8 Best VPN Software for Android - G2

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 12:00 AM PDT

In an age where it feels like you're consistently entering and storing personal data on your phone, it's natural to want an extra layer of security.

Enter the VPN, or virtual private network.

A VPN can set up a strong encryption on your device that adds a protective security layer for hackers trying to access your data. And while there are plenty of VPNs available, it's important to find the one that is best for your device and phone usage. After learning how to set up a VPN, it's time to look for the right fit. We've compiled a list of the best VPN software for Android.

Best VPN Software for Android

NordVPN
TunnelBear
ProtonVPN
VyprVPN
ExpressVPN
IP Vanish
Private Internet Access
KeepSolid

Let's take a look at the options below for ideas on what VPN software is best for your Android. All of the listed products are ranked by user satisfaction as of October 10, 2019.

NordVPN

NordVPN also carries an accessible Android app. It functions as a hack-proof, encrypted tunnel through which you can access the internet. This tunnel is unable to be accessed by anyone, and all of your internet data stays private.

Features:

Secure and private internet access
Protection for all devices
Fast and stable connection regardless of location

What users like:

"NordVPN is one of my favourite VPN service providers. Compared to competitive solutions, NordVPN has many servers on different continents, so the service allows you to choose the best location according to customer preferences. NordVPN is available on various platforms besides hardware running on Windows/Mac OS/Linux and NordVPN we will run on mobile devices which is very useful during travel when we are forced in some cases to work with a wi-fi hotspot, which is not always well protected. NordVPN allows us to use several devices at the same time so that we can use the VPN network at the same time from a computer, as well as the same phone."

NordVPN review by Ludovic G.

What users dislike:

"The design is not simple, and it requires time to configure it. The presence must be more conventional, representing a level of their services, and it would be more useful for customers who could easily set it up."

NordVPN review by Flavio D.

TunnelBear

TunnelBear allows you to block hackers over insecure public wi-fi, change your virtual location so you can access content anywhere, as well as bypass local censorship. It also assigns you a new IP upon use, which prevents ad services to use your IP address to track your behavior across sites.

Features:

Stop password and data theft
Access global content
Bypass local censorship

What users like:

"It has a very nice interface and very easy to use. It connects very fast and you can change countries without complications. It is ideal for people who live in countries with internet restrictions. The browsing speed is very fast, in fact I have tried other VPNs and TunnelBear seems the fastest of all."

TunnelBear review by Jack S.

What users dislike:

"Sometimes the internet connection slows down or, in the worst case, disconnects from the internet, causing serious delays in the completion of my work activities. I recommend the company TunnelBear improve their connection points to overcome these disagreements."

TunnelBear review by Maria Fernanda L.

ProtonVPN

Regular VPN services can be compromised if their servers are under surveillance. ProtonVPN prevents this by first passing user traffic through their Secure Core network in privacy-friendly countries like Switzerland and Iceland. Thus, even a compromised VPN endpoint server will not reveal your true IP address.

Features:

Directs traffic through secure core network
No logs or tracking internet activity
Based in Switzerland, with some of the world's strongest privacy laws

What users like:

"As I am always browsing the internet, I need to protect my privacy. That is why I use ProtonVPN. I really like this software because it is very easy to use, its interface is very intuitive and, in addition, it can be used for free and the best thing about it is that they do not require you to see advertising while using the software. I also like that I can use it on my cell phone, since sometimes I am in places with public Wi-Fi and I can protect my privacy by activating ProtonVPN."

ProtonVPN review by Over B.

What users dislike:

"Although ProtonVPN has interesting things, it also has its disadvantages, for example, customer service is very poor, they do not have an instant chat, the only way to contact customer service is through email. In addition, it has very few servers compared to other VPNs. The prices of the plans are not attractive, they are high."

ProtonVPN review by Lisandro V.

VyprVPN

VyprVPN is available on all devices, including Android and iOS. You can log onto as many as five different devices at the same time. With over 2 million customers worldwide, VyprVPN allows you to connect safely at home or on the go.

Features:

Protection of your privacy
Unlimited streaming
Combats censorship

What users like:

"VyprVPN is an application for cell phones and computers that offers a connection to public and private networks in a safe and efficient way. It has the option of changing the IP address quickly and easily, it is easy to install and use, and it has a customer service system to solve the problems that are presented to users."

VyprVPN review by Maurice C.

What users dislike:

"Assistance and customer service sometimes take a couple of hours to answer our questions and inconveniences. On one occasion there were problems with the connection protocols and we had to reinstall the VyprVPN version for Windows."

VyprVPN review by Sarah H.

Related: Check out these VPN statistics that every internet user should know!

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN boasts an easy-to-use app for Android while functioning to hide your IP address and encrypt your data.

Features:

Unrestricted access worldwide
Security and anonymity upon every use
Available on all devices

What users like:

"It is so fast, so reliable, so easy to install and use, and has such a wide range of countries to choose from, it's almost too good to be true!! I did not have any problems during download or set-up, which is unheard of for a VPN, and I have not yet had to contact support even once, which is amazing."

