VIP72 VPN Review 2024 — Here's Why You Need To Avoid It

Launched in 2006, VIP72 provides a VPN service and proxy solutions to protect your online data and activities. It supports the SOCKS5 protocol that you can use for extra privacy.

VIP72 uses DoubleVPN to increase anonymity but at the cost of slowing down your connection speed. You can choose from DoubleVPN server options like Germany-Sweden, USA-Europe, and UK-France. It also uses 2048-bit encryption with OpenVPN to unblock VoIP services, streaming platforms and protect you during browsing, messaging, and torrenting.

There is a selection of 2,500+ proxy and SOCKS servers in 168 countries and 30,436 IP addresses. You can change your IP address anytime you want.

VIP72 offers average speeds, and it helps if you do not go above the bandwidth limit. Furthermore, it unblocks various streaming platforms, including Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.

A couple of years ago, VIP72 gained notoriety for spreading the Bunitu Trojan botnet. Furthermore, it claims that it has a strict no-logs policy, but there's no audit to prove it. However, it is based in the US, which belongs to the 5 Eyes jurisdiction.

VIP72 is compatible with Linux, Windows, macOS, and FreeBSD on desktops. Nevertheless, it doesn't have native apps for Android and iOS.

The website is outdated and difficult to navigate. You won’t find any set-up walkthroughs or troubleshooting guides there. There is also no FAQ page, request form, or live chat if you require immediate assistance. You can reach out to the support team through email, but they take 2-3 business days to respond.

You can choose from its weekly, monthly, or yearly packages. Although the yearly subscription seems to be the least costly at $22/month, the price points are still high. There is no refund policy, but you can request a free demo to the Germany server. If you decide that VIP72 isn't for you, take a look at some of the best VPN services that we've written reviews about.

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Streaming — Unblocks Some of the Major Streaming Platforms

You can use VIP72 to unblock Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and BBC iPlayer. The only problem is there are limited compatible servers, and the high prices are not justified. Also, these streaming services use advanced and constantly evolving algorithms that may be able to block VIP72 soon.

So, you’ll need a better service than VIP72 to access specific VODs. Netflix, in particular, is always looking for new ways to block VPN connections. It’s not uncommon to find VPN alternatives that are useful in the event a certain server goes down, but you won’t get this with VIP72. So, you can check out some of these VPNs for streaming instead.

Unblocked: Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and YouTube

VIP72 meets the basic requirements of streaming Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and BBC iPlayer. The service provider attempts to maintain a reasonably performing server that enables you to connect reliably and securely.

Blocked By: Amazon Prime Video and Kodi

Users cannot access Amazon Prime Video and Kodi with VIP72. Consider more robust alternatives if you want access to Amazon Prime Video and Kodi, which has improved its online streaming service due to its freemium feature.

Speeds — Below Average and Inconsistent

VIP72 does not have fast and consistent speeds, making it an unpredictable service. I considered three factors when testing its speeds:

• Download speed is how fast I receive data from the server I’m connected to, including streaming and loading websites. We measure this in Mbps.
• Upload speed is how fast I send data to the server I’m connected to, including posting on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media handles, video calling, etc. We measure this in Mbps.
• Ping is the time it takes for data to travel, and we measure this in ms. A low ping means a more responsive connection which is great for streaming or online gaming.

Here’s a summary of my findings:

• The service does not have the high-speed connections of competing VPNs. However, speeds for streaming online content are reasonable as long as you do not go beyond the bandwidth limit.
• Its strong presence in Europe means customers there can benefit from decent speeds, and there are no server switching restrictions.
• Choosing to use DoubleVPN considerably reduces bandwidth speeds.

Furthermore, VIP72 has SOCKS IPs available in 168 locations, and they most likely depend on virtual servers instead of bare-metal servers. The website promises ‘hispeed connections’ with no traffic limit, although they haven’t specifically mentioned what speeds to expect. Speeds are generally slow in Australia, Asia, and Africa, particularly Asia, because it has fewer server locations. I hope that VIP72 can live up to its claim by upgrading its service soon for faster speeds.

Are VIP72 Speeds Fast Enough for Gaming? No

VIP72 offers decent speeds that enable you to play online games, but I wouldn’t say it’s the perfect VPN for gaming. This is because it operates in select countries where connection speeds are unpredictable, although you can access any server you want.

