Some providers automatically delete data after 24 hours while others might store it for longer periods, even indefinitely. You need to delve deeper into privacy policies and/or terms of service to find out what information, if any, is being recorded.Īnother thing to bear in mind is how long logs are actually stored for. The ambiguity arises because there are many different types of logs that they might keep. Many providers assert that they don’t keep any logs, but in reality, most keep some form of records. Which brings us to the commonly used claims of “no logs,” “zero logs,” or “logless.” Of course, you can’t just take these claims at face value. Instead, the lack of logs is one of the main selling features broadcast by many providers in a bid to win over consumers.īasically, the fewer the logs, the more attractive the service. Of course, if providers actually logged and stored all of that data, they wouldn’t be offering a very attractive service, and would no doubt lose a lot of customers. So everything your ISP would normally see is technically now accessible by your VPN provider. When it comes to what they could store, you have to remember that your provider has access to all of your internet activity. VPN logs are the data that providers keep regarding usage of their service. What’s more, policies are subject to change over time and while we endeavor to revisit this article periodically, we can’t practically track every change as it happens.
We’re happy to edit inaccuracies if spotted. Note: Bear in mind that this article will relay our interpretations of the logging policies, some of which can be tricky to decipher. We have a round up of the best VPNs for torrenting here and an article discussing the legality of torrenting here. TIP: VPNs that don’t keep logs are very popular with torrenters, but not all VPNs allow torrenting on their network. We’ll then look at the logging policy of each provider in turn to reveal exactly what its approach is.
We’ll also explain the significance of the location of VPN providers in terms of Five Eyes and 14 Eyes countries. In this guide, we’ll explain the different types of logs that might be kept by VPN providers and how they may be used. Before you choose a provider, you need to know exactly what information will be recorded and what it will or could be used for. If there’s one thing you should look out for in the privacy policy of a VPN, it’s the logging policy. What all of this means for users is that they might not be getting the privacy they’re hoping for. For instance, a provider might profit from advertisements placed on commonly visited websites. In some cases, logs are kept to support to a business model that requires the additional data.
For example, bandwidth may be recorded if there is a cap per user per month. There are various reasons for keeping logs. These might include logs of websites visited (these are rare) or usage logs such as time connected to the VPN and the amount of bandwidth used. It makes sense that they don’t simply want to go from ISPs tracking them to another company doing the same.Īlthough it would be nice and simple if all VPNs simply kept no logs at all, the fact is that many do keep some records. Many users look to VPNs as a means to improve privacy and increase anonymity. Offering a logless service is often viewed as a key selling point. Almost every VPN provider you come across will have some type of claim regarding logs.
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