As an ethical hacker, you understand just how crucial it is that your online activities remain private. That includes anything from your regular internet browsing and downloads to sensitive platforms like internet banking websites. To safeguard your online privacy, make sure you only connect to a VPN that does not log your internet activity.

A VPN is an online privacy tool that encrypts your data and tunnels it to a remote server location. This prevents local network administrators, Interment Service Providers, government agencies, and other eavesdroppers, such as hackers, from being able to intercept your data and monitor your online habits. With a VPN that doesn’t store any logs, it becomes difficult for snoopers to identify you or trace certain activities back to you.

Note: Theres no VPN ideal for performing malicious hacks, such as launching a DoS attack, and Comparitech does not encourage or support malicious hacking. In this guide, we explore only the best VPNs for ethical hackers.

If you’re short on time and want to find out which VPNs are best for hacking, check out our summarized list below:

  • NordVPN: Our top choice VPN for hackers! This VPN has lightning-fast speeds and reliable connectivity regardless of your physical location. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Surfshark: The best budget option. A reliable choice for uninterrupted hacking. Access is effortless with Camouflage Mode.
  • ExpressVPN: An advanced VPN with several added security options to enhance your online privacy. Incredible speeds for long crypto trading sessions.
  • CyberGhost: A well-respected VPN that boasts fast servers in 94 countries. Great set of security and privacy tools built in. Works with most geo-blocked services.
  • IPVanish: 1500+ servers in over 75 locations worldwide. Fast and secure servers.
  • PrivateVPN: Apps for all major platforms with a 10 simultaneous device limit.

The Best VPN For Hackers

With so many VPNs to choose from on the market, it can be hard to know which provider to trust. We identified the best hacking VPNs by only selecting providers that met all of the following criteria:

There are no hidden terms. Just contact support within 30 days should you decide that NordVPN isn’t suitable for you, and you’ll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.

  • Offers lots of servers to choose from
  • Must be an established provider with years of industry experience
  • Provides fast enough speeds for any day-to-day task
  • Can go undetected by popular geoblocked websites
  • Keeps you safe with uncrackable encryption and various other security features
  • Works with all of the most common operating systems

Here’s a list of the best VPNs for hackers:

1. NordVPN

                    Jan 2023

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Background
  • FireTV

Website: www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

NordVPN’s stellar track record makes it the best at securing your privacy and therefore establishes it as the best VPN for hackers.

Located in Panama, it covers more than 60 countries and has over 5000 servers that do not keep any logs at all. One great feature of NordVPN that helps to make it one of the best VPNs for hackers is its kill switch. This disables your internet connection should your VPN connection drop. NordVPN also has double encryption, which is a handy security feature that any hacker will love.

This service offers unlimited bandwidth, fast download speeds, and you can pay using Bitcoin for even greater anonymity. Some downsides to NordVPN include the possibility of experiencing slight glitches when trying to use the service, expensive rates, and slower speeds during the busiest hours. However, none of these would be sufficient for any serious hacker to avoid this service. It even has features such as AdBlocker for extra user security.

NordVPN is compatible with a range of operating systems including Android, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Linux. It can also be used on smartphones.

BEST VPN FOR HACKERS:Our top pick for secure hacking. Super fast NordLynx protocol is ideal for streaming, using VoIP apps, and torrenting. Has many advanced privacy and security features, including a kill switch and obfuscation. Robust AES-256 encryption. Zero logs policy. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros:

  • Risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee
  • 5000+ super fast servers in 59 countries
  • Military-grade encryption and a no logs policy
  • Kill switch, DNS leak protection, and obfuscated servers
  • NordLynx protocol is perfect for gaming, streaming, and video calls
  • Includes 24/7 live chat support

Cons:

  • Some servers take a while to connect compared to others

Our score:

Read our full NordVPN review to find out more.

2. Surfshark

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website: www.Surfshark.com

Surfshark is a VPN provider based in the British Virgin Islands that has only been around a few years. From its  2018 launch, it has gained an incredible reputation for being a cheap VPN that provides a comprehensive privacy service. Despite being an affordable option, Surfshark allows you to connect an unlimited number of devices, making it great for sharing with family members and friends.

Apps are available for all popular platforms and come with DNS leak protection, a kill switch, obfuscation, malware filtering, ad blocking, and AES encryption. This emphasis on security makes it excellent for maintaining online privacy even when hacking.

Surfshark also provides superbly implemented WireGuard connections that make it fast enough for effective hacking. Additionally, this VPN works to access around 20 Netflix regions, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, and many other international streaming services. It also has 24/7 live chat support, which means you can ask questions and get help setting up the VPN anytime.

BEST BUDGET VPN FOR HACKERS:Surfshark delivers fantastic value for money. Highly secure for hacking. Works to access many popular streaming services, including Netflix. Superfast servers in 65 countries.

  • 30-day money back guarantee

  • Unlimited simultaneous connections

  • Super fast WireGuard protocol

  • Servers in 65+ countries

  • Strong on privacy with several advanced features

  • Some servers are slower than others

To discover more, check out our full Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN

Website: www.ExpressVPN.com

ExpressVPN offers a combination of fast speeds and tight security, making it a reliable choice for hackers. It has over 3,000 servers worldwide, and its network covers 94 countries. Consequently, there’s very little content that you’ll be unable to access while on vacation. In our most recent tests at the time of writing, ExpressVPN had an average global download speed of 475 Mbps. It also offers unlimited bandwidth, so connections are highly consistent.

