Advantage : Protection Against Hackers And Governments
A VPN encrypts your data traffic through strong encryption protocols, which make intercepting and reading your data almost impossible. Why is this important? Well, in this day and age there are a lot of parties that want to listen in or take a look at what you are doing online.
There are many different parties that are interested in your internet traffic, among them are governments and cybercriminals. The security a VPN offers makes it a lot harder for them to look at your data. This increases your online safety.
We have to mention that a VPN isnt the ultimate solution to all things cybercrime. We always recommend combining a VPN with a good antivirus solution so you cover all your bases.
Reason #: Keep Malware At Bay
We hope youre aware of the dangers that P2P files bring, with malware being one of the biggest reasons for concern. There are millions of fake torrents out there, with malicious code injected that can easily infect your device.
Of course, nothing can replace using a powerful antivirus, which comes as your best bet in protecting you against malware. Still, VPNs are surprisingly effective in battling malware as well, especially when it comes to stopping their propagation. To learn more heres what does a VPN protects you from exactly.
One of the “side effects” of using a VPN is routing your Web data through secure tunnels. That applies both to your regular and P2P data. Due to that setup, malicious actors will have a much harder time reaching your device and extracting sensitive data. You can learn more about that in our guide explaining whether VPNs can be hacked.
What Is A VPN
Back to the basics. VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. Using a VPN is an easy and efficient way to increase your online safety, privacy and freedom.
When youre using the internet, there is a constant process of your device exchanging data with other parties on the web. A VPN creates a secure tunnel between your device and the internet. The VPN allows you to send your data via an encrypted, secure connection to an external server: the VPN server. From there, your data will be sent onward to its destination on the internet.
Rerouting your internet traffic through a VPN server has several advantages. First, it helps you hide your identity online. Second, it secures your data. And third, it allows you to use the internet more freely.
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Who Should Use A Free Service
A no-fee VPN offers limited protection online. You typically wont have much choice of server or location, if any, and speeds are almost invariably throttled. Furthermore, most unpaid VPN providers limit your total data usage to just a few gigabytes per month thats enough to check your email every day, but not great for streaming content .
Unpaid VPNs have also been known to use tracking technology like cookies, and they may log your internet use and sell this and other personal information to advertisers and third parties, making them far less secure services overall.
As a result, there are only a few cases in which a no-fee VPN is really useful or appropriate.
Users who travel occasionally and want to have a somewhat more secure session when using public Wi-Fi might want to opt for a free provider. The encrypted connection to a VPN server will help keep your data safe from prying eyes on public Wi-Fi, but just remember that your activity may still be tracked by the VPN and sold to third parties. Online banking and online shopping are also OK in this scenario, and its definitely safer than not using any VPN at all.
- If you want to save your cash, check out the top cheap VPN
What Are The Benefits Of Using A VPN
There are many benefits of using a good VPN service.
- Highly secured online activities because of, military-grade encryption of data.
- An extra layer of security that protects your device being hacked or data expose.
- Its unblocking capability provides you the access of banned contents.
- A VPN also offers the feature of location switching virtually.
- It keeps you anonymous because it provides an untraceable IP address.
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Finding The Right Solution
Whether you operate a large enterprise with multiple locations, or manage a small team of freelancers who enjoy working out of coffee shops you need a VPN to ensure your business data does not fall into the wrong hands. Email and cloud storage accounts, with their potential to be compromised, are a constant target for hackers. But by using a VPN, security can be reclaimed.
OpenVPNs mission is to connect your world securely by providing a more safe and secure experience online. OpenVPNs Access Server has been downloaded by more than 50 million people worldwide since inception, becoming the de-facto industry standard. Access Server was created for small-to-medium sized businesses, but also has the capacity to scale into the thousands. So no matter the size of your organization, and no matter what your end goals are for your business, Access Server can help you get where you want to go.
Does The VPN Have A Kill Switch
What if your connection with your VPN provider drops? Usually, your laptop, smartphone or other device will revert back to public Internet Protocol address provided by your home Internet Service Provider. This means that snoops could then be able to track your online activity and see your IP address until you connect back with your VPN provider.
Some VPN providers offer a kill switch feature to deal with this. If the VPN connection drops, the kill switch is designed to instantly sever your connection to the internet. This way, your IP address and online activity arent visible to anyone else.
Does the VPN have a kill switch?
