Wi-Free provides an encryption option

Our VPN tunnel service now offers additional connection encryption

Not all the data you transmit into the global network is encrypted, as for example, when you use websites over HTTPS protocol (in a browser, a website address starts with https://). Most common uses of the Internet for receiving and sending of mail over POP3 and SMTP protocols, using of FTP and instant messengers, visiting of websites which do not use HTTPS protocol, etc. are not safe if your traffic is not encrypted. Wi-Free VPN software makes working online safe.

Your passwords, personal correspondences, profiles, and commercial information are not protected from third-party access if you do not use data encryption. Your Internet service provider, local-network or access-point administrator, or even an ordinary user of a Wi-Fi access point to which you are connected, can intercept your transmitted data and use it however they like.

We do not assert that you must have encryption. Of course it’s not mandatory, and in perhaps 95% of cases nothing will happen to your personal information. However, users who have suffered from data piracy due to a negligent attitude to their network connection now know the value of encryption and prefer to stay protected.

Use a Wi-free VPN account with encryption and keep your information safe.

Our VPN tutorial - how to turn on connection encryption

Until August 20, 2010 we provided free encryption for all Premium Users, i.e. for those who are using our ordinary tunnels for a fee. After this date users are now able to purchase new packages with an additional encryption option.

In order to turn on the encryption mode in Wi-Free, enter Preferences, than go to Other and tick "Encrypt transmitted data". It’s that easy! You can quickly set up a secure VPN connection without having to follow through multi-page manuals and diagrams like in other, much more complicated options such as OpenVPN.

If you use our tunnels only for getting fast internet access, then you do not necessarily need to use encryption. We think that in this case, encryption will not give you a high-speed connection or the possibility of working in new networks.

Who can intercept my data when I use encryption?

This is a good question, which is almost never discussed. VPN providers do not say anything about safety from their side, but they have their own Internet service provider (Datacentre) and their network administrator. It is impossible to endlessly transfer encrypted data to nodes which accept them only when they are not encrypted. At some point data must be decrypted and sent to the receiver in the open state. In this case you can rely only on a company’s reputation, because it is inherently impossible to provide other technical guarantees in this matter.

Wi-Free Limited is different from the majority of companies which provide VPN accounts. In fact, they are often provided by unregistered companies but by private associations of webmasters and administrators, who provide users with software which was developed by third parties and fits their purposes only to a minimum. Our company is registered in Gibraltar. The largest SSL EV certificate provider, VeriSign, Inc, proves that Wi-Free Limited has been verified as the owner / operator of the website located at secure.wi-free.com. Official records confirm that Wi-Free Limited is a valid business. Wi-Free successfully works in the market thanks to our highly qualified developers and client support service.

No other VPN provider can transmit data over four different protocols ICMP, TCP/IP, UDP, DNS. Wi-Free VPN service is able to work in much more networks than any another VPN service. Using our reliable VPN tunnel you can get your content anywhere and at any time.

WiFi security today is lower than ever. Our VPN WiFi will protect your data

Probably the best example of non-observance of security in data transfer is connection to the Internet with the help of WiFi, particularly through public hotspots during transmission of data without additional encryption method. How is this possible?

At present, the following algorithms are used for safety in WiFi networks: WEP, WPA, WPA2. Here we should note that none of these algorithms secures protection of your data, as they have all been hacked as of July, 2010. Below are descriptions of these algorithms and their weaknesses.

The WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) algorithm, which provides safety for many Wi-Fi networks, has been recognized as weak and outdated. Nonetheless, this is the most popular encryption standard. New hotspots support more-protected algorithms WPA and WPA2, but old hotspots cannot use them. Hacking of WEP can be performed in several minutes and this means that the protection of your transmitted data, and your confidentiality, can be violated.

In 2009, a successful attack on the algorithm WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) was demonstrated. It was shown that one could trap data without limitations as it was transferred from the hotspot to the client machine, and vice versa. This attack takes at most 1 minute. It should be pointed out that WPA connections which use the higher-protection key encryption standard AES, are not exposed to attacks.

Recently, on July 23, 2010, information was published about brittleness of Hole196 in the WPA2 protocol. Using this brittleness, a malevolent user who is authorized in the networks can decrypt other users’ data with the help of this privacy key. No cracking of the key or brute force is required.