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Catherine Ablett
(Security consultant and online privacy enthusiast)
The last time that Ivacy was reviewed the results were not good and lead to it being downgraded to 244th place, from third position of our list (now occupied by NordVPN, ExpressVPN and VyprVPN) But, being the fair-minded indiv...
star
Aug 30, 2017
- 5
Franklin was great at fixing my problem. Also very helpful and nice . Ivacy is a very good service. I have had it for quite a long time and have been really happy with it. I give it 5 stars and to Franklin too.
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Joe Bob
Aug 26, 2017
- 5
I think I paid around $50 for 6 months with a coupon code to use Ivacy VPN. So far so good. No more "busted" letters from Comcast from torrenting. Easy to use and some servers are pretty fast as well.
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Job
Aug 25, 2017
- 5
Subject says it all, I needed help with creating a VPN connection on my Synology NAS and because I didn't succeeded by myself I went to online chat support of Ivacy and got Franklin's help. He was really helpful and showed me all the way how to do it.
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| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Number of Server Locations (countries) | 100 |
| Number of servers | 200 |
| Does VPN keep logs | No |
| Includes Kill Switch | Yes |
| Devices per license | 5 |
I installed Ivacy directly onto my desktop, which runs Windows 10. The most complicated part of the process was navigating the account overview page to find the right tab to download the software, although this could have been the clueless user.
To use Ivacy you simply choose your package and payment method. Then, provide an email address and your full name. Complete payment and then click on the link in the email you are sent to set up a password. Once you have down this log in to view your homepage. Select the support tab, and downloads from the drop down menu. This will take you to a page that provides options of how to download and install the software (main options include iOS, Android, Mac and Windows, however smart TVs, routers, consoles and Linex are all also supported)
Once you have chosen the device you want to protect, the download wizard does the rest. Once everything is installed you click on the icon, log in with the same details you used to access your home page and turn on the VPN. Of course, if you want to change your settings, check the status of the kill switch or change protocol use should do this first, and again all you need to do is click on the menu and go into settings. My only complaint here, is that the first time I did this and then went out, and back into the VPN, my settings weren’t remembered and I had to do it again. One other slight annoyance is that every time I start up my computer, since changing the administrator setting, it asks me if I want Ivacy PVN to be able to make changes / run. This is a minor issue, and there is probably an easy solve if you know what you are doing.
Ivacy can also be installed directly to your router, you need to check your router instructions on how to access its menu. Before making a connection ensure that you have a functioning internet connection, a router that supports PPTP and an Ivacy account. The VPN connection does not work on an ISP modem – you need to have another router connected to your modem.
In your router menu, go to the Set-up section. Under the basic set-up tab there is an area dedicated to WAN connections, under "Connection Type" select PPTP. In the use DHCP area, select "Yes". In the section asking about Gateway (PPTP Server) type the name of the server you wish to access and enter "Username" and "Password" in the corresponding fields, in the additional PPTP option field, type "refuse-eap". Ensure that the DCHP server is enabled, then click to apply your settings and save.
Go to the "status" option in your menu bar and click "WAN". Then click "Connect".
Download
Ivacy offers the same service across each payment plan with only the length of the contract changing. The longer the subscription the better the price, but be aware that renewals are automatic. So, if it’s not for you, make sure the payments are canceled from your end. As well as a 7-day money back guarantee, Ivacy regularly offers additional money off deals.
IvacyVPN has a large FAQ section that covers a wide variety of areas. I used the search feature to find the answer to my Kill Switch inquiry, while there was an article relating to the Kill Switch is wasn’t the most helpful. However, the live chat, which is now available 24/7 offered exceptional customer service, helpful assistance and a very fast response. Other forms of communication include a ticket system, email address, and Skype phone number. The service provides high speeds, certainly an improvement on my speed without the VPN connected. I have had several email exchanges with the company since terminating my use of the VPN, and unfortunately, the goodwill they built up with me while I was using the VPN has been diminished by their unhelpful attitude since, and their continued side stepping of the refund.