- Norton Secure VPN no
- Tunnel Bear yes
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Three Reasons A VPN Is Important For Business
1. Remote Access
Your office has a network. On this network, you can access printers, connect to IT resources, transfer data, and more. Its secure and protects your team from questionable websites. But what if you start hiring remote employees? Everyone working on site can easily access the office network but remote workers arent there to log in so you need a remote access VPN. Using a VPN means your remote employees can log on to your office network from anywhere that has access to the internet. Then they will have access to the resources they need to do their jobs, and your business data is still secure.
2. Access Control
Access control, simply put, is controlling who gets access to what. Without proper access control, the right people might not have enough access to get the job doneor the wrong people might have too much access. Access control systems authenticate and authorize users by evaluating required credentials verifying that the person or application is who or what it claims to be, and authorizing the appropriate access levels and permissions associated with the username or IP address. Our VPN, Access Server, can be configured to provide exactly this control.
3. Cybersecurity
When Should I Choose Either Dynamic Or Static Ip
Every device connected to the public internet is assigned an IP address. It’s like a phone number for each device. To be able to connect to the internet, each device needs such an address.
The term “dynamic IP address” means that when a device connects to the internet, it’s given an IP address taken from a pool of available addresses. While it’s possible to get the same IP address on multiple connections, generally, each time you connect, you’ll get a different address.
If you want to hide your address from the web applications you’re connecting to you’ll want a VPN service that provides dynamic IP addresses. In our directory, we list the number of IP addresses each service offers. By using a service with more available IP addresses, the chances of you getting a repeated IP are quite small.
There are some minor disadvantages to using a dynamic IP. If someone who previously had the IP address you’ve been assigned did something nefarious on a service you use, the IP address might be banned. Usually, VPN providers are cautious about checking their IP addresses against blacklists, so the chances of this being a problem for you are slim.
Unless you have a specific application that you know needs a static IP, you’ll want to be assigned a new dynamic IP address for each VPN session you initiate.
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Unrestricted Worldwide Internet Access
Keeping a VPN constantly connected means that you can have access to geo-restricted content from around the world. When you use a VPN, it connects you to a secure server in a location of your choosing, so it can make it look like you are in that country.
So if you want to watch Hulu or HBO Max but arent in the US, a VPN will let you bypass these restrictions from anywhere in the world. It will connect to an American server and create an American IP address to make it appear as though you are in the States, even if youre not. The other benefit of this is that you can switch servers seamlessly, so you can access an American server to watch Hulu, then switch to a British server to watch BBC iPlayer.
A VPN Can Help You Save Money
You might have come across expansive claims about how a VPN can help you save thousands of dollars. You can supposedly do so by finding cheaper subscription plans for software, streaming services, and other apps and programs. Even airfare, rental car rates, and hotel prices could be much lower when using a VPN.
Im not going to scoff at this claim as it does work in theory. Certain pieces of software, streaming service subscriptions, and airline booking rates are priced differently across the world. You can use a VPN to see the differences, and its certainly worth the purchase if you can save big. However, you either have to be very, very lucky or make a lot of trial and error to save thousands of dollars.
There are undoubtedly some differences in prices. That difference will likely get covered in currency exchange rates, bank fees, and other transaction charges, though. Other restrictions might also come into play, like a website not allowing the use of a credit card that isnt from a local bank.
Granted, you may see significant savings in the long-term or if even youre planning a long holiday. Even five to ten dollar savings on everything will eventually add up to a pretty good amount. That said, you might want to re-think things if saving a lot of money is the main advantage youre looking for from a VPN service.
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Reason #: Unblock Your Web Connection
Its a well-known fact that ISPs throttle certain online activities to preserve their infrastructure . If youve been experiencing slow speeds when downloading torrents, your ISP could be the reason for that.
So, could a VPN unblock the full speed of your Web connection? Yes, absolutely! By breaking down your P2P data into small packets, VPNs make it impossible for your ISP to see your P2P activities. Therefore, selective throttling wont be a concern anymore. And also, the same applies to media streaming or any other bandwidth-hungry online activity.
On the other hand, know that VPNs could also make your Web connection a bit slower. Thats why its crucial to learn a thing or two about VPNs and their proper use. With that said, heres how much a VPN will slow you down, as well as how to speed up any VPN.
Should You Leave Your VPN On All The Time
Most of the time, yes, you should use your VPNbut not always. It depends on what reasons youre using a VPN for in the first place. If youre only using a VPN while streaming your favorite TV shows, then it makes sense to turn your VPN on or off for those purposes .
But if youre using a VPN for privacy reasons or to keep yourself anonymous online, then you should keep it on all the time. Since your VPN is your best form of protection against hackers and helps keep your information private, its best to leave your VPN on whenever youre on the internet.
