Most of us are aware that websites track our activities online. One day you search for a product, and the next, you start to see ads for it on your social feed.
Website tracking enables companies to gain insights about visitors. But this level of tracking also gives them the ability to monetize personal data and deliver targeted ads.
If that sounds like something you’re not comfortable with, you’re not alone. 79% of adults get concerned about how companies are using the personal data they collect.
In looking for ways to protect your privacy online, you may have heard of SiteLock VPN — a tool that encrypts your internet traffic as you browse the web.
But should you buy SiteLock VPN? Is this VPN worth it?
We did a comprehensive review of SiteLock VPN, including how it performs, the features it offers, and more. We’ll also look at alternatives if you decide this VPN isn’t for you.
How does a VPN protect your privacy online?
A virtual private network or VPN is a powerful tool that forms a protective “barrier” and prevents anyone from tracking your activities online. It gives you complete privacy and anonymity as you browse the web.
Here’s how.
Encrypts your internet traffic
VPNs use advanced encryption technologies to create a secure tunnel between your device and the internet. Encryption scrambles your data and turns it into “gibberish.”
The best VPNs use Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit encryption. Even if you’re on a public Wi-Fi network (which may be unsecured), no one will be able to “read” or view your personal data.
Hides your IP address
An IP address is a unique set of numbers that identifies your device on the network. Think of it as a virtual “return address.”
Others can get a hold of your IP address if you torrent files or even click a link as you browse the web. Whoever owns the server on the other end can see your IP address.
Anyone with your IP address can pinpoint your location and hack your device. A VPN masks your IP address. All anyone would see is the IP address of the provider’s server.
Blocks ISP tracking
When you connect online, your traffic flows through your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
ISPs can monitor and track your online activities, including the websites you visit, the searches you make, the devices you use, etc.
A VPN completely encrypts your internet traffic, which prevents your ISP from logging (and selling) your browsing history. Your ISP will only see how much bandwidth you use and not much else.
What to look for when choosing a VPN
So you’ve decided to use a VPN to secure your internet traffic. But with so many different options on the market, where do you even start?
Here are some things to look for when choosing a VPN:
- Solid performance: Dealing with a slow VPN can be extremely frustrating. Check out our VPN reviews to find a provider that performs well in speed tests.
- Strong encryption: Encryption secures your private data. Look for a VPN provider that uses AES 256-bit encryption to encrypt your internet traffic.
- No-logs policy: A no-logs VPN doesn’t log or record any information that can be traced back to you (e.g., IP addresses). This keeps your online activities completely private.
- Kill switch: A kill switch disconnects your device from the internet if your VPN connection drops. It prevents your IP address from leaking.
- Torrenting support: Do you torrent to download files? Choose a VPN provider that supports torrenting, as many don’t.
- Broad network: A large network will allow you to “change” your location, which is useful for unblocking services like Netflix when you travel abroad.
Now let’s jump into our SiteLock VPN review to see how this VPN service performs.
SiteLock VPN review
SiteLock is a cybersecurity tool that scans your website for malware and protects against malicious attacks. But the company also offers a VPN, which is what we’ll cover in this review.
What We Liked
- 1,000+ servers
- No-logs policy
- Easy to use
What We Weren’t So Sure About
- Poor customer service
- Little information available on its website
- No kill switch
- Expensive plans
Speed and performance
A laggy internet connection can be frustrating.
Connecting to a VPN can slow down your internet speed. The encryption protocol used and the location of the server you connect to both impact performance.
Whether you’re planning to use a VPN to stream content or play multiplayer games, you want a VPN that offers fast and reliable speeds.
For this review, we tested SiteLock VPN using speedtest.net with an active and inactive VPN connection to compare the results.
With the VPN off, our download speed was 225.8 Mbps, and our upload speed was 36.1 Mbps.
SiteLock VPN has a “Best Location” option, which will choose the fastest server based on your location. We selected this option and ran the test again.
Our download speed was 84.9 Mbps, and our upload speed was 33.9 Mbps.
Our download speed dropped by about 62%, while our upload speed only dropped by 6%.
While our download speeds took a significant hit, our connection was still fast enough to browse the web and stream a 4K video on YouTube without any hiccups.
SiteLock claims it has VPN servers across more than 40 locations in 20 countries, but we only counted 34 locations. However, it does offer over 1,000 servers, and we found switching between them to be easy.
Streaming and torrenting
Streaming services like Netflix boast impressive libraries. But these services geo-block their content, meaning you may not be able to watch certain shows when you travel abroad.
Using a VPN is one way to bypass these restrictions.
Unfortunately, SiteLock VPN didn’t work with Netflix or BBC iPlayer in our testing. If you were planning to use a VPN to unblock these services, you’d have to consider other alternatives.
SiteLock VPN also doesn’t support torrenting, a type of peer-to-peer (P2P) network for downloading and uploading files.
If you’re looking for a VPN provider that unblocks streaming services and supports torrenting, we recommend checking out ExpressVPN or NordVPN.
Security and privacy
Solid performance is undoubtedly important. But it shouldn’t be the only consideration. You should want a VPN that doesn’t compromise your privacy online.
