In this fast-paced digital world, it seems as if situations are only worsening in terms of user privacy and security. Second to China, Russia, and the U.S., now it seems as if Australia has taken a vow to impose controversial laws to limit the freedom given to netizens.
The country is already part of the Five Eyes Alliance, passing mandatory mass surveillance and data retention laws, denying its citizens the explicit right to free speech. However, now it seems as if this alliance is not enough for them.
After every few months, a new law makes its way into the spotlight, further limiting the control a user has on their online privacy. For instance, ADRA passed a law requiring large amounts of telecom metadata to be stored for two years.
Now, there is another cyber law being discussed that may require tech giants like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter, etc to help government agencies around encrypted communications, as to “catch suspected criminals and terrorists”.
Add this to the discrimination Australia faces in terms of availability of content on VoD services like Netflix, and people have really started freaking out in the country. All of these reasons combined to force the need for investing in a VPN service.
Why Do You Need a VPN in Australia?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) helps Australian netizens in increasing their online privacy and security. By connecting to a VPN, you can actually cloak your identity and shift your location, making it appear as if you reside in another city/country.
As such, you will no longer have to worry about the regressive and invasive laws imposed by the Australian Government for their own selfish agendas, and enjoy access to a freer internet overall, all while leveraging maximum anonymity.
At the same time, a VPN can help Australian binge-watchers to unblock a whole new world of content. By connecting to a server in the US, netizens can unblock American Netflix, which hosts more than 6,000+ titles combined in movies/TV shows.
Similarly, users can gain access to local versions of BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO GO/NOW, Sling TV, and various others, which impose geographical and content limitations in Australia. All in all, there are plenty of benefits to using a VPN in Australia.
How to Select a VPN in Australia?
VPNs are not a one-size-fits-all service and when talking about categories like choosing the Best VPN for Australia, you need to dig deeper to find the perfect match.
Apps Compatibility
Providing a dedicated app for a platform requires significant investment in terms of time, money and strategy. There are a select few VPN providers, among the hundreds that exist, who are willing to go to such great lengths to provide such an exquisite quality of service to their users.
Performance/Speeds
People usually buy a VPN to stream content on bigger screens from various entertainment sites. As such, it is a given that when a user wants to watch content on a bigger screen, the video quality must be top-notch. This cannot happen unless your internet speeds remain high.
Unblocking Capabilities
Despite offering hundreds of servers in many different locations worldwide, not many VPNs can guarantee you a premium unblocking experience. A VPN needs to be able to unblock sites like Netflix US, Amazon Prime, Hotstar, Hulu, etc.
Providers offering facilities like obfuscated servers or even a MediaStreamer service are hotcake property when it comes to getting a VPN for the device. Any provider that leaks your IP/WebRTC/DNS will fail at unblocking VoDs.
Location of Servers
The number of servers hosted by a VPN determines the range and capabilities of that service in unblocking geo-restricted content and stopping bandwidth bottlenecks from taking place.
The top VPNs conventionally have hundreds, if not thousands of servers incorporated in their infrastructure. Never opt for a VPN if it offers less than 100 servers in its service pack.
Simultaneous Connections
Nowadays, users have multiple devices each one of which requires top-grade security cover online. Do not opt for a VPN that just supports a single device. It is not a great value for your money considering the prices these VPNs services charge in the long term. Go for a provider that at least supports 5 devices.
Bandwidth Limitations
Free VPN services usually limit the amount of bandwidth you consume. So opt for a paid VPN, as they do not have limitations on bandwidth usage, allowing you to stream and download torrents conveniently and without any worries.
What are the Best VPN Services for Australia?
- ExpressVPN: Based in the autonomous, British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN has a network of 3,000+ servers for residents, with over 100 reside in Australia for ex-pats who may want to access specific websites. Similar to Nord, it provides access to all streaming platforms like Netflix, making it quite a noteworthy option.
- Surfshark: Similar to ExpressVPN, the newcomer Surfshark also has its headquarters in BVI. It offers 36 servers in Australia for ex-pats and over 1040+ servers for residents. In comparison to the above, Surfshark is available for a cheaper price. However, despite that, it does not compromise on the service you receive.
- PureVPN: Headquartered in Hong Kong, PureVPN is another budget-friendly option. It offers a listing of 78 servers in Australia for ex-pats and 2,000+ servers for residents. Unlike other providers, PureVPN offers the capability of unblocking VoDs like Netflix and BBC iPlayer directly through their Chrome and Mozilla browser extensions.
- CyberGhost: Based in Romania, CyberGhost is an upward trending provider for Australian residents and ex-pats. It has the second-largest network, stretching to 3,900+ servers, among which 88 are located in Australia. Native apps of the provider offer a special streaming mode for unblocking VoDs around the world.
Wrapping Things Up
This guide was an excise towards describing the problematic cybersecurity environment in Australia and how using a VPN like the above recommendations can help in countering it.
After all, nobody likes to be monitored 24/7 or be told what they can access or not. If you are one of those individuals, it is high time you invested in such a service too.