What Is a VPN and Why Do You Need One?
Privacy is a buzzing word we hear all around us in almost any aspect. But potentially, the one we are the most concerned about is our online security. You are probably already taking numerous possible measures, like using a strong password or 2-factor authentication.
However, hackers are getting better and better, and this might not be enough. This is why using a VPN is not only recommended but mandatory nowadays. Do you want to learn more?
Keep reading, and you will find out why you need to use a VPN.
What is a VPN?
VPN or Virtual Private Network tool will protect you and your information from anyone on the internet who tries to access and abuse it. In simple words, the VPN will mask your IP and everything you do online, so nobody can encrypt it and take advantage of you.
A simple example is online shopping. We all bought something from a site that looked a bit suspicious, but we believed it might be legit. In many cases, it is, and just the web designer of the brand didn’t put a lot of effort into making it look professional and trustworthy.
But in some, it is not. In case it was really a scam, the hacker that is behind it will have access to your bank information, sometimes even for days, before you figure out that you have been deceived. The hackers can get a lot of money out of your account during this time.
But with the help of a VPN tool, your information will be very well protected, and for hackers it will be almost impossible to steal your personal data. This is because the VPN will encrypt any activity while you have it on, and you should know that many hackers will just look for the easiest target and not even bother to try to decrypt your data. So, making sure you have your VPN while shopping online is more than a good idea.
How does a VPN work?
A VPN will mask your IP, and for everyone on the internet, it will look like your actions are done by someone else. VPN service providers have hundreds or even thousands of servers spread around, making it look like your traffic is coming from, for example, Germany, even if you live in the US.
On top of that, they will add a layer of encryption that will increase your protection. Thanks to all this it is almost impossible for someone to track your actions and link them back to you or steal your data.
Why do you need a VPN?
We already mentioned the biggest benefits of having a VPN, but let’s dig deeper into each of them and some additional bonuses.
When using a public WiFi
Public WiFis are very rarely secure to even the minimum. And this makes them an easy target for hackers who want to collect many people’s data. Basically, once you are connected to public WiFi (opened or protected by a password/portal), you are much more exposed than you think. And someone that has exploited the weakness of this network will be able to see everything you are doing and steal a lot of your private data.
Protection from your ISP and throttling
We don’t say that ISPs or Internet Server Providers are all bad and they are monitoring each of your moves, but you can never be too secure. And something you should most definitely use a VPN for is to avoid bandwidth throttling. This is something a lot of ISPs do to their clients when they see they are using a lot of data for torrenting or streaming. In such cases, they are slowing down your connection on purpose. And a private browser doesn’t help against that.
Also, we can’t deny that ISPs collect data for their users. The majority of this data can be harmless, but most people still don’t like the idea. And they are right not to be on board with that since the data can then be sold to a third party like an advertising tool, e.g., Facebook or Meta, as it is called now.
Data privacy
There are several apps and services you would like to not share your data with. Being more secure is always the better choice. Any application you install on your computer, phone, smart TV, or any other device that is connected to your network provides access to a lot of data to its developers. Indeed, Google Play Store and Apple Store are doing their best to limit all this and provide you with a clear view of what app access is, but still, some back doors can be exploited.
The same applies to services you use, like TV or streaming ones. They will collect data about your habit and, based on that, give you personalized suggestions on what to watch. You will say nothing wrong with that, and this is true, but this can also be used when they propose a new subscription plan and increase the price when they know you will be ready to pay it.
Access to more content
There is no way we don’t mention one of the biggest reasons to have a VPN — access all the content you want. Since the VPN is masking your location, you can easily deceive Netflix or another streaming service that you are located in the US or anywhere else in the world.
And the best thing is that VPNs are available for any device, and you can use them on your Smart TV without any issues. For example, we love using the best FireStick VPN on cold winter nights to binge-watch a whole season of a new show that just came out. You can use it to also stay on top of any sporting event that might not be broadcasted in your country.
Are you convinced yet?
Perhaps you are already looking for the best VPN services out there, and you should definitely subscribe to one as soon as possible. Using a VPN will protect you and give you many possibilities to enjoy the content you usually won’t have access to.