Catherine Ablett
(Security consultant and online privacy enthusiast)
The good faith and honesty of this supplier is on its way to being at least partially restored. However, I would have been happier if the kill switch had been shown to work effectively and if they had processed the refund without quite so many delaying tactics. There are also still questions, particularly over the Hong Kong and China conundrum. But, the VPN does provide some excellent features, and my experience, particularly as a newbie, was generally positive. However, only time will tell whether they can maintain this positive approach and continue to work on the negative aspects so that they can offer the value, connectivity and privacy that is still not quite there at the moment.
While the price makes this provider an attractive option there are many other VPN providers who offer better value for money and levels of service.
Catherine Ablett
(Security consultant and online privacy enthusiast)
The last time that Ivacy was reviewed the results were not good and lead to it being downgraded to 244th place, from third position of our list (now occupied by NordVPN, ExpressVPN and VyprVPN) But, being the fair-minded individual’s that we are, and seeing a reasonable number of positive customer reviews coming in, we thought it was only fair to give Ivacy another shot. And, on the whole, despite some issues, I’m glad we did. Now I’m quite new to VPN’s, so in a way this makes me the ideal candidate for this job, I’ve got no preconceived ideas of what to expect, and if I can make it work, then so can you.
The first thing I noticed about this VPN is the low cost. A 24-month plan currently works out to $2.04 a month; its normal price is $11.95 per month (billed once every 24 months). But, as they say price isn’t everything, and it’s only a great saving if the product does what it is supposed to. So, with that in mind, let’s see if we can shed new light on the original problems with this provider.
One of the main issues highlighted in the earlier review was of numerous disconnections and a “kill switch” that didn’t work. I can report that for the first few days I didn’t experience any disconnection issues at all, and that the kill switch worked when I deliberately turned off Ivacy. However, getting the kill switch to work in the first place was a different story. When I first downloaded the VPN the kill switch was off, and on trying to turn it on I was met with a message that stated, ‘log in with Administrator to activate’. I didn’t have a clue what to do, so I jumped on the live chat. A very helpful customer support assistant walked me through the process, which on the first attempted didn’t work. They recommended rebooting my entire system, which I did, and hey presto, one working kill switch. I was even able to jump back on with the same support assistant to leave feedback – so, score one for Ivacy.
Now, unfortunately, after the first couple of days, I had my first disconnection issue. After coming back to my computer after a well deserved coffee break I had to wake the computer up. On doing so I was informed that Ivacy had disconnected, not the biggest problem, until I realised that waking up the computer should have sent a signal to the kill switch to wake up and switch on, as I was online and unprotected. Being open minded about the whole thing, I checked all the settings, ensured the kill switch was indeed on, and turned the VPN back on. However, the next time my computer went into sleep mode the same thing happened. So, that’s a point away from Ivacy, the kill switch needs to work, every time, otherwise it’s not very useful at all.
On discussing this with the company, I was given a varied list of instructions about clicking the automatically reconnect option, and ensuring my firewalls were switched off. Only problem with this, my firewalls were already off, and automatically reconnecting wasn’t going to test the kill switch.
Another concern was that the VPN connected the user to a different country than the one that was chosen. I can confirm, however, that on checking, the IP address I was connected to was in the country of origin that was chosen – score 2 for Ivacy.
Unhelpful customer representatives was another problem faced by the previous reviewer. I had occasion to speak to them twice via the Live Chat feature and on both occasions, they were helpful, polite and showed a genuine interest in solving the problem – score 3 for Ivacy.
But, since deciding to terminate the VPN, they have been less helpful, and so far, my request for a refund has fallen on deaf ears. Although the did suspend the automatic payments straight away. Given the mixed bag of responses and support so far, I think on this point at least it might be a draw.
So, it’s safe to say that this provider has taken notice of its poor reviews and unhappy customers and made some changes. However, that is not to say that it is without problems as we have seen. One other thing that still raises some concerns is the fact that Ivacy is based in Singapore, Hong Kong. And given the rule of China expands over the province, there is still some question over the reliability of connection in China and overall user privacy. Although if their terms and conditions, part of the user agreement, are to be believed, then it takes a fair amount of legal power to get the slightest bit of information from them. This agreement also lays out their commitment to reducing fraudulent use. The upshot of this is that the service is not available on the African continent (with the exception of South Africa).
