Google’s Android stands among the most popular operating systems in the world. Having over 1.4 billion active monthly users, Android OS has expanded its usage to Television, automobile entertainment, wear (watches), gaming console, camera, notebook, tablet and off course smartphones.
But not to forget, with high usage comes great threats. Read on to know how to protect yourself against the odds of cyber world with best android VPN. Moreover, this guide will assist you to freely configure android VPN settings on your device in simple steps.
Android Vulnerabilities
The Android VPN plays an important role and combats the threats which suggest that Android is more vulnerable due to the open source nature and the extra attention it has drawn from cyber criminals on its rise to popularity.
When compared with other Smartphones, Android definitely comes under scrutiny due to the vulnerabilities that are found in it. Android holds the major chunk of the smartphone users and the hackers, knowing this, keep coming up with malware and viruses that can seriously hamper the security of the user.
Online Streaming Restrictions
The loopholes in Android’s security are not the only worrying factors for Android users. People use Android devices all over the world and access their favorite TV shows and movies on them. Unfortunately, most of the time the access is restricted and one needs a “gate-pass” to access these shows and movies.
An Android VPN serves this cause. It unblocks the TV shows and movies that are confined for viewership in specific regions. It gives its users the access regardless of their geographical location, by cloaking their original IP address (and thereby cloaking the built-in country-code that are detected and used to restrict access).
Top 5 VPNs for Android for the month of September 2016
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Malicious Android Apps
The risk of downloading and installing a malicious application on Android is greater than iOS; because, Android applications are easily created and distributed.
Most Android software developers are un-trusted; yet, some naïve users, being too much complacent about their security, don’t even give a second thought to downloading and using these apps on their devices.
Do you remember “Flappy Bird”? Do you remember how it vanished from all trusted sites? It was one of the most viral apps to have ever come out. But I bet you don’t know how many users ended up accessing un-trusted sites and downloading malware in their desperate search of “Flappy Bird Clone”.
Some of them didn’t end up well; and it was already too late when they found out that they had downloaded fraudulent software.
Android Security Loopholes
Not too long ago, researchers from Ben Gurion University found an Android security loophole. According to the researchers, Android ‘4.3’ security was flawed and welcomed Spammers, phishers and Hackers with open arms.
Through this loophole, cyber-goons can bypass all security barriers and access your valuable information if there’s a malicious Android app installed on your device. However, security loopholes and malicious apps aren’t the only concerns Android users have to worry about.
The Need for Best Android VPNs
Android devices face greater risks than ever nowadays. The increasing cyber attacks and hacking and phishing scandals have left users wondering if their devices will ever be truly safe anymore. This is where the best VPN for Android come into the picture.
Using an Android VPN also provides you and your devices from being spied on by surveillance agencies like NSA and GCHQ. The tunneling and encryption that is a standard part of VPN provide you unrestricted access to websites and contents all over the world.
How to Test Your Android VPN App’s Performance
Since you are paying for the service, you would like to get the performance that you paid for. There are different ways through which you can test the performance of your Android VPN app. You can conduct speed tests to gauge the download and upload speeds. Similarly, IP and DNS leak tests can help uncover if there are any privacy or security flaws in the Android VPN software.
To conduct speed tests, you can use different apps such as speedtest.net app (developed by Ookla), testmy.net app, FCC Speed Test app, and others alike. Similarly, there are apps to check whether there are any IP or DNS leaks when you use the VPN service.
Android VPN to the Rescue
We all know that pre-purchase research is a prerequisite for an efficient purchase decision. There are many VPNs for Android out there that claim to be the best. Therefore, it can take days to research about viable options to choose from. We are here to assist you in this regard. Based on performance and user preferences, the list given below prescribes 5 best VPNs for Android.
PureVPN
PureVPN is one of the best and viable alternatives with respect to Android VPN. PureVPN offers outstanding features at affordable price. In addition, this VPN for Android promises enticing additional features along with the basic functions that fulfill your needs of having an Android VPN.
Here are some of PureVPN’s salient features:
PureVPN allows you to access more than 500+ servers in 140+ countries. This broadly scattered server network allows you to evade all geo-restrictions.
PureVPN offers you unlimited bandwidth. Now stream as much as you can on your Android device with PureVPN.
