A VPN (Virtual Private Network) can be a fantastic tool when going online, helping you stay anonymous, get more freedom and stay equally as safe. In today’s world which is becoming rapidly more digital and online, we are seeing the malicious and dangerous treatment of a user’s online data and their abilities or freedoms to use the web fully. A VPN would originally be used to stay a bit safer, retain online privacy, and get that piece of mind. Now, a VPN can benefit every aspect of online activity and can give its user a huge amount more freedom than they usually would. They are also incredibly easy and cheap to get when you’re online, whether you need a Chrome VPN or one that works with Safari.
A VPN works by hiding the connected user’s IP address, which helps block any data that could pinpoint their exact location and allows them to use a server anywhere in the world, without being geologically restricted. A VPN also creates an encrypted tunnel so that when a user enters data they do so encrypted, meaning this data cannot be accessed or used. This was the primary function for someone wanting to use a VPN – to stay anonymous and private. The world has become digital, and the value of users’ online activity went from meaningless to worth more than oil as a commodity.
This has seen huge corporations like Yahoo have data breaches leaking millions of individuals and their personal information. Your data is constantly under threat, most notably from companies like Yahoo and your ISP (Internet Service Provider) who are looking to collect and sell your data without even giving you the courtesy of a notice. On the flip side to this threat against your privacy, companies, and governments are working to restrict your internet freedoms with every passing year.
It paints a very bleak and gray picture for the future of the internet, but fear not – the use of a VPN can revolutionize the way you go online. People gained more insights into the benefits of VPNs, leading to a huge surge in use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are the key ways a VPN gives you more freedom online:
It Gives You Privacy & Anonymity
A VPNs most crucial feature is giving you peace of mind through privacy online. It keeps you anonymous by masking your IP address and ensuring your data and online activity all take place through an encrypted connection. This is amazing for someone who hates targeted advertising, as you will no longer be leaking personal information and online activity to third-party corporations who parse this data and sell it to businesses. On the more malicious side, by using an encrypted connection you no longer find yourself at the mercy of cybercriminals when online banking or shopping.
When you go onto your online bank and enter details, there is no risk of that information being stored by a third party or hacker. This is a huge benefit of a VPN – working completely out of sight. The same benefit translates to when working or browsing on public networks. If you are at your favorite coffee house or waiting at the airport, without a VPN you could be at risk from cybercriminals. Even though you are on a public network that could be critically unprotected and festering with hackers, a VPN makes it seem as if you are not even there, giving you a form of ultimate protection and privacy.
It Keeps Your Internet Speedy
Internet Service Providers can be very pesky when it comes to your online experience. Not only will they take your data without consent but they will also sell it to the highest bidder without notice. On top of all this, they will even cut down your internet speed for no reason at all! It’s a process called ‘network throttling’, and what they essentially do is when they spot you doing something like downloading a movie, streaming a sports event, or maybe gaming online, they will cut down your bandwidth to make sure it is available for others locally.
Now even if no one else is online around you, they will stay throttle your internet speed. This can mean that while you are enjoying the latest Game of Thrones or watching Amazon Prime’s Lord of the Rings, you will get the dreaded buffering icon. A VPN will mask whatever you are doing, meaning network throttling will be a thing of the past and make your online experience limitless.
It Gets You More Content
You may find that while you browse Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, or any other streaming service, the library can change to which country you are in. This can be great pain, like if you wanted to watch Bridgerton while in the United States but cannot find it at all in the Netflix directory. You will find it however if you are in the UK. This annoying part of geo-restricted content can be bypassed with a VPN, as you can alter your country to fit whichever content you need or want. This extends to sporting events that are being nationally streamed or news content that is not being censored elsewhere. A VPN can completely unlock online content for you, giving you more freedom and accessibility.