. Or better still, use the parent app.
One typical usage process of this tool is monitoring a device's activity. For instance, a parent can set up this tool in his or her child's device to control and monitor its operations. Notably, the app imposes a cost, which makes it pricey. The wide range of features possessed by Qustodio earned it the Editors' Choice award for parental control tools.
How To Set Up Qustodio
Upon purchasing a subscription, the app allows you to assign a local client on the device you wish to track. The Mac and Windows installation process will enable you to enable configuration settings for all accounts. It's up to you to do that accordingly or apply them separately.
Qustodio is very much available on Google Playstore and Apple store. You will be requested to select between a child or parent device when setting up. For a child device, you're required to make and assign it to a child profile – either a new or existing one. Considerably, there are some set of permissions that needs enabling on Android, and they include accessibility access, usage access, and device-level access. Additionally, you have to configure it as an admin app.
The benefit that this last process brings is ultimately satisfying, as your kids are denied the privileges to uninstall this app. The admin app, which is Qustodio, acts firmly on the device; attempts made to remove the app will fail. The only way to go about it is to put down the parent password.
Having gotten the ideology behind this tool, this takes us to the benefits obtained by using this parental control app.
Benefits Of Qustodio
Typically, if you were to mention a benefit of this app, you would say it does well with the device managing. Very accurate, however, still broad enough that it contains some underground advantages. In no time, let's consider them.
Web Filtering
Qustodio, in default mode, blocks content from the ten categories, of which some are – drugs, pornography, gambling, and violence. Also, among the 19 groups is Social Network and File Sharing, parents use this feature to polish web content filtering. Users with experience wished each category contains small details, but most of them are self-explanatory. Additionally, there are other options for uncategorized website blockage, Safe Search imposing, and notification opting when it restricts a site.
Qustodio is not depending on a browser, which means kids cannot install other browsers with the hope of avoiding parental control. It works just fine with any installed browser. The mentioned app also blocks HTTP content that carries a ban, meaning your kids will find it challenging to use proxy settings on it.
Time Usage Limit
With Qustodio, you can set up a weekly schedule that defines the operating hours your kids use on their devices. Plus, you can modify the settings by adding an increment or decreasing the time limit. Also, it has an option to set maximum daily usage. Note that tweaking the system does not, in any way, affect the usage limit. However, you can disable per-device settings if you wish to limit the overall screen time.
While the app is designed to block internet access when the set time is over, you can also lock down the entire device upon the expiration of the allocated time. There's an option that notifies you when your kids reach the limit.
Whenever your child launches an app, it displays in the activity feed. A restricted app tells the child that it has been blocked. With just a simple yes/no control, parents can restrict device usage in only one click.
Location Exposing And Social Monitoring
Qustodio dedicates a tab for social media monitoring. Unfortunately for the parents and interestingly for the kids, it only tracks activities on Facebook. The track plug-in activates once your child logs in to Facebook on a device. After that, it indicates and submits reports, even if logged on other devices.
Provided that you have your child's credentials, it is possible to do the setup from your end. Qustodio acts smart towards a device monitoring. A child can't get through to their Facebook accounts when the plug-in is disabled or removed. However, it has a significant limitation, and that is its inability to monitor Facebook messenger.
Qustodio Features
The features of Qustodio are as straightforward as they mean. Nonetheless, they are listed as follows:
Inappropriate content blocking
Screen time balancing
Calls and SMS monitoring
Games and apps management
Panic alerting
Location tracking
Social network monitoring
Pricing Plans
Considering Qustodio cost, it is high for family settings, but also offers a permanently free option. The free version keeps the activity history of seven days. You can also get access to the basic features.
The app structured its paid version in a way that its deliverables are different. The family size has coverage of Small (five devices, Medium (ten devices), and Large (fifteen devices). The costs for the above subscription are consecutive $54.95, $96.95, and $137.95. Possibly distinguishing this from the free plan, they offer an increased range of services rendered, with a lot more benefits. Some pros include 30 days of activity history, location tracking, and application-based time restrictions.
Notably, this deliverable is just a slice of the cake. Qustodio for school makes sure students use school computers effectively. The one for business ensures that employees are working, and not messing around with their devices, so are both plans similar to Qustodio for families. What distinguishes them is the price point.
