Private Internet Access — Great Streaming Speeds and Highly Customizable Fire Stick App 2022

PIA For Amazon Fire Stick Review: Quick Expert Summary

Private Internet Access (PIA) is simple and fast. It employs industry-leading security measures.

Its apps are completely free-source and have been repeatedly tested by courts. Advanced users can customize it with many high security settings.

PIA includes additional features that are not possible with other VPNs. These include:

• Torrenting on all server.
• Split-tunneling.
• Tor support.
• Ad blocking.
• and more…

PIA VPN works well for torrenting and gaming. It’s also my favorite streaming option. PIA works well with Netflix. You can also use PIA in countries where internet access is restricted, like China.

Overall, PIA was a top-rated VPN. It’s safe and easy-to-use across all platforms. It allows simultaneous connections of 10 per account, unlike many VPNs that only allow 5 or 7 connections.

Private Internet Access provides 1-month, 1-year, or 3-year payment options. The 3-year plan includes extra months often at no cost. All plans come standard with a 30-day refund guarantee.

Private Internet Access Full Revision

Private Internet Access – I tested it and found it to have the highest quality VPN.

PIA can be used by anyone and it has excellent security features. It also maintains high speed across all servers.

Speed tests proved that PIA was able to perform well. I was capable of streaming HD content quickly without buffering, downloading torrents quickly, browsing the internet uninterrupted, and connecting to distant server.

Private Internet Access

Includes all the standard security measures such as:

• Multiple encryption options. PIA can provide 256-bit AES encryption, as well as 128bit AES. Although 256bit AES encryption has a higher level of security than 128bit AES it is still faster (it was 4-5% slower in my tests).
• No logs policy. PIA doesn’t store, track or log browsing data. This is contrary to other VPNs who have not been legally tested.
• Kill-switch. It prevents data leaks from your computer and shuts down internet connection when you are not connected to the VPN.

I love that PIA iOS has a built-in kill button. Many VPNs don’t have one. You have more control with the PIA killing switch for Windows and Mac. You can choose to activate this switch if your VPN disconnects inadvertently or if your computer does not have a VPN server. This will only let you access the Internet if your computer has been connected to a PIAVPN Server.

It is great that PIA servers are powered with RAM memory. This means that PIA stores no data on a hard disc and that all data on the server can be erased after it has been restarted.

PIA offers total protection against DNS and WebRTC threats. PIA DNS servers protect against DNS attacks, and its browser extensions stop WebRTC leaks (although VyprVPN is one of the top VPNs so they do not have browser extensions. Although PIA cannot support IPv6, its browser extensions prevent IPv6 traffic from being sent automatically. This makes it easy to forget to turn it off on your device.

PIA provides three protocols: OpenVPN UDP & WireGuard (only for iOS). WireGuard performed quicker than OpenVPN or IKEv2/IPSec when I tested it. WireGuard cannot be supported by rivals TunnelBear or HMA.

Tor Support

The Onion Router (Tor) is supported by on all its servers. This gives you the ability to browse.onion site with added security.

Tor is very secure. Tor over VPN protects against other Tor users discovering your real IP. Tor users may see the VPN address of another Tor user if your IP addresses are leaked.

It is easy to use PIA’s Tor feature over VPN (it is completely free). Simply connect to any PIA network to use the Tor browser.

Tor over VPN connections, however, can be very slow (in the general– ) as the Tor network encrypts traffic multiplely. The VPN connection will make it even slower. My internet speeds fell by 75% compared with the speeds of websites I tried. My tests revealed that websites took as much as 20 seconds just to load.

PIA supports Tor well. ProtonVPN’s Tor function is better than AstrillVPN. Both VPNs enable you to connect to the Tor network with Opera, Chrome Firefox Firefox and Firefox.

Overall, Tor Over VPN works well for PIA. It works on all servers and provides additional protection for users visiting.onion.

Split-Tunneling

PIA split-tunneling This feature is superior than most VPNs’ split tunnelling functions.

Split channelling is available for Android, macOS and Windows (iOS does NOT support split-tunneling).

Unlike ExpressVPN and other top-ranked VPNs that allow you to bypass app traffic (e.g. ExpressVPN), PIA’s desktop application lets you choose website and app addresses.

Split-tunneling is a great feature in PIA. It’s also accessible on macOS. Split-tunneling does not work with most VPNs. This is an important plus.

During my testing, PIA split tunneling performed flawlessly. While I was downloading files, split-tunneling were tested. I used the VPN to route my P2P activities and to exempt my bank’s Internet address (most banks do not allow VPN traffic). This enabled faster downloads and allowed me to access the bank account.

Split-tunneling functions are great in PIA. It allows both app and web IP addresses to be redirected. I love that it is available on Mac.

