You may be acquainted with the term Virtual Private Network (VPN). From regular Internet users to journalists and activists, people worldwide use this technology to protect themselves from online threats. If you’re unsure about how VPNs work, then here are answers to five common questions.
How Easy Is It to Use a VPN?
A VPN is simple to use. Your first step is to identify a trusted VPN service. Check out the latest reviews of the service from reputable sources. Do your due diligence, read up on the company, and sign up.
Usually, good VPN services offer a free trial. Download the VPN client on your computer and connect to a VPN server close to you in order to enjoy a fast, secure, and private connection. However, be wary of free VPN services. Such VPNs are slow, obsolete, insecure, and carry malware. In addition, free VPNs track and sell your data to third parties to make money.
How Does a VPN Protect My Security?
VPN technology encrypts your data and sends it across a VPN tunnel to the VPN server. This tunnel secures your confidential information from hackers, criminals, state-sponsored organizations, and even your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Experts recommend that you get the latest online VPN to stay utterly secure with state-of-the-art 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). Experts say that this powerful encryption would take over two trillion years to hack with current computing technology. For context, that’s more than the age of the universe.
How Does a VPN Protect My Privacy?
An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network. Using your IP address, someone can trace you across the internet to your computer. When you use a VPN, you connect to the Internet with the VPN server’s IP address rather than your own and stay anonymous.
What Are the Most Common Uses for VPNs?
With a VPN, you can stay safe while using public WiFi or while peer-to-peer (P2P) gaming or filesharing. Data from the audience analytics platform GlobalWebIndex shows that people use VPNs for a variety of reasons.
- To access better entertainment content
- To access social networks, websites, or news services
- To stay anonymous while browsing and bypass geographical blocks
- To access sites, files, and services at work
- To communicate with friends and family abroad
Does a VPN Make Me Completely Secure on the Internet?
A good VPN service reinforces your security and privacy on the Internet. However, it’s also essential to take other steps to protect yourself online. Alongside a VPN, use advanced antivirus software from a trusted cybersecurity company that quickly isolates malware, viruses, and other threats on your device and offers real-time protection from online scams, infected sites, malicious links, and phishing expeditions.
Likewise, adopt good browsing habits on the Internet - don’t share your data on social media, use sophisticated passwords, don’t save your login information on websites, and avoid suspicious messages and emails.
While VPN technology may appear intimidating, it’s straightforward to use. The benefits of using it, such as extra security and privacy, are priceless. Find a good VPN and go online with confidence.