What users dislike:

"I dislike that when it disconnects and attempts to reconnect you don't really get a notification. Unless you're looking at the current screen you may not know that your VPN is down, and that could be a huge security issue."

ExpressVPN review by Nick H.

IPVanish

Putting personal information at risk is the price you pay when using free Wi-Fi. With IPVanish, you'll keep your data under lock and key with airtight encryption while keeping hackers, ISPs, and tech-savvy teens out of your connection. Every facet IPVanish's service, including app development and customer support, is managed internally. By removing the middleman, IPVanish is best-equipped to ensure that your information remains protected.

Features:

Surf the web anonymously, without a trace
Make any internet connection secure
Navigate around censorship filters

What users like:

"If I want to visit confidential sites, I use this VPN to mask or hide my identity. I visit those sites anonymously. This makes sure that hackers can never detect or see my operations online. I like using the tool because of its efficiency and accuracy."

IPVanish review by Paul K.

What users dislike:

"Sometimes the software had a bug that caused the software to freeze on connecting to the OpenVPN protocol, however, the customer service solved it very quickly."

Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is the only proven no-log VPN service that encrypts your connection and provides an anonymous IP to protect your privacy.

Features:

Protection of online privacy and identity
Unblocked censorship filters
No-log VPN service

What users like:

"The product works on Android, iOS, Windows and Linux (all of which I use) and is convenient to set up and use. It has a lot of connection points around the world to use, so when I am traveling and using non-trusted networks, it comes in very handy."

Private Internet Access review by Duane T.

What users dislike:

"Occasionally, the service does not connect to the server and you're left hunting for a 'good' server to connect to. Also, occasionally, connection speed is noticeably slower.

Private Internet Access review by Gennady B.

KeepSolid

Stay anonymous and untracked on any website from any location. KeepSolid protects your privacy by changing your physical location (IP address) so websites, hackers, and advertisers can't track you. No matter what data you send (personal passwords or credit card data), and whatever WiFi you use, you'll be 100% secure. KeepSolid encrypts your personal data protecting it from prying third-parties and hackers.

Features:

Encryption at the center
Protection of personal data
Assuring users of who has access to what is shared

What uses like:

"KeepSolid VPN Unlimited is a software and mobile VPN solution that allows for a variety of security applications and benefits for the casual to mid range sophisticated user. Ease of use is great for those that don't want to waste time on more sophisticated solutions. Also, one can get the service on a lifetime subscription, thus saving a lot of money. Also, if you want better and more efficient connectivity, personal servers are cheap and very affordable. The few times I've used their customer support, I found them very helpful and timely."

KeepSolid review by Jordan M.

What users dislike:

"As my team travels all around the world, sometimes the server is a little bit far away. This may affect connection speed. So, it would be great if VPN Unlimited team add more server locations."

KeepSolid review by Lena K.

Get secure

Now that we've gone over the best options for VPN software for Android, you're all set to make an informed decision for the VPN that is best for your needs. And whether you're specifically looking for a free VPN or a VPN for a non-Android device, G2's guide to the best VPN software has you covered.

Reverse-Engineering Xiaomi IoT Firmware - Hackaday

Posted: 24 Oct 2019 07:00 PM PDT

IoT devices rarely ever just do what they're advertised. They'll almost always take up more space than they need to – on top of that, their processor and memory alone should be enough to run a multitude of other tasks while not necessarily compromising the task they were built to do.

That's partially the motivation for rooting any device, but for Xiaomi devices, it's a bit more fun – that is to say, it's a little bit harder when you're reverse engineering its firmware from scratch.

Similar to his other DEF CON 26 talk on modifying ARM Cortex-M firmware, [Dennis Giese] returns with a walkthrough of how to reverse-engineer Xiaomi IoT devices. He starts off talking about the Xiaomi ecosystem and the drawbacks of reusing firmware across all the different devices connected to the same cloud network before jumping into the walkthrough for accessing the devices.

Targeting the Aquara Smart IP Camera, you first identify the serial port after bricking the device (a necessary step for connecting to the filesystem). Since the JFFS2 filesystem on the MCU (Zigbee NXP JN5169) wasn't properly cleaned, a fair amount of credentials is leaked, which is essentially enough for rooting the device via telnet. Once you replace telnetd with SSH, change the root password, and change the camera software, you've got a modified smart camera!

For a different device, a WiFi network speaker, even the device teardown was unnecessary. No input validation was found on the firmware update over HTTP – no signatures, with the information packed into an XML format. This makes it even easier to simply overwrite the firmware OTA.

Finally, for a vacuum cleaning robot, a bit more circuitry was needed to root the device. In the usual method, the MMC data lines are shortcut, caused the system to fall into FEL mode. Using a USB connector and a load and execute tool, the MMC flash is dumped. The image can then be modified and rewritten to flash memory.

As it turns out, for many of the devices you don't even need to resort to bricking the device in order to gain root access. While Xiaomi's inevitably patched up most of the vulnerabilities since the talk, there's invariably still more out there.

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