Secure VPN 4.4.4 for Android

Secure VPN 4.4.4 is a free Android VPN app from Signal Lab. It connects your phone to a VPN server with one tap, encrypting traffic between the device and the server and hiding your IP address from the websites you visit. You can download Secure VPN for Android from Google Play.

Who Secure VPN is for

This kind of app suits people who mainly want protection on networks they do not trust: hotel and café Wi-Fi, airport hotspots, shared networks in student housing. On such networks, traffic that is not encrypted end to end could be observed by others, and a VPN adds a layer of encryption up to the VPN server. It also suits users who want a simple on/off switch rather than a settings screen full of protocols and options. Secure VPN is not the right choice if you need strong anonymity, a strict no-logs promise that has been independently audited, or guaranteed speed for streaming and gaming. Free VPNs share their servers among many users and need to earn money somehow, usually through ads and paid upgrades. People who handle sensitive work data should use the VPN their employer provides rather than a consumer app.

Key facts

How to install it

1. Open the Secure VPN page on Google Play and check that the developer is Signal Lab.
2. Install and open the app.
3. Tap connect and confirm Android's VPN connection request.
4. Look for the key icon in the status bar to confirm the VPN is active.

What to check before relying on it

• Privacy policy: what the provider logs and how long it keeps it.
• Subscriptions: read the terms before starting any trial.
• Permissions: a VPN needs network access; it has no reason to read your contacts or SMS.
• Local law: VPN use is restricted in some countries and on many school and work networks.

Everyday use

You do not have to keep the VPN on all the time. Many people switch it on when they join a public network and off again at home, where a detour through a distant server only slows down video calls and games. If a website or app refuses to work with the VPN on, try another server location or pause the connection for that task. Android can also be set to keep the VPN always on in the network settings, if you prefer never to forget it.

Remember that a VPN does not protect you from phishing, malicious apps or accounts you sign in to.

Pros and cons

• Pro: one-tap connection.
• Pro: small, free app.
• Pro: useful on public Wi-Fi.
• Con: ads and paid upgrades in the free model.
• Con: speed depends on crowded free servers.

Alternatives

Other VPN apps for Android in our listings include ProtonVPN, Hotspot Shield VPN, Turbo VPN, Outline VPN and X-VPN. 1.1.1.1 is a lighter option focused on encrypted DNS.