Here, the company offers just one method of customer support. Customers reach out to them through a ticket submission page. Inasmuch, in the company's words, they make a response within 1-2 business working days.
Sincerely, the only odd part about this is the small note at the bottom of the contact page, which states that premium users get priority response. Honestly, this seems a bit awkward, as it looks like a tactic to get customers to prioritize their paid plan.
Bottom Line
The name – Qustodio may sound funny, but its performance is outstanding when it comes to monitoring your device. The apps sure know how to outsmart every move made by users to avoid the restrictions placed. For optimality, its usage stretches across various platforms.
In addition, this parental control software has a well-designed and easy-to-navigate dashboard with an extensive feature list, a stable UI, and an excellent performance. Of course, the price point is a bit high, but rest assured that you will be contentedly served. If you're looking for an excellent parental control app, It's high time you descended from the fence and pick a side – use Qustodio.
In this post, we will review the TunnelBear VPN. Also, we will show you its benefits, key features, pricing, support details, and more.
TunnelBear is a VPN service provider with one of the most straightforward user-interface. Established in 2011 by Ryan Dochuk, but later acquired by McAfee in March 2018.
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What is TunnelBear?
TunnelBear is a VPN service provider through which you channel your data traffic to enjoy privacy, security, and anonymity advantages.
It was established in 2011 in Toronto, Canada. It has servers present in 23 countries of the world.
TunnelBear is one of the most accessible VPN services to use with its simple interface.
To enjoy VPN protection, all you need do after installing TunnelBear is a simple click on the connect button.
A Click on the ‘Connect’ button assigns you an automatic IP address and location, but as a premium subscriber, you can change your location and IP address to any of TunnelBear’s servers in 23 countries around the world.
Benefits of TunnelBear
Everyone connecting to the internet needs a VPN connection. However, reasons might vary quite well, but it doesn't vary outside of the fantastic benefits you enjoy from connecting to TunnelBear VPN services.
Connecting to a VPN service might be to stream geo-restricted contents, enjoy internet anonymity, access the internet safely and remotely in countries censoring internet connections, etc.
Below are some of the benefits of using TunnelBear VPN services
Masks your IP address and location
Connecting to the TunnelBear VPN service masks your IP address by changing your IP address and location to a TunnelBear-assigned IP address in your location of choice. You can choose to connect to any of TunnelBear’s servers located in more than 23 countries.
The IP address and location masking make you appear anonymous online, a feature quite crucial in protecting your privacy.
Prevents Online Tracking
TunnelBear blocks trackers from tracking your internet activities by changing your IP address and also keeping other info that may be used to track you safe and secure from online trackers.
Ad companies like Google etc. use online trackers to serve you adverts. But connecting to the Internet through TunnelBear VPN protects you from all forms of online tracking.
From our experiences with TunnelBear, it shielded out adverts much like an ad-blocker but works by covering our internet footprints.
100% protection on public networks
Connecting to Public networks like the Wi-Fi in schools, parks, coffee shops, etc. puts you at risk of data compromise because data sent over a public network without encryption can be intercepted at any point.
TunnelBear keeps your data safe and secure by encrypting data sent over public networks with a 256-bit encryption protocol.
Using TunnelBear VPN, you can connect to the internet using public networks without the fear of data theft or compromise.
Access to Geo-restricted websites
Some websites are geographically restricted to a particular country or region. This implies that once you are outside of that country or region, you cannot have access to contents or services from such websites.
TunnelBear VPN enables you to bypass geographic restrictions and access contents or services from such websites whenever you’re outside of such regions. Thanks to TunnelBear VPN servers located in more than 23 countries of the world, you can bypass geo-restrictions and enjoy services or contents from your favorite sites.
High-speed video streaming
TunnelBear bypasses speed throttling by your internet service provider. Hence you can download or stream videos and other media contents at a faster speed.
TunnelBear has dedicated servers for streaming services. Connecting to any of the dedicated servers to stream online media does not significantly reduce your download speed. In most cases, we recorded 80% of the standard download speed without using VPN, well, we would say that's quite an impressive download speed for TunnelBear.
Bypassing internet censorship
TunnelBear has proved its worth in bypassing internet censorship in countries where such operates. If you live in such regions, you can use TunnelBear VPN to communicate and air your views and opinions without the fear of government wrath.
