Review Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN
Technology is eventually evolving, which made almost everything in the world to be at ease. Many opportunities and challenges had also come along the way. With this, many people look up to what technology can offer more.
At home, office, or anywhere else, technology and communication are very necessary. The turning point of this is also to give everyone aces to the internet. This is why many things occur virtually. Yet, what kind of provider can offer the best service?
Private Internet Access Review
Name: Private Internet Access (PIA VPN)
Description: Private Internet Access (PIA VPN) is known as a large network having 18,400 servers around 77 countries. Generally, a large server network is a good news to the speed of Virtual Private Network as it means having more servers yet, less crowding.
PIA VPN Overview
Unlike some VPN providers, the privacy policy of PIA is greatly clear. It does explicitly states if the PIA cannot log or collect the traffic the VPN (Virtual Private Network) or Proxy. One of the claims of Private Internet Access is to offer a great VPN for anonymity and security. The feature for security that is offered by the PIA is reflected in the focus of safety by the VPN.
Overall
- Advanced Security Features
- Encryption & Anonymity
- Streaming & Torrenting
- Free Trial & Packages
Pros
- It allows up to 10 simultaneous connections.
- Comes with advanced network and security features.
- Many payment options to choose from.
- Installation is simple and easy.
Cons
- Free Trial Not Available.
- Outdated application UI/Design.
- Complicated Privacy Policy.
The Truth About Private Internet Access (PIA)
Private Internet Access (PIA) is known to be the most known VPNs today on the market. With its name, it promised to be the provider that is known for a strict policy like no logs, and it is committed to providing user privacy.
Many people asked if PIA is trustworthy with its claim to protect the anonymity and privacy of the user. Thus, about the performance of this provider in all categories such as safety, torrenting, and streaming.
Let’s check these things out.
There is a test conducted about Private Internet Access VPN, and here are the results found out. The highlights of the VPN service of PIA are its robust security, support for its ten simultaneous devices, anonymous torrenting, and its user-friendly interface. There are also downsides, such as the inconsistent ability and variable speeds in accessing popular streaming sites.
The best thing about PIA is its ability to unblock such services as Hulu, Netflix US, JP, DE, and UK, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. If you also want to unblock the Netflix libraries worldwide, there are many consistent results in the NordVPN.
Streaming – Good or Bad for Netflix?
There are lots of streaming sites, and one of the popular ones is Netflix, which constantly crackdowns VPN use. There is no such guarantee that these VPNs can access any geo-blocked content for streaming. At this point, there are already mixed results about PIA. The good thing is that many US servers that have tested can access US Netflix while not being blocked with other dreaded proxy errors. With the result of the test, it was also seen that they have access to the UK Netflix with both servers they have used, together with other contents in Netflix in Australia and Canada.
Moreover, it can unblock Netflix Denmark and Japan. Another downside is that there are locations that they can’t access Netflix, like Japan, Mexico, and Germany. So if you want to unblock your Netflix or any streaming sites across the globe, NordVPN is a good choice. This is known to be secure, unlimited, and fast.
Speed of PIA VPN
PIA is known as a large network having 18,400 servers around 77 countries. Generally, a large server network is good news to the speed of VPN as it means having more servers yet, less crowding.
If you want to understand the results of your speed test for VPN, the important thing is that you are familiar with where you will start your connection speed before you connect it to the server of VPN.
It is given that the starting speed is comparable with the speed when you are connected to a certain VPN server. With this, you can try to start with a base speed for your connection of about 70 Mbps.
The speed test was also started with the help of the automatic connection feature of PIA VPN. This is a good tool as it is directly brought to a nearby server near the US. The result of the average speed takes about 34 Mbps.
But as were-ran a speed test a couple of minutes later using the same server, the speed has decreased about 15 Mbps.
Private Internet Access VPN Reviews By Users
- The speed test was also started with the help of the automatic connection feature of the Private Internet Access. This is a good tool as it is directly brought to a nearby server near the US. The result of the average speed takes about 34 Mbps. However, when we ran the speed test again just a few minutes later on the same server, our speed was less than 15 Mbps.
- Generally, the speed tests give us similar inconsistencies. This gives us the highest speed of 58 Mbps with the help of the UK server.
- Through the Canadian server of Private Internet Access VPN, we are pleased about the speed it gives us, about 15 Mbps.
- Yet, there is still a server that gives results with a speed of less than or about 20 Mbps. For instance, the speed test in Germany only resulted in 16 Mbps.