Extremely affordable package plans starting from $4.16/month
No more fearing hackers. PureVPN supports PPTP, L2TP/IPSec and OpenVPN tunneling protocols.
Not only Android, PureVPN is compatible with other platforms, operating systems and devices.
Unblock and enjoy Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, HBO Go, Pandora and WWE Network etc on your Android device with PureVPN.
Additional features include “Split Tunneling” and “Multi Login”.
In case you face any issue configuring PureVPN on your Android device, their 24/7 live tech and customer support will help you out.
Easy-to-use, one click installation free software.
PureVPN is compatible on different versions including Android Lollipop, Android Marshmallow, etc.
Detailed tutorials for manual configuration of PureVPN on Android devices.
PureVPN supports P2P file sharing
PureVPN accepts payment through different payment modes including: PayPal, Credit/Debit Card, Plimus, WebMoney and Discover etc.
IPVanish
IPVanish, with its geographically dispersed vpn server network, is also a viable alternative to consider. In addition, this Android VPN allows you to choose from diverse feature-rich package plans. You can currently avail 20% discount on all IPVanish packages via our campaign.
No bandwidth cap
140+ servers, 60 countries
Enjoy Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, HBO Go, Pandora and WWE Network etc on your Android device.
Package starting from $6.49/month.
Beat the NSA surveillance with IPVanish’s PPTP, L2TP/IPSec and OpenVPN tunneling protocols and sophisticated encryption
14000+ IPs to promise absolute anonymity
A complete VPN for Android
Supports all Android Versions (Android Lollipop, Marshmallow, Jelly Bean, etc.)
IPvanish is compatible with VoIPs
Free software and tutorials for manual configuration
Express VPN
Express VPN is one of the best VPN for Android that can be recommended for an Android device. With Express VPN’s geographically dispersed servers, you not only breakthrough all restrictions but also hide behind numerous random IPs. Express VPN protects your data and offers absolute anonymity, making your Android device invulnerable to hacks, surveillance, and unauthorized assaults.
Compatible with all preferably used Android versions
Servers available in 75+ countries
PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, SSTP and OpenVPN support
Data security facilitated through 256bit encryption
Easy to use VPN software
Resolves all your concerns through 24/7/365 customer and tech support
Diverse transaction modes offered: PayPal, Bitcoin and all leading Debit/Credit Cards
30 days money back claim
HideMyAss
HideMyAss is at second spot of 5 best Android VPNs. HideMyAss has earned this spot because of its rigid server network but couldn’t be considered number 1 choice due to its higher price. Here are some significant features representing HideMyAss Android VPN.
Unrestricted bandwidth
Bypass all the restrictions and cope with censorship issues – access 850+ servers offered by HideMyAss in 170 countries.
HideMyAss supports PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, SSL and OpenVPN tunneling protocols
Say goodbye to the NSA and GCHQ surveillance – hide behind 111,500+ IPs
Enjoy Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, HBO Go, Pandora and WWE Network etc on your Android device.
A VPN compatible with all Android devices.
HideMyAss accepts payments through PayPal, Credit/Debit Cards, Wire Transfer, WebMoney and Bitcoin.
Ironsocket
Ironsocket provides ultimate security to your Android devices and it is one of the best VPNs to be equipped with. It has a strong support for various tunneling protocols and provides good encryption to ensure your data is free from all sorts of malware. Here are some of the salient features of c:
Servers spread across in more than 35+ countries
PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN and SSTP protocols to tunnel your data
Unlimited bandwidth provided on each server
Allows unlimited server switching
Provides 5 simultaneous connections; one for your laptop/computer and other for your device
Comes with a meager price of $6.99 per month (for yearly subscription only)
No logs
7-day money back guarantee
Unblock Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, WWE Network, Vudu and Pandora etc. from anywhere in the world
Allows P2P file sharing
Wrapping Up
Android devices are more likely to face security issues as compared to other Smartphone users. The risks associated with unreliable and malicious apps make Android devices vulnerable to unauthorized assault. The solution, however, is not as complicated as most people believe.
First, refrain from accessing un-trusted sites. Second, upgrade the security of your Android device with a VPN for Android and experience true freedom and online privacy.
The rise in popularity and demand for VPN services has led to the development of a VPN industry in which numerous options are available. Based on user reviews, the following VPN services stand out in the crowd as the best VPNs for Android.