Connecting to an ExpressVPN server allows you to have your data encrypted and secured from threats. A kill switch protects your internet traffic should your connection dip even for a second. You’re also protected from DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks. Notably, ExpressVPN doesn’t keep any identifying logs of users to ensure their continued anonymity. While this VPN is straightforward to use, there’s 24/7 support should you need any help.

RELIABLE CHOICE:ExpressVPN has servers in 94 countries. High-speed servers and unlimited bandwidth. Secures data with military-grade encryption and provides excellent 24-hour live chat support. Has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • One of the more expensive VPNs on the market
  • Streaming servers are not labeled

Read our full ExpressVPN review to learn more.

4. CyberGhost

Website: www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

CyberGhost has nearly 8,000 servers at the time of writing making it the largest server network on this list. These servers are spread over 90 countries hence you can easily use them for ethical hacking, accessing Netflix US or Twitter regardless of your physical location. Our most recent speed tests revealed CyberGhost as the fastest VPN. We recorded an average download speed of 548 Mbps. What’s more, this VPN does not throttle your bandwidth.

Once you’re signed up with CyberGhost, you can secure up to seven devices at the same time. Security is comprised of 256-bit AES encryption, an automatic kill switch, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection. You also have access to live chat support 24 hours a day. This VPN operates a strict no-logs policy, ensuring only you have access to your data.

FASTEST SPEEDS:CyberGhost is the fastest VPN on this list. Perfect for streaming and torrenting. A colossal server network allows up to seven simultaneous connections. Strict no-logs policy. Comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

  • A massive network of approximately 8,000 servers

  • One of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested

  • It can be used on seven devices simultaneously

  • High level of security, which includes a Windows security suite

  • Struggles to bypass the Great Firewall of China

  • Lacks some advanced features for power users

For more information, read our full CyberGhost review.

5. IPVanish

Website: www.IPVanish.com

IPVanish owns its servers, enabling it to provide impressive speeds and resolve problems significantly faster than some of its rivals. As a result, this is a solid choice for online hacking.

IPVanish uses 256-bit AES encryption and has several optional online security features, including LAN traffic blocking, timed IP switching, and OpenVPN obfuscation. It also offers DNS leak protection and a kill switch to keep you as anonymous as possible.

CONNECT ALL YOUR DEVICES:IPVanish has an extensive network of servers. Generally solid for hacking and users who need the highest privacy standard, but look elsewhere if you want to unblock Prime Video. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Owns and operates all the servers on their network, providing good speeds

  • Strong encryption and privacy protections

  • Keeps no logs whatsoever

  • It doesn’t accept cryptocurrencies

  • Apps don’t work in China

Feel free to read our full IPVanish review.

6. PrivateVPN

Website: www.PrivateVPN.com

PrivateVPN rarely disappoints when it comes to safely accessing websites and services. Although it has a smaller network of servers that number just over 200, they are spread across more than 60 countries.

Furthermore, PrivateVPN offers fast, unthrottled connections that are ideal for streaming without any lag or buffering. It’s therefore no surprise that PrivateVPN works well with popular streaming services like Netflix and is excellent for hacking.

This is a highly secure service thanks to 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and its kill switch feature. If you value online anonymity, it’s well worth noting that PrivateVPN has a valid no-logs policy. In addition, very little personal information is required for signup. You just need an email address, which could be a throwaway one if you like. There’s even the option to pay in Bitcoin and if you need any help, live chat support is always available.

  • Consistent accessing capabilities

  • Breakneck speeds for streaming without lag or buffering

  • User-friendly apps and quality live chat customer support

  • A much smaller network of just 200 or so servers

  • It doesn’t offer any browser extensions

Feel free to check out our full PrivateVPN review.

How to set up VPN for ethical hacking

Fortunately, all the VPNs on our list are fairly easy to use. Just follow the simple steps we’ve highlighted and you’ll be up and running in no time.

Here’s how to set up a VPN for ethical hacking:

  • Start by signing up for one of the VPNs on our list (we recommend NordVPN).
  • Install your VPN app onto whichever device you use for hacking. If you have multiple devices, that’s okay since most providers allow up to five connections at a time.
  • Log in and select one of the servers in your home country. This changes your IP address, allowing you to hack anonymously.
  • You should now be able to hack without any fear of being identified.

Note that a VPN only hides your IP address. You can still be identified through other means such as cookies, fingerprinting, logging into a site or app, or revealing personal information. We recommend you combine your VPN with your web browser’s incognito mode or the Tor browser.

Methodology: How we chose the best VPNs for hackers

At first glance, VPN apps tend to look pretty similar to one another. However, there are numerous differences if you look under the hood. To ensure we only chose the best VPNs for hackers, we looked at each of the following areas:

  • Performance: Slow speeds may interrupt your hacking speeds and expose you. We regularly speed test VPNs to see which are the fastest and most reliable. This way, you’ll know you’re getting a service that’s quick enough for any task you have planned.
  • Privacy features: Your privacy is arguably the most important thing when hacking. That’s why our top VPNs must follow a no-logs policy, employ powerful encryption, include a kill switch, and protect against data leaks. Ideally, we’d like to see more advanced tools, but this marks a solid starting point.
  • Usability: The more streamlined a VPN app is, the more likely you are to use it. The services above offer apps for a variety of platforms, and some even include Smart DNS services to help you execute your hacking activities stress-free.

Interested in learning more about how we choose the best VPNs? Check out our full VPN testing methodology post.

Furthermore, free services tend to be pretty slow at the best of times. Even if you found one with a solid DDoS prevention system, it’s likely you’ll still have a subpar experience. Additionally, free VPNs typically impose low monthly data limits making free services a poor choice for anyone looking to use them regularly.