VPNSecure Review 2023 - Keep This in Mind Before Buying

VPNSecure looks good on paper, but does it deliver? Finding a VPN that performs well in all fields isn’t an easy task.

I took it for a test run to see whether this provider can keep you as secure as its name implies. 

Founded back in 2010 in Sydney, NSW, I found VPN Secure offers solid security features with a seemingly airtight no-log policy.

According to its customer support, it should even work in China. However, I was a little discouraged to find out it falls under the Australian jurisdiction, a member of the 5 Eyes Alliance, so I’m not sure if its “No Logging, ever!” slogan lives up to its claims. 

With servers spanning across a little more than 40 countries, it’s not a surprise I couldn’t access most of the streaming sites I tested. But as confirmed by its support, streaming isn’t its primary focus in the first place.

It accepts many payment options and platforms, but I found it surprising that it offers no free trial, only a 7-day trial for which you need to pay $1.

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Streaming — Not the Best Choice

My tests showed VPNSecure doesn't excel at streaming geo-restricted content. Its service primarily revolves around security and privacy rather than streaming.

I couldn't unblock Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, ESPN, HBOMax, or iTV. The only sites I managed to access were Disney+ and Peacock. As confirmed by its support, "While it can be used for that, it's an uphill battle."

I liked how refreshingly honest they were about the issue. They even said they were thinking about partnering up with another company to make up for the features VPNSecure lacks while focusing on doing what it does best — keeping you safe.

VPNSecure’s customer representative told me streaming has been a constant battle

VPNSecure also offers an HTTP Proxy, which you can't use on the same system with a VPN. The HTTP Proxy allows connecting to streaming services in another country without resorting to the VPN. However, HTTP Proxy does not have encryption, which leaves you vulnerable.

Unblocked: Disney+, Peacock

I was pleasantly surprised that I could watch The Mandalorian without buffering on Disney+ using VPNSecure. The playback was solid with no pauses. However, Ultra HD and HD weren't supported.

I was able to stream The Mandalorian using VPNSecure’s the United States 7 Central TCP server

Peacock also worked, from every US server I tested. I  watched The Office using VPNSecure’s US servers.

I could unblock Peacock with ease using VPNSecure’s US servers

Watch Shows on Disney+ and Peacock Using VPNSecure!

Blocked By: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, ESPN, HBOMax, BBC iPlayer, and iTV

All the other streaming platforms I tested detect and block VPNSecure.

I was hoping to watch Radium Girls on Netflix US, but this VPN doesn’t have what it takes to give you access to the Netflix US exclusives.

I couldn’t stream Radium Girls even while connected to VPNSecure’s United States + TV Streaming server

I wanted to watch Leave No Trace, currently available on Netflix Canada, using one of its Canada servers. All I got was an error message.

I couldn't access Netflix Canada library using VNPSecure's Canada 1 server

I was curious to see if I could unblock Netflix Mexico’s library to watch Juana Inés (a Mexican TV series available on Netflix Mexico). It was also off-limits.

I tried accessing Netflix Mexico’s content using VPN Secure’s Mexico server but I was blocked

Even though I was connected to a Dutch server, I couldn't even find the documentary's title called Snelle: Without a Coat, available on Netflix Netherlands (plus a few other libraries).

The same happened when I tried watching Bitter Lake on BBC iPlayer using its United Kingdom 1 server.

I tried streaming Bitter Lake on BBC iPlayer, but BBC iPlayer's geo-blocks are too strong for VPNSecure

If you’re want to watch BBC iPlayer using a VPN, I suggest you skip right away to finding the VPNs that actually work with BBC iPlayer.

The same thing happened when I tried watching content on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, iTV, and HBOMax. I got either a blank screen or a message that VPNSecure was detected each time.

Speeds — Cut In Half

In my experience, VPNSecure reduces your speeds by about half. Depending on your baseline connection, it can still be good enough for browsing and even less demanding gaming.

The first time I measured, my baseline speed was around 70 Mbps download and 45 Mbps upload. Specific remote servers performed surprisingly better than I expected, such as the server in Hong Kong (which gave me decent speeds considering the fact I’m physically very far away). In contrast, servers in Germany and the Netherlands, much closer to me, were slower.