Traffic Obfuscation

PIA offers obfuscation with the Shadowsocks proxy (an open source encrypted proxy), which conceals your VPN traffic.

PIA makes your VPN connection appear to be unencrypted, making it appear as though you are connecting without a VPN. This allows you to bypass VPN blocks or geo-blocks.

Shadowsocks is a tool that can be used for bypassing online firewalls in countries experiencing severe internetcensorship. Shadowsocks are also reliable for concealing your VPN connection. This is great for accessing georestricted website.

Shadowsocks may slow down your internet connection because it adds an extra layer to encryption. The obfuscation reduced my internet speed by 7%. This is compared to my internet speed when connected via a PIA Server. While this isn’t too bad, it can cause lag or buffering.

Overall, PIA Shadowsocks proxy obfuscation feature is excellent for bypassing Internet firewalls. It also masks the connection of your VPN to your ISP.

PIA MACE – Ad Blocker

Ad-blocker blocks malicious websites and ads.

I tested PIA MACE using both ad-heavy media outlets (and social media sites). PIA MACE stopped the majority of ads from loading on these pages. These sites had almost no ads which made web pages load much faster than normal.

I also tested PIA MACE Malware detection. The tool blocked all suspicious HTTP sites I visited. Although PIA MACE did warn me about some suspicious sites, this was not a regular occurrence.

PIA ACE will be available in PIA Desktop Applications. It’s also possible to download it for Android if you have installed the APK version PIA AndroidApp. (PIA MACE won’t be available if downloaded from Google Play Store). PIA MACE cannot be used with iOS. However, PIA MACE will redirect you from PIA back to your iOS Safari settings so that Safari can enable ad blocking.

Overall, PIA MACE is a great tool for protecting users from malicious websites or trackers.

Identity Guard

Identity Guardian is a useful tool for data breach monitoring that’s simple to use but works very well.

This feature allows you the ability to determine if your email address or any other information has been compromised through a data leak. You will receive an alert if it does.

Identity Guard was tested by an old email account and 9 data breaches were discovered in my account. The results gave the name of my company, date of birth, and passwords.

Identity Guard can be used in order to verify if your emails were ever compromised. You can also set-up alerts so you get an email notification when your emails are leaked.

Privacy & Security on Private Internet Access

PIA applies a nologs policy

It does NOT track your IP addresses nor your online activity, such as files downloaded or visited websites. According to its Privacy Statement, PIA stores no other data than what all VPN providers store. This includes your Email address to communicate directly, payment data, in order for refunds to be processed, as well state and ZIP Code data (for fraud detection and payment processing and to ensure compliance to statutory taxes obligations).

PIA’s “no-logs” policies have been proven by court (multiple times). For instance, PIA cannot comply with a subpoena for a 2015 cyber attack on a mediahouse or a case involving a bomb threat in 2016. PIA provides regular transparency reports detailing which requests it’s received and how many times it’s responded to requests for user data.

Open-source PIA is one of its best features. Anyone can access PIA’s source code to see security and privacy holes.

The US headquarters for PIA are in the US. This country belongs to the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances. This group of countries shares intelligence data. PIA does NOT keep logs. This would prevent it from being able to provide any user details if requested by US authorities (see the transparency Report).

Overall, PIA can be described as one of the most transparent VPNs. It has a strong, no-logs policy that has been tested numerous times in court. All of PIA’s software is completely open-source.

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Private internet access speed & performance

I performed speed tests connecting to a server in each of 78 countries where PIA maintains servers. I observed an average 67% decrease in speed. I was born in Romania, which boasts the fastest internet speeds, so this speed drop wasn’t too severe. I was still in a position to stream content, download files, browse the internet and surf at super fast speeds. My American colleague ran speed tests. He estimated that his speed loss averaged 25 percent. This is better than other VPNs.

For speed testing, I used WireGuard because OpenVPN is sometimes slower.

To establish a baseline I ran a speed-test first without connecting with a PIA servers.

Next, I used PIA’s automated connect option. A server from Romania was instantly connected. Although my download speed was slower than usual by 53% (which I find quite significant), I was still connected to a server from Romania and was able to browse the internet and access HD content on Netflix almost immediately.

Next, I tried the US VPN server. It took only 10-15 seconds to load Netflix TV movies and Netflix TV. The download speed was 75% slower compared to my usual speed. The stream was uninterrupted after the show had started. I was able to download a torrent of 20GB in less time than streaming. It took me 24 minutes to download it. That’s fast.

It was shocking to me to see the same speed I got from a New Zealand web server. Websites loaded in 4-5 secs, while Netflix content took 20 secs. This was almost the same time it took to load websites in the US. Online games can be played with little to no lag.

Romania has fast internet connections so it is unfair that I compare my results with people from other nations. I also asked my American colleague if she could speed test.

he did his first speed-test without connecting with a PIA Server.

