As much as the internet makes things easier, there is a downside to it. Its growth is directly proportional to cybersecurity-related issues. Hackers and other third parties are always waiting to snoop in and check out your private information. Giants like Google and Apple openly admit that they use your info for personalizing advertisements. Fortunately, this guide to VPN has the solution.
What’s the best thing to save your personal information from being misused? Use a Virtual Private Network. A VPN is the best friend of a computer junkie. Someone who doesn’t have much information regarding what it is considers it a mystery.
However, despite the abbreviation making such a connection sound like a difficult-to-understand concept, a VPN is a pretty simple term. Stats show that VPN usage has only increased compared to the past year. Let’s dive deeper into what a VPN is, what it does, and more.
What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network allows people to surf the internet anonymously. This equates to safer browsing with little to no chance of third-party or hacker interference. What this service does is that it routes your internet connection through another server which allows you to browse privately, with your online actions undisclosed to prying eyes.
Your internet provider is also not able to see which sites you are browsing in the presence of a VPN. So, if you are using your laptop at a random bar, you don’t have to worry about its internet provider knowing your online whereabouts.
Here’s how a VPN works: the service ensures that your data is encrypted even before the internet provider gets to check it out. Then, instead of directly going to your online destination, data entered is routed through your VPN, after which it reaches anyplace online.
What does this mean? Your internet destination is not able to figure out your location as the location of your VPN service is chosen. Moreover, you can browse safely and privately with your data encrypted.
Uses of a VPN
Did you know that a major portion of VPN users, use the service for browsing entertainment sites? 50% of people use a VPN connection for this purpose. 34% of people use it for logging onto social networks or exploring news sites. And, 31% of VPN users use it for anonymous browsing.
A Virtual Private Network enables users to access more content on streaming services, it keeps data private and secure and it doesn’t reveal your access location. That’s not all, a VPN connection has way more uses. This guide to VPN will explore some of these below.
Never browse at a snail’s pace:
When there are too many people standing for entry into a website, the network traffic is controlled, and bandwidth congestion is reduced by your ISP. This causes slow buffering, file sharing, etc. With a VPN in place, you can avoid bandwidth throttling as your location is altered and you are not considered to be a part of the crowd.
Hide your activities:
It’s no secret that Google, Bing, and other search engines show advertisements based on what you search online. So, if you made a search for anti-depressants, it’s likely that a related pill or therapy app pops up as an ad. This can be embarrassing if other people around you notice the ads shown to you and figure out your searches. A better idea? Use a VPN and stay secure. You can also avoid tracebacks with a VPN in place.
Surf everything everywhere:
Has your country-restricted certain websites and online platforms? With a VPN in place, you can pose as if you are from another country and surf without limitations. When you are traveling abroad, you can access any websites that you can do in your home country but not in a foreign land. Therefore, you can bypass any blockages anywhere around the globe.
Get cheaper prices:
The online world is also an unfair place. Surfing from another country can help you dodge unjust pricing differences. By changing your location, you can book a vacation for cheaper as prices vary from one country to another. The same goes for online shopping. You can fetch products at better prices by altering your location via a VPN.
Maintain your privacy:
Privacy is your right. Your personal conversations must not be disclosed to a third party. Your voice calls over skype shouldn’t be heard by someone else. An insecure public wi-fi connection shouldn’t allow a hacker to be able to see what you are up to. This is a reason you need a guide to VPN. Your searches must not be logged. You can keep this all private and encrypted with a VPN service.
How to get a VPN for cheap?
There are several VPN providers. Go for cheap and reliable connections that offer more options for less. Make sure that your final choice is one that is secure and not sketchy at all. That said, NordVPN, and Ivacy are among TechRadar’s list of the best VPN service providers of 2018. Cyberghost and Private Internet Access are other VPN providers you can check out.
If you want to avail the best deals check for sales or collect any available coupons. You can get a discount using coupons for VPN. This guide to VPN recommends that you avoid providers that offer free services as these will either provide limited security or they can also be scams fishing for your personal data and selling it to third parties.
Verdict
When it comes to security, you should take all the measures you can. Your online presence and activities can be protected with the help of a Virtual Private Network. Such a connection also provides other services. VPNs don’t just keep you safe but save you from bandwidth throttling, unfair pricing policies, hacker attacks, and other issues.
I will end this guide to VPN with one important note. You need pick the right VPN and this means the one that doesn’t log your information or has shady history of being dubious to its users. Do your research, pick the right VPN and browse away.