The app is built around a central map of the world
displaying the company’s server locations, shown as
Mario-esque pipes. Select your desired location from
the menu above, switch protection on, and you’re
treated to a surprisingly smooth animation of a bear
tunneling away from your current location. All the
TunnelBear apps use the same design, so you’ll have a
familiar experience no matter where you go with
TunnelBear.
As much as we love the TunnelBear apps, they have
remained fairly static for several years. It would be nice
to see them get a tuneup, without losing their panache
in the process.
TunnelBear doesn’t have many locations to choose
from, but a location search box would be an excellent
addition—as would a list of servers, with some basic
information such as load and ping time. NordVPN and
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servers, which can be useful when you need a
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The TunnelBear app does include some advanced
features, such as Trusted Networks, which is basically a
whitelist of Wi-Fi networks you trust. Another
important feature is Vigilant Mode. This prevents data
from slipping through your internet connection during
the seconds it takes TunnelBear to reconnect should
you become disconnected. The GhostBear feature aims
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told me that the company advises that users switch on
GhostBear only when absolutely necessary, as it can
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tools designed to circumvent censorship.
All the
TunnelBear
apps use the
same design, so
you’ll have a
familiar
experience no
matter where
you go.