Chrome is used by more than 2.65 billion internet users worldwide. The number has massively grown of Google’s Chrome users since 2020, especially after the outbreak of COVID-19. After Chrome, the most widely used internet browser is Safari, with 450 million users.
Since many internet users use Chrome, it has now become the primary target for hackers and cybercriminals. It is not like the olden days anymore when online security was not an issue as the world had not shifted to the internet entirely, and the pool was much smaller.
However, as time has passed, people shifted to the internet, and so did the criminals. That’s why more and more people are now getting concerned with the safety of their personal information online.
VPN or Virtual Private Networks were considered a thing for those who were tech-savvies or experts in the field of cyber security. But a lot has changed since then, and now even a layman is leaning towards using the tech of VPN for their online internet privacy.How Can a Browser VPN Help you?
Let’s establish one thing first; if you install a browser VPN extension on your Chrome, the VPN umbrella will only cover your Chrome browser. All other applications and software on your OS (connected to the internet) will not be covered by your browser VPN extension.
Keeping that in mind, we here at TechNinjaPRO always recommend installing a VPN desktop application first and then moving on to use that VPN provider’s browser extension. This way, all of your OS (operating system) will be protected from all types of external internet threats.
A browser VPN works by encrypting your internet traffic entirely. For instance, if you are surfing the internet to buy shoes, the VPN extension (when turned ON) will encrypt (code) your movement over the internet and make it almost impossible for anyone to decipher it.
Whatever we browse over the internet, especially via our browser, our internet history gets recorded or logged somewhere. Using that information/data, advertisers and hackers bombard the users with pop-up ads and malware containing digital prints. All of this creates a window for third parties to attack, thus causing significant damage.
Premium VPNs do not log any of the data from their clients. They do not store it, save it, or even manage it. So, the chances of your data getting sold to any interested third parties get massively dropped, and you experience complete internet freedom.
Not only that, but VPN browser extensions also change the user’s location by redirecting their internet traffic (which is encrypted, of course) to various servers strategically placed all across the globe. As the user’s internet traffic gets jumped from one server to another, any tracker/spying software loses its trail, making the VPN user completely anonymous.
With features like kill switch, DDoS protection, WebRTC leak protection, and more, using a VPN browser extension can positively secure your online privacy.
What to look for in the best Browser VPN?
It is simple to get the best product when you know what you want. The same rule applies to virtual private network services. To understand the basics to pay attention to when selecting a VPN service extension for your browser, look at the list below:
Privacy and Security: Adding a virtual private network extension should guarantee you secure and private time spent online. This means you should look for a reliable browser VPN, and Browser VPN should offer you relatively unbreakable encryption and an audited no-logging policy.
Added features: When selecting a VPN service for a browser, a hidden IP address and encrypted internet traffic are not enough for a completely secured connection. To feel the actual weight of high-end protection, a virtual private network should have a split tunneling feature, an ad blocker, a dark web monitor, and more.
Accessibility: The chrome browser is one of the most popular among other browsers. So it is not a fancy wish to use a protected browser on all of your gadgets. Therefore, pick a VPN that allows you to protect unlimited devices.
Intuitive User interface: Adding an extension to your internet browser should not be uncomfortable and bothering. Therefore, make sure your VPN service provides an intuitive user interface.
Are VPN Chrome extensions safe?
Yes, the PureVPN Chrome extension is safe. But what you should know is that every browser extension that you download is sandboxed. This means that as long as you provide no permissions, it sits isolated from other processes running in the foreground.
Google itself is creating the Chrome store, so every submission gets reviewed. These processes remove a significant chunk of extensions that are straight-up malware. So, you should not experiment with vague VPN extensions, as it may backfire.
Buyer’s Guide: VPN Chrome Extension
If you are looking for a good VPN Extension for Chrome, it should align with the following criteria.
Easy to Install & Use:
The VPN Chrome Extension should be easy to install and use. Instead of jumping from one feature to another to connect the VPN to your internet, the VPN provider must provide a simple connect button, i.e., one-click connect.