In a nutshell, you shouldn’t consider VIP72 for gaming because of the following reasons:

• Connection: I don’t think VIP72 is dedicated to consistent server improvement and maintenance. You wouldn’t want to increase lag or experience low FPS because of slow connection speeds.
• Speed: VIP72 does not improve ping times, and some VPNs are dedicatedly designed for gaming. It is better to select a VPN with fast servers near your location and in other regions where you may require an IP address.
• Security: I do not recommend you to use VIP72 for gaming because of data leak concerns. However, it does offer 2048-bit encryption with the OpenVPN protocol to protect online media streaming, torrenting or P2P, FTP, VoIP, and instant messaging.
• DoubleVPN: double encryption and information traveling through more than one server result in high data rates, so this is not a good fit for online gaming. However, you can redirect and encrypt your traffic with DoubleVPN for extra privacy.
• Reputation: VIP72 does not have a good rating among verified users, so be careful if you decide to entrust your data to the service provider for gaming purposes.

If you’re a serious gamer, then you should try out these VPNs for gaming instead.

Server Network — Versatile but Questionable

VIP72’s server network comes with 2 types of servers; Single OpenVPN and Double OpenVPN. To date, VIP72 has servers in 168 countries with 23,483 IP addresses. The SOCKS proxy offers access to 30,436 IP addresses. With the availability of SOCKS IPs in 168 countries, VIP72 probably uses multiple virtual servers, indicating that they do not utilize as many bare-metal servers in comparison. These SOCKS proxies hide your IP, and all information travels through a safe connection from a user to the proxy server. In this way, hackers and third parties cannot intercept your data.

Unfortunately, VIP72 does not have obfuscated server features for advanced security. Obfuscation offers an advantage when you have to ensure the utmost privacy while living in strict countries like China and Russia. This allows you to manage stringent online restrictions that these countries impose on citizens and travelers. So, VIP72 is yet to show measurable progress in obfuscation if it expects to gain a competitive edge over other VPNs.

As a user, you play an integral role in determining the speeds you experience when you connect to any VPN. Although your provider mostly handles the speeds, you have quite a bit of control over how quickly your VPN works. You may be thinking about measuring the amount of speed you lose by using VIP72 across both slow and high-speed connections. For this, you should factor in how well the VPN handles streaming, torrenting, and gaming.

Next, as VIP72 has a large network of global servers, you are likely to find one that is not crowded with other users attempting to use the same bandwidth. My concern about VIP72 is that having multiple servers does not necessarily make it better than other VPN solutions. The reason it may need more servers is to meet the needs of more subscribers. Furthermore, I’m not sure how VIP72 allocates its servers compared to the number of subscribers it has. In any case, some websites will block VIP72’s traffic because it has earned a reputation as a suspicious VPN service. Let’s not overlook how using VIP72 can reduce download and upload speeds while increasing an internet connection’s latency.

There are 2 options if you are not receiving the internet speed you require with VIP72. You can either upgrade your internet speed or change your provider as there are faster VPN services than VIP72. Whether it is the user to server ratio, your network, or optimization efforts, not all VPN solutions are equal. VIP72 certainly does not qualify among the top service providers in this case.

Overall, VIP72 has 30,436 servers but does not explicitly say that it uses virtual servers, even though it’s more than likely it does. Currently, it has VPN servers in the following countries:

Security — Low-Tier Security With Lack of Advanced Features

As a VPN with multiple IP addresses, VIP72 connected to P2P networks and allowed me to exchange files while surfing the internet anonymously. It protected my identity with encrypted IP servers, which was good. I was able to download, install, and share content without revealing my identity.

Let’s not forget that VIP72 is a major provider of the SOCKS protocol. This was useful for routing data packets from the user (me) to servers via a proxy, hiding my browser usage details, and finding a way around circumventing firewalls. The SOCKS proxy is also effective if you don’t want anyone to know that you are using the Tor browser for anonymous communication. You can use SOCKS5 to enhance security, but a viable option is to capitalize on the DoubleVPN feature that routes online traffic via two VPN servers. DoubleVPN sacrifices connection speed for security, so the choice is yours, depending on the goals you want to meet. Albeit, VIP72 doesn’t support other popular protocols like PPTP, SSTP, L2TP, and IPSec.

VIP72 employs 2048-bit encryption with its OpenVPN servers to protect sessions like browsing, streaming, and downloading torrents when using public WiFi. I give credit to VIP72 for offering the best SSL certificate one can get, but does this protect us from potential risks and threats on private and public networks? I expect it to do the same as other VPNs that encrypt my information so no one can see what I’m doing.

VIP72 does not incorporate a kill switch, and this can be a problem. Generally, when using any VPN, you would want it to have a kill switch, and here’s why. It is a feature that automatically disconnects your mobile device, tablet, or PC from the internet until your VPN connection restores. With a kill switch, there are zero chances of accidental exposure of your IP address, not to mention that your internet connection’s security is never compromised. This is a good reason to switch providers if you have subscribed to the service.

