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Businesses rely on virtual private network (VPN) services to protect remote employees and their networks; a VPN such as Golden Frog's VyprVPN (starting at $9.99 per month) extends that protection to end-users. Your computer and mobile devices communicate with websites and other systems online by sending and receiving data packets. Anyone with a packet sniffer—your Internet Service Provider, the owner of the WiFi network you are using, or someone up to no good—could intercept that data stream and see what you are up to. VyprVPN easily protects your online activity from digital snoops and hides your geographic location.
When the VPN service is active, all the packets travel through a protected tunnel between the user's computer and Golden Frog servers. The servers handle all communications with the destination site, and responses are sent back to the PC through the same encrypted tunnel. Sites that try to identify you by your IP address see one of Golden Frog's IP addresses instead. VyprVPN has servers in the U.S. (Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Austin, TX), Europe (London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Paris), Canada (Toronto), and Asia (Hong Kong).
Pricing PlansVyprVPN comes in three flavors, basic, Pro, and Premier. Basic VyprVPN, at $9.99 per month or $80.04 per year, can be used only for one device. It uses the PPTP protocol standard 128-bit encryption for its VPN connections. PPTP is widely deployed as it is built into most desktop and mobile operating systems, making it easy to set up. Since it uses basic encryption, it is the fastest among VyprVPN's options.
Users who want to use the VPN service on their iOS and Android devices must sign up for VyprVPN Pro, at $14.99 per month or $99.96 per year. The Pro version supports PPTP, OpenVPN SSL, and L2TP/IPSec. While PPTP uses 128-bit encryption, L2TP/IPSec uses 256-bit encryption and OpenVPN offers both 160-bit and 256-bit. L2TP/IPSec relies on the highest encryption so it has slower performance. OpenVPN, which relies on digital certificates, is reliable and performs very well. However, OpenVPN is not available for iOS. The Pro version can be used on two devices. Premier supports three devices at $19.99 per month, or $120 per year. VyprVPN has among the most expensive plans we've reviewed.
Basic VyprVPN offer users free 10GB online storage on Golden Frog's cloud storage service, Dump Truck. Pro users get 25GB and Premier users get 50GB. With Dump Truck, users can securely upload and share files with others. Unlike many of its competitors, Golden Frog does not offer free trial or ad-supported versions.
Getting StartedUsers sign up for a Golden Frog account after selecting which version they are interested in. An account confirmation email contains the link to the dashboard and to setup instructions. When I logged into the portal, I saw a well-laid out dashboard with information about VyprVPN on the left side of the screen and the Dump Truck cloud storage service on the right.
While you can use the VyprVPN credentials on multiple devices, only one device can be connected at a time. I can see if a device is currently using the service on this dashboard. Suppose you left your home PC connected and now you want to switch to your tablet. I can just log in to the dashboard and disconnect the PC. It would have been nice to be able to use devices simultaneously, the way Norton Hotspot Privacy does. At least VyprVPN sends a notification to the disconnected PC the connection has been dropped.
Users download the client applications for VyprVPN for Mac and for Windows from the dashboard, or for Pro users, click on links back to Google Play and iTunes for the Android and iOS apps. I can just use the client applications or follow the set up instructions to manually configure the VPN clients that came with my operating system. This means that as long as the device supports VPN, I should be able to configure it with VyprVPN credentials. If my router has DD-WRT firmware, I could just install VyprVPN and protect all users on the network in one step. I like this uncommon feature; I've seen it in only a handful of products so far, including our two Editors' Choice services HideIPVPN and Private Internet Access and NordVPN.
Installing the client application took only a few moments. Since VyprVPN also supports the OpenVPN protocol, the installer adds the TAP-WIN32 adapter, in the same way as HideIPVPN.
Starting the software for the first time opens up a settings window where you enter the login credentials and select the connection settings, such as the geographic location of the server and the connection type. By default, the VPN settings are set to PPTP. There are also other settings, such as automatically reconnecting if the connection ever drops and automatically enabling the VPN service whenever the user connects to an unsecured wireless network.