In most cases, VPNSecure cut my speeds in half. Surprisingly, the server in Hong Kong performed better than the server in the UK, which is physically much closer to me. The streaming server in the US also reduced my speed by more than half.

Some faraway VPNSecure's servers performed slightly better than servers closer to me

Are VPNSecure’s Speeds Fast Enough for Gaming? Yes

I was able to play some low-bandwidth online games on Steam on my MacBook Pro using OpenVPN over standard UDP protocol. I must say there were a few hiccups here and there as I was downloading Steam and the game itself, but later the gameplay went smoothly.

I was able to play online games on Steam using VPNSecure's Belgium server

VPN Secure doesn't provide custom apps for streaming or game consoles, though. If you want a VPN for gaming, especially in HD, you would need some faster and more robust VPNs.

Server Network — Decent

I wasn’t too impressed with its server coverage, as VPNSecure has only 76 servers, but they are well-spread across 40 countries.

That number is low compared to some top-tier VPNs with hundreds, even thousands of servers. For example, there are only a handful of servers in Africa and South America, located in Brazil, Chile, and South Africa. With most servers in North America and Europe, coverage is passable at best.

Having a smaller server network may affect your connection during peak hours due to congestion, which happened to me a couple of times.

As for its IP addresses, that number remains undisclosed.

However, what I found interesting about its server network is that VPNSecure owns and operates its own network. The benefits of maintaining its own network range from increased privacy and security to better speeds.

VPNSecure is completely in charge of its server network

Server Locations

The exact number of virtual or physical servers is unclear (and is subject to change). But here’s the list of countries with server locations:

VPNSecure's app does not label the cities where the servers are. You have to cross-reference the cities with information on its server location page.

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Security — Full Range of Security Features

As far as security goes, I’d say VPNSecure comes with the full package, both encryption- and protocol-wise.

Ranging from a cipher strength of 64-bit, which provides less protection but better speeds, to Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit — which is the level government websites use. Hackers often use methods such as brute force attacks or even a dictionary attack that goes through the alphabet (e.g., "AA", "AB", etc.) to guess passwords. Neither of these attacks can overcome 256-bit encryption. By default, 128-bit encryption is selected.

It supports all popular security features and protocols, including:

• OpenVPN — one of the safest and most commonly used protocols today
• HTTP Proxy — primarily used for effectively masking IP addresses
• Smart DNS — used primarily for accessing geo-restricted content
• PPTP — an older but faster protocol
• IPv6 —  the most recent internet protocol whose main benefit is that it can create original TCP/IP address identifiers, which increases privacy and security

It also has an IPv6 kill switch that automatically disconnects your device from the internet in case your VPN connection breaks to prevent traffic leaks. You can turn on the kill switch manually in the Advanced Settings menu.

You can turn on the “Disable IPv6” feature as an extra safety measure against traffic leaks

Testing for Leaks and Malware

I tested VPNSecure for DNS and WebRTC leaks and malware, on my Android, Windows, and Apple devices. All tests came back free of any leaks and viruses. Just quick info in case you were wondering:

• DNS leaks can allow your ISP to see the sites you visit despite using the VPN
• WebRTC leaks can reveal your real IP address even though you're using a VPN
• Malware refers to any type of malicious software, viruses being one of them

No leaks were detected using VPNSecure

According to VPNSecure, you don't have to worry about "leak fixes" or disabling IPv6 because VPNSecure supports it natively with dual-stack IPv4 & IPv6 VPN support. The company says that dual-stack protects your privacy on every device and network.

Additionally, I performed a VirusTotal scan on the application that showed it was free of viruses and malware.

You can safely install VPNSecure’s app

Surf Safely Using VPNSecure!

Privacy — Tight, but Not Exactly as Advertised

VPNSecure logs as little information as technically possible in a 5 Eyes country and uses a “shared static IP service” feature to protect user information.

Australia, the US, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand have an agreement to share information whenever there are some common interests. In addition to that, Australia’s anti-encryption law passed in 2019 allows the government to force businesses to hand over user information even though it’s encrypted, which is a big blow to privacy.

