Is a Virtual Private Network right for you?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and there are many reasons why you might want to consider signing up with a provider. We are not going to go into detail about what it actually is; instead, we are going to concentrate more on what you can actually do with it.
So, what can you do with a Virtual Private Network? Actually, you can do a great deal, so let us take a look.
You can use a VPN in the following ways:
- Browse the internet with added security;
- Stop your ISP spying on you;
- Gain access to websites that are geo-restricted;
- Bypass censorship;
- Torrent without your ISP finding out;
- Make savings on flights, hotel rooms and car rental.
So let’s move on and take a look in detail at how you can use your VPN plan after completing a super straight-forward installation process.
Provides Security
The internet is a great place to spend time but it can also be a dangerous place. Hackers are getting better and better, which means you are more at risk than you have ever been.
A VPN provides security as it masks your own IP address and gives you one from the connected server.
This means no one will know where you are actually located, as you could have connected to a server many thousands of miles away from your true location.
Secondly, thanks to an encrypted tunnel, any data you send over the internet is unreadable, so even if it is intercepted it just looks like a garbled mess.
Hide Your Online Activity From Your ISP
Not only hackers and cybercriminals can find out what you do online. Your ISP can also see your online activities.
This means they can see any websites you visit, emails you send, what you download, messages you send and more.
Of course, with an encrypted tunnel residing between you and them, they have no clue as to what you are doing online.
Allows Access to Geo-restricted Websites
Websites such as Netflix, BBCiPlayer and Amazon Prime Video are geo-located. This means you see a local version depending on where you are located in the world.
US Netflix has the biggest catalogue of content but you can only view it in the states. Other local versions have seriously diminished content, if they even offer it.
You can take on IP address from a server in your home country, wherever you are in the world, to spoof the ISP into believing you are located in your home country.
This allows you to bypass geo-restrictions and access your home content.
You Can Overcome Censorship
You can overcome censorship in any country. Countries such as China heavily censor the internet.
Sites and apps such as Gmail, Calendar, Maps, Facebook and many thousands more are all blocked.
With a VPN, data is encrypted so the ISP doesn’t know what site you want to visit so cannot censor websites and apps.
DownloadTorrents Without Your ISP Spying
Torrenting is legal providing you are not downloading copyrighted content. However, if you choose to download the latest movies, music, e-books or any other content protected by copyright, your ISP will find out.
They will send out a notice telling you that you have downloaded copyrighted content and if you continue they may restrict your internet or pass the matter onto the courts.
Save Money on Hotels and Flights
It is possible to save money by using a VPN as you can connect to any server and take on an IP address from that server.
All you need to do is connect to a server in a country where the cost of living is lower than your own and then search for prices of hotel rooms, flights or car rental using a comparison website.