One of the fundamental uses for a VPN service is the ability to prevent unscrupulous marketers or bored script kiddies from collecting, analyzing, and selling your personal information. One might assume that meant that VPNs do not collect any data themselves - but you know what they say about assumptions.
What is a No Log VPN?
In the strictest sense, there are no VPN services out there that have a literal No Log policy of storing zero information, but that's simply because there are a handful of bits that need to be logged in order to run the service – for example, your Username and Password. What we usually consider to be a No Log VPN service is one that does not log any identifiable information about you – no names, no addresses (not even your IP), no banking details, no browsing history, no specifics of upload/download activity, nothing.
In other words, what we mean by a No Log VPN service is one that actually stands by and holds itself to its own principles!
Why should I be bothered about having no logs?
If you're looking for a VPN service, or are already using one, then I'd say it's safe of me to assume that you at least somewhat care about your security and privacy. VPNs are supposed to stop outside forces from being able to snoop on you and your activity, to stop them from tracking you and building an online dossier; if they are keeping that dossier themselves, then you're only one information request or hack away from authorities or other unscrupulous people having your data that your VPN promised to protect.
That's not to mention how shady it is for a privacy and security company to be collecting and using data on their own customers, but it's not like we don't know how dodgy the industry can be.
How do I find a No Log VPN?
Most VPNs these days make claims that they keep no logs, but the veracity of these are often dubious, and companies have been caught lying before. Unfortunately, unless a company has real-world examples to point to, or has forked out for an independent audit from a trusted source, there's no ironclad way to check whether a VPN service is being honest about its' No Log policy.
Here at Windscribe, we believe in your privacy. We operate a strict No Log policy, keeping the absolute bare minimum of essential service data, none of which makes you identifiable in any way. Don't believe us? Check out how many data requests we've had (it's a lot!) and how many we have complied with (zero!) right here.
We are not the only VPN with a No Log policy, however, and there are others out there that can be verified as safe. As always, make sure to do your research, and go with the VPN that best suits your own needs, whether that's us or not!
