Avast Launches Free VPN in France, Digi Mart USA News: Avast, a major cybersecurity company, has launched a free VPN offering with no data cap. The service promises fast speeds and encryption based on the WireGuard protocol.
Users can create an account without providing a bank card. The same account can be used on an unlimited number of devices, and an app is available for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.
The main trade-off is in server locations. The free plan provides access to 40 countries, but users must select three of them for their account.
The service may suit users who only need a VPN connection for a few countries, including the United States for U.S. streaming catalogs.
The article compares the offering with Proton VPN, the main premium provider that also offers a free plan. Proton offers fewer countries for free but does not require users to select three locations.
On security, the service includes a kill switch, DNS leak protection and removal of third-party advertising while browsing. Avast says it follows a no-logs policy that is subject to an annual independent audit by VerSprite cybersecurity experts.
Himmat Bains, head of Avast VPN, said the company did not design the product by assessing what limits it could impose on users. Instead, he said the company asked what a VPN should really offer and then decided to provide it for free.
A paid upgrade is available for users who want more server locations and advanced features. Avast says there is no commercial pressure to upgrade, although the reviewer noted upgrade messages during setup and uninstallation.
The reviewer also said the Avast VPN is fairly intrusive, as on Windows it cannot be disabled from launching at startup or closed in the background from the notification area or task manager.