The software is extremely lightweight, so it is easy to forget it is running. Like Private Internet Access, VyprVPN did not have an actual application window when I launched the program. All I got was a tiny lock icon in the system tray, and when I right-clicked on the icon, I saw a menu listing my current network settings and the option to go back into the Settings screen.
Golden Frog offers NAT Firewall as a separate add-on for $5 to block unrequested inbound traffic, such as bots scanning for open ports to exploit. Most wireless routers use Network Address Translation to share the single Internet connection across all connected devices, and when it receives unrequested inbound scans, it doesn't know which device it is for and blocks it automatically. Since VyprVPN bypasses the router and establishes a direct connection with the Golden Frog server, users aren't protected from malicious inbound traffic via the router's NAT. The NAT Firewall add-on protects users from these scans while connected to VyprVPN. Golden Frog also provides its own DNS servers, as VyprDNS to protect users. This is something that's available in only a handful of services, so it's nice to see Golden Frog continually updating its offerings.
I tried out VyprVPN on a trip, as well as from a local coffeeshop and on our testing network. Performance was on par with most of the services tested recently. Since OpenVPN is commonly used by other VPN services, I tested with the OpenVPN protocol when measuring connection speeds. I also used PPTP as it is commonly used, but did not include those figures in the below table. PPTP was consistently faster than OpenVPN.
Speed and PerformanceI didn't notice any discernible lag with VyprVPN while on the road for a one-week period. I was able to view Hulu and YouTube videos without any difficulty while connected.
To measure network speed, I ran the speed tests available on SpeedTest.net once I was back at my test bed. The tests are designed to measure download and upload speeds when connecting to servers in different cities. I determined my location by looking up the IP address and then looked for a city closest to that location to run the test. I ran the test twice with the VPN service turned off, and again when turned on, and picked the best measurements. The figures below are over a wired connection, not wireless.
Performance was consistent and fast. Golden Frog likes to boast that because it controls its networking infrastructure, it can deliver faster speed than many of its low-cost counterparts. While it isn't the fastest VPN service, if speed matters that much to you, VyprVPN is definitely a contender. You can see the comparisons to other services by clicking on the performance tests icon.
VyprVPN Holds Its OwnVPN services have transformed dramatically over the past few months. We first looked at VyprVPN a little over a year ago, and since then, the service has added Dump Truck, VyprDNS, and mobile device support. Back then, the primary differentiators among VPN services were performance, number of servers, and whether or not there were ads. Performance is becoming less of a differentiator, and many of the services now have mobile support.
Since the company controls the hardware and the network routes, Golden Frog claims its service is faster and more secure than competitors, and uses that explanation to justify its slightly higher price tag. In this increasingly crowded market, there are plenty of services that control their own infrastructure, offer more features, and are still cheaper. The NAT Firewall, while great for security layer, doesn't help with the overall price, either.
VyprVPN has great performance, but its list of features doesn't justify the price tag when there are so many other competing products that deliver comparable speeds for less. With increased mobile usage, mobile device support is becoming a "must have" feature, and not an "advanced" one. At first-glance, VyprVPN comes off as a basic VPN service, which is an injustice because the NAT Firewall and support for different levels of encryption and protocols set it apart from others. Our current VPN Editors' Choice, Private Internet Access, still has the most amount of advanced features and gives users the most amount of flexibility in deciding how to surf safely online. VyprVPN is a strong service and offers plenty of reasons to be the VPN service of choice, but it does not match the sheer volume of advanced features and the performance boost Private Internet Access offers.
VyprVPN reminds me the most of F-Secure Freedome VPN. The prices are similar, they both focus on delivering solid performance, and both have multi-platform and multi-device support. I would recommend VyprVPN for users who need the 256-bit encryption or want to use other connection protocols.
