People have been inventing things since time immemorial. From bicycles, cars, planes, rockets, medical equipment, telephones, you name it.
While all these are great, I feel the internet is the greatest invention of all time. It is the one thing that unites us through information and communication, and that has made life so much easier than ever before.
What can’t you do with the internet?
You can study, teach, do business, research, communicate, transfer funds, download or stream your favorite music, videos, and shows for your entertainment, and so much more.
Just about anything you want, you can do. All you need is a smartphone, laptop, or any other internet-enabled device and good internet.
But using the internet is not without challenges,
For starters, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is constantly tracking your online activity. They are aware of when, where, and what you browse. They can then sell this information to advertisers, which can be very risky if it gets into the wrong hands.
Secondly, public WI-FI might be convenient, but it is not always secure. Such networks are easy to intercept because they allow open access to everyone, and they will use either; a shared password or none at all. That means that anyone with malicious intent can spy on your banking information, passwords, and other sensitive information and use it against you.
Also, some sites and apps we use are malicious or insecure and will either expose your data to hackers or sell it to advertisers. In any case, your data is not safe in their hands.
The list goes on.
If you are reading this article, you are probably in a dilemma, whether there’s a safer way to browse the internet.
Lucky for you, there is! Just use a VPN service; it’s that simple.
What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an online tool that allows you to browse the internet anonymously, even on a private network. For that, the VPN tool encrypts all your connections and masks your IP (Internet Protocol) address, thus keeping your data and location hidden.
A VPN protects all your online activities from hackers and strangers with malicious intent. It gives you more freedom to access your favorite websites and application safely and without worry.
There are several advantages of using a VPN;
- It protects you from malicious websites and apps
- Allows safe internet usage over public WI-FI networks
- Enables you to stuff anonymously
- Provides protection against ISP tracking
- Protects your data from your government
- Allows you to access and stream blocked content etc.
VPNs are not new to the world. They have been around for more than 2- decades, and they are so popular right now. For that reason, this is probably not the first time you are hearing about them.
Despite that, people are still unaware of so many things about VPNs.
Below is a list of 9 of those things that, you too, probably, never knew about VPNs.
1. VPNs are Not 100% Perfect, But They are Your Best Bet
Nothing is 100% perfect, and VPNs are no exception. VPNs are very hard to hack due to the encryption but doing so is still possible. The vulnerability is more for a free VPN. Even so, you are much safer using it than not.
2. All VPNs are Not the Same
There are so many VPNs in the market, and they are all different based on their uses, performance, prices, etc. When searching for your VPN, you will need to think of your needs first to find the best option.
Some of the questions you might want to ask include
- What is the VPNs provider privacy policy?
- Is the VPN up to date?
- Is the VPN accessible on multiple devices?
- How much does the VPN cost?
Confirm that your VPN has everything you are looking for before you make your final decision. Also, to make your work easier, you can click here to learn more about the best VPN services in the market right now and their uses.
3. You are not 100% Anonymous with a VPN
Although most VPN services promise you anonymous internet browsing, you are not 100% anonymous. If they wish, they can access and identify you through your information through your IP address. But that should not worry you because they wouldn’t dare disclose your identity.
4. VPN Service Providers may Record your Information, but they Keep it to Themselves
There is a common belief that VPN service providers record customer logs for the government. That is not true. The only reason they keep that information is to make follow-ups on their network to identify issues and improve their services.
5. VPNs are Like Firewalls only that They are Untraceable
VPNs are more or less similar to firewalls, with just a very tiny difference between them. They both protect networks and prevent computer viruses from coming in. How they do it is the only thing that makes them different.
Firewalls do it by sifting through the incoming and outgoing data packets. VPNs, on the other hand, do so by encrypting your data and being untraceable.
6. VPNs Can Help You Save On the Subscriptions Costs
The cost of subscribing to streaming services and other internet sites may vary depending on location or country. Using a VPN service allows you to change your IP address and lower the subscription cost for your favorite services.
7. VPNs can Help you Save on Your Flights and Hotel Bookings
Just like subscriptions, the cost of booking a hotel and airline tickets can vary depending on your location. VPN allows you to alter your geolocation and lower the cost of your bookings on your next holiday or business trip.
But please do not use VPN to access your e-banking services and PayPal as this may lead to suspicion of fraudulent use and cost you your account.
8. VPNs Can Help Prevent ISP Throttling Practices
Throttling is a common practice by ISPs worldwide. It happens when your ISP provider decides to limit your internet connectivity, slowing down your speeds, especially on high bandwidth sites. VPN prevents this by encrypting all your data and hiding your online activities from your ISP.
Your ISP cannot see what you are doing, yet they cannot throttle your connectivity on all services. That prevents them from throttling your internet connection on any of the services.
9. VPNs are Illegal in Some Countries
Although VPNs are legal in most parts of the world, in some others, they are illegal. To be more accurate, 30 out of 196 countries have banned the use of VPNs to exercise complete control over their citizens. Some of those countries include China, Russia, Syria, Iran, North Korea, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, and Myanmar.
Conclusion
The internet can be very beneficial to your life, but it can also be very harmful. VPN technology provides an easier, faster, more convenient, and safer way of using it. It is the best way to avoid unnecessary stress while browsing the internet.
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