VPN: how to choose one, check it and fix it, for individuals and businesses alike

A VPN, or “virtual private network”, routes your connection through an intermediate server before it reaches the internet. Two things follow: the data exchanged between your device and that server is encrypted, so unreadable to anyone who intercepts it, and the sites you visit see the server’s IP address rather than yours. That is all, and it is already a lot.

In Senegal, many users discovered it out of necessity. In June 2023, and again in February 2024, the authorities restricted access to social networks and mobile internet during periods of political tension, and the TikTok app was suspended for several months from August 2023. VPNs allowed many people to keep communicating. But the tool is useful well beyond those episodes: on airport or café Wi-Fi, when working remotely, or to protect a small business’s communications.

Individuals: the criteria that matter

The first criterion is trust. A VPN sees all of your browsing: the country where it is based, its policy on keeping connection logs and, above all, the independent audits that verify that policy matter more than slogans. A serious provider publishes those audit reports and explains how it would respond to a request from the authorities.

The second criterion is the business model. A completely free service has to pay for itself somehow: some do it with advertising, others by exploiting their users’ data, which defeats the very purpose of the tool. The few free offers worth recommending are limited versions of a paid service, funded by subscribers. Be wary of unknown apps that promise everything, with no limits and no payment.

The third criterion is how you will actually use it. Servers close to you mean better speeds: in West Africa, a server in southern Europe or in Africa will often do better than one in the United States. Also check how many devices are covered, whether there is a “kill switch”, which cuts the internet if the encrypted tunnel drops, and a stealth mode able to get through networks that block standard VPNs. Finally, advertised prices often assume a two-year commitment: compare the real monthly price and the renewal price.

Finally, think about your data plan. Encryption adds a small amount of extra data, a few per cent, and a VPN left on all the time routes all of the phone’s traffic, including updates and videos. With pay-per-volume mobile plans, the norm in most African countries, switch it on mainly when it is needed: on public Wi-Fi, for a blocked app or for a sensitive exchange.

Businesses: ten questions before renewing

For a business, renewing its VPN out of habit is a common mistake. Remote work and hybrid access have made it a central link in security, and offers change quickly. Before the renewal date, an IT manager should put the current solution through a few simple questions.

• Can it handle the load? A slow VPN pushes staff to bypass it, which defeats its purpose: check speeds at peak hours, where your teams actually work.
• How much administration does it require? A small IT team needs a single console, not a full-time network engineer.
• Is access segmented? Each team should only reach what it needs: this is the “zero trust” principle, where nothing is granted by default.
• Does it plug into your existing accounts? Single sign-on with Microsoft Entra ID, Google Workspace, Okta or another SAML provider avoids new passwords.
• Are arrivals and departures automated? An account forgotten after an employee leaves is an open door; the SCIM protocol solves this.
• Can two-factor authentication be enforced for everyone? It is one of the most effective protections against stolen credentials.
• Can it be deployed through your device management tools (Intune, Jamf…)? Installing machine by machine does not scale beyond a handful of computers.
• Are access logs usable? They matter after an incident and for certifications such as ISO 27001 or SOC 2.
• Can privacy be verified? Jurisdiction, data retention and certifications should be documented.
• Is the total cost clear? Price per user, options billed separately and renewal terms.

For an African small business, two points deserve special attention: having servers nearby, so that exchanges with local customers and banks stay smooth, and compliance with data protection laws, such as the Senegalese personal data law adopted in 2008. A business VPN does not replace a security policy; it is one element among others.

VPN not working? Check before you cancel

A VPN that slows down, refuses to connect or blocks a site is not necessarily faulty. The encrypted tunnel adds a step between your device and the internet, and therefore new potential points of failure: an overloaded server, a network that filters certain protocols, a site that rejects IP addresses known to belong to VPNs. A few checks, in order, will identify the culprit.

• Turn the VPN off: if the internet is still slow, the problem lies with your connection, your router or your operator, not the VPN.
• Switch servers, ideally to a closer one: distance increases response time, which is most noticeable on video calls and in online games.
• Try another network: if the VPN works on 4G but not on the office or hotel Wi-Fi, that network is blocking it.
• Change the protocol in the app’s settings, one setting at a time so you know which one fixed the problem.
• Restart the app, then the device, and install system and VPN updates.
• Test several sites: if only one service refuses you, that service is blocking VPNs, and switching providers will probably not change anything.

If the problem persists across several networks, servers and protocols, only then is it time to contact support or to use the refund period that most serious services offer, often 30 days.

What the law says

Using a VPN is legal in Senegal, as in most African countries. There are exceptions elsewhere in the world: in China, only state-approved services are allowed, and other countries tightly regulate these tools. In every case, a VPN does not make legal what is not: it protects a connection, it does not remove the responsibility of the person using it.

One last piece of advice: be wary of comparisons that only mention one brand. Part of the content about VPNs is advertising or relies on affiliate commissions, like some of the sources for this guide, which we cite for their practical advice and not for their commercial recommendations. Before paying, read independent tests and make use of trial periods.