The auto-connect function allowed him to connect with a PIA Server. He was in New York. However, the auto connect function connected him to San Diego (the fastest server) and he didn’t notice any changes in his online activities.

Next, the connection was made to a Spanish server. He claimed his download speed was 33% slower, but websites loaded in less that two seconds. Additionally, streaming content began almost instantly and files were downloaded quickly.

My colleague finally connected successfully to an Australian server. His ping was quite high, but his download speed was far better than Spain’s (a drop down of 15% is impressive). Websites loaded within seconds, while TV and video shows were downloaded in minutes.

This PIA runs at lightning fast speeds with local servers, and slower speeds with distant servers

Private Internet Access Servers/IP Addresses

Private Investigators are available in 78 Countries.

Despite the fact that other VPNs might have servers in more places, such as HMA — 190+Countries, CyberGhostVPN– 90+Countries, and ExpressVPN –90+Countries, PIA still maintains a location in almost every part of the globe. This means you can connect to a server no matter where you are.

I love that PIA tells you how latency each server is and whether it has been high or low. However I would love to see PIA indicate the server load percentage, similar to ProtonVPN or CyberGhost. This would allow users to select servers that are not overcrowded.

PIA uses static-shared IP addresses. These IP addresses are useful because you can share one IP address with many users. This makes it impossible for anyone to trace you IP address back.

PIA can provide dedicated IP addresses to you for a nominal fee. These IP addresses are available for a small fee and you can use them only. Dedicated IPs may be beneficial as they lower the chance of you being blacklisted by banks or streaming websites. PIA owns dedicated IPs in five locations, including the USA and Canada.

PIA has servers in many countries. It provides dedicated IP addresses as well and uses shared IP address. All servers are available for P2P.

Private Internet Access streaming & torrenting

PIA works along with Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+.

During tests, PIA prevented me from accessing Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Disney+. It also blocked lesser-known sites like VRV. Tubi TV. USA Network. Crunchyroll TV.

PIA offers great P2P support. It supports torrenting on all its servers. The server also works with most torrenting clients such Vuze. uTorrent. qBittorrent. PIA provides port forwarding as an option, which allows for you to connect faster to more peers.

Before I tested PIA in torrenting, leak tests were run connecting to servers across 10 countries. All of my tests were free from leaks.

PIA has easy access to all of the best streaming sites, as well as torrenting support. I was capable of watching movies and TV shows on Netflix and Crunchyroll.

Access to the Internet Privately Without Censorship

For online censorship to be avoided consistent

The internet is accessible to people from certain countries.

Pricing and private Internet Access Plans

There are very affordable payment options for.

There are 3 options available: 1-month, 1-year and 3-year plans. The 3-year plan has the lowest cost and offers additional months for free. PIA has one of the lowest VPN prices, at D46.370 a month.

PIA takes PayPal, Amazon Pay, and cryptocurrencies (Bitpay Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin).

All PIA plans come with the same features. They also come with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.

Overall, PIA offers attractive pricing. They also accept multiple payment methods. They also offer a 30-day return policy.

Access Private Internet Access Ease: Mobile & Desktop Applications

PIA offers applications for iOS, Android and Windows. The Android app and iOS apps were installed within minutes. It took only two minutes for me to install Windows and macOS app.

Android

I really enjoy PIA’s Android App

It works exactly how it was supposed to. It is simple and rich in features.

I love the simplicity of connecting to servers through the power button at he top of the main windows. To manually connect to the server, you can tap Current region. The complete list will appear. (For your convenience, you can filter servers by favorite or latency.

The Android app from PIA is flexible and customizable. You can alter protocols (OpenVPN/WireGuard), encryption and proxy settings. Also, you can choose whether or not to connect to untrusted Wi Fi networks. It is possible to modify the appearance of the app and disable/enable port forwarding.

Even though the list of options can seem daunting for a novice user, PIA automatically assigns the recommended default settings to every feature. This eliminates the need to manually change them. I also love the way that most settings have a very brief description. My only issue is the fact that all settings are listed under one tab. ExpressVPN is more organized and has smaller categories. This makes it easier to use.

InBrowser by PIA, a private/incognito Android browser available for iOS and Android is available from the Google Play Store. You can clear all browser history, cookies, and sessions when you close an app.

The Android app for PIA has a lack of obfuscation. This is the only problem. To use PIA MACE you will need to install the APK. You cannot use PIA’s ad blocking technology if the Android app is downloaded from Google Play Store.

Overall, PIA’s Android App is exceptional. It’s intuitive, quick and has many customization options.

iOS

PIA’s iOS App is very similar to that of the Android App.

One of the differences is that iOS now supports 3 protocols in place of 2: IKEv2/IPSec (and OpenVPN). WireGuard, too, is now available.