Feature Rich:
The VPN of your choice must be rich in features. Unlike basic proxy extensions, a simple turn ON and OFF will not suffice. The VPN extension must offer some additional features to play with, like kill switch, split tunneling, etc.
Manual Location Change:
The VPN must allow the user to pick their preferred locations manually so that a user can select a particular geo-location to watch region-locked content on streaming sites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, Firestick (Fire TV), etc.
Security & Privacy:
The VPN’s security integration must be able to block/hide your location from websites in addition to blocking access to your microphone or camera. Third-party cookies must also be blocked by the VPN, WebRTC leak protection, auto-filling financial information, hyperlink auditing, etc., all must be taken care of by the browser VPN.
Zero-Logging:
The VPN should deliver a complete no-logging policy where the VPN provider collects or stores none of the user’s data. PureVPN was certified by KPMG when an independent security audit was conducted to check their level of security. This assured that PureVPN has a zero-logging policy where they only collect the billing information from the user, ensuring that it’s a safe VPN to use.
Best VPN Chrome Extensions
PureVPN Chrome Extension: Guide
The Chrome VPN offered by PureVPN makes sure that you enjoy an anonymous browsing experience when the extension is turned ON.
Generally, PureVPN has 6,500+ servers spread across the glove in 80+ locations; however, the Chrome Extension is integrated with servers from 30 countries. These servers work coherently to deliver an anonymous browsing experience to the user while upholding state-of-the-art security infrastructure.
It’s general knowledge that using a VPN slows down your internet speed as per heavy encryption and jumping between servers. But, that’s not the case with PureVPN, as it is lightweight and offers high-speed servers. You can stream your favorite Movies & TV Shows on streaming websites like Netflix without suffering from any types of lagging or buffering.
Moreover, unlike some other VPN providers in the market, PureVPN offers unlimited bandwidth for its users. There is no data limit, and you can even download high profile games & movies using its P2P servers without breaking a sweat.
The VPN comes integrated with 256-bit AES encryption which is military-grade encryption. Till now, not even supercomputers can decode 256-bit, and it is used by high-level financial institutions, sensitive organizations, and the military to protect their digital assets.
Some of the key features offered in the PureVPN Chrome Extension are as discussed below.
How to Install & Setup PureVPN Chrome Extension?
The installation of PureVPN Chrome Extension is pretty straightforward. Here’s how you can do it:
- Go to Chrome Store and search for PureVPN.
- Click on the OFFICIAL PureVPN Chrome Extension.
purevpn chrome store - Click on Add to Chrome.
- After a few minutes, the VPN Chrome Extension will be successfully added to your Chrome.
- You will see the icon of PureVPN at the top right corner of your Chrome browser.
How to Login & Connect your PureVPN Chrome Extension?
Now that you have your PureVPN Chrome Extension added to your browser, log in and connect by performing the below-mentioned steps:
- Click on your newly added PureVPN Chrome Extension located at the top-right corner of your Chrome browser.
Purevpn extension login - Login to your PureVPN account by entering the username/email ID & password.
purevpn extension sign in - Once logged in, click on the Connect button.
Purevpn extension connect - Your connection will be established.
NOTE: The username/email ID & password is the same as you had set up during your VPN purchase.
How to opt for PureVPN 7-Day Free Trial?
If you do not have a paid subscription to PureVPN, you can opt for a 7-Day Free Trial by following the below steps:
- Open PureVPN Chrome Extension from your Chrome browser located at the top-right corner of your browser.
Purevpn extension login - Click on the 7 DAYS FREE TRIAL button.
- Click on Get free trial now.
Purevpn 7 day free trial - Go on to Enter your details and proceed.
purevpn free trial payment checkout - Your PureVPN’s free trial will start now.
Features
As we have already established the ground rules in buying the best VPN for Chrome, the product of choice must be feature-rich at all costs. PureVPN offers a massive list of features whose primary purpose is to deliver an ultimate security package to its users.
- User Interface & One-Click Connectivity
The user interface of any SaaS-based product is one of the most vital aspects of getting customers long-term commitment.