So, given all of this, I think it is worth taking a moment to look at what this renewed service offers. Ivacy has over 200 servers, across 100 locations. It offers excellent speeds and optimized P2P servers, as well as unblocking geo-restricted channels, providing access to YouTube, Hulu, Netflix and BBCiPlayer. Ivacy is quick and easy to set up and available across a wide range of devices. The previous review undertook tests on Ivacy set up directly on a router, I’ve gone for the less complex version and set it up on my PC running Windows 10. Users can choose to either set up the VPN to automatically select the protocol used, which is what I did, or they can choose from PPTP, L2TP, SSTP, IKEv2, Open VPN or Revolution Stealth. I must admit that Revolution Stealth is a complete anathema to me, and both this and OpenVPN were blocked on my device with a message regarding an ‘unassigned driver’. When you connect Ivacy it automatically connects to a US server, but it takes moments to change to another server, and you can choose based use your intended purpose, or the specific country you want. In terms of payment, there are three package options, 1 month, 6 months and 24 months. The only difference between them is length of time, and payment can be made via PayPal, credit or debit card, Bitpay, Coin Payments, Perfect Money or Payment Wall. I chose PayPal and only signed up for the month, my only negative in regard to payment is that you are automatically put onto automatic renewal payments, so the ball is firmly in your court to ensure that payments are discontinued if you decide after your 7-days that it is not for you. However, their money-back guarantee is not unconditional.
- Connection issues
- Connection to China is an open question
- Advanced encryption
- 5 devices at the same time
- Torrenting supported
- Lots of features
- Get started with Ivacy VPN now
Catherine Ablett
(Security consultant and online privacy enthusiast)
The review for this sub category of VPNs is not available yet for this VPN Provider. If you feel they provide a good solution, please add your review as a user, and we'll follow with a detailed expert review
- Connection issues
- Connection to China is an open question
- Advanced encryption
- 5 devices at the same time
- Torrenting supported
- Lots of features
- Get started with Ivacy VPN now
Catherine Ablett
(Security consultant and online privacy enthusiast)
The review for this sub category of VPNs is not available yet for this VPN Provider. If you feel they provide a good solution, please add your review as a user, and we'll follow with a detailed expert review
- Connection issues
- Connection to China is an open question
- Advanced encryption
- 5 devices at the same time
- Torrenting supported
- Lots of features
- Get started with Ivacy VPN now
Catherine Ablett
(Security consultant and online privacy enthusiast)
The review for this sub category of VPNs is not available yet for this VPN Provider. If you feel they provide a good solution, please add your review as a user, and we'll follow with a detailed expert review
- Connection issues
- Connection to China is an open question
- Advanced encryption
- 5 devices at the same time
- Torrenting supported
- Lots of features
- Get started with Ivacy VPN now
Catherine Ablett
(Security consultant and online privacy enthusiast)
The review for this sub category of VPNs is not available yet for this VPN Provider. If you feel they provide a good solution, please add your review as a user, and we'll follow with a detailed expert review
- Connection issues
- Connection to China is an open question
- Advanced encryption
- 5 devices at the same time
- Torrenting supported
- Lots of features
- Get started with Ivacy VPN now
Catherine Ablett
(Security consultant and online privacy enthusiast)
The review for this sub category of VPNs is not available yet for this VPN Provider. If you feel they provide a good solution, please add your review as a user, and we'll follow with a detailed expert review
- Connection issues
- Connection to China is an open question
- Advanced encryption
- 5 devices at the same time
- Torrenting supported
- Lots of features
- Get started with Ivacy VPN now
Catherine Ablett
(Security consultant and online privacy enthusiast)
The review for this sub category of VPNs is not available yet for this VPN Provider. If you feel they provide a good solution, please add your review as a user, and we'll follow with a detailed expert review
- Connection issues
- Connection to China is an open question
- Advanced encryption
- 5 devices at the same time
- Torrenting supported
- Lots of features
- Get started with Ivacy VPN now
