Usage of Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, is steadily increasing year on year. Internet users, even those who are not in the slightest tech-savvy, realize the importance of securing their data and protecting their privacy when they connect to the World Wide Web. Most people are longer blase about their internet security and take active measures to lock down their internet connection from prying eyes. Are you one of those security-conscious people?
The whole concept of a VPN may be alien to you, but it need not be. You do not need to know how they work because they are specialized software; it only matters that they do work. Here are a handful of reasons why you should consider becoming a VPN user.
You Want To Protect Your Privacy
Everything you do on the internet is logged somewhere, whether that is sharing a cat photo on Facebook or having a cheeky bet at at Onlinesportsbetting. Your internet service provider (ISP) can see every website you visit, including what device you accessed the site from. If your ISP can see this information, so can the government and anyone who has the skills to snoop in on your connection.
You may not be accessing any untoward content, but do you really want people to know your business and browsing habits? You would, rightly, be angry if someone was going through your trash and looking at your discarded items, so why not be upset at people potentially looking through your internet history?
For Accessing Content Unavailable In Your Region
With Blockbuster no longer being in business, millions of us turn to streaming content from the likes of Netflix and Amazon Video. These companies are great if you love TV shows or movies, but not all their content is available worldwide.
For example, Netflix may have a deal to only show a new show to Canadians for a set period of time, meaning you cannot view it until it becomes available. However, using a VPN can trick Netflix into thinking you are in Canada and, therefore, be able to view the content.
This spoofing of your physical location is handy for accessing other content such as the BBC iPlayer or even social media sites in countries that restrict their residents’ internet usage.
Work Securely Away From The Office
Since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have changed the way we work. Some split their time between heading into the office and working from home. Others only work remotely. Almost every business requires its employees to access the internet to view internal files or an internal email server. Doing this from the office means your internet security is probably locked down with multiple security measures. But what about your home network?
How many of you have not changed the password on your home router and just use the one your ISP supplied? Sometimes, your router’s password is something as straightforward as “password” or “settings,” which is hardly a Fort Knox level of security, is it? Would you or your employer be happy knowing someone can view potentially confidential files? Nope, I did not think so. A VPN makes this practically impossible.
When Connecting Public WiFi
How often do you connect to public WiFi, either from your laptop or smartphone? Free WiFi is great to find, but you are putting your privacy and security in the hands of the public WiFi provider. You have to hope they have the correct encryption in place to stop hackers and other unscrupulous people from breaching their security measures. If that security is lax, anyone with the necessary skills can access your data, including banking information, which is far from an ideal situation.
Furthermore, have you ever connected to public WiFi only for your favorite site being blocked? A VPN both cures this annoying issue and makes your browsing safe and secure.