A VPN or a Virtual Private Network allows users to connect to the Internet anonymously. This software uses a combination of encryption, IP masking and data encapsulation to create a hidden tunnel to mask your activity from advertisers, website search engines and ISPs, making it impossible for them to track you.
Contents
Here are the core benefits of using a VPN
Provides additional privacy by masking a users IP address
Anytime you go online, you are assigned an IP address, this is unique and is used to identify the device you are using. The main problem this causes is that all your online activity is linked to this IP address and now can be traced. This can be prevented by using a VPN to log onto a server in a different city or country masking your IP address in the process. There are many various VPN service providers available online, some you have to pay a subscription for and others are entirely free vpn providers. Both paid and free service providers offer this capability as part of their service. Many of the paid VPN services do little to justify the cost of a subscription. Unless you find yourself in a country like China where the VPN has to tackle the difficulties caused by a firewall they aren’t worth the cost, because of this Free VPN service can be just as effective.
Make using a public WIFI network safer
The vast majority of people do not understand the risks attached to using public WiFi. Most believe that using a password offers a sufficient layer of security. Any hacker with the most basic level of expertise can easily infiltrate these networks, and skim users’ data. They can steal information including passwords, login information, call and chat histories, photos using a VPN encrypts your internet usage, by encapsulating your data packets, effectively creating your private network even when using a public one.
Helps users to view Geo-Restricted Content
If you live or you are travelling to a country where Amazon and Netflix, for example, do not have streaming licenses. You may not be able to view your favorite content. Not to worry, by masking your IP address using a VPN this will allow you to circumvent geo-restricted content laws. Free VPN providers often struggle to bypass these Geo-restrictions. Primarily because they have much smaller networks than paid providers, this allows platforms who want to maintain their restrictions by blacklisting the IP addresses of these providers. If you’re going to use your favorite apps and get your content fix where you want and when you want, stick to the larger VPN service providers, they will rarely let you down.
Bypass a Country’s censorship of the Internet
It is hardly a secret that some countries restrict their citizens’ access to the Internet. The main culprit being China, where people cannot access, Pinterest Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Some VOIP based services such as WhatsApp and Viber are banned in certain Middle Eastern countries. These issues can be resolved by using a VPN, and it works under the same premise of avoiding geo-restrictions. IP-based services, like Skype and WhatsApp, are banned in parts of the Middle East.
Save money on travel costs
Many people are blissfully unaware that their IP address is responsible for them being ripped off. But if you use a VPN to pretend you are in a different country, you will be able to manipulate the price of an airline ticket. For example, try logging into a server in a country where the cost of living is much lower than yours and check the price of a flight and compare it to your own. I think you will be in for a pleasant surprise. Remember to do this in an incognito window or clear your cache every time.
These are just some of the benefits of using a VPN, now that you are aware of them, you will never happily log into a public network or book a flight again without using a VPN, apologies. As I mentioned earlier as with any piece of software, always read the terms and conditions, and read the reviews left by other users before downloading and third-party software to your phone, tablet, laptop or PC.