Sadly, VIP72 fails to meet the benchmark of a truly safe VPN. However, it uses SOCKS and OpenVPN (TCP/UDP), which is one of the safest protocols to secure your online activities. Furthermore, the 2048-bit cipher that the service uses to encrypt data largely determines how OpenVPN performs as a tunneling protocol. In any situation, there is a risk because VIP72 underwhelms in terms of providing a 100% secure VPN platform.

As discussed, VIP72 was associated with the Bunitu Trojan botnet by functioning as a delivery channel for malware that blocks antiviruses and decreases speeds. As per a 2015 study, Malwarebytes Labs, an anti-malware company, exposed VIP72 as the responsible party for spreading the Trojan. The Trojan infects your computer and makes it function as a proxy for remote clients. The malware works instantly when you install VIP72 on a system, and it opens ports for remote connections. This harms the network and reroutes infected IP addresses. What’s the riskiest thing that can happen? You may find yourself participating unwillingly in cyberattacks, or worse.

The Bunitu Trojan was distributed through the Neutrino exploit kit in different malvertising campaigns. Experts weighed in on the possibilities, and they discovered that the requests they received were not associated with an ad-fraud activity. Instead, they seemed to be coming from some VPN service, namely VIP72. Several forums refer to the VIP72 VPN as the top choice for cybercriminal activities, including a report from FireEye on Nigerian fraudsters.

Additionally, I’m not sure if VIP72 truly keeps DNS, IP, and WebRTC information safe.

Privacy — Could Be Better

According to VIP72, the company will not ask users to share personal data during registration and when using its services. It does not keep any user emails nor utilize any tools that require user identification to accept payments. However, it uses cookies to improve website performance and offer an optimal user experience.

There is a no-logging policy on the website that mentions VIP72 does not keep a history of user activity logs, so digital activities are never exposed. Note that the service does not specify if it complies with data-related laws like the GDPR and POPIA. Furthermore, be careful not to violate its Terms of Services as doing so will result in a penalty of $0.2 for using each proxy. If the company receives a copyright infringement notice, it reserves the right to suspend your account permanently. Using Bitcoin to pay for VIP72 services is your safest option if you want to improve your anonymity.

When a user considers investing in VPN services, they factor in transparency and visibility before reaching a decision. This is because they trust VPNs to keep their details safe, especially in a digital ecosystem where cybercrimes are rising by the day. Taking all this into account, I’m not sure if I can completely trust VIP72’s level of service. Remember, although VIP72 does integrate features that protect online privacy, it is a US-based company, so customers naturally demand the highest standard of data security and integrity.

This brings us to another point. VIP72’s location in the US raises concerns because the country comes within the jurisdiction of the Five Eyes alliance. This alliance presents a risk to your privacy and anonymity when you perform online activities. Furthermore, as part of the Five Eyes jurisdiction, US government agencies investigated VIP72 for spreading the infamous Bunitu Trojan botnet in which the service used infected hosts as proxies.

VIP72 claims that it has a strict no-logs policy, but being based in the US, VIP72 must abide by its data retention law at all times. The Privacy Policy page on the website does not contain sufficient information, and the broken English only makes it harder for users to properly understand the service. The poor quality of the language on the website raises doubts about whether this VPN is truly based in the US, an English-speaking country.

Let’s move on to the Privacy Policy. Here’s what it looks like on the website:

A screenshot of VIP72’s Privacy Policy

Let’s have a look at the main statement. It says that VIP72 is committed to protecting your information from unauthorized interference as you browse the internet. The service supports the OpenVPN protocol to secure data that travels through open connection channels. Interestingly, customers can get in touch with the support team by jabber without worrying about privacy.

The main statement is somewhat confusing, and I’m not sure if I can entirely trust these claims. As mentioned, VIP72 has a reputation for being associated with malware and suspicious activities, and there is insufficient evidence to suggest otherwise. There are quite a few grammatical errors, and non-native English speakers reading the document may not understand what’s written. This can cause VIP72 to lose out on potential customers because a Privacy Policy can make or break the first impression when users learn about the best VPN services. Non-tech-savvy users are also likely among those who won’t understand the document. If anyone, it’s an IT department that may be able to determine whether these statements are true or false. This is because it is relatively simpler for them to test a VPN and report the findings as compared to first-time users or beginners. So, VIP72 should eliminate these errors and draft the Privacy Policy from a layman’s perspective.

