Overplay is a Smart DNS and VPN service based in the UK. The company boasts of having over 650 servers located in 50 countries. They also provide OpenVPN for more secure connections and unlimited server switching. But is Overplay safe for completely anonymous internet surfing?
In our opinion, although the VPN provider provides good encryption and other security features, it is not safe for users who value complete anonymity and a higher level of privacy.
Let’s consider some of Overplay’s security features.
Table of Contents
Bad Jurisdiction for a VPN Service
Overplay VPN is based in the United Kingdom, which is one of the least safe locations for a VPN service. The UK is a member of the 5 Eyes Surveillance Alliance, which is a group of countries with a pact to share information about their citizens.
As a company under the jurisdiction of the UK laws, Overplay VPN is therefore legally mandated to abide by the country’s data retention laws and can share your data with the authorities if required to.
Your personal data and Internet browsing activities can even be shared with spy agencies in the other 5 Eyes alliance countries. If you are a privacy-conscious Internet user, then Overplay is simply not for you.
Logging and Privacy Policy
Overplay has a short Privacy Policy statement that says they do not “collect or log” any traffic or your use of their VPN service. That means they don’t keep activity logs. However, the company retains some data such as your email address and payment details when you sign up for their VPN services. They may not be keeping connection logs but your personal and financial data can be as revealing as any other type of records.
Keep in mind that the company allows P2P downloading which is considered illegal in some countries so you should be wary of any information they have on you, especially if you do P2P sharing and torrenting. The only way you can use a VPN with a 100% guarantee of safety is when the company doesn’t keep any record of your personal details and online activities.
Security Features
When it comes security features there are a few good things to say about Overplay including the following:
Protocols and Encryption
Overplay supports several secure tunneling protocols such as OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP/IPSec. OpenVPN provides the highest level of security. The VPN uses AES encryption and even allows you to choose your preferred length of the key used for this type of cipher.
A longer encryption key makes the encryption harder to crack but complicates the process creating delays. This takes more processor time. Some users prefer a shorter key to improve speed and efficiency. The Overplay app gives you a choice of a shorter AES 128-bit key or a longer harder to break AES 256-bit key.
Zero IP, DNS, WebRTC Leaks Detected
Users who tested the VPN for leaks found no IP address, DNS, or WebRTC leaks. Overplay does indeed provide reliable leak protection features.
Best Alternatives for Privacy
Overplay is a relatively good VPN and Smart DNS service but we don’t recommend it to VPN users who are conscious of their safety and privacy. One of its major security flaws is its UK location, which falls under the 5 Eyes jurisdiction. There is also the issue of recording some of your data.
If you want a higher level of privacy and anonymity in a VPN service, we recommend the following safer alternatives:
- Provider
- User Rating
- Our Review
- Price
PureVPN- 4807 Votes
- $3.24 / month
ExpressVPN- 3795 Votes
- $6.67 / month
Conclusion
So, is Overplay safe? No, it is not 100% safe because of its logging policy and country of jurisdiction. The above-mentioned alternative VPN services are much safer to use. Here is our full Overplay review if you want to learn more about this provider.