Big Mama VPN, a free VPN service, may be the VPN to avoid. This provider has been found to be selling access to users' home Internet connections, allowing strangers to use your IP address.

We would never recommend a VPN that could put you at risk in this way. All of the providers featured in our Best VPNs list offer top-notch privacy and no-logging policies.

At the heart of the problem is the VR game Gorilla Tag. Players have found a way to rig the game and gain an advantage by installing a VPN on Meta's VR headsets, creating delays and making it easier for players to sneak up on them and “tag” their opponents. Users have uploaded video tutorials detailing how this is done and what steps to take.

While we do not condone in-game cheating, that aspect of the problem, while a bit annoying, is fairly harmless. What is worrisome is that the VPN used in the video tutorial is a service called Big Mama VPN.

Big Mama sells access to free users' home Internet connections, and it turns out that buyers can “piggyback” on the IP address of the VR headset to hide their online identity.

This technique is known as “residential proxying.” Residential IP addresses have become increasingly popular among cybercriminals in recent years because they are much easier to disguise as normal Internet traffic. Criminals can use proxy networks to conduct cyber attacks or use botnets.

Big Mama's free VPN app is available in the Google Play store for Android devices. However, users can also access the Big Mama proxy network and (among other things) purchase shared access to a “real” 4G or home Wi-Fi IP address for just 40 cents for 24 hours.

Big Mama seems to be a popular choice, as it claims to offer a free service with no sign-up required and no data limits. This seems doubtful since the best free VPNs that are safe and secure often have data and device limitations and the best features are reserved for paid VPN services.

It is imperative to carefully read the VPN provider's terms of service and privacy policy. You could inadvertently be agreeing to your device being used on a proxy network.

Big Mama VPN does not hide the fact that users will have their external traffic routed through their network. The app's FAQ states, “Your device on the free VPN is used to create a peer-to-peer network that commercial clients can securely use to route traffic through various global endpoints.”

Additionally, “As a free client, you probably won't notice the impact on your resources when it happens. Data transferred in the background is measured by your cellular carrier according to your data plan.

This is mentioned multiple times in Big Mama VPN's terms of service, which states that users can opt out at any time by becoming a “commercial user.”

Not all free VPNs are dangerous, but be careful when looking for a free VPN provider, as there are many unsafe services on the market, including fake free VPNs. [There are some great free VPNs out there that offer reliable and secure device connections.

Our top two free VPNs are from reputable providers and are free versions of paid plans. They do not offer the variety of features that paid plans do, but they offer excellent speed and strong security, and are fully functional as VPNs.

PrivadoVPN Free is our top choice. It is excellent at unblocking content and is super fast, achieving speeds of up to 900 Mbps in our tests - one of the fastest VPNs we've tested.

It's an easy-to-use VPN and has a 10GB monthly data limit. It may not be enough for hardcore streamers, but more than enough for everyday web browsing.

Being free, it has some drawbacks. Only one device can be supported, and it does not have many features. There are not many server options, and Privado offers 13 locations in 10 countries. However, for a free service, its spread is not bad.

Proton VPN Free is rated the second best free VPN. It is run by the well-known security company Proton, so it offers top-class privacy and security. It also has features such as kill switches and Proton-owned servers to ensure that no third party can touch your data.

Proton VPN Free is not as fast as PrivadoVPN Free, but it is more than fast enough for streaming and browsing. ProtonVPN Free's unlimited data policy means you are always protected online no matter what.

Proton VPN Free's biggest drawback is its servers: with only five locations in five different countries, you cannot choose where you want to connect. If you cannot connect to the first location you want to connect to, you have to disconnect and reconnect repeatedly until you can connect to the location you want to connect to.

If you are on a tight budget and the only option is a free VPN, you can definitely choose the above two. However, if you are tolerant of paid plans, there are some very affordable options.

Surfshark tops our list of best cheap VPNs and is the fastest VPN we've tested; it can reach speeds of over 950 Mbps and is one of the best streaming VPNs. It offers unlimited device protection and boasts a wide range of apps and features. 2-year plans start at $1.99/month.

PrivadoVPN offers a paid version, which costs only $1.11 per month and offers all the features of the free version plus more. The paid version does not slow down the fast speeds, and there are over 300 servers in 48 countries. It is ideal for streaming and can protect up to 10 devices.

Almost all of the best VPN providers offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. It is also worth noting that ExpressVPN, ranked third overall, offers a 7-day free trial. Nevertheless, ExpressVPN is not the cheapest option at $4.99 per month.

There are several other affordable providers on the market, including Private Internet Access (PIA) for $2.19/month, IPVanish for $2.19/month, and NordVPN, the best VPN overall, starting at $2.99/month.