However, it seems like VPNSecure has found a way around this. The trick lies in its “shared static IP service” feature. I contacted customer support to ask what happens to its “No Logging, ever” policy if they are obliged to share information. Its customer representative replied that VPNSecure uses a “shared static IP service,” meaning many users simultaneously use the same IP address.

This IP distribution system protects users as having the same IP address keeps you private because “all traffic is mixed among all users,” making it difficult to discern which is which.

Each time you connect to a specific server, you get a shared IP address

In my opinion, if you're looking for a privacy-focused VPN, a shared static IP address isn't always a good solution. It might work in some cases, but static IP addresses are more hackable than dedicated IP addresses.

VPNSecure keeps your username, email address, and password. To put your mind at ease, it encrypts the password with 256-bit encryption, which is practically unbreakable. The company does not log your IP address, connection and disconnect timestamps, bandwidth usage, or DNS requests.

It would also be nice if it supported Tor, which would add an extra layer of privacy to your online activities.

The company also provides a Chrome proxy browser extension. However, unlike a full VPN, the extension only masks your IP address, but it doesn't encrypt your web content. 

What I particularly liked about VPNSecure is using its AdBlocker servers for an ad-free surfing experience. Not all servers have an in-built AdBlocker, though. 

Browse Ad-Free With VPNSecure!

Torrenting — Possible but Risky

You can use VPNSecure for P2P, but I wouldn't recommend it for regular torrenting.

As confirmed by its support, torrenting is allowed.

Still, I don't think VPNSecure is the best choice for P2P for 3 reasons.

Firstly, because of its location in a 5 Eyes country, which means your activities are never completely private. Australia’s invasive anti-encryption law means government agencies can ask for user info even if it is protected by encryption.

Secondly, its speeds are not optimal, so depending on what you're torrenting, it might take a while. Lastly, it doesn't have dedicated servers that some other P2P-friendly VPNs have, which are always more reliable and faster.

On the bright side, it does have a special feature similar to split tunneling. The feature (called "Routing") allows you to add the domains you want to route through the VPN only, which is useful for staying safe while torrenting. Also, VPNSecure enables SSH Socks proxies for applications, including P2P, which makes your connection even more secure.

However, my team and I don’t condone illegal torrenting, so be sure to check the rules and regulations in your country.

Does VPNSecure Work in China? Yes

According to its customer support, SecureVPN should work in China thanks to its Stealth VPN feature.

The support team also claims that it does work in China if you use the Stealth mode:

VPNSecure’s customer support confirmed the VPN should work even in China if you use its Stealth VPN feature

The Stealth mode is what the company calls its obfuscation technology, which offers an improved level of privacy. VPNsecure’s obfuscation tools might be helpful in other internet-censored countries like Turkey and Russia, though.

The Stealth VPN feature can help you use SecureVPN even in high-censorship countries like China or Iran

If you decide to use a VPN in China, I recommend using some other VPNs that are proven to work in China. However, I’d be cautious using the VPN in an internet-restricting country like China (which does not allow VPNs), Saudi Arabia, Belarus, and Iran, which also restricts some social media and streaming content.

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Simultaneous Device Connections — Works With up to 5 Devices but Using a Different Server for Each

VPNSecure allows you to connect up to 5 devices simultaneously, which was enough for me. However, you have to connect each on a different server.

You can connect up to 5 devices at the same time but each device has to be connected to a different server

I streamed Netflix and YouTube videos on 4 devices simultaneously. I installed VPNSecure on my Macbook, a desktop PC, an old iPad, and an Android phone. However, I’d run into bandwidth issues when I tried streaming videos on all of them at once.

Device Compatibility — Works With All Major OS and Devices

VPNSecure supports almost all OS and devices, including Android, Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and routers.

Even though it does not have special support for streaming and gaming devices such as Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Nintendo, PlayStation, Roku, and Xbox, you can still protect them by installing the VPN on a router.

The router with a VPN can encrypt your entire internet connection, so you don't need to install a VPN on each device. To make that even more straightforward, VPNSecure partnered up with FlashRouters to provide pre-configured routers with prices ranging from $199 to $349. As found on its website: FlashRouters offers "DD-WRT routers from Airlink, Asus, Cisco Linksys, D-Link, Netgear, TP-Link, and Trendnet, all directly compatible with VPNSecure VPN."