How to Setup VPN on Android
A VPN service can be installed and set up on your Android device in two easy ways. We will tell you how to setup a VPN on Android with ease. The first one involves downloading the Android App that automatically sets up a VPN on your device. The second way involves configuring the VPN service in your Android device manually.
According to a recent poll, the users prefer downloading the VPN apps on their Android devices more than manually configuring it because it saves their time and energy. The VPN app routes the data being sent/received from your Android device to save you from the paws of hackers and snoopers.
It helps you with a set of its features and then allows you to take your security to a whole new level by letting you select the traffic you want to reroute. But when it comes to protecting your data through a third party VPN app to encrypt and tunnel, it becomes important to choose a VPN service provider wisely.
Free Android VPN apps are useless to say the least! That is because they are inadequate, insufficient and unreliable. When you use free Android software, you are always paying, in one way or the other, even when you don’t know it. If you haven’t guessed it already, let us be more specific about how you pay for free Android VPN apps.
Your personal information is compromised by luring you into downloading the app in the first place. The app downloads a hidden malware on your Android device that can even take pictures of you using your rear and front camera without even letting you know about it! Therefore, we always recommend our readers to get a paid Android VPN service as it is more trusted and reliable.
Before telling you about setting up VPN on Android, we are going to tell you how you can avoid the potential threats of downloading any software that might prove out to be harmful for your device’s security. We have got some pro tips for you; go through them to see what we are talking about here.
Why You Should Not Look Up to GooglePlay
Most of the Android users tend to look for the answers on GooglePlay whenever they are stuck at a point where selecting the best app for them becomes a difficult task. The VPNs, however, are a different ball game. Searching for the VPN apps for your Android device will result in GooglePlay bombarding your screen with several VPN services (including the free ones) that are seriously going to hamper your device’s security.
The trick is, instead of searching for the right Android VPN on GooglePlay, start by looking up VPN service providers on Google – the search engine. Once you land at the VPN service provider’s page, confirm the number of servers that will be available to use on the Android device since many of the VPN service providers offer less servers on Android handsets.
Make sure that the VPN service provider follows professional procedures, shows you a lot about how the provider deals with its customers. You can also make the most of third party VPN review websites that provide you detailed and unbiased opinions and reviews of the VPN services. Pay attention to the reviews by industry professionals as well as disgruntled users because both will provide you with valuable opinions.
Stay Away from the free Android VPN Apps!
Even though we appreciate the hard works of the entrepreneurs who are putting all their efforts in to make sure our data is safe, we can’t, however, risk our online security by giving the hackers and malware a chance to sneak into our Android devices. We always recommend our readers to opt for VPN services that are launched on a big scale with proper budgeting and work network.
Opting for a proper VPN service will also save you a lot of trouble because you will have a corporate entity you can run to if you experience any problems with your VPN service.
In comparison, selecting a free VPN service will leave you somewhat stranded with your problems and will make you something of a guinea pig for the app developer. You may also find yourself in a bizarre situation where you will be required to download and install the updates excessively to free your app from the bugs.
Manual VPN Settings for Android
Many VPN providers offer custom VPN clients for Android devices, but there are some providers that are yet to catch up with the pace of the VPN industry and need efforts from your end to set their clients up on your Android devices. If you select a VPN provider that has no client for Android, you can always go through this guide for manual VPN settings for Android.
So without wasting any time further, we will tell you how to set up VPN on Android manually.
Android’s Built-in VPN Client Setup Process
Select the protocol you want to use whilst setting up VPN on your android device. Following are the most common protocols that are offered by the latest Android firmware:
PPTP
L2TP/IPSec PSK
L2TP/IPSec RSA
IPSec Xauth PSK
IPSec Xauth RSA
IPSec Hybrid RSA
Based on the protocol you want to use; ask your VPN service provider to provide you with the respective following details:
Your VPN service provider might not provide you ALL of these elements but nevertheless make sure you ask for these elements (read: protocols) so that your VPN service provider knows that you are a VPN veteran who must be treated with care and respect. Android’s built-in VPN client offers PPTP, L2TP, and IPSec as standard protocols.
Right, so now begin the actual steps that will answer your question of how to set up VPN on Android.
