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The world of cybercrime has grown exponentially over the past few years. It seems we have lost nearly all of our privacy and security regarding personal devices. The reality is that we aren’t safe anywhere — sometimes not even in our own homes!
When you’re out and about, using public WiFi hotspots like those found at restaurants, hotels, and airports can put you in even more danger. Cybercriminals thrive on these unsecured networks, and there is the risk of having your login credentials, personal information, and even your banking details were stolen.
In terms of security and privacy on your devices, a VPN is an essential tool that you simply cannot go without. But, a VPN is more than just a cybersecurity tool. Keep reading to find out what other benefits you can reap from having a VPN installed on your device!
What is a VPN?
The ideal tool for your privacy and security needs in our modern world is a VPN. VPNs are also known as virtual private networks, and if you’re unfamiliar with what they are and what they are used for, you’re in the right place. Below we’re going to explain why you need a VPN in a detailed but quick guide.
When using a VPN, your internet connection will be encrypted. This means that no one can see what you are doing on your device — not even your internet service provider or the government will be able to track your internet traffic. We’ll get into why this is important later on!
VPNs also allow you to change your virtual location. What this means is that while you might be in one country, it would appear as if your device is in another. In other words, you might be in Thailand, but when you’re using a VPN you can trick websites into thinking that you are accessing the internet from the United States. You can do this by connecting to a secure global server in another country or city around the world.
Websites use your IP address to locate your device — an IP address is a unique string of numbers that is used to identify your device on the internet. When you use a VPN to connect to a secure server in another country, your real IP address will be masked and your device will adopt the IP address of the server instead.
Why is a VPN essential?
So now that we understand what a VPN is and how it works, let’s further explore why it’s such an important tool to have installed on our devices. Before we get started, it’s important to note that while the features of a VPN might cater more to someone who’s traveling, it can also be a great tool to have even if you’re in your own home.
When it comes to security and privacy a VPN is incredibly important. If you’re using an unsecured network or a network that might be unsafe, there is a high risk of cybercriminals “listening in” on your device. This is especially common at public WiFi hotspots as mentioned earlier, and this virtual eavesdropping is one of the most common ways that cybercriminals target foreigners who are unable to use their mobile data due to the expensive roaming charges involved. While your connection is encrypted with a VPN, hackers will be unable to eavesdrop on your device and steal your login credentials, personal information, or banking details.
You may have encountered geographical blocking before. Geo-blocking happens when you try to access content that is not available in your region — it’s most commonly found when trying to access sports live streams, YouTube videos, and even some Netflix content.
While you have your VPN active, you can connect to a server in another country to gain access to any content that you want. It’s important to keep in mind that some VPNs are not compatible with platforms such as Netflix and YouTube, so make sure to check this feature before you install a VPN on your device.
VPNs will also allow you to bypass internet censorship. These restrictions are becoming more and more common in our modern world as several governments are cracking down on the type of content that people within their borders are allowed to have access to. Some countries, such as China, for example, have incredibly strict internet censorship and prevent anyone inside their borders from accessing social media, foreign news websites, and even some Google features.
Moreover, a VPN will allow you to avoid regional discrimination which allows you to get massive discounts on fligaccommodationation, and even some online subscriptions. Websites will alter their pricing based on your location, and you may find that the prices fluctuate depending on the global server that you are connected to.
Guidelines for Choosing a VPN
Before you head over to Google to install the first VPN you can get your hands on, there are some important guidelines that you need to follow when choosing the right VPN. The first, and most important rule is an easy one to remember: always go for the premium option when choosing a VPN.
There’s a very good reason for doing so too. Free VPNs come with several drawbacks that will have a negative effect on your device and your overall experience with the VPN. Free VPNs can often lead to slower connection speeds, more ads, less security, fewer global servers to choose from, and even daily data limits.
Before choosing a VPN to install on your device, make sure to do thorough research about it. VPNs are not created equal, and oftentimes you may find some VPNs that have excellent connection speeds whereas others might be between when it comes to unblocking websites.
Finally, if you are traveling and need to install a VPN on your device to bypass geo-blocking, make sure to install the VPN before you travel. If a country employs internet censorship within their borders, it’s highly likely that they will also block the websites that allow you to download VPNs — leaving you unable to access any of your favorite websites.