What if you want to access blocked websites related to business, trade, and finance? I don’t think VIP72 is reliable, especially if you need to give any bank or card details for transactions, and you save this information for the next time. Don’t disregard the last point on the Privacy Policy because it may keep logs of your activities on web pages. The last thing you would want to do is accidentally expose your card data or financial statements to anyone online.

I also did a tracker test using Ghostery’s browser extension and these were the results I got.

Results from Ghostery’s tracker test on VIP72’s website

Torrenting — Not Entirely Secure

You are granted the option to access peer-to-peer websites and share files on certain servers. While this VPN is proficient for BitTorrent, the lack of comprehensive protection against IP address leaks and operating system vulnerabilities may deter users. Furthermore, without a kill switch, there's the risk of connection instability leading to potential IP address exposure, so it's tough to fully assure a satisfactory torrenting experience. It's also recommended to steer clear of using the US servers for torrenting, as it's not permitted due to stringent US laws against online torrenting. Non-compliance could lead to violations of the DMCA, attracting significant penalties.

VIP72 does not provide security against IP address leaks. The lack of a kill switch and leak protection capabilities also implies that your data might not be safe when you use VIP72. There is a way you can address this, though. Simply install and set up the SOCKS proxy at the torrenting client level to prevent any potential security threats or discrepancies. However, if you would like a VPN that will give you peace of mind, I suggest you take a look at these VPNs for safe torrenting.

Does VIP72 Work In China? No

VIP72 is ineffective in China. The country employs techniques to thwart VPNs from circumventing its online restrictions, making the evaluation of VPNs challenging in that region. For residents, students, or expatriates in China, it's advised to look into alternatives to VIP72. The service doesn't feature a mirrored site that would allow its use within the country. It's crucial to note that by February 2018, China's government directed three major telecommunication firms to restrict VPN access. This action was taken in light of the numerous individuals using VPNs to navigate around the Great Firewall, China's censorship mechanism.

Here’s why this is important if you decide to use VIP72. I wouldn’t suggest going for this service in China or any country that heavily restricts VPN use. VIP72 does not have premium security features or a stealth protocol that can bypass censorship. Not only is this risky, but you can also get into trouble with the law if you use the service as an investigative journalist. The same applies if you carry out any illegal browsing and downloading activities that may result in your account being suspended or terminated altogether. I recommend using VIP72 for study, research, and other legitimate, business-related purposes. Just take care not to violate the terms of use that you agree to upon signing up for VIP72, and you will be fine.

More importantly, VIP72 does not offer the obfuscation feature, which is crucial if you want to hide VPN traffic and avoid the Great Firewall’s VPN blocking capabilities. The lack of obfuscated servers for additional privacy means that VIP72 is not equipped with special algorithms to unblock websites, applications, or services in China.

Simultaneous Device Connections — Limited to 1

You can only use 1 device under a single VIP72 subscription, so there is less value for money. Generally, VPNs restrict simultaneous device connections to 5-10 devices, and even this is limited for families using multiple devices. VIP72 needs to up this selling feature if it expects to stay competitive. Still, I tested my device to see whether it would affect performance in any way. To my relief, I was able to browse online anonymously with the freedom to change my IP when necessary. My IP address change didn’t have any impact on the device itself.

Device Compatibility — Linux, Windows, Mac, and BSD

VIP72 is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, and FreeBSD on desktops. If you visit the website, you’ll see that you can use the VPN on BSD through Wine. This is software that enables you to run Windows applications on other OSs, and it does not help if you use Windows. This is because the VPN software uses a form of a network adapter to pass traffic to and from a network stack. The Windows interface for network adapters is defined, so any driver designed for Windows will not operate in Wine. You cannot install the Windows VPN client in Wine and expect it to work.

VIP72 does not support any router, and you cannot configure the service on Kindle Fire. Furthermore, it does not offer dedicated apps for Android and iOS. Users of these OSs must leverage OpenVPN to get VIP72 on their portable devices. You can utilize its download feature to install the VPN on Linux, Windows, Mac, and BSD. While the process is relatively simple for Windows users, I cannot say the same for Mac and Linux users.

VIP72 doesn't offer add-ons for browsers like Chrome and Mozilla. It was only useful when I switched IP locations on my browser to bypass geo-restricted content on the internet, but nothing else. Also, I was only able to use VIP72 on a Linux, Windows, or Mac device.

My take on this is that VIP72 should upgrade its device compatibility if it wants to cater to a larger customer base and offer a more user-friendly VPN service. The service is quite basic on the operating systems it supports, and there are no modern features, settings, or configurations.