Step 1 – Tap on ‘Settings’ on your Android device. The following will appear on your screen:
Step 2 – Tap on ‘More’ and the screen will reveal ‘Wireless & Networks’ under the settings tab.
Step 3 – ‘VPN’ will be the second option under the new “Wireless & networks” settings. Tap on it to set up a new profile.
Step 4 – Tap ‘VPN’ and you will see various options where you will be able to activate, add, edit and delete manual VPN configurations.
Step 5 – Tap on the ‘+’ on the top right corner of the screen. It lets you add a new manual VPN configuration. As you can see, the above screenshot represents a scenario in which no VPN configuration profiles have been added.
You can still add new configurations by tapping ‘+’ even if you have existing manually configured VPN profiles. That is, if you are not willing the existing configuration profile.
Step 6 – Now you will be required to select your desired VPN protocol in order to proceed further.
You can always consult the chart I placed at the beginning of the setup process to fully understand the working phenomenon of each protocol.
Step 7 – After having selected your desired protocol, tap on ‘Save’ so you can go back to the main VPN screen. Your newly created VPN configuration profile will now be visible to you.
Step 8 – The final stage requires you to tap on the configuration profile you just created. It will let you enter the ‘Username’ and ‘Password’ (provided to you by your service provider) to establish your VPN connection successfully.
Remember! You can always edit or delete your created VPN profile by simply keeping your finger pressed on the VPN configuration profile you wish to edit or delete.
Check the VPN Service Providers before You Check the Android VPN Apps
When it comes to trusting a VPN service provider with your device’s security, it becomes absolutely essential that you have run a few background checks. Setting up VPN on Android definitely sounds like a good idea but there are a few things that you need to consider before you install any Android VPN in your device.
First of all, check the pricing plans to see if the VPN service provider has different packages for its Android users. Some VPN service providers offer limited features when their services are used on smart phone devices and tabs. You may be restricted to access a selective number of servers, and your downloading can be limited up to 500MB or 1GB and many other problems.
Look for the Customer Support through Live Chat on the providers’ websites and grill them for details of the VPN service. If the Live Chat support option is not available then create a support ticket or fill in the queries form asking about various features and services that are available specifically to the Android users.
Google Play can be a risky place for getting an Android VPN app. You must be wondering, is this even possible? To tell you the truth, yes! There are many bogus Android software available on Play Store. They might look legitimate but in reality they contain malware and other malicious content. Therefore, it is better to check with VPN provider and download the app from the link provided on the website.
Do All the VPN Providers offer Android App?
No. Once you have set your eyes on a good VPN service provider, check if it provides a custom VPN client for Android users. If it is available, then it will most likely be free and you will also be able to download it from GooglePlay.
However, as discussed above many VPN service providers do not have an app for Android devices. If you come across such a provider, then it will need you to configure VPN manually on your Android device.
Exactly How Badly Does Your Android Need VPN
Android users are engulfed with threats on constant basis. The cryptographers and mobile phone security pioneers from across the world, in order to maximize the security of Android, were forced to develop the Blackphone – an Android phone. An Android based phone designed and developed mainly for the purpose of ensuring the best online security for smart phone and tab users by taking the VPN services to the maximum limit.
People like you and me do not thrive on switching phones every month – but we can definitely increase their security by upgrading them with a VPN. We cannot compromise on our privacy by allowing others to sell and purchase it for monetary gains. I suggest you to take back what rightly belongs to you and use a VPN before somebody sells your data without letting you know about it!
Why You Need a VPN Android App for Data Privacy
If you perform any of the below mentioned activities through your Android smartphone, chances are you need the absolutely best VPN Android app.
Use the public Wi-Fi hotspots
Pay your bill through your smartphones or tabs
Online transactions
Shop online
Constantly check your phone for new emails
Conduct chat sessions and make Skype calls regularly
Since the Android OS is open-source, it comes as no surprise that despite the efforts of developers and engineers, it is still full of loopholes and vulnerabilities. An Android VPN app secures your device by encrypting your data traffic and covering the loopholes that are otherwise exposed to the hackers and other threats.
The VPN apps for Android enable you to connect the internet through any public/private WiFi connection knowing that nobody will ever be able to get hold of your data and hamper it.