PureVPN Chrome Extension offers a smooth interface with a large Connect button situated in the middle of the dashboard. Press that Connect button, and the smart algorithm of PureVPN will do the rest by automatically connecting you to the best VPN server based on your geo-location.
Below the Connect button, there are three options.
- Select Country.
- Popular Websites.
- WebRTC Leak Protection (Toggle Button).
On the top right corner of the extension dashboard, you can find the gear icon of Settings, where you’ll find your account information along with customer support.
- Custom Server Selection
Unlike free VPNs, PureVPN allows users to select the country of their choice depending on their needs or requirements. The user can manually choose the country of their choice out of 30+ countries and start unblocking all restricted content types.
If the user is not interested in selecting a server manually, the smart algorithm of PureVPN comes into action and performs this function automatically.
- ISP Throttling
As your internet traffic gets heavily encrypted by PureVPN, it hides you from your local ISP (Internet Service Provider). Why is it necessary? Your local ISP can throttle your internet speed if you are using a larger bandwidth of data compared to other users on the same server.
Since a VPN hides your activity from EVERYONE, your local ISP can no longer throttle your internet speed, thus killing ISP throttling.
- Popular Websites
Now, this is the feature that makes PureVPN an excellent value for money VPN. You’ll not find this feature anywhere, even in the top-rated VPNs like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or Surfshark VPN.
When you click on this option, PureVPN shows you a list of the most popular websites accessed daily by millions and billions of users worldwide. The list includes websites like Netflix US, Netflix UK, BBC iPlayer UK, Amazon Prime US, Hulu US, etc.
Once a user selects the website of their choice, PureVPN automatically selects the best servers and best security protocol and gives them access to that website with complete anonymity. And all of this happens quickly.
- WebRTC Leak Protection
WebRTC or Web Real-Time Communication is an open-source project mainly utilized by web browsers and mobile applications. It allows real-time, peer-to-peer media exchange between two devices by establishing a connection via discovery and negotiation. The exchanged data can be audio, video, or simple structured data.
What does WebRTC Leak mean? When your actual IP address is leaked to the public or some hacker, this is what we call a WebRTC Leak. This information can put you at security risk and expose you to a wide variety of cybercriminals. Free VPNs can also cause WebRTC Leaks.
PureVPN’s WebRTC Leak Protection (when toggled ON) works to protect the user’s data exchange over the internet in complete anonymity, ensuring that the IP address does not get leaked.
- 7-Day Free Trial
Once you download the PureVPN Chrome Extension from Chrome Store, you get a 7-day free trial period. The users on a free trial get access to 5 server locations with unlimited bandwidth.
- No-Logs Certified
PureVPN has a security audit certificate from Altius IT & KPMG. The security audit states that PureVPN does not collect, store, or keep any form of internet data of their users and provides complete anonymity while online.
The VPN provider not only hides your online activities from interested third parties, but also they themselves cannot even monitor your online surfing.
- Bypass Proxy
PureVPN allows the users to whitelist any of the domains or hosts they want to browse without using a VPN. This helps the user browse those specific domains and hosts via their local IP address even when connected to an online proxy.
The feature of Bypass Proxy is similar to Split Tunneling for your browser. You can set the proxy bypass destination to any of the domain names or your router’s IP address, etc.
- GPS Spoofing
Are you familiar with GPS Spoofing? GPS Spoofing is an attack where a cybercriminal uses a radio transmitter to interfere with legitimate GPS signals. If you enable the GPS Spoofing feature on PureVPN Chrome Extension, the attacker will no longer transmit data, and even if they can transfer data, the coordinates will be inaccurate.
FAQs
No, Chrome does not have its own virtual private network extension, but mobile users can benefit from Google One VPN. This is a proprietary virtual private network made by Google.
Adding a VPN extension is as easy as ticking the Add to Chrome button on services that you find on the Chrome store.
If you are logged in to your Google account, then Google knows everything where you are going. There are other techniques like browser fingerprinting, which means you will need to use some extensions to avoid this.