- With the rest of the countries in the world; thus, in our physical location, we have servers in Australia and Hong Kong that only gave us very, extremely slow speeds like 10 Mbps.
- It is quite frustrating, or it quickly makes me mad as there are common online activities such as streaming, inconsistent speeds, and browsing, which can make the speed slower.
- Even though PIA gives its best to offer us excellent speeds, there are still times that it is not stable, and some locations have a slower speed. The performance of PIA VPN always varies as it depends on the physical location and where the server locations you plan to use it.
Torrenting (Good or Bad PIA)
On the website of the Private Internet Access, it was stated there that they could offer support of P2P. Mind that torrenting can be used on all servers regardless of the network.
The strict policy of the provider, which has no-logs, is a great thing for anonymous torrenting. There is also a VPN that gives an automatic kill switch that can help to keep the security of the P2P activity through the connection of VPN is unexpectedly low as well as another port forwarding.
Security (Safe or Not?)
One of the claims of Private Internet Access is to offer a great VPN for anonymity and security. The feature for security that is offered by PIA is reflected in the focus of safety by the VPN.
User Review
As a user, you should be interested in exploring the advanced features of PIA. Good thing the VPN can keep your connection safe while you have something to do like data encryption, IP masking, DNS leak protection, firewall, and IPv6 leak protection. We have already tried the connection of PIA before the settings, the feature of the VPN have successfully protected the IP or DNS for any leaks detected.
The test was already done on many websites. The result of the leak website is because of the connection to the UK server of PIA. We tested this on several websites. Here is our result from the leak website while connected to one of PIA’s UK servers:
User Review
You can still see that the real physical location and IP address which the US is not detected.
Many experienced users have said that they appreciate the advanced security features of PIA that can be easily enabled through the setting of the app. These include features such as malware, tracking protection, port forwarding, automatic kill switch, and others.
Encryption
Private Internet Access allows users different freedom in customizing the encryption of protocols and algorithms. There is a default setting that protects the user’s connection through an AES 128-bit.
This kind of algorithm is greatly secure yet not the same as the common encryption of AES-256. Good news that it is just simple
It is just simple to change the settings when a user wishes to. You can just manually choose the encryption for the algorithm and have the handshake encryption that can be found in the interface of the setting.
If one is not familiar with the meaning it has, he should not worry. PIA gives a detailed explanation about the website per type of encryption and which one is suitable for you. The dedicated apps of Private Internet Access can default on the protocol of the OpenVPN. There are options to select between the TCP and UDP connections. There is just an exception about the iOS app that only uses the IPsec. Another thing is that the VPN can offer an option which can switch the latest security protocol like the WireGuard through desktop and mobile apps.
The manual configuration is supported by the PPTP, OpenVPN, SOCKS5 Proxy, and L2TP/IPsec.
To other transparency, PIA opens a source for mobile and desktop apps. This is also to allow one to review the apps’ source code as one needs to ensure PIA gives its best to its users.
Split Tunneling (Offer or not?)
PIA allows various freedom to one’s online activity when it is offered through a split tunneling like on the desktop app. Somehow this is a convenient feature that gives the user to make the decision for the apps that can access its internet directly. Thus, the one that needs to pass the VPN.
Through split tunneling, users can use PIA VPN in protecting the bank data or for security while torrenting. Generally, web browsing or streaming outside can be encrypted through the VPN tunnel with the same device.
Inactivating the split tunnel, you can just hit the Network tab, then click the App Exclusions, and finally add the programs that can bypass your VPN.
Logs (Keep or not by PIA)
The best thing that makes PIA unique is its policy of no-log. Due to the location of Private Internet Access, which is in the US, and this only means that they need to follow the US demands and laws. It only means that when the government needs information from PIA, then it should have an existing law that can cove the relevant data which have been collected.
Due to the location of PIA’s US headquarters, it also needs to follow the jurisdiction of the 5/9/14-Eyes Alliance that can create privacy for the lovers nervous. Yet, with Private Internet Access, no one should be feeling worried.
Unlike some VPN providers, the privacy policy of PIA is greatly clear. It does explicitly states if PIA cannot log or collect the traffic the VPN (Virtual Private Network) or Proxy.
PIA gives several opportunities that can prove which they need to stick to the policy. In a year, 2015 and 2017, the government has already demanded the log data of PIA about the ongoing investigation. This is not the same occasion. Private Internet Access does not need to be in this situation.
Therefore, Private Internet Access is indeed a good provider, although it also has its downsides. It helps many users to have a connection speed that can make them enjoy every streaming and even downloading.