Reason 1 on Why You need a VPN in Singapore: Growing concern on Cybersecurity, Online Privacy and Data Breaches

We might like to believe that as “surfers on the global web,” we are untouchable online. 

This is untrue; no one can have a perfectly safe internet connection, and anyone who believes they are impervious to attack online is probably delusional.

The truth is that no one is ever entirely secure online. Even if you don’t believe you’ve been hacked, the more services or websites you use or visit online, the more likely it is that some of your personal information has already been or will be exposed by a data breach.

Cybersecurity is not a new topic, but the number of sophisticated data security breaches reported in the last five years has made it much more critical.

Since “cyberspace” has become an essential part of the global infrastructure for information and communication, businesses and governments worldwide are working harder to ensure it is safe.

Technologies that are everywhere, connect, and make it easy to get on the Internet are now a big part of everyday life. Because of this, we use cyberspace more and more for social, economic, and political interactions.

Privacy protection and cyber security go hand in hand. As more and more personal information is processed or stored online, privacy protection depends more and more on organisations putting in place effective cybersecurity measures to protect personal data while it is in transit and when it is at rest.

Reason 2 on Why You need a VPN in Singapore: Online Threats are Getting More Complicated

Even though online threats can’t be seen, their effects are authentic, and connected systems that can be accessed from anywhere in the world are inherently vulnerable. As the amount of information moving through cyberspace has grown, so has its value to businesses, governments, and people who want to do harm. Now, our data trails leave a more significant mark in cyberspace, which makes us more vulnerable to threats. There is usually a market for criminal activity wherever there is a chance to make money.

• The number of people, businesses, organisations, and governments going online is increasing, giving cyber-attackers a more extensive base of possible targets.
• With the rise of social networking, cloud computing, and mobile communication, the way we talk and share information online has changed significantly in the last few years.
• We share more information, give it to third parties we don’t have direct control over and click on more links and documents on social networking sites and services.

Reason 3 on Why You need a VPN in Singapore: Threats are Moving to Mobile Devices

Our phones can be a treasure trove of personal information. People carry their mobile devices everywhere and use them for almost anything they can think of. They use them to talk to friends, check email, take photos and videos, and upload them to the web. Some would use their phones to play games, track distances, find nearby stores and restaurants, get directions to specific places, check their bank accounts, surf the web, track their health and physical activity, keep appointments, or log to-do lists. Organisations are reaching customers and clients on the devices they use daily. However, along with all of these perks for customers comes the chance that cyber threats can find new ways to attack.

As more and more cyberattacks target mobile devices, it’s more important than ever to keep your data safe. Communications and transactions done on mobile devices are more closely tied to each user. Sensors in mobile devices can be used to locate devices with a high degree of accuracy, and features built into devices or apps that people download can track, record, and store personal information, upload contact lists, and do communications and transactions. Faced with these growing risks, the mobile industry, companies, and app developers have a more significant responsibility to make sure the platforms and backend systems, where so much personal information is collected, handled, and stored, are safe.

Reason 4 on Why You need a VPN in Singapore: “Big Data” or a Bigger Data Breach Risk?

“Big data” refers to large amounts of information from traditional sources and, more and more, new places (e.g. web data, sensor data, text data, time and location data gleaned from social networks). But from a cyber security point of view, this data-driven approach brings up two significant concerns: how do we protect the personal information that we have willingly shared? What about information that is gathered without anyone’s knowledge?

Reason 5 on Why You need a VPN in Singapore: What is Online Privacy, and what does Online Privacy mean to you?

You are physically alone when you are by yourself and using your favourite social media app. But there are also other people “watching” you. Even if they are not in the same room as you, you are still just a number on a screen to them. On top of that, ads keep popping up and getting in the way of your videos, articles, and browsing.

Even though this may feel like a private matter, it is not.

Online Privacy, also called Internet Privacy, is basically the right to privacy you have when you show, store, or give information about yourself on the Internet.

This can include both information that can be used to find out who you are (PII) and information that can’t be used to find out who you are, like how you use a website. Without Internet privacy, all of your activities could be tracked and analysed by people who are interested.

Poor online privacy can lead to real, “offline” risks like doxing, harassment, extortion, and “swatting,” to name a few.

Common Threats to Your Online Privacy

1) Weak, Reused Passwords

We’ve all used weak passwords at some point. Maybe you still do. It does happen sometimes. But it is one of the biggest things that could happen to your privacy. One of the main reasons for the vast data breaches you hear about in the news is that people repeatedly use the same weak passwords. That’s because it lets cybercriminals break into multiple accounts at once and steal people’s identities, take advantage of their money, or often both.

