A VPN, which stands for Virtual Private Network, is an encrypted tunnel inside which you can connect securely and privately to the internet. It prevents your employer or Internet Service Provider from tracking your online presence and is an essential tool should you find yourself relying on unknown – and usually insecure – public Wi-Fi networks when out and about. That’s because hackers can easily intercept internet traffic over unsecured Wi-Fi to steal sensitive information and potentially even gain control of people’s devices or computers. 

Another handy use for VPNs is to mask your true location – for example, to mislead trackers or to access geo-restricted services when you’re holidaying or working abroad. That’s because when you connect to a VPN server, your location appears to be the same as the city the VPN server is located in.

SecureLine VPN offers you a wide range of servers spanning over 60 countries across the world, allowing you to choose a location close to you (such as London, Manchester, Nottingham, Edinburgh or Glasgow in the UK) for everyday activities where connection speed is paramount to locations in Europe, the US and across the globe for when you want to mask your true location and access restricted services in those countries.

Each connection is secured with military-grade encryption, so your data, browsing habits and personal information remain off-limits. The app is simple to install and use, and it automatically connects to the fastest available connection; however, switching to a different location is easy too. 

Unsurprisingly, Avast SecureLine VPN can protect all your devices, from your Windows and Mac desktops and laptops to your Android or iOS mobile devices – its generous 10-device limit lets you protect your family as well as yourself. For an extra privacy boost, SecureLine VPN also ships with an ad-blocker to make browsing the internet faster and more readable (never mind the extra privacy boost).

Includes a 10-device, 1-Year licence

Review by Nick Peers.