Why Do So Many People Start Using a VPN?

Why Is It So Important That Everyone Start Using a VPN?

VPN or Bust

If you’d never heard the term “VPN” or its full name, Virtual Private Network, before today, you’re not alone! A term like that seems very high-tech to a lot of people, but in reality, a VPN is something that’s easy to understand and can save you a lot of trouble in the long run.

A VPN is technology to protect you from numerous harmful elements: it hides your actual location by bouncing your data stream through the VPN’s private server and their location instead of your own. A secure connection is established between your computer and the internet; then, all your data is funneled through what you could think of as a virtual tunnel that is encrypted to prevent any third party from getting in. Your online identity is hidden from people who would want access to it and access to your personal and financial information for their own nefarious ends.

Having a VPN is like getting your shots every year when flu season rolls around: it’s just good common sense. Let’s take a look at the top reasons that so many people are now using VPNs.

Image by Pixabay via Pexels

Security on Public Connections

If you’re a freelancer or spend a lot of time out and about, then there’s a good chance that you use public wifi on a reasonably regular basis. While wifi provided by stores and coffee shops is usually as secure as it can be from the establishment’s side, there’s no doubt at all that people prey on places like this in the hopes of scooping up someone’s data while they’re using the connection.

If you have a VPN installed on your device, you can log onto any public connection secure in the knowledge that there’s no way some common scammer will gain access to your data while you enjoy your latte or do some shopping.

Whether you’re flipping through personality quizzes while you wait for your flight at the airport, posting selfies to social media while you’re out at the bar, or working hard in a quiet corner at your favorite coffee spot, your connection and data will be safe.

Data Privacy

This is a big one. When you’re connected to your home wifi, even if you’ve done everything in your power to secure that connection and feel comfortable in that knowledge, there’s still someone who always sees what you’re doing: your ISP.

Your internet service provider sees all and knows all: how much online shopping you’ve done, what naughty websites you might peruse after hours, how many times a day you’ve watched the same kitten video on YouTube. Even if you browse in a “private” tab, that information is still displayed for your ISP. A VPN stops this access in its tracks and makes sure that, in the case of some awful data breach on the ISP’s end, all your sensitive information is safe.

A VPN will also stop data collection when you use all the apps you access daily. If you access those apps and pages while your VPN is on, they essentially don’t know it’s you. Data collection is also something that our governments love to do on the download.

If apps have permission to use your data and access it, they may legally or illegally (depending on the terms and conditions that no one ever reads)  sell this data to government agencies. If you don’t want to leave this to chance or to the conscience of others, a VPN is your best bet. While sites like Facebook have been publicly rebuked for their sketchy data policies and have since been ordered to toe the line, we personally prefer to take our data security and safety into our own hands.

Image by Stefan Coders via Pexels

Easily Adaptable and Simple to Use

A VPN isn’t nearly as techy as it sounds, and most of them quickly adapt to any device. If you purchase one VPN subscription, it often offers a PC app and an Android or iPhone app as well as the ability to download these apps to numerous devices within one home under one subscription. All you really need to do is understand what the VPN does, find one that comes highly recommended, and download the apps: it’s as simple as that! You don’t have to be a tech wizard to browse safely.

It Can Save You Money

If you’re searching online for the cheapest flights or the best deal on a present for a loved one, you might see a special offer that does not apply to your area. A VPNs spoofing ability means that your true location is not shown: if your location appears to be the one in which the special offer is available, then voila, you’ve saved some cash.

Image by Dan Nelson via Pexels

Wrap Up

A VPN is just good sense whether you’re a private individual or operating a business. Keeping your data safe in the internet age is essential.