We live in an age where the internet is king. Almost everything we do on a day-to-day basis requires connecting to the World Wide Web. We browse news websites, pay bills, access our bank accounts, and stream television shows and sporting events without giving these activities a second thought.
Internet users continue to grow increasingly aware of the importance of protecting their data and privacy when they are online. They no longer leave their internet security to chance, with many using a Virtual Private Network, or VPN as it is abbreviated to, whenever they log onto the internet. You may have heard about VPNs but are unsure what they are or why you need one. This article will answer both those questions and more.
What Is A VPN and How Does It Work?
A VPN creates a secure connection between you and the internet in what is known as a tunnel. This tunnel acts as a middle man when it comes to sending and receiving data. Every internet connection is identifiable from its IP address, a string of numbers used to determine an internet user’s location. A VPN encrypts your data, which makes it invisible to everyone. This means hackers cannot target your machine. You can access previously inaccessible websites and essentially hide your internet usage from your service provider, which is handy if you use IPTV products or visit betting sites listed at mytopspotsbooks.com.
VPNs can spoof your physical location, too. The VPN software connects to the VPN provider’s servers worldwide, making it look like you are accessing the internet from that country. This is handy for reasons you will read about shortly.
VPNs Provide Data Privacy
Put your hand up if you regularly connect to public WiFi. Keep your hand up if you access private data while connected to a public WiFi connection? You need a VPN if you are sitting with your hand waving in the air.
Public WiFi has built-in security features, but they tend to be basic, leaving it vulnerable to unscrupulous folks who want to steal your data. Talented hackers can access your passwords, internet browsing history, and even your banking information. A VPN makes this data impossible to access because it encrypts it to a standard that would take billions of years to break.
VPNs Allow You To Access Website Outside Your Country
Very few websites are blocked in the United States; it is not called the Land of the Free for no reason! However, this is not the case if you travel abroad because some countries block websites and services. For example, Google and Facebook are not available to China residents. Its government blocks these sites, and dozens of others, making it impossible to view them.
A VPN grants you access to blocked services by making your internet connection appear to be located in a different country. While a VPN should never be used to break the law, obviously, it is a handy tool if you are a frequent traveler who wants to browse their usual array of websites.
Furthermore, you can use a VPN as a workaround to access content not yet available in your country. Netflix users can access movies and shows not available in their country or use the popular BBC iPlayer from countries outside the United Kingdom.
VPNs Are Complex Software Made Easy
There is a lot of jargon when talking about VPNs, and the software itself is highly complex. The VPN providers know this and take away all the complexity from the user by creating simple, easy-to-use apps.
Even the least tech-savvy person on the planet can use a VPN. All that is required for most VPNs is downloading an app onto your smartphone, tablet, or computer and the click of your mouse to choose the location you want to be seen from. They really are as simple as that.
The best VPNs are not expensive either. Some offer a free service, which is secure but has limited features or data caps. Subscription-based VPNs always have special offers running, making them cheaper than a take-out coffee each month. How much are your privacy and freedom worth? Surely more than $5 a month?