Let’s look at a few key areas.
Encryption
SiteLock VPN lets you choose between OpenVPN protocol with 128-bit encryption or IKEv2 protocol with 256-bit encryption.
These are both industry standards in terms of security, so we’re happy to see SiteLock offer these options.
No-logs policy
On its Customer Agreement page, SiteLock states that it has a no-logs policy and doesn’t store information like IP addresses or other data.
This is great news, as it means SiteLock can’t hand over your data to law enforcement because it doesn’t have the data in the first place. But without an independent audit to verify these claims, we have to trust that SiteLock stands by its policy.
Kill switch
Not having a kill switch puts your browsing activities at risk. VPN connections can fail and expose your IP address if the network is overloaded or your Wi-Fi signal is weak.
Unfortunately, SiteLock doesn’t have a kill switch for its VPN.
Location
SiteLock is based in the U.S., meaning it operates in a country that’s part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Companies that operate in the U.S. are legally required to comply with data requests.
SiteLock doesn’t log data like connection stamps and session logs. But the company can still be compelled to hand over any information it has on you. This includes your name, address, phone number, and billing information that you provide when you sign up.
To ensure complete privacy online, we recommend choosing a VPN that operates in a more privacy-friendly country.
ExpressVPN is our top choice. PwC has verified its no-logs policy, and it operates in the British Virgin Islands, a territory that doesn’t have data-retention or data sharing laws.
Leaks
We didn’t detect any IP leaks, including IPv6 leaks, WebRTC leaks, and DNS leaks.
Device compatibility
SiteLock VPN has native apps available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
Unfortunately, SiteLock doesn’t support Linux, routers, gaming consoles, streaming devices, or eReaders.
Customer support
SiteLock offers a help center, but it’s clear that this is meant more for its website security services than its VPN.
Installing SiteLock VPN was fairly straightforward. But you can find installation instructions on the user dashboard.
If you need additional help, SiteLock offers 24/7 support through email and phone. You can also use live chat, but just be aware that you’ll need to provide your name, website name, email address, and phone number.
It’s an awful lot of information just to speak with someone for support. In contrast, other VPN providers like ExpressVPN don’t ask for any personal information to speak with a live agent.
ExpressVPN also has a much more comprehensive resource center, allowing you to troubleshoot any issues quickly.
Pricing
Pricing for SiteLock VPN starts at $9.99 per month. However, you can save more by subscribing to a longer plan.
A one-year plan costs $71.88 ($5.99 per month), while a two-year plan costs $95.75 ($3.99 per month). The only difference between the plans is the price.
There’s no free trial available, but you can request a refund within 30 days of your purchase.
Visit SiteLock VPN Site
Leading SiteLock VPN alternatives
SiteLock VPN is a fast and user-friendly VPN that’s adequate for most users with basic VPN needs.
However, if you want to unblock streaming services, get torrenting support and a kill switch, or have more device compatibility, here are some leading alternatives you might want to check out.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is an excellent VPN service.
It boasts a massive network of fast servers and works with popular streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu. Strong encryption and a verified no-logs policy ensure your online activities are completely private.
Notable features include:
- VPN split tunneling
- Private DNS servers
- Network kill switch
- Compatibility with major platforms
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 24 hour live chat support
Check out our full ExpressVPN review for more details.
Pricing:
Click here to protect your privacy online with ExpressVPN.
Visit ExpressVPN Site
2. NordVPN
NordVPN stands out in the extremely competitive VPN space.
It offers a plethora of security and privacy features that protect you online. Plus, NordVPN offers native apps for all major platforms, so you can securely browse the web from any device.
Notable features include:
- Over 5,200 servers in 60 countries
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Strict no-logs policy
- Split tunneling support
- Network kill switch
- Dedicated IP address
- Double VPN
- 24/7 support
Check out our in-depth NordVPN review to see why this VPN is so highly rated.
Pricing:
Click here to encrypt your internet traffic with NordVPN.
Visit NordVPN Site
3. Surfshark
Surfshark is an award-winning VPN that’s incredibly fast and easy to use. The company operates over 3,200 servers in 65 countries, but that number is continuously growing.
What sets this VPN provider apart is it supports unlimited devices. You can install Surfshark on as many devices as you want, and there are no bandwidth or data limitations.
Notable features include:
- Network kill switch
- Private DNS and leak protection
- No-logs policy
- Double VPN
- Torrenting support
- 24/7 customer support
Read our Surfshark review to find out more about this VPN provider.
Pricing:
Click here to get started with Surfshark.
Visit Surfshark Site
Conclusion
SiteLock offers a capable VPN with solid performance and a broad network of servers. It also offers strong encryption protocols, unlimited bandwidth, and 24/7 customer support.
However, there are several areas that we found quite concerning.
SiteLock VPN lacks a kill switch, meaning your online privacy is at stake if the VPN connection drops. SiteLock is also based in a jurisdiction where companies are legally compelled to hand over any data they have on customers.
SiteLock VPN is a handy solution to encrypt your traffic. But if you’re concerned about privacy, we recommend considering alternatives like ExpressVPN.
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