2) Social Media Oversharing

Social media and other technological advances have made it easy to share every part of our lives and make new friends. Because so many people do it, it often goes unnoticed when people share too much. When you tell people too much about yourself, they can find out more about you than you would ever want to. When you post videos of your home online, thieves can get a complete picture of what you have and how to get to it. Your boarding passes have images that show how long you will be gone and where you are going. Each post gives you a clearer picture of your life, habits, important relationships, and possessions.

3) IoT Things

All the Internet-connected devices that are always listening, recording, and gathering information about you are another threat to your online privacy. We’ve been keeping track of our shopping lists, body temperatures, and what’s in our fridges for years, but we have yet to be interested. Now, toothbrushes, toasters, and TVs are all connected to the Internet. IoT devices are easy to use and keep getting better, but this means that your online privacy is at risk more and more.

4) Web Surfing Without Security

You probably use the browser more than any other app on your devices. Your default browser is one of the main ways you connect to the Internet when you open a link or search online. You might have even let it keep track of your passwords. Cybercriminals also know this. And they are going after everything in it with malicious extensions, infected ads, links that lead to scam websites, and much more. Most of the time, security and privacy risks go hand in hand. Cybercriminals and scammers can use your browser history to learn about you, and companies can do the same thing.

5) Devices Vulnerabilities

Your privacy on the Internet is hurt by more than just your habits and how the platforms and devices you use work. Security flaws also cause significant problems. They include data breaches, in which some of your personal information ends up in places where anyone can see it online, and security problems that cause devices to act up. Security holes let out information that hurts not only your privacy online but also the privacy of millions of other users. This lowers the level of security for everyone.

6) Cyber-Attacks

Your safety on and off the Internet has everything to do with your online privacy. If you leave everything on its default settings and use the most accessible passwords you can, cybercriminals will find you easy to hack. Malicious hackers use their technical skills and knowledge of how people think to get you to click, tap, download, and open their traps. They do this by using your habits and preferences against you. They try to get you to open fake emails (phishing), tap links in counterfeit messages on your phone (smishing), or even give personal information in fake phone calls (spoofing) (vishing). In almost all of their attacks, they use malicious software called “keyloggers” to record everything you type on your device and steal your usernames and passwords. They’ll use them against you later to steal your money, get private information, or make your life miserable.

Let’s Explore Several Ways to Protect Your Privacy and Security on the Internet

1) Secure Your Web Browser

Your browser is the main programme you use to go online, so you should make sure to protect it. After all, hackers can use security holes in browsers to get to the personal information on your device.

2) Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Using a VPN for your home network not only adds an extra layer of security but also makes it harder for people to see what you’re doing because they can’t find your IP address. A VPN can keep your browsing history and other personal information safe, as well as your anonymity.

3) Update your software regularly.

If you leave holes in your software, there’s a good chance that bad people will use them. Keep your operating system, browser, and other software (like Adobe Flash and Java) up to date so you don’t miss out on new features and security fixes. You can always use tools to automate your software updates if you don’t like having to do them by hand.

4) Install a virus protection programme and turn on the firewall

With a few simple steps, you can keep yourself safe from dangerous things on the Internet. A strong anti-virus programme will keep your device safe from spyware, viruses, Trojans, and other types of malware. You should also turn on your firewall to keep out traffic that you don’t want. The good news is that it’s built into most operating systems.

5) Delete Cookies When Leaving a Browser

Cookies are a way for websites, advertisers, and other people to keep track of you online, so you should delete them often. You can clear your cookies by hand, but it’s better to set your browser to do it automatically at the end of your browsing session.

THE WHO? Who uses VPNs more often?

VPNs are also often used by people who want to access online content that isn’t available where they are, like streaming services that are only available in certain countries. Anyone who cares about online security and privacy should consider using a VPN.

THE WHAT? VPN reduces the chances of a Data Breach

By encrypting your internet connection, a VPN can help lower the risk of your data being stolen. Any information you send or receive online, like passwords or credit card numbers, will be encrypted and much harder for anyone to steal. But it’s important to remember that a VPN isn’t the only way to keep your data safe. Good online security habits, such as using strong passwords and avoiding suspicious websites, are still important. Also, choosing a VPN provider you can trust is crucial since some VPNs may offer a different level of security than they say.

THE WHY? Why should I use a VPN?

Even at home, a VPN can protect you from different privacy risks. Every time you go to a website or open an online app, businesses track your internet activity to improve their products or show you more relevant advertisements.

Using a VPN for your home network not only adds an extra layer of security but also makes it harder for people to see what you’re doing because they can’t find your IP address. A VPN can protect your anonymity such as browsing history, and other personal information.