Top 5 VPN Apps for Android is September 2016 for Regular Users
The VPN servers ensure that your Android devices are safe. There are thousands of threats on the internet, and battling them all at the same time is not only an uphill task but also requires a great amount of security work to be done. We have researched and took out some of the finest VPN apps for Android. Check them out.
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PureVPN Android app Review
PureVPN’s Android app is not only simple but it is very user-friendly as well. It offers a simple and a rich user interface enabling the user to take complete control of his security in the hands. You can always select the country you wish to connect to with this VPN Android app.
Kindly note PureVPN Android app requires at least Android version 4.0 for smooth functioning on your device.
PureVPN offers servers in the US, UK, Sweden, Canada and Netherlands with its VPN Android app – supported with torrent sharing/downloading capability to make sure you stream and download unlimited TV shows and digital media content.
Your protocol by default is set to the OpenVPN protocol with PureVPN’s Android app. The users looking to use other protocols such as PPTP and L2TP, will need to contact the Customer Support to get assistance with manually configuring the protocols on their Android smartphones.
Once subscribed to PureVPN, download the android App on your device. Install the app and follow these simple steps to start using the VPN:
You will be shown four modes for using the VPN. Select the mode according to your choice. For instance if you want to watch videos or enjoy the on-demand entertainment service like Netflix, HULU and Pandora then select Stream.
Next, you will see list of preferred servers. These servers are favored according to Network Traffic, Distance and several other factors. Select any of the preferred server accordingly.
In case you wish to select a server of your choice, then you may choose it from server location list. The list is categorized by regions, country and cities. This amazing feature lets you unblock content library of different on-demand entertainment services in respective regions. You may also put servers as your favorite to use them later.
Next, you will see a list of purposes to use the VPN. Each feature is designed specifically to aid and boost the streaming experience of the particular purpose accordingly.
IPVanish Android App
IPVanish offers a ‘precise’ Android VPN App. Its Android VPN app lets the users choose the server of their choice. Once the VPN app is connected, the connection page displays the speeds of data upload and download with a graphical representation to let the user know how much data he has sent/received in a single successful session.
The official online IPVanish Android application guide, however, warns its users about the connectivity issues that might rise after some usage of its VPN Android app. In case you are consistently facing the connectivity issues, the guide recommends you to restart your device to ensure the problem is resolved. The services and features offered by the IPVanish VPN are worth considering.
In order to began using the IPVanish on your Android device, subscribe a package. Once subscribed, download the android application, start it and follow these steps:
From the side bar menu of IPVanish Android app, click on the servers list to began.
You will see a screen with various servers. You will be also able to see the ping of every server. Select the server of your choice.
As soon as you select the server of your choice, you will see the connecting screen as following:
Once connecter to any server, you will be able to the graphical statistics including the speed of your connection.
ExpressVPN Android App
The ExpressVPN app comes with AES 256-bit data encryption support and offers instant 24/7 tech support in case you need any help with the app.
Plans:Charges $12.95 on the monthly plan; $59.94 on the half yearly plan and $99.84 on the annual plan.
Minimum Android Version: 4.0 and up
Size:5 MB
The users can enjoy the ExpressVPN app with a 1 day free trial. Unlike the other big names of the industry, ExpressVPN has a server module of 50+ server locations. The ExpressVPN app empowers your privacy with the OpenVPN protocols (UDP / TCP) and is compatible with all the Android devices running 4.0 or above.
You can download ExpressVPN app or configure the service manually using the tutorial on Android Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0), Android Jelly Bean (4.1, 4.2, 4.3), Android KitKat (4.4), Android Lollipop (5.x), and Android Marshmallow (6.x).
In order to user the Express VPN on your android devices, Kindly subscribe to any of the Express VPN’s three packages i.e yearly, monthly and semi-annually. Once subscribed, open the application and follow these steps to start using it.
Click on the login box. And enter your username and password respectively.
You will see a list of recommended servers. Based on ping, speed and network traffic these servers are recommended to you. You may select any of the recommended servers.
In case you wish to see the full list of available servers, click on the All tab. You will be able to see complete list servers respectively. This feature lets you escape geo-licensing policy on different content library depending upon the country. You may select the server of your choice.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19974" src="https://www.vpnranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/android-VPN-1.j