Let’s face the fact – you probably didn’t know much about tech or didn’t care about it until a few years ago when a devastating pandemic forced us to stay indoors and do most of the things we need to do from a computer or on our mobile phones.
For many people, that was an official welcome to the tech world and an unraveling of many tech-related secrets. We now know that a smartphone and a PC are essential, so paying up to $100 a month or more for the latest models isn’t something to anguish about anymore.
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We can now comfortably invest in powerful laptops, high-speed internet, voice-controlled speakers, high-end earbuds, mirrorless cameras, and… VPN services.
Whether you’re a tech elite or a novice, you’ll always want the fastest and most functional connections possible, and that’s why getting a VPN alongside other tech equipment and software is almost a no-brainer.
VPNs provide the security, privacy, and anonymity you’ll need to work, game, or shop from a personal connection. It’s almost a must in today’s world, and we’ll tell you why in this article. But before then, let’s review what a VPN is and how it works.
What is a VPN?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) describes the opportunity to establish a protected network connection when using public networks. VPNs are designed to encrypt your internet traffic and disguise your online identity. A VPN’s protection makes it difficult for a third party to track your online activities.
Did you Know?  VPN service is now used by nearly one-third of all internet users. |
VPNs are becoming increasingly essential to technology users. It provides you with the freedom to take advantage of all that the internet has to offer.
But despite its popularity, you may still wonder when and how to use it. What are its benefits? Do you always need to use one?
A VPN is an essential security measure. It creates an encrypted tunnel between your machine and a remote server.
The next section of this article reviews critical reasons you need a VPN and examples of VPN services to match these needs.
Top Reasons to Use a VPN Service
Security on Public WiFi
We’ll use public WiFi networks once in a while, whether in a pub, worship center, favorite restaurant, or airport. Public WiFi is convenient but mostly comes at the expense of security.
Although it’s not often the intention of WiFi network providers, someone may be trying to track your online activities. They could lay their hands on vital information about you by monitoring your online activities.
One of the best ways to protect yourself from such intrusions is via a VPN. VPN typically works to protect your data while you are on other networks, hiding your browsing history, account passwords, and other banking information from internet strangers with bad intentions.
TunnelBear is one option that stands out for this purpose. Whether you are using a shared WiFi network or a personal connection, TunnelBear helps to keep your online activities private. It provides you excellent security by preventing IP-based tracking. It is also easy to download, install and use, so you won’t have any problem with it.
Data privacy from internet service providers
Unlike public WiFi networks, personal internet connections and home WiFi networks are less likely to be attacked by strangers. But it doesn’t entirely eliminate the vulnerability of your data.
It’s no longer news that ISPs of internet service providers typically access your internet data. They can see where, how, and when you browse the internet. We constantly hear stories of internet service providers collecting and selling this data to advertisers.
Your data, in the wrong hands, can be dangerous, and that’s why you need the protection that VPN brings. A VPN helps to obscure your IP address, limiting the amount of data access your ISP would have.
For example, NordVPN allows you to securely access your personal and work files without exposing your activities to internet service providers. Its IP masking feature protects your online privacy while allowing access to the information you want from public and private sources.
Defeat oppressive government censorship
Governments all around the world have the power to limit or completely stop you from visiting certain websites. True to this, there are oppressive states today where certain services or materials are unavailable to citizens.
If you live in such states or plan to visit one, VPN will always come to your rescue when accessing censored websites. It also comes in handy when, in the event of an uprising, you need to communicate with the outside world or call for rescue without any internal security apparatus being aware. VPN encrypts the data, so your online actions are completely private
For example, ExpressVPN allows secure access to 94 countries from anywhere around the world. It is also easy to use. So whether you’re a novice or an expert looking to avoid sanctions from an oppressive government, ExpressVPN helps you move to a new online country where you can fully enjoy access to censored content.
Save money from online shopping
As surprising as this may sound, some online stores display different prices for different customers shopping for the same products from different countries. So, don’t be surprised if your favorite item’s price differs from what it’s listed for in other countries.
Whether you’re shopping for household items, car parts, or building materials, it makes sense to see what other people are paying for it.
There’s no better way to search and compare prices than with a VPN. We recommend methodological switching VPN servers until you find the lowest possible price for the said item. It means that you’ll take a little longer to complete your purchase, but the time taken will be worth it, considering that you’ll be saving hundreds of dollars.