The iOS app for PIA includes a kill switch. Many VPNs that are top-rated, such ProtonVPN or ExpressVPN, do not offer iOS apps with kill buttons.

PIA’s iOS App is missing obfuscation, PIA MACE.

Overall, PIA’s iOS App is safe and user friendly. It also offers many of its features and functions, just like the Android app.

Windows/Mac (Desktop)

I used PIA’s desktop software on both my MacBook Pro & Windows 10 computer. I love PIA’s desktop app. They have intuitive interfaces similar to the Android or iOS app.

You only need to press one button to connect to a Server. The slider can be used to access quick connect options and connection details such data usage or encryption.

It’s simple to enable/disable features including PIA MACE. I love PIA, as it also includes split-tunneling features for macOS.

The automation settings of PIA’s desktop apps allow you tell the VPN which action to take when your WiFi connection is wired or secure. PIA will automatically connect to a remote server when you access unprotected Wi Fi networks.

The PIA Desktop Apps are fantastic. They are not only feature-rich, they are also extremely user-friendly.

Apps for Private Internet Access – Is Private Internet Access Easier to Use?

Apps for Android, iOS and Windows are available from PIA.

These apps all share a similar design, make it easy to use and are open-source.

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Support for private internet access customers

PiA offers great support including a FAQ section and troubleshooting guides.

Unfortunately, PIA does not offer phone support.

PIA has extensive step by step guides to help users install, uninstall, or troubleshoot PIA apps. The guides are simple to read with well-edited photos. There are also FAQs that answer over 100 questions. Most of my questions could be answered by the FAQs or guides.

The PIA live chat was very simple to use. In less than 10 minutes, I was connected directly to a support representative. They were knowledgeable and friendly. Unfortunately, you can only use the live chat in English.

I sent 5 emails to PIA five times, and every time received a response in between 2 and 3 hours. Many VPN companies respond within 6-8hrs to email. Some respond in less than 24 hours.

It was easy and straightforward to request a refunded via live chat. The rep did nothing to try and persuade my decision to change. I simply needed my order number for the refund.

Overall, PIA provides excellent customer service. They have detailed FAQs, troubleshooting tips, setup and troubleshooting guides, and live chat representatives available 24/7. Within just a few hours, I received a return email.

Is the Private Internet Access Quality Enough?

PIA has great security features and is easy to use. You can connect to up 10 computers simultaneously.

You can open-source or customize your apps. It also offers a range of pricing options. PIA supports downloading torrents from all its servers. It works with all popular torrenting programs.

During speedtests, PIA offered above-average connections speeds . The connection speeds allowed me to stream media, download torrents, play games, and so on without any slowdown.

256-bit AES encryption, leak protection and PIA data protection. The kill switch is also available. A no-logs policy is also enforced in court. PIA has its headquarters in a country that is a member of 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances. PIA doesn’t keep any user information, which means it won’t have any data that could possibly be given to the government.

has many other security features, beyond those offered by the standard one, like split tunnelling, Tor support or obfuscation. also offers email monitoring and an advertising blocking feature.

The iOS and Android apps are lacking native adblocking, native obfuscation, and native adblocking. These aren’t big drawbacks, however.

PIA VPN’s pricing is among the lowest on the marketplace. All plans come standard with a 30-day money back guarantee.

Private Internet Access: Can it be trusted?

Yes, PIA can be trusted.

It is a member in good standing of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances. They are a group that shares intelligence data. PIA has a court tested no logs policy. Although PIA has been subject to subpoenas for various user data requests, the agency has not had to turn over any data. Audits of PIA’s policy “nologs” have not been completed. However, all of the apps are open to everyone. This makes them much safer and easier than any audit. Private Internet Access’s open-source software is available for inspection by anyone who wishes to verify that there aren’t security cracks.

PIA comes standard equipped with security features such 256-bit AES encrypted and a kill button. RAM memory powers all servers. This means that any data is erased every time the server restarts.

Private Internet Access to China:

Yes. Yes.

Shadowsocks enable government firewalls to be bypassed. PIA has the ability to bypass restrictions in other countries and China’s online censorship.

Do you have private internet access that works with Netflix

Yes PIA accesses Netflix. Because of PIA’s high-speed internet connections, I was able streaming Netflix content in HD seamlessly without interruptions.

Private Internet Access is there a kill-switch?

Yes. Yes. PIA offers a Kill button for its iOS, macOS, Windows apps.

PIA has no kill switch for Android. Android has an improved feature that allows you to block internet traffic without using VPN. This provides system-level coverage. PIA is not able to connect at app level.

Private Internet Access comes with a kill-switch for all operating systems.

Source : #safetydetectives
Editor by : BEST Antivirus Review Team