In an effort to make sure that you can be truly confident when choosing the best cheap VPN for your needs, the Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2 Coalition) has launched the VPN Trust Seal accreditation program.
The new accolade builds on top of the VPN Trust Initiative, which was first launched in 2019 with the goal of strengthening trust and mitigating risks for VPN users, and the VTI principles that were published in 2020.
Now, the i2 Coalition has announced a list of trusted VPN providers that you can purchase with confidence, including some of our favorites like Surfshark with its incredible value $2.39 per month deal and NordVPN, which is nearly 70% off for a limited time.
The Most Trustworthy VPNs Revealed
The VPN Trust Seal accreditation program has been launched and it's a certification designed to help making good VPN choices easier than ever. Specifically, it will provide a badge to VPNs that meet the standards set out in the five principles of the VPN Trust Initiative (VTI).
On September 29 2020, the i2 coalition created the VT1 principles with the aim of creating a “comprehensive set of best practices for VPN providers that bolster consumer confidence and provider accountability”.
🔎 Want to browse the web privately? 🌎 Or appear as if you're in another country?
Get a huge 86% off Surfshark with this special tech.co offer.
This organization includes major VPN brands that will immediately be accredited: Surfshark, VyprVPN, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN are already members, as are Hide.me, StrongVPN, PureVPN, Ivacy and IPVanish.
The Five Key Principles of the i2 Coalition
The principle areas of the VTI – and their related best practices – include:
- Security: VPNs will take steps to secure their infrastructure for their users, including using strong encryption and token-based authentication.
- Advertising Practices: marketing claims have to be backed up by the terms of use provided by VPN companies, and they have to use clear and transparent language.
- Privacy: VPNs will be up-front about what data they log, and quickly disclose any data breaches that occur.
- Disclosure and Transparency: How user data is used must be made public by VPN companies, and annual transparency reports must be carried out.
- Social Responsibility: VPNs should contribute to education initiatives and make their software open-source.
If a VPN has a VPN Trust Seal, it means it meets these standards.
What Is The i2 Coalition?
Founded in 2011, the i2 Coalition works with and advocates for internet infrastructure providers, working to create sensible policies and working practices that benefit companies and consumers.
Along with the VPNs mentioned earlier, a range of other companies that operate in the tech sector are also involved, including Amazon, Google, and GoDaddy.
Are There VPNs You Can’t Trust?
Yes. In fact, there’s plenty of downloadable software out there on the internet that advertises itself as a VPN, but in reality, has very few (or none) of the security features and assurances you'd reasonably expect to be included when you purchase a subscription to use a virtual private network.
A lot of free VPNs, unable to use subscription fees to update their security infrastructure, often rely on harvesting user data and selling it to advertising companies to make money. Others don’t have networks that adhere to the latest encryption standards.
So, it’s crucial that you go for a provider you know you can trust, like NordVPN – even if it costs a few dollars a month. It's a much better option than compromising your ow privacy every time you use the internet. Soon, it’ll be even easier to work this out, as you’ll be able to check out to see whether they have the seal of approval from the i2 coalition.
