Overview
This article explains in detail exactly what VirtualShield VPN is, and how it works under the hood. It also teaches you how to get started protecting all of your devices using VirtualShield.
Learn how to create a new account, how to log in to the app, and how to activate VPN protection for the very first time. It doesn't matter which device you are using, this article applies to computers, cell phones, tablets, and more.
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What is a VPN?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. Technically speaking, a VPN is a service that creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet. In other words, it allows you to browse the internet without anyone being able to see what you are doing online.
First and foremost, a VPN hides your location by scrambling your IP address. It also encrypts your data, and hides your traffic from all third-parties including websites, the government, Internet/Cellular providers, and more.
An anonymous VPN works differently from a private browser or a proxy server. Learn more about the differences here.
Why is a VPN important?
When you're connected to the internet, these third-parties try to collect your information. This includes various details like the device you're using, your Operating System, the websites you visit frequently, and most importantly your IP address and your physical location.
The IP address isn't everything, it's just a visualization of what VirtualShield is doing in the background. Basically a VPN allows you to create a secure connection to another network over the Internet.
VirtualShield's network uses patented technology to encrypt and protect your private online activity from potential hackers. What this means is that your entire internet connection is passed through our servers to give you a private tunnel to the internet, preventing all third-parties from seeing what you're doing.
You can learn more about our VPN technology, and all of the benefits of using a VPN here.
Why choose VirtualShield?
At VirtualShield, your online privacy and security is our number one concern above all else. That's why we have a completely 100% Zero Logs policy, which means we don't track, monitor, or know what you do online. We will never filter or censor any of your internet traffic.
On top of that, we offer a 30 day risk-free trial period with all of our plans, so you can give us a try before you actually start to pay for our services. You can cancel your account at any time during your free trial period and you will not be billed.
If you're just looking to hide your location, a VirtualShield VPN plan is all you need in order to be protected. However, if you want to be fully protected and take advantage of the exclusive extras we offer, one of our other plans might interest you:
Protect your entire family and all of your devices with our fast, secure, unlimited VPN service. Includes Unlimited devices, Over 25 virtual regions to choose from, Unrestricted streaming on your favorite apps & websites, and more.
Everything included with a VirtualShield VPN plan, plus Ad & Malware blocking for a faster, safer, and more enjoyable browsing experience. Other features include Identity theft protection and Credit monitoring, Personal data removal, Invisible VPN, Gaming Mode, Priority Phone support, and more.
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Signing Up
The first step to getting protected is to create an account. Simply visit this link to get started. We recommend signing up on your laptop or desktop computer to make things a little easier:
As a reminder, we offer a 30 day risk-free trial period with all of our plans, so you can give us a try before you actually start to pay for our services. You can cancel your account at any time during your free trial period and you will not be billed.
In addition, we are the only VPN in the world to offer a full money-back guarantee an additional 30 days after your trial period ends, for a total of 60 days risk-free. You truly have nothing to lose.
Choose a VPN Plan
Now it's time to choose your plan and customize your subscription. We recommend choosing one of the 12 months or 24 months options to maximize your savings. You can also choose to pay monthly instead if you prefer. The choice is entirely up to you.
Once you have selected a plan that fits you and your budget, you will need to enter your login details. You can use this email address to log in to your Account Dashboard and the VirtualShield app on all of your various devices.
If you have a coupon code, you can apply it when you're checking out to receive additional discounts. See our support article for more information.
Select a Payment Method
Next you will be asked to select a payment method. We accept both credit/debit cards as well as PayPal. Remember, you won't be billed for 30 days, and you can choose to cancel at any time.
We just need to verify your payment information to keep spammers and hackers out. This helps us ensure that our network remains secure for all of our valued customers just like you.
You can also choose to opt-out of the free trial period, and pay today instead. If you choose this option, you will receive an additional 3 months added to your subscription entirely free of cost.
Verify your Email Address
As soon as you hit Continue, the system will process your order. You will receive a confirmation email in your inbox to confirm that your account has been created successfully.
Lastly, you need to verify your email address. Simply press the button in the confirmation email that is sent to you. This is an important step to ensure that your account is fully registered within our system.
If you can't find the confirmation email, try looking in your junk/spam folder, or contact our support team for further assistance.
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Logging In
First of all, congratulations on signing up! We're glad you took the first step to reclaiming your privacy. You've done the hard part already, signing up. Now getting protected is going to be a breeze.
Once you've created an account, all that's left to do is install the VirtualShield app on each of your devices, then sign in to the app and connect to our secure network.
If you selected one of our Family plans, you can also add up to 5 users to your subscription.
Install VirtualShield
VirutalShield is fully compatible with all of the following platforms. Simply choose a device below for further instructions on how to install VirutalShield on that specific device:
If your device is not compatible or not listed above, don't worry. See our support article for more information.
Sign In to VirtualShield
The first time you open VirtualShield, you will see a Login screen. From here, all you need to do is enter your account details, and press Login.
These are the same credentials you used when registering your account. If you added additional users to your Family plan, they can use their email address to log in on each of their devices as well.
Please be aware your password is CaSe-sensitive. If you used any capital letters or special characters, you must type it exactly the same way in order to log in.
More Information
Once the app is installed, you will see a shield icon added to your Desktop, Home screen, or Applications list depending on the device you're using. You can quickly access VirtualShield at any time using this icon:
When you close or hide VirtualShield, it will continue protecting you in the background. It will also open automatically each time you power on or restart your device, to help ensure that your device remains protected and your data remains private at all times.
These settings are entirely optional and can be enabled or disabled at any time. See our support article for more information.
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Activating VPN
After signing in to the app, you will be presented with the Home screen. This is where you can connect to and disconnect from the VirtualShield network.
This screen may look a little different depending on the make and model of your device, but the concept is the same. You will see a power button, and a place to choose your location.
You can also adjust your various configuration settings and view your subscription details from this screen.
Toggle VPN Protection
Now all you need to do is press the power button to toggle VPN protection. That's it! You are now protected by VirtualShield.
The power button and the shield icon will appear green once you're connected. It will also display the location and IP address of the data center you are connected to.
On desktop and laptop computers, you can also toggle protection by flipping the Secure VPN switch, or clicking the shield icon near the corner of your screen (next to your clock).
By default, we automatically select the data center closest to you. See our support article for more info on how to change your location.
Verify your Protection
You can test your protection at any time using this link. It doesn't matter which device you're using, this page will work on all of your various devices, computers, tablets, smart phones, and more:
If you are connected to our secure network, this page will report your status as Protected. It will also display the IP address and geographic location of the data center you're connected to. Otherwise, this page will display your actual location.
This is the same information other websites, apps, and your Internet/Cellular provider can see. See our support article for more information.
You're done!
As long as the Test My Protection page reports your status as Protected, it means you're all set. You can now surf the web and use all of your apps just as you would normally, but with relief and peace of mind, knowing your data is fully secure and not being shared with any third-parties.
You can follow the same steps to toggle VPN protection off again in order to use location-based apps, or play games that consume high bandwidth. However, it is strongly recommended to connect first before making purchases or sharing your personal details online.
You can also choose to automatically connect to our servers as soon as your internet connection can be detected. See our support article for more information.
Common Questions
I use a free VPN, am I still protected?
Yes and no. Free VPNs collect your information, and sell it to advertisers. Learn more about the difference between free VPNs and paid ones here.
I use a proxy server, do I still need a VPN?
A proxy will hide the data inside of your web browser, but it will not protect or encrypt the other apps running on your device. Learn more about the differences here.