Top 10 Uses for a VPN

How to get the most out of your VPN service

Whether you are using it or not, chances are you heard of VPNs as powerful tools many are turning to these years. A VPN encrypts the data you send over the Internet and leads it through dedicated servers, which enables great protection. However, it does not stop there. Here are some of the best uses for a VPN, with some plain and some less obvious ways to fully utilize the service.  

Protecting Your Identity  

Encryption and tunneling your data through private servers makes it next to impossible to trace the connection back to you in the first place. This will actually protect your identity online with a disguise, hiding your files and the location. A VPN works as the best way to avoid phishing when you are entering your login or bank details. 

Avoiding ISP Restrictions    

Internet Service Providers have known strategies to control the users’ behavior online. This can mean restrictions on what you can do online, with banned IPs often imposed by an employer or the government. You can find your way around this with a VPN, routing your connection through its servers to allow access wherever you want to go. 

Making Public WiFi Safer  

Indeed, you are most vulnerable to cyber attacks when you are using public WiFi. This is because many devices connect the same way you do, where malicious attempts can go unnoticed. Sometimes without even a password, you open up your phone or laptop as soon as you connect and this can be a serious threat. Data encryption closes this window and will usually have hackers backing off even quicker.

Avoiding Bandwidth Throttling   

Bandwidth throttling is nothing new and ISP will usually use it to control the Internet speed. This is a very efficient way to regulate traffic, clear any congestion, or impose user-specific usage limits. However, there have been reports of throttling heavy users as well as specific sites – which will ultimately result in people moving away from them. You can check if you are being throttled and easily get around site-related throttling with a VPN. 

Streaming Geo-Blocked content   

A VPN is a great tool for streaming too. Almost all platforms shape their content differently for different regions. This is mainly done because of copyrights but there’s a way around it as well. Whether you are using HBO Max, Amazon Prime, or Netflix, using a VPN is bound to enhance the library. VPNcheck listed the three best VPNs for Netflix here, with pros and cons for your streaming habits listed.  

Avoiding Trackers   

While website trackers can be rather useful in your overall experience, many don’t want them. Typically, sites use information such as cookies and extensions to shape the content you see or provide better loading times. However, these can be abused just as much, especially in instances of personalized ads so protecting your connection with a VPN is a smart choice indeed. 

Getting the Most Out of Your Money   

VPNs will also allow you to access shopping sites as if you were in a different country. Many services have location-targeted prices in place too, with airlines as the most prominent example. This means you could be getting a better price for the same thing if you employ a VPN and connect to a server in another country. Many subscriptions will cost different across the globe, where some research and spoofing could save you money.

Torrenting Safely   

Torrenting opens your port to peer connections but possibly the greater danger is downloading (and uploading) illegal content. Pirate materials online have seen crackdowns on many occasions in the past. Users certainly could see legal repercussions for their activity, which are more often in some places than others. A VPN hides your location while encrypting data you send and receive, which protects your identity in those circumstances as well. 

Connecting to Work or University Campus   

Many of us have been connecting to University servers in the past and remote work has been as important as ever in the last two years. These servers need protection while offering everything workers need, which brought on a great use of VPNs. Encrypted servers and remote access to them allowed many to keep working with few health risks. Many companies were quick to act in such changing circumstances and this has further skyrocketed the popularity of VPNs. 

Accessing a Home Network Remotely    

Building on what’s been said in the last section, it’s obvious how important it is to yourself when joining your home network remotely. Regardless of how you set up your home network for remote access, keeping your data safe through encryption is crucial. This is especially true if others know you’re doing it, as you could find yourself targeted while accessing your files at home. A VPN can be integrated in such setups to provide a great layer of protection, which makes for a less-known yet equally important feature of the service. 

Final Thoughts

VPNs have seen a great rise with the Internet users’ awareness as well as the general need to protect privacy. They provide anonymity and increased security many are yearning for. These have been some of the prominent features VPN services offer, with great focus on enhancing the users’ online experience as well. Hiding your activity has never been as important as it is in 2022, which has experts predicting further expansions.