It wild how much of our lives are online in this day and age, and even wilder just how much personal data we share and how much we're tracked across the web. That's probably why VPNs, or virtual private networks, have gotten so popular in recent years as we strive to claw back a little bit of online privacy. Thankfully, you don't have to spend a fortune to subscribe to a VPN. In fact, with deals like this one from Surfshark, you can protect yourself for less than $2 a month. To save, all you have to do is enter code SHARK3Y during checkout to score Surfshark's 3-year plan for just $69.99. That's over 80% off its regular price if you paid monthly for that period of time and makes the equivalent monthly cost just $1.94. You won't see that deal until you enter the coupon, though.
VPNs are powerful tools that preserve privacy and anonymity while online. Any data sent from your computer, phone, or other device is shuttled through an encrypted tunnel where it's delivered to the VPN server you're connected to. This server has its own IP address and is shared with other users, so anyone watching will have a very hard time determining who is doing what. The encryption also helps protect against anyone attempting to take advantage of unprotected Wi-Fi; if you travel a lot and deal with hotel or cafe Wi-Fi, a VPN will be crucial in keeping out unwanted parties.
There are a number of things to watch out for when choosing a VPN, and Surfshark is one of the best VPN services as it checks most of the boxes. It has plenty of user-friendly features — a killswitch, DNS leak protection, strong encryption and protocols, and modern apps for popular devices — and it allows for unlimited devices to be connected simultaneously. It can also be used for (legal) P2P sharing and streaming for times when you're out of the country and still want to watch your favorite TV show. That's super helpful if you want to catch events like UFC 248 or watch Studio Ghibli on Netflix and it's not available in your region.
Surfshark VPN claims it does not log any user activity, and it operates under the jurisdiction of the British Virgin Islands where data retention laws are lax. With more than 1,040 servers spread out over more than 61 locations, you should be able to find something that works for you no matter where you're located. You can even pay with cryptocurrency for further anonymity, while PayPal and credit cards are also accepted.
If three years is longer than you'd like to subscribe for, Surfshark also offers a great deal on its 2-year and 1-year plans. If you're not happy there's a 30-day money-back guarantee and plenty of other VPN deals to check out.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:
1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).
2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.
We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
