If you think this is the time to relax when it comes to your online presence, then you are wrong! The internet is more dangerous than ever, and it is getting riskier and riskier by the minute. The innovation of new technology, such as cryptocurrency and blockchain, has led to cyber attackers and hackers becoming increasingly innovative.
Software such as a VPN and antivirus can be immensely useful when it comes to keeping your identity secure on the internet and preventing malware and viruses from getting onto your device and stealing your data or worse. A good VPN is especially essential, as it is the first line of defense on the internet. Given this situation, you should consider investing in VPN best deals or antivirus deals to secure your internet connection.
We’ll discuss the usefulness of a VPN in this blog. Keep reading to find out more
VPNs – The First Line Of Defense
● What Is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network, or a VPN for short, is a digital tool that protects your internet connection on the internet and hides your actual identity. It safeguards your device from threats and shields your internet activity from hackers and cyber attackers who might be looking to exploit you.
VPNs are the new craze because a good VPN like ExpressVPN secures your internet connection and allows people to access blocked networks, websites, and apps. And if you are smart about it, you can also get a VPN subscription for quite cheap.
The best VPNs these days are user-friendly and can double as a firewall and malware detector. VPNs used to be complicated back in the day, and anyone who wanted to use one needed to be good with computers and have access to exclusive servers, but that isn’t the case anymore.
There’s a whole host of other factors that make VPNs a must-have. Read below to find out the advantages.
1. VPNs Keep You Anonymous
The main reason people use a VPN so readily is because of the level of anonymity it provides on the internet. It is one of the sole purposes of a VPN. The method it uses to do this is two-fold. First, it encrypts your connection with an encryption algorithm (ex: AES-256, as used by ExpressVPN).
Then it spoofs your IP address. It does this by taking an IP address from one of its own servers and replacing it with the IP address on your connection. This keeps you hidden from sniffers and hackers. It also allows you unbidden access to blocked content, such as streaming sites that wouldn’t be available to you otherwise due to geo-restrictions.
2. VPN Ensures Private & Secure Communication
VPNs are being adopted by the corporate sector more and more. This is because VPNs can also be deployed at an organizational level, which can come in handy. You can secure all the devices in your organization, be it laptops, PCs, or smartphones.
A VPN is also handy if you want to discuss sensitive matters over the phone with a third-party such as the government or a potential client. The encryption standards of a VPN will ensure that your conversation is kept completely secure. There are clients such as Skype, Hangout, and more that support the use of a VPN.
3. Reduced Latency When Gaming
It can even reduce lag times. Yes, gamers, you heard that right. Let’s say you are playing an online game and that game has its main servers in a location such as the UK. If you are experiencing high latency because you are not in the same region, then a VPN could solve that problem.
Simply connect to a UK server using your VPN; your latency should drop drastically. Due to the change in the region, the data will take less time to transmit from the game servers to your servers.
You might even be able to play games that are illegal or otherwise available in your state or country. There is also the fact that VPNs also protect from DDoS attacks. Many GTA V players reported being DDoSed over the internet. A VPN could prevent that from happening.
4. Easily Access Geo-Restricted Content and Services
There are many streaming services and apps all over the world that are available in certain regions and are blocked from accessing outside those regions. Hulu is only available in the US, HBO Max is only available in the US, Latin America and a few Scandinavian countries, and BBC iPlayer is only available in the UK. There are hundreds of examples.
This is done primarily due to licensing and copyright restrictions, as well as to prevent piracy. Even if a service is available in your country, chances are that the content library is segregated. You will find content on US Netflix that you wouldn’t find on UK Netflix and vice versa.
With a VPN, you can easily bypass this restriction and access your favorite TV shows and movies. The IP spoofing technique that every VPN uses enables this feature and with this, the target servers are easily fooled into thinking that you are in the same region as they are.
5. Save Money When Shopping Online
Especially with digital products, you can easily save money with a VPN. Subscriptions to a streaming service cost you more than in Japan or Australia. And if you are buying plane tickets or booking a hotel, a VPN might save you those extra few dollars you can spend on other things.
Wrap Up
The pros far outweigh the cons. In fact, there are basically no cons to using a VPN. Your online identity is protected constantly, you get to bypass ISP throttling, and you even get to access restricted services and apps. With a VPN, the internet feels truly limitless.
