Give yourself the gift of digital privacy this Christmas

Give yourself the gift of digital privacy this Christmas Features Aleksandar Stevanović published A VPN is the gift that keeps giving With Christmas Day just hours away, the rush to bag the best gifts is (hopefully) winding down. But if you've left a little room under the tree, now's the perfect time to treat yourself (and your data) to something useful. Right now, some of the best VPNs are offering steep discounts, giving you the chance to lock in multi-year privacy protection at the lowest prices of the year. It's a great way to stay secure and anonymous online as we head into 2026. From government censorship to aggressive geo-blocking and tighter age restrictions, digital freedom is under pressure, but a quality VPN can help you reclaim it. Our top picks come with handy tools, like stealth protocols designed to help you bypass bans, as well as global networks of speedy VPN servers . We've picked out three standout options worth considering this Christmas, all tested, top-rated, and ready to go. NordVPN: The star on top of the tree NordVPN has consistently topped our rankings in 2025, and for good reason. Whether you're looking for airtight privacy, smooth streaming, or everyday protection, NordVPN delivers across the board. It's packed with features that go beyond the basics. Threat Protection Pro helps block ads, trackers, and malware before they can wreak havoc on your devices. Multiple VPN protocols are available (including NordLynx, OpenVPN, and IKEv2), and independent audits back up its strong no-logs policy . NordVPN also excelled in our in-house streaming tests, reliably unblocking Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and more with fast, buffer-free playback. It's a smart choice for streamers who don't want to compromise on privacy. That said, it doesn't offer unlimited simultaneous connections , and some features vary slightly between platforms. Still, it's a solid pick for nearly every type of user. You'll also find handy extras like Meshnet for secure device-to-device connections and a kill switch that works consistently across platforms. These kinds of details make NordVPN feel polished and dependable. Whether you want a full security suite or just a fast, trustworthy VPN to run in the background, NordVPN remains the best all-rounder on the market heading into 2026. NordVPN - The best VPN overall ($2.99 per month) NordVPN sits at the top of our overall rankings because it ticks every box... and then some! It's easy to use, even for VPN newbies, and more than fast enough to keep up with your day-to-day browsing. In addition, it has: 🌎 Servers in over 110 countries 🍿 Unblocks all of today's top streaming platforms 💻 Support for up to 10 simultaneous connections Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free. Surfshark: cheap, cheerful, and chock-full of tools If you want a feature-rich VPN without the premium price tag, Surfshark is a great pick, especially during the holiday sale. It's the most affordable provider in our top three, but it doesn't cut corners on core functionality....

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