If you're concerned about privacy, a virtual private network (VPN) keeps your online activities safe from prying eyes.
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A VPN acts as the middleman between you and the internet. It makes an encrypted connection from your device to the VPN server, shielding your activities from your internet service provider (ISP) and other people on your local network.
A VPN is a sensible precaution if you're dealing with sensitive business information. It's also handy for bypassing government or ISP-level internet filtering and snooping. To the outside world your computer appears to be in the same location as the VPN server, which is useful for side-stepping geo-blocking.
WiTopia and StrongVPN both offer Windows and Mac software but StrongVPN adds iOS and Android apps. WiTopia works with mobile devices but you need to configure them manually.
For $US49.99 a year WiTopia's personal VPN Basic supports PPTP, Cisco IPsec and L2TP/IPsec connections, while the $US69.99 personal VPN Pro adds the more secure OpenVPN (SSL). WiTopia runs VPN servers in about 50 countries including Australia and you'll get the best performance from the closest server.
StrongVPN's plans are far more complicated. It offers PPTP/L2TP/SSTP packages from $US75 a year, while $US90 per year adds OpenVPN (SSL). These prices only offer access to US-based VPN servers, while more expensive plans add another 18 countries – but not Australia. There are special deals for Australians, only offering access to servers in the US, Britain, Canada and France ($US55 PPTP, $US85 Open VPN).
As if that wasn't convoluted enough, StrongVPN charges you extra if you switch between VPN servers too often in a month – something you might need to do regularly if you're fighting geoblocking or struggling with connection speeds.
The verdict
Don't bother with StrongVPN. WiTopia's Australian servers make it the better choice for business users. Unlimited switching between any server, in any country, also makes WiTopia the better choice for geo-dodgers.
WiTopia
From $US49.99 per year
StrongVPN
From $US55 per year
