Freedom houses awarded Thailand Internet freedom 35 points out of 100. This figure is shallow, meaning that your internet usage in Thailand is harshly controlled. New cybersecurity laws are coming out almost every week. At the same time, Thailand is a trendy tourist destination. So if you plan to have an unforgettable vacation there and still enjoy the freedom of speech and surf the Internet as you are used to – a reliable VPN service is something you should consider before crossing Thailand’s border.
Key reasons to use VPN in Thailand
First and one of the most important reasons to use a VPN for Thailand is the increased privacy and security it provides. The surveillance powers and censorship that Thai authorities have are incredible. Basically, they need no court order to get all the data they want about their citizens’ internet activity. This alone is a good enough reason to try and protect your data. Moreover, coffee shops and other public places have to store the visitors’ data for at least 90 days. So think twice before joining any kind of public network without reasonable protection and VPN for Thailand.
You might not be interested in watching shows, movies, or series while you are on vacation, but don’t forget that there are plenty of foreign expatriates in Thailand that came there to stay. Many streaming services are censored in Thailand, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and so on. Without a Thai VPN, you won’t even be able to reach those services. The country has blocked 6,700 URLs only in 2017, most of which were related to gambling and pornography, which are explicitly forbidden under Thai law.
Besides, Thailand is among the most frequently targeted countries for ransomware attacks. Cybercrime increased a striking 37% in March 2020 compared to February because many companies have switched to remote work. Thailand is so vulnerable to cyberattacks because it lacks infrastructure and doesn’t adopt the best security practices from other countries. It is also famous for using pirate software, making it super easy for hackers to get into private data.
If you don’t want to get into details, here is our VPN list that we recommend using in Thailand.
We understand that choosing the right VPN might be confusing considering the number of providers available on the market. However, even though they all look the same from the first glimpse, they are not the same.
Here are the most important features in a VPN for Thailand that you should look for:
- Reliable and fast performance. You want to get the same productivity while surfing the Internet, working, or streaming as you would get without using the VPN;
- servers in countries where destined websites and services are not banned (e.g., US servers to watch Netflix);
- No-logs policy. You don’t want to leave a digital trace – that’s the primary goal of using a VPN;
- strong encryption capabilities;
- Proven track record of unblocking banned websites in Thailand;
- Available Thai IPs in order to access local URLs safely
Is VPN legal in Thailand?
As in many other countries with geo-restrictions, using a VPN in Thailand is not prohibited by the law. However, you should be aware of the Criminal act, where VPN usage is not restricted. Still, it is indirectly covered in the sense that if you will use a VPN for Thailand to bypass the governmental blocks or to conduct the illegal activity – that’s prohibited. That’s why if you want to go and read some political websites or other sensitive information, you should invest in a high-quality VPN for Thailand.
Pros and cons of using free VPNs in Thailand
There are tons of free Thai VPNs, and the obvious question is, why would I pay for a VPN if I can download a free application? The answer is pretty simple. Multiple free VPNs were caught selling users’ data, and it defeats the purpose of installing the VPN. You should understand that every business is looking for ways to monetize their services and Thai VPNs are not an exception. Encryption protocols are not the best with free services, the connection is unstable, and if you need high-speed (for example, for streaming), they often can’t handle that. As far as pros go, well, those services are free, and using them is better than doing nothing at all.
That’s why we recommend considering our list of recommended VPNs for Thailand, and you’ll see that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get the protection you need.