By using a VPN server in another country to fake where you are, you can also access content that isn’t available in your region. One of the most common reasons for using a VPN at home is to watch streaming content that you can’t get in some other countries. VPNs are also great for better deals when shopping online and cheaper flight tickets since prices vary based on where you live. On a more serious note, journalists and activists in countries where it is hard to speak out have used VPN technology for a long time to talk to each other safely.

Metrics we use to Rate and Test Our VPNs that we Review:

We looked at what each VPN has to offer, starting with features, to figure out which ones are worth your money.

When you use a VPN, security should be your top priority. Because of this, we chose VPNs with military-grade encryption, a variety of protocols (OpenVPN, L2TP, IKEv2, and more), protection against DNS leaks, and a kill switch. We also looked at the number and locations of servers and tested the speed of each VPN.

Then, we looked at how easy it was to download and instal the software and connect to the right server for each VPN. Customer support is also very important, so we looked at how available each VPN was, how many ways there were to contact them, and how well they worked. We weighed everything against the price to see if it was worth it. Last but not least, we looked at both the good and bad reviews from our users.

BestReview SG Best VPN Picks that We Recommend for 2023

Our hands-on testing and review process is meant to cut through all that hype. When we look at each VPN service, we don’t just look for technical flaws; we also look at how well each one performs. We want to know the best thing that each service does. We test each VPN on more than 20 different things, and as we learn more, we keep improving our process.

We test VPNs for speed of browsing and streaming in multiple countries, as well as for connection stability and even the smallest possible privacy leaks. We can tell which VPNs are best for gaming and which are best for streaming, torrenting, or sharing sensitive information because we test them on multiple devices and platforms.

We recommend the VPNs on this list because they do more than just protect your privacy online. They make it easy to stream media that is geoblocked, have servers that are good for torrenting, and are fast enough to support gaming around the world. We try to stay on top of a market that changes quickly, so you’ll notice that the order of each VPN service changes as we learn more and test it again.

We know how difficult it is to choose between different VPN services. There are countless technical features to compare, security and privacy matters to analyse, and more than 100 brands on the market.

We have make it easy for you. We had shortlisted 3 VPN providers for 3 different categories from the list that we had tested. Let’s learn more about each of our VPN providers below. Remember that this list is always being changed. As we test and learn more about VPNs, this guide will likely change over the course of the year as we put each one to the test.

The items on the list below are our top picks so far in 2023.

9.5

ExpressVPN Best PREMIUM VPN

ExpressVPN, which is currently offering a 30-day free trial, is the best choice for high-speed browsing. With its military-grade encryption, you can be sure that your internet activity will always remain private.

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9

NordVPN BEST OVERALL VPN

You’ve probably heard of NordVPN, which is one of, if not the biggest name in the VPN business. Luckily, it’s not all a bunch of nonsense, because Nord offers a premium service that is very safe and great for streaming.

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8.5

Ivacy VPN Best BUDGET VPN

Ivacy is a very cheap VPN that will unblock websites, let you stream video from outside your region, and let you download files. Overall, it’s pretty simple, but if you’re willing to pay for five years, it’s a great way to save money.

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ExpressVPN Review: Best Premium VPN

ExpressVPN knows how to stand out: it has a lot of professional features and does a lot more than just about anyone else.

Top-notch platform support includes apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and other operating systems, as well as custom firmware for many routers and detailed manual setup guides for Apple TV, Fire TV, PlayStation, Chromebooks, Kindle Fire, and more.

A strong set of core features protects your privacy in many ways. High-end encryption keeps people from spying on your traffic, and secure DNS keeps your ISP from seeing it. Even if the VPN connection drops, a kill switch will cut off your internet connection to keep you safe.

ExpressVPN has a huge network with more than 3,000 servers in 160 cities in 94 different countries. The best coverage is in Europe and the US, but ExpressVPN also has many locations in Asia and in a few countries that don’t show up very often anywhere else.

ExpressVPN doesn’t just beat the competition because it has more standard features; it also has its own technologies. Lightway is a VPN protocol from ExpressVPN that is fast and safe. And the MediaStreamer smart DNS system lets you access some websites even on devices that can’t run the apps.

Support, on the other hand, could be the feature that stands out the most. ExpressVPN has agents available 24/7 on live chat. This isn’t the kind of basic, outsourced, first-line support you might get from other services. These people are experts who can help you with almost any technical problem. So, if you run into trouble, you won’t have to wait a day (or maybe even longer) for help. From what we’ve seen, someone is always on ExpressVPN’s live chat, and you could get good help in just a few minutes.

All of this makes Express a service that we can’t recommend enough, which is why it’s still at the top of our list of the best VPNs in the world.

