Posted by Introduction
VPN (Virtual Private Network) has effectively protected people’s privacy and enhanced their security. Given how uncertain the digital space has become, alongside cybercriminals who are also growing more competent as technology advances, people’s personal and confidential data is at risk.
As users, we are responsible for protecting our sensitive data from getting into the wrong hands. Investing in a reliable VPN provider is the way to go. In this in-depth guide, we’ll talk about the benefits of VPNs, their features, and how to choose a reliable VPN provider to maximize your privacy and security and take it to the next level.
How Do VPNs Work?
VPNs create an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet. It encrypts your internet traffic and conceals your IP address. Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) or any other third party would not be able to see your browsing history or further personal details.
Even if hackers or cybercriminals gain access to it, they cannot understand or decipher your data. Since VPNs mask your IP address, you not only retain your anonymity, but you can also bypass geolocation restrictions and gain access to censored content. You can also access several streaming services unavailable in your region.
What Are The Benefits of Using VPN?
Secure Network
VPNs enable people and businesses to secure their networks. Applications and websites are often collecting data on you without your consent. They use this data to target you with ads more aligned with your preferences.
When you use a VPN, your data is kept safe, secure, and out of reach of third parties. They might not even understand which ads to target because there’s no browsing history or activity associated with your IP address.
VPNs have excellent security and support 256-bit encryption, which means no malicious person can access your data since they won’t be able to decipher it.
Gain Access To Censored Content
With a VPN, you can connect to a server from another country and get assigned a different IP address. Due to its location spoofing feature, you can gain access to geo-restricted content and access streaming services not available in your region. You can also access social media sites that may be banned in your country.
Secure Remote Access
While remote work is convenient for employees and organizations, they pose security risks. The last thing a company wants is for a third party or cybercriminal to gain access to a company’s resources and confidential information.
By using a VPN, you can run important applications in a cloud setting and give them access to materials and other applications via a secure VPN tunnel. The employees can also securely access company material even when they’re offsite.
Secure VoIP and Messaging
VPNs offer an added layer of protection for voice-over IP (VoIP) calls and other messaging apps. By encrypting all your communications, no one can gain unauthorized access to your messages or decipher any data between the receiver and the sender. It helps enhance your privacy and protects sensitive information from getting into the wrong hands.
How To Set Up VPN
- The first step is to choose a VPN provider. Go for a reliable VPN with all the required features and functionalities. You need to consider essential factors: server locations, security protocols, and speed must be considered.
- Once you’ve chosen a provider you like, you need to subscribe to their services to use them.
- The next step is downloading and installing the VPN software on your device.
- Log into the VPN client to start using it. You will be asked to provide your login credentials. You now have access to the VPN server.
- You can now connect to a VPN server. You have to select a server from the list of server locations that the VPN provides. Once you’ve chosen a server, click “Connect” to start the VPN connection.
- While you’re using VPN, you should verify your connection. There are many websites you can go to where you can check your IP address and then compare it to the location of the server that you’re connected to.
- When you’re done using the VPN and want to turn it off, click on “Disconnect” to end your connection to the VPN. And you’re all set!
Do You Need To Turn Off Your VPN?
There are instances where your VPN may disconnect due to various factors outside of our control. Or if you willingly disconnect from your VPN, your data is still susceptible to security risks as it can be within the reach of third parties and cybercriminals.
Third parties such as your ISP, advertisers and cybercriminals can gain access to your sensitive data if you turn it off or if it disconnects due to any other issue. For this reason, learn how to turn off a VPN on your devices so that your data remains safe and secure.
Factors To Consider When Choosing a VPN
Select a service that meets your privacy and security needs when choosing a VPN provider. It would help if you considered various factors before making an informed decision. Let’s get into them.
● Privacy & Security
Go for a VPN with excellent encryption protocols and AES-256 encryption to protect your confidential data. You’d also want a VPN provider with a strict No-logs policy, meaning no one can track or record your browsing history.
● Server Networks
If your main goal is to bypass geolocation restrictions to access censored content, consider a VPN provider with many VPN servers and geographical locations. The more areas, the more chances for you to access a diverse range of content from anywhere in the world.
● Connection & Speed
Sometimes the internet speed gets slow due to connecting to a VPN. The internet speed gets affected because of the Encryption and routing process. Opting for a VPN with optimized servers and excellent reviews would be best.
● Compatibility and Ease of Use
Ensure the VPN is compatible with many devices and platforms, such as iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux. You should also ensure the VPN is user-friendly and offers a good user experience. The more user-friendly, the easier to set up and manage it.
● Simultaneous Connections
A VPN should be able to connect to multiple devices simultaneously. It is crucial if you plan to use VPN on your computer, mobile phones, and tablets. Most VPNs do have the added feature of being able to connect to many devices simultaneously.
● Additional Features
Some VPN providers come packed with additional features such as Kill Switch, Split Tunneling, ad blocking, protection of malware, and specialized servers for streaming and torrenting. You can decide if these features are vital for you and then choose accordingly
Main Security Features of VPNs
Most VPN providers have these common security and privacy features that will take your security to the next level. Let’s review the major ones that can enhance your online privacy.
VPN Protocols
VPN Providers offers various VPN protocols to enable a secure connection and aid in Encryption. The most commonly used protocols include OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, and L2TP. They ensure the integrity and confidentiality of your data.
No-Logs Policy
Most reputable VPN providers have a No-logs policy. No-logs policy means they cannot collect, track, or record your online activities. This includes your browsing history and your actual IP address. A No-logs policy enhances your privacy and ensures no third party, such as advertisers or cyber criminals, can access your data.
Kill Switch
The VPN connection can get dropped anytime due to a wide variety of reasons. In that case, the Kill Switch feature automatically enables you to disconnect from the internet the second your VPN connection drops. It prevents unprotected data from getting transmitted over your internet connection, maintaining your privacy.
DNS Leak Protection
DNS leaks occur when your device bypasses the VPN connection and sends DNS queries to your ISP. This has the risk of revealing all your online activities and browsing history. VPNs with DNS leak protection ensure that all the DNS queries pass through the VPN tunnel so that you can retain your anonymity.
Conclusion
We’re in an era where we must be online for many reasons. Since everything is now digitized, there are more concerns than ever about a user’s privacy and security online. Data breaches are on the rise, so as users, we must take personal responsibility to protect our data.
One of the most effective ways to do this is by investing in a VPN, which maintains your privacy and security so that despite a digital footprint, no one can track your online activities or identity.