Using TunnelBear VPN services enables you to connect to the internet as an anonymous user with an unknown IP address from a location outside of your country. Hence, you can always count on TunnelBear to appear invisible online.
Safe torrenting
Torrenting with TunnelBear has never been this good. Torrenting with TunnelBear gives you 100% privacy and anonymity by encrypting your data traffic through ‘the Bear Tunnel.’ Hence your ISP or other third parties cannot decrypt your data.
Also, TunnelBear’s dedicated torrent servers give you a high download speed while torrenting.
Features of TunnelBear VPN
GhostBear
GhostBear is a stealth mode feature of TunnelBear that enables you to bypass VPN firewalls in countries like China and Iran where VPNs are outlawed.
GhostBear gets around VPN firewalls by hiding OpenVPN and making it invisible to governmental monitoring bodies, ISPs, etc.
With GhostBear, you can enjoy VPN services in countries like China and Iran without any limitations.
VigilantBear
VigilantBear is an automatic kill switch feature of TunnelBear. VigilantBear works by terminating your internet connection should TunnelBear VPN service disconnect. This prevents data exposure to ISPs, snooping bodies, Hackers, and other third-parties.
The VigilantBear kill switch makes sure your privacy is not compromised in any way possible. You do not need to worry about data leakage at all.
Access to servers in 23 different countries
At the start, TunnelBear has servers in 9 countries, but presently, TunnelBear has extended its services to more than 23 countries in the world.
You can connect to TunnelBear VPN in any of the 23 locations and enjoy dedicated services from its dedicated servers.
Military-grade Encryption
TunnelBear encrypts users’ data using the military-grade AES-256 bit encryption protocol and various other protocols as an added security layer.
When you connect using TunnelBear, you enjoy high-grade encryption that protects your data. Even when your data is intercepted, it cannot be decrypted by any known means available.
No-logging policy
Presently, TunnelBear does not keep a log of users' activities. You can enjoy torrenting or use the Tor Browser without fear as there will be no log for TunnelBear to handover to the authorities should they come knocking.
TunnelBear is quite strict about its no-log policy. Hence it does not keep IP logs, log in and log out times, data traffic, browser history, etc.
Connects up to 5 devices simultaneously
Enjoy protection on five devices simultaneously with a single subscription account. An individual subscription can keep you protected on up to 5 devices simultaneously. Therefore, you do not need to worry about subscribing to other devices or for a family member.
Pricing Packages
The free plan
The free plan gives you access to 500MB data monthly. You can also get up to 1GB data by promoting TunnelBear to your followers on Twitter.
The free plan is limited, but it does give you a taste of TunnelBear’s fantastic VPN services. Download the TunnelBear app now to enjoy free VPN service.
The one year plan for $59.88/yearly
This plan gives you a fantastic discount of $4.99/month, amounting to a 50% discount at $59.88. this plan offers you the following features
Unlimited data
Five connected devices
Subscribe to this plan to enjoy unlimited data bandwidth at a great discount yearly.
The one month plan @ $9.99 per month
With $9.99 per month, you enjoy, you enjoy unlimited data bandwidth and connection to five devices simultaneously.
Subscribe to the one-month plan to enjoy TunnelBear numerous features.
Supported OS
TunnelBear VPN supports a variety of OS platforms.
For iOS, follow the prompts to install a VPN profile on your iOS device. All you need do is attempt to connect by tapping the ‘ON’ button and let TunnelBear handle the technicalities of installing a VPN profile on your iOS device.
Subscribe to any of TunnelBear’s premium service with your account to enjoy premium TunnelBear VPN services.
Customer support
You can reach out to TunnelBear customer support for technical issues, guidance or enquires via the following channels
24/7 live chat
Dedicated TunnelBear helplines
Email
Social media handles
You can ask questions from TunnelBear’s online friendly support by here.
Bottom Line
TunnelBear VPN service offers you some of the best VPN services available at a relatively cheaper rate for you to enjoy the price advantage while also enjoying premium VPN services.
If you’re a skeptic as a first-timer, you can try TunnelBear free VPN service that allows you to enjoy its premium VPN features but with a limited 500MB data bandwidth. This is quite enough to convince you about subscribing to TunnelBear VPN services.
Considering Qustodio cost, it is high for family settings, but also offers a permanently free option. The free version keeps the activity history of seven days. You can also get access to the basic features.
TunnelBear