ExpressVPN review: Final verdict

ExpressVPN’s commitment to privacy as well as its extensive server network are noteworthy. However, those who don’t require that global access can find its cost to be prohibitive.

NordVPN Review: Best Overall VPN

The fact that NordVPN lets you use torrents is a big plus, and there’s also a lot to like about how it protects your privacy. It has a lot of smart features that help you stay safe and anonymous online.

This is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, and it works well with Netflix and other streaming services. We were able to access almost everything we tried.

Most VPN services don’t have as good mobile apps as NordVPN. In general, the Windows client is pretty good, and all the apps are pretty easy to use. Speaking of which, there are a lot of good tutorials to help you set up the VPN, and the customer service is great. This is good for people who aren’t as tech-savvy, in case they get stuck.

All of this is topped off by a large network of servers, and NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee with no questions asked is worth mentioning. If you aren’t happy with the service, you can get your money back without any trouble in the first month.

You can think of NordVPN as a VPN that is good at everything. It does everything well, and while some competitors may do some things better, NordVPN is the best choice if you want everything to work well and if you care most about getting consistent service.

NordVPN review: Final verdict

Numerous privacy protections are included in a sleek client by NordVPN, which also keeps releasing new tools for users. It is a privacy powerhouse, but the pricing is a little higher than most.

Ivacy VPN Review: Best Budget VPN

Ivacy is a VPN service based in Singapore that has been in the privacy business for more than 15 years. It has a long list of features and some of the lowest prices around.

Ivacy VPN has more than 3,500 servers in more than 100 different places. That’s less than some of the best VPNs, but that’s not a problem. The server number is important for VPNs because your Internet speed will depend on how close you are to the server you connect to. This is why you should usually try to connect to the servers closest to you if you want the fastest VPN speeds.

Ivacy works in some places with torrents. Malware is blocked, there are no logs, and you can have up to 10 connections at once. The apps also have a kill switch that protects your privacy if the VPN connection drops.

IPv6 leak protection and DDoS protection are two more security features of Ivacy. It does have a kill switch, but I had trouble using it while connected through WireGuard, the new industry-standard protocol that Ivacy now supports on both desktop and mobile apps.

Even though Ivacy isn’t quite as fast as the best, it should be fast enough for most users. WireGuard’s fastest speed was 630Mbps, while OpenVPN’s fastest speed was 220Mbps. This is good enough for streaming TV and videos.

When it comes to streaming TV, Ivacy gets rid of almost all of the blocks. There are options for Netflix US, Netflix UK, Netflix Australia, and even Netflix Japan. Ivacy doesn’t have any trouble with Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, or Disney+ either. There are also a number of local channels that can be unblocked in the UK and Australia.

Ivacy gives its users access to live chat around the clock. You can also get help by email, and Ivacy has a lot of help articles and even videos on YouTube. Some of these, though, are pretty old.

Overall, Ivacy is a good deal and doesn’t give up too much to do so. But it doesn’t measure up to more premium services, and the only reason you’d choose it over a better provider is because the 5-year plan is a great deal.

Our Tech editor’s conclusion and summary with quick tips on choosing the Best VPN in Singapore and our closing review takeaways

1. Stay Away From Free VPNs

Offering a VPN service is an expensive endeavour. There are costs for maintaining servers, making software, hiring people to help with customer service, and advertising, just to name a few. All of this is expensive.

Many free VPN services have been found to sneak in ads, install malware without the client’s knowledge, and sell client information. Although a free VPN could be alluring, you have two choices when it comes to this kind of service. The first step is to pay the fee. The second is wasting data by seeing too many commercials or jeopardising the security of your Internet connection.

2. Watch Out For Poor Encryption

Your data is sent across a virtual tunnel in an encrypted state by the VPN, which is then decrypted on the server. Your data must be encrypted using a robust encryption technology and a lengthy encryption key to be protected online.

Although AES encryption with a 256-bit key or greater ought to be the minimum requirement for any VPN, many services currently only offer 128-bit keys. Twofish and Camellia are two further reliable VPN cyphers to check for. A vital security feature that not many VPN services offer is Perfect Forward Secrecy, so keep an eye out for it.

3. Watch Out For Snitching

Although your data is encrypted while it is being transmitted over the Internet by a VPN service, the service provider might theoretically still access it while it is being decrypted on the VPN server.

The majority of VPN providers, if not all of them, say they do not store logs or monitor user activities, yet news reports frequently show otherwise. By supplying these logs on user data, many tiny VPN businesses have been known to assist law enforcement organisations.

Your internet activity will stay anonymous and secure if you select a VPN service that has been auditing by an independent third-party agency.