What is a VPN?
A VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and is used to securely navigate the web. If you would want to keep your personal interests private or perhaps do a bit of online shopping as well as other financial transactions. It does this by encrypting your activity.
Think of it as driving through your own private tunnel where on one end would be your computer or device and the other end is the website you are accessing. And for as long as you are in that tunnel, no one can see what you are doing. Whether those malicious folks would be hackers or even the government.
Why you Need a VPN?
VPN is useful for people who want to protect their privacy online since having a VPN setup shields you from site and apps that track your activity. If you think it was a coincidence that that item you were just looking at on Amazon suddenly showed up in the ads for your social media accounts, it definitely is not. Having a VPN prevents that because servers would no longer have the capability to monitor what you have been up to.
If you have already setup a VPN, not only are you secured but you can utilize other benefits such as changing your IP address. This feature would allow users to appear to be in a different country. Some casual users use VPNs to purposely change their IP address for the purpose of streaming. Online streaming services may not provide certain shows to particular countries various reasons like censorship.
Using VPNs for this purpose may be a violation of the online agreement that you signed up for with streaming site you are subscribed to. And in case you are wondering, yes, VPNs are legal at least in most countries anyway. Though there are activities are still illegal even with a VPN like piracy for copyrighted content.
One good thing to note is that if you are fond of using public wifi or P2p file sharing, there is a good chance you may have been targeted. Being on the same network with other users puts your privacy at risk even if you have decent security software installed on your computer. Worse case scenario is being hacked while connecting to those kinds of networks. This is also where using a VPN is recommended since the strong encryption would help keep you safe.
5 Best Recommended VPN Services
Recommended VPNs would include the ones mentioned below (In no particular order):
ExpressVPN
Pros
- Higher average speeds compared to other paid virtual private networks
- Security on apps and servers
- 24/7 live chat support
Cons
- Cost more than the other paid VPNs
NordVPN
Pros
- Security on apps and servers
- Fast and stable speed
- Accepts cryptocurrencies and cash
- Lower cost compared to other paid VPNs
Cons
- Torrenting will have problems unless configured correctly
- Apps and server connections as slow
CyberGhost
Pros
- Security on apps and servers
- Minimal issues with stream especially with Netflix
- Decent but stable speeds
- Lower cost compared to other paid VPNs
Cons
- Is not plug and play (configuration is needed upon setup)
- Payment options are limited
Surfshark
Pros
- Security on apps and servers
- Decent but stable speeds
- Low cost
Cons
- Customer service
- Torrenting issues where some configuration may be required
IP Vanish
Pros
- Security on apps and servers
- Fast speed
- Low cost option
- Customer Service
Cons
- Price changes after a year
How to use a VPN?
It is a simple as downloading the VPN service of your choice and setting it up on your devices. Depending on you’re the VPN provider you have chosen, you could even set this up on your router directly. It should not matter if you use Windows, Mac or any mobile device. There should be an available, but more importantly, a credible VPN for each type of device.
Would one trust a free VPN? Mostly probably not. The fact that being able to provide fast and secure services require purchasing and maintaining commercial level hardware would make “free” VPN providers somewhat skeptical. There is a possibility that a free VPN would not be sketchy but chances are that it would be as reliable as the paid services. Research and due diligence are needed before pulling the trigger on the VPN of choice
How to set up a VPN?
If you have already done enough research and decided on a VPN provider then the first step is to access that provider’s website and download the application. The steps in this process may differ depending on the provider however set up instructions should also be on site. With that said, providers would allow you to go through a 30-day trial of the software. It is recommended to try it out before making the purchase. This way if you are not satisfied with the service of the provider, you could switch providers without hesitation since you did not invest in it long term.
Once you’ve been able to download and install it, all you have to do it turn it on. There would be some settings you may have to configure like the IP address of the country you want the server to see you in or other privacy settings. It is recommended to keep the VPN on for as long as you connected to the internet to maximize security.
In the end, you have to ask yourself how much is your privacy worth or perhaps how much is peace of mind worth. Most people would only realize the importance of VPNs if they have encountered a negative experience while connected with a free wifi network or while they were doing online transactions but there is also a chance that it might not happen to you at all. For as long as there are people out on the web with nefarious intentions, it would be best to protect yourself. At this point, prevention is better than cure.