Source: View the original article here
By Eugene Kim 
See How We Test Cell Phones
By Jeffrey L. Wilson 
Thermal Imaging and Use
Mostly for Contractors
The minimum focus is 19.7 inches, delivering a maximum magnification ratio of 1:3.7. That's not exactly macro territory, but it does provide decent magnification. The lens is optically stabilized, so it can be used without issue on a body that lacks sensor-based stabilization. It's best used with a full-frame camera—you lose some of the wide-angle coverage and are carrying more weight than you want to if you pair it with an APS-C Sony model like the Sony Alpha 6000.I used Imatest to check the quality of photos shot with the 24-240mm when paired with the 24-megapixel Alpha 7 II. At 24mm f/3.5, the lens scores 2,488 lines per picture height on a center-weighted sharpness test, which is better than the 1,800 lines we look for in a crisp image. Performance is fairly even throughout the frame, but the outer edges are a little muddy at 1,692 lines. Stopping down to f/4 delivers very modest improvement, but at f/5.6 the edges jump to 1,793 lines (the center-weighted score is 2,519 lines). At f/8 the lens shows its best performance, recording an average score of 2,582 lines.If you shoot JPGs, distortion is a nonissue, as the camera applies correction to images and video. But if you're capturing photos in Raw format, you're going to have to deal with an incredible amount of barrel distortion—about 6.5 percent. Adobe hasn't yet added a lens profile to Lightroom to correct for this, but the latest version of Camera Raw includes one, so it's only a matter of time before one-click correction comes to Lightroom.
See How We Test Digital CamerasAt 50mm, the maximum aperture has narrowed to f/4.5. Performance is strong here, with a center-weighted score of 2,450 lines, and edges that exceed 2,000 lines. Stopping down to f/5.6 improves the average score to 2,654 lines, and edges approach 2,400 lines. At f/8 the lens peaks, just exceeding 2,700 lines on the test. If you shoot Raw, you'll have to contend with 2.5-percent pincushion distortion, which makes straight lines curve visibly inward, but again, the Adobe lens profile will correct this.By the time you zoom to 100mm the lens maxes out at f/5.6, but image quality is still strong. It scores 2,510 lines on our center-weighted test, with edges that exceed 2,100 lines. At f/8 the score improves to 2,575 lines, and edges also top 2,500 lines. Performance is about the same at f/11 and f/16. If you're shooting Raw, you'll face a 3-percent pincushion distortion from this point through 240mm.
At 150mm, the aperture has narrowed to f/6.3, but image quality takes a hit. The lens manages 1,854 on our sharpness test, but edge performance drops off significantly—it shows just 1,130 lines at the outer third of the frame. Stopping down to f/8 improves the overall score to 2,148 lines, but edges are still soft. Even at f/16 the, edges only manage 1,350 lines.Things are a little better at 240mm. At f/6.3 the lens shows 2,124 lines, and edges sit just under 1,400 lines. They improve slightly, to just under 1,500 lines at f/8, but the overall sharpness stays about the same. Performance is similar at f/11 and f/16.
The Sony FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS is a convenient lens to use if you're not quite sure what you'll be shooting—at its widest angle it's perfect for landscapes and group shots, and when zoomed it can handle portraits, sports, and wildlife photography. Its aperture does narrow a bit when zoomed, so it's not the best option if you really love the shallow depth of field look. Raw shooters will have to contend with distortion, but it should only be of concern if you opt to use a Raw converter that doesn't support lens profile corrections. The real sticking point is some inconsistent sharpness and murky edge quality at longer focal lengths, but those are the compromises you live with when purchasing a lens with a long zoom range that covers a big image sensor.
That said, whether or not you should consider buying this lens depends a lot on what you're looking to get out of your camera. It's unlikely that you'll want it as your only lens, as that defeats the purpose of buying an expensive mirrorless camera. If you're primarily a prime lens shooter and want a zoom for convenience—and one that doesn't break the bank—the 24-240mm is certainly appealing at this price point. Buying the Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS and the FE 70-20mm F4 G OSS to cover the same range costs nearly three times as much—but that combination easily trumps the 24-240mm in terms of image quality.You may want to think outside the box and consider getting a new camera to supplement your existing Alpha 7 kit instead of a new lens. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 has a relatively small 1-inch sensor, but it covers a 24-200mm zoom range with a constant f/2.8 aperture, and—important for Alpha 7 owners—shares the same battery type as Sony's current full-frame mirrorless lineup. Its build quality is stellar, and its macro capabilities are superior to the 24-240mm. There's also the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000; its build isn't on the same level as the RX10, but it does cover a 25-400mm zoom range, and it shoots video in 4K resolution.
