Many VPN providers claim they help clients preserve online privacy. One of the most important ways a VPN provider can support this objective is by not logging user data or activity. That is called a no-log VPN service, which is an important distinction when choosing a provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, do those companies really refrain from recording the users’ activity, and if not, what type of information do they log? Continue reading to learn about no-log VPN services, what kind of information they may keep track of, and when such a practice could be acceptable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a nutshell, logs or log files are records of activity that goes on between two servers<\/strong>. Provided that you are not currently using a VPN that doesn\u2019t keep logs, your ISP and DataProt’s server are recording your activity right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These records (logs) show when you’re online, what content you’re accessing, and from which IP address. Anyone who obtains access to these records can use them to track your geolocation, understand your habits and interests<\/strong>, and even discover your identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, usage logs are helpful to marketers and anyone who wants to collect and analyze data<\/strong> for advertisement purposes. Moreover, the copyright authorities can use them to track down people who pirate content and download copyrighted material from the web illegally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That’s why a no-log VPN service is essential for anyone who wants to stay private online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a nutshell, VPNs that don\u2019t log online activity provide private internet access<\/strong> to their clients. As such, using this service allows you to browse the web, download files, and use applications without anyone knowing what you\u2019re up to, at least in theory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is the main idea behind a no-log VPN service \u2013 no one, not even your internet service provider or the VPN company, should be able to see what you\u2019re doing online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now let\u2019s define logs to clarify the no-log VPN concept further. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Anyone subscribing to no-logs VPN services and activating the VPN hopes to browse the internet anonymously. Even so, an activity log is created, the only difference being that the VPN providers\u2019 IP addresses replace those of users<\/strong> in the records that are left behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, all the data goes through the VPN\u2019s encrypted tunnel<\/a>, which renders it unreadable to anyone trying to collect and analyze it. They can only see that you connected to the VPN server, nothing more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although many people using VPNs that don\u2019t keep logs believe their privacy is protected, it\u2019s not always the case. For example, if you log in to your Google account, there\u2019s no way Google won\u2019t know who you are, whether you\u2019re using a no-log VPN or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Logging into the account exposes your identity<\/strong> and allows the platform\u2019s operators to see what you\u2019re doing. So, in addition to using a no-log VPN service with a strict no-logs policy while browsing the web, ensure you\u2019re not logged in to any of your accounts to avoid being tracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you land on a website, a log is automatically created somewhere. However, if you use a VPN, it won\u2019t contain your IP address but the VPN server\u2019s. So, if marketers or copyright authorities want to know who visited a particular website at what time, they must go through the VPN provider<\/strong> to acquire that information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The problem is that most countries\u2019 law enforcement – including that of the United States – can force VPN providers to hand over user logs if they proffer a court order. That\u2019s why it\u2019s advisable to use no-log VPN services based in countries beyond the US authorities\u2019 jurisdiction<\/strong>, such as Panama, the British Virgin Islands, or the Cayman Islands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If those looking for information can\u2019t get it through VPN providers, they could contact the website you accessed. Nevertheless, the visitor remains anonymous since the website can only see the VPN\u2019s address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though many VPNs promise they don\u2019t keep logs, or at least those that can identify their clients, many make their no-logs policies intentionally vague<\/strong>, if not downright misleading. For instance, they may differentiate between various types of logs, which brings us to the next point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While a VPN that does not log web activity will refrain from recording any activity their users engage in<\/strong> or other sensitive information, other VPN providers might record specific types of information related to DNS<\/a> requests, metadata, bandwidth usage, and connection timestamps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on the type of data, the information may fall into one of the following log categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Providers can collect customer connection logs from the VPN server<\/strong> and user levels. The former is about optimizing network performance<\/strong> and doesn\u2019t contain any sensitive information. On the other hand, the latter is problematic and might include data such as the user\u2019s actual IP address and date and time of connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ve often seen the message that the purpose of data collection is to \u201cdeliver the best possible experience\u201d or \u201cimprove customer service.\u201d But we know from experience that collecting data at a user level isn\u2019t necessary to maintain a well-performing VPN network<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some standard connection logs are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Activity or usage logs are the most invasive data-collection logs<\/strong>. They can reveal the user’s browser, visited websites, access times, and time spent on each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Data collected through activity logs is usually sold to advertising platforms<\/strong> and used to deliver targeted ads. Free VPNs are among the typical culprits that collect this type of information as they need to fund their operations somehow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some standard types of usage logs are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Popular VPNs tend to collect aggregated logs. That means the VPN is taking information which, in theory, cannot be linked to a specific user. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This data collection might include the websites you visit, how much bandwidth you use<\/strong>, or when you connect to specific servers. The good news is that no-log VPN providers remove the identifying information before adding it to their databases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, take into consideration that some VPNs claiming not to keep logs might actually be keeping aggregated logs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, do no-log virtual private networks retain users\u2019 personal and other information or not?<\/p>\n\n\n\n A genuine no-log VPN won’t log any data that could lead to the identification of a user. That includes the user\u2019s IP address, browsing history, and traffic metadata<\/strong>. This information should remain hidden from marketers, other prying eyes, and the VPN service itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still, the VPN service provider may have legitimate reasons to keep logs, depending on the situation. More often than not, the only data a trustworthy no-log VPN will retain<\/strong> is derived from the information you used to register for the service and the billing details in case you ask for a refund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Either way, there may be some good reasons for VPNs to log information, so let\u2019s see what these are.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Is a No-Log VPN?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Is Accessing the Internet Anonymously Really Possible?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential No-Log VPN Issues<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Types of Logs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
VPN Connection Log<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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VPN Activity Log<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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VPN Aggregator Log<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
VPNs and Logs Retention<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Acceptable VPN Logs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n