NordVPN is a perfect choice for saving money online. Its amazing server network with over 3700 servers in 62 countries gives you access to retail prices for different countries. The large number of servers that this VPN feature allows you to find the best discounts while shopping your way around the globe.
Save money on flights
It’s not just online purchases that you can save money from. You can also save money on airfares using a VPN. Flight ticket prices may vary from country to country, just like goods from vendors. While the destination and departure locations remain the same, you can use a VPN to change the location you’re viewing the ticket vendor’s website from.
In one example, we found that the prices of the same plane tickets were higher via a Malaysian IP address than a Norwegian IP. This is an especially important move considering the rising cost of flight tickets. You’ll want to spend a little more time checking ticket prices from different countries to know which is cheaper and better for you.
IPvanish features 40,000 servers in over 91 countries. So, you can browse freely and access flight discounts from server networks around the world. Its privacy and security features also allow you to stay clear of hackers, trackers, and other nasty internet users that’ll want to use your data.
Data privacy from Apps
Your ISP isn’t the only vulnerable part of your network. It’s no longer news that many of our favorite applications and internet services have been criticized for their data-mining practices.
One of the most recent examples is Facebook, which has been criticized for selling users’ data to companies that need it. A virtual private network (VPN) prevents these applications and websites from tracking your online activities and linking them to your computer’s internet service provider address.
You can also use it to minimize access to your geographical location or browser history for malicious or non-malicious purposes.
TunnelBear is one option that stands out for this purpose. The VPN service offers you all the privacy you’ll need when using different apps to avoid capturing and using sensitive data. TunnelBear features pretty straightforward usability, so it’s typically easy to download and set up.
To get security when remote
One of the most significant benefits of a VPN is its ability to encrypt data. Encryption, also known as encoding, means that your information is being concealed. It also means protecting your sensitive data from interception or theft by hackers or any other third party.
You’ll be exchanging so much data and information if you’re a business owner who always has to conduct business online. Your staff may also need to access sensitive data from their devices when away from the office. You can use a VPN to keep sensitive information secure when you or your staff need to exchange information for work off-site.
For example, Netmotion provides fast and secure network access for a distributed workforce. The platform’s full remote access makes it valuable for this generation when more companies are going remote. It allows you to secure sensitive information, even when your staff exchange information using their private connections.
VPN gives you access to content from different parts of the world
Yes, we’ll know how the internet is a small world. But you’ll still occasionally come across content unavailable for view or use by people in your locality. However, with the help of certain VPN connections, you’ll be able to access such geographic-specific content from anywhere.
As an example, Netflix restricts you from steaming certain movies or TV shows from specific locations because of copyright agreements.
However, you can use a VPN to access such content from anywhere. It is also helpful for moments when you’re traveling. It’s common knowledge that Netflix and other streaming services depend on a user’s IP address. So, you can effectively use a VPN to spoof your geographic location. For example, as a traveling American, you can always access American Netflix, even if you’re far away from the states.
Again, ExpressVPN shines for this functionality. The reliable VPN service gives you access to over 94 countries. So, depending on the type of content you want, you can use the VPN to move your browser network to another country, from where you can access the said content. Its average speed of 135Mbps makes it one of the fastest VPNs you’ll get for this purpose.
VPN helps for more efficient research
Whether you’re a researcher, a journalist, or an activist, your research will constantly have access to data that different people want. No one wants to be on the spy list of any government or company.
But researchers, activists, and journalists are always on the watch list of these establishments for varying interests. If you fall under any of the categories, you’ll need to protect your privacy and identity, and that’s where a VPN comes in.
As a VPN user, you can choose to go anonymous, away from the eyes of companies and government officials. But beyond that, VPN’s security and encryption features are always helpful for protecting sources. No one will want to share confidential information to help your project unless you can guarantee a secure communication method.
VPN provides anonymity
Apart from changing your location, another significant benefit of a VPN is its respect and preservation of anonymity. VPN users can easily explore the internet from different locations without being scared that their identity will be revealed to someone who shouldn’t get it. Instead, all your traffic is directed to and from the server, keeping you anonymous to even the web host.
The anonymity that VPN features can also help protect you from targeted cyber-attacks since no one will get any personal details to trace your information with. Even if you land on malicious sites, your VPN will help you keep your identity secured. However, you’ll need to be sure that the VPN service you’re subscribing to provides this kind of feature before completely trusting it.
