The internet is no longer a novelty. It’s a tool that’s as deeply integrated into modern-day life as cable TV and traffic lights are; it’s an essential piece of infrastructure. This is especially the case given how everybody now has in their pockets what would’ve been considered a supercomputer only a few years ago.
In response to this rapid growth, VPNs have become much more popular. While the average person didn’t have a clue about internet safety in the past (nor did the world as a whole, for that matter), everyone today is familiar with the risks associated with online activity. Most people who are even just a little bit tech-savvy understand the benefits of a VPN for retaining their anonymity online, but with so many on the market, each with different features, it can be very difficult to settle on one.
To help make your decision a tad easier, today’s review will focus on Mysterium VPN. This service is one of the most popular packages around at the moment, and has several unique features worth exploring. Read on to learn more.
Image Credit: Mysterium VPN
The Classic VPN Experience With a Twist
In essence, Mysterium VPN offers much of what you’re likely already familiar with. Once activated, you’re able to choose from a wide range of locations across the globe to connect to, through which your own location (IP address) is invisible to the pages or services you’re going to be using.
Of course, this basic premise can be achieved in many different ways with varying results. Most VPN platforms have you connecting to data centers, and while this works, it doesn’t usually lead to the most user-friendly (or safest) experience. Streaming services and major websites often flag the fact that you’re using a VPN, and they either lock you out completely or slow down your browsing experience by having you solve a CAPTCHA.
Mysterium overcomes these hurdles by offering residential IP addresses, which appear much more like regular usage to the services you want to use, negating the usual struggle.
Many platforms achieve similar performance by using a Decentralized Virtual Private Network (DVPN), but these have the downside of having to use other VPN users for the IP pool, therefore lessening the security profile. Rather than going this route, Mysterium offers the best of both worlds. This isn’t a DVPN in the classic sense: instead, the service uses decentralization frameworks via its own bespoke ecosystem, ensuring that you get the benefits of residential IP connections without any of the associated risks.
This is a real standout feature that truly sets the platform apart from its contemporaries. The system does take some getting used to, but it’s considered an evolution by many.
Real-World Usability
The theory is all well and good, but how are things from a real-world usability standpoint?
The company has clearly gone to a lot of effort to provide users with plenty of security features, and there’s a lot to like here. For one, you’ve got DNS and IP leak protection, which prevents the most common risk associated with VPNs, which is that they’re not as secure as they claim to be. A VPN should hide all user data, but this often isn’t the case, and it’s not uncommon for people who have been using free or budget options to have experienced a data breach.
There’s also a kill switch baked into the platform, which is there to ensure the VPN is immediately cut if your connection drops. Connection issues traditionally represent a period of vulnerability, and this VPN makes sure those problems are a thing of the past.
Another nice addition is that Mysterium VPN allows up to 15 separate devices to log in at the same time. This is great if you run a small business or have a large household with many people wanting to connect at once.
Image Credit: Mysterium VPN
Network Strength
A VPN is only as strong as the networks it uses, and this platform easily stands toe-to-toe with the industry leaders here.
You’ve got support for both WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols, offering everything a user needs to dial in their experience for their exact needs. Browsing with the service is found to be generally speedy and reliable, and no matter what you throw at it, the system remains rock solid (download and upload speeds can handle most power user tasks). Given the decentralized nature of the network, you may experience a couple of connection hiccups here and there, but these are few and far between, and with the robust security features described above, you never have to worry.
Pros and Cons
To round off, here are the main pros and cons to consider if you’re thinking about using Mysterium.
Pros
Balanced infrastructure for safety and speed: The best thing about Mysterium VPN is its balance, and that’s all thanks to a unique approach to utilizing the benefits of residential IPs (they offer more than 7500 locations). This affords users maximum speed while minimizing risk. Add in features like IP/DNS leak protection and a kill switch, and you have yourself a premium package.
Trusted Network Infrastructure: The infrastructure used channels decades of research into what makes a safe, reliable, user-friendly VPN experience, and with WireGuard and OpenVPN support, virtually every type of user has the tools they need to work and play.
Fair Pricing: prices start at $2.59/month, and for what you’re getting, this is a very reasonable fee.
Cons
No Full Linux Support: Mysterium VPN supports every major operating system except Linux, though Linux functionality is reportedly on the way.
Occasional connection drops: Given the nature of a platform like this, you may experience a connection drop here and there, but it’s nothing major.
Wrapping Up
No matter whether you’re a homeowner or business owner, Mysterium VPN should be an excellent choice if you seek to stay safe and anonymous online.
With only a few minor drawbacks, this is a truly innovative platform; you should have everything you need here for a streamlined browsing experience.