Hide.me is one option that stands out for this purpose. As the name suggests, this VPN service provides maximum protection for your digital privacy. It also allows you to stream from several popular sites. So, if you’re interested in any of these, Hide.me is an excellent option to turn to.
It helps you break geo-restriction
We’ve said it before, VPN helps you enjoy internet benefits exclusive to other geographic regions. The internet is a source of limitless information and entertainment. However, most of the information is geo-restricted, meaning that they are only available to people from certain regions.
It can be mentally exhausting to not have access to certain websites, especially when you need them to complete your research or source vital information. With VPN, you can go beyond the geo-restrictions and surf the internet from wherever you are, whether such content is available to you or not.
HMA VPN is a highly successful option for bypassing geo-blocks, even those on streaming services. Its interface is considered user-friendly, and it provides absolute online privacy from hackers, ISPs, and other external intrusions.
Useful for accessing BitTorrent
Okay, let’s face the fact that many internet users use BitTorrent for downloading purposes. Yes, we’ve constantly heard of people using torrent websites to download movies and TV shows illegally.
While this is true, people still grab legal stuff from torrent sites. Unfortunately, many internet service providers don’t support torrent downloading in many countries.
In addition, many countries have BitTorrent users on their watch list, and using it can put you in trouble with the state. But you can avert such situations by using a VPN. Ensure the VPN service supports anonymity to help you get legitimate information online without having the police pull up at your house.
The ProtonVPN is one option that comes to mind when looking for a VPN that can offer this level of protection. It’s a high-speed Swiss VPN that protects your privacy while keeping your data secure. It allows you to stream or download from anywhere with the same network as your home network. It also offers unlimited bandwidth using its free tier.
Useful for online gaming
Using a VPN to play an online game might seem like a bad idea at first look, but it has its advantages too. For starters, the anonymity VPN offers mean that you can keep your account credentials safe and secure.
Additionally, gamers can benefit from the restriction-shattering benefits of VPN, which means that you can continue playing a game designed for your location even when traveling.
Also, there are cases where using a VPN can offer faster connection speeds and limit throttling. It can also mean a faster connection to a gaming server.
Finally, some VPN services have what it takes to protect you against DDoS attacks. Not that these attacks are common, but you could meet game rivals that’ll try to target your connection and bog it down.
One of the leading VPN services, Windscribe, works to block annoying ads and possible trackers, therefore allowing you safe passage through numerous apps and gaming websites. The app’s operation across a wide range of operating systems makes it an accessible platform for gamers that may need to game across different devices.
Stop Google from tracking you
We all love Google. Well, who doesn’t? After all, it offers us an easy route to all the information we want, irrespective of why we want them.
But what if we told you that your beloved Google often spies on you and knows everything about you? Well, it should, considering the amount of information you feed it daily. Therefore, you should know more about taking care of your privacy settings when browsing the internet to prevent Google from storing up every search movement, download, activity, etc.
Getting a reliable VPN can help you navigate this problem and avoid the embarrassment that comes with it. However, you should review the features of different VPN services before settling with one for this purpose.
For example, ProtonVPN protects your privacy and keeps your data secure. It also offers multi-platform support, so you can use it across Windows, Linux, macOS, etc. Its unlimited bandwidth allows you to access as much data as you want while limiting the possibility of being tracked by Google or any other company looking for your data.
Increase remote work security
We’re at a time when working remotely has become that new normal for millions of people within and outside the country. This means that some people are just experiencing VPN for the first time. Some companies offer an enterprise VPN that home workers are required to know about. Getting onboard may be difficult if you’re not privy to VPN and how it works.
PureVPN for Teams is usually the go-to VPN service for moments when you’ll need multiple VPN connections for your company. The service offers remote working capabilities, so that remote staff can connect and access other connections without leaving the company network open to malicious attacks. It also has a free trial option that you can use to understand how it works.
Conclusion
Ultimately, a VPN is a necessary tool in 2022. It provides security for your personal and private information while protecting your data from getting into the wrong hands. Thanks to a VPN’s numerous benefits, you don’t have to be the victim of targeted advertising and an increase in the prices of certain goods because of your repeated visits to their pages.
VPN also works for lifting restrictions on geo-blocked content, like BBC iPlayer or Hulu. There are so many benefits that we’ve reviewed in this article, and we’re sure that at least one of the benefits directly affects you. We hope you can leverage the examples explained to get the best out of your VPN usage.