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How Do I Use A VPN For Netflix
If you live in a country that censors its media or are traveling to one, geo-restricted content is a pain. You can use a VPN to circumvent censorship or access your home country’s normal media content for online streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Pick a VPN that lets you manually select which country you want to connect through and has something called obfuscation. If you’re looking to try out other VPNs, choose one with a large number of IP addresses, preferably 10,000 or more. Once you have your VPN installed, connect to the country whose content you wish to view, restart your browser and go to the streaming site. If your VPN is working, the site should treat you as a resident of your selected country and serve you content assigned to that audience.
Why Should I Use A VPN On My Router
The major benefit of configuring your router to use a VPN is that all the devices on your networkfrom a smart fridge to phonesare protected behind the VPN. That’s useful, since there are plenty of smart devices in our homes that can’t run software on their own, can’t be configured to use a VPN, or don’t even have screens. By routing all these devices through the VPN from the router, an ISP or any other entity on the web won’t be able to see the traffic these devices generate.
The VPN-via-router trick also helps you get around device restrictions from VPN companies. Most VPN companies allow you to connect up to five devices to a VPN at the same time, and some will sell you more slots for more devices. When your router is using a VPN, however, everything on the network counts as only one device.
Many VPN services provide instructions on configuring your router to use a VPN. This isn’t as simple as just installing an app on a desktop computer. That’s probably why some VPN companies sell routers that are configured to use their VPN out of the box.
A quick glance at the instructions from ExpressVPN gives a sense of the challenge you’d face doing it yourself. This is a lot to ask of even a generally knowledgeable individual, and far more than someone new to using security tools. It’s the kind of challenge that could easily turn a person off from using a VPN at all.
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Safe Access To Public Wi
Public Wi-Fi networks are extremely vulnerable, making it easy for hackers to access your private information. Some cybercriminals will even set up rogue connection points on public Wi-Fi to spy on users and access their information. Without a VPN, your personal data and communications are at risk. A VPN will make it appear as though your data is coming from your connected server instead of your actual device.
You need a VPN to ensure the protection of your connection is second to none. If you have a VPN, it would take the fastest supercomputer millions of years to decipher the encrypted data. So not only does a VPN secure your actual connection, but even if your data was susceptible to attack from a vulnerable public Wi-Fi connection, there is no way your information will be readable.
Improve Online Gaming Speeds
Whether you’re exploring some crazy fantasy realm in an MMORPG, fighting Nazis in the latest online FPS, or just waiting for your opponent to take his or her next turn in Civilization online, there’s a very strong chance that your ISP is throttling online gaming data.
It’s not fair and is usually done to offer a uniform service to all users. But how can you overcome this? Well, a VPN can be used to disguise the fact that you’re playing games online.
However, this tip comes with a caveat. You need to make sure that the VPN server you’re using is nearby, and capable of handling the load. . Otherwise, you could face speed and bandwidth issues, making the exercise a little pointless!
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Why Do You Need A VPN Service
Surfing the web or transacting on an unsecured Wi-Fi network means you could be exposing your private information and browsing habits. Thats why a virtual private network, better known as a VPN, should be a must for anyone concerned about their online security and privacy.
Think about all the times youve been on the go, reading emails while in line at the coffee shop, or checking your bank account while waiting at the doctors office. Unless you were logged into a private Wi-Fi network that requires a password, any data transmitted during your online session could be vulnerable to eavesdropping by strangers using the same network.
The encryption and anonymity that a VPN provides helps protect your online activities: sending emails, shopping online, or paying bills. VPNs also help keep your web browsing anonymous.
What Features To Look For
Here are some issues to consider when shopping around for a VPN provider.
First, what kind of logging does your VPN provider do? In other words, what information do they keep about your VPN sessions and how long is it kept? Are they recording the IP addresses you use, the websites you visit, the amount of bandwidth used, or any other key details?
All VPNs have to do some kind of logging, but there are VPNs that collect as little data as possible and others that arent so minimalist. On top of that, some services discard their logs in a matter of hours or days while other companies hold onto them for months at a time. How much privacy you expect from your VPN-based browsing will greatly influence how long you can stand having your provider maintain your activity logsand what those logs contain.
TunnelBear
TunnelBear is one of the authors favorite VPNs, but there are many good choices on the market.
Second, what are the acceptable terms of use for your VPN provider? Thanks to the popularity of VPNs with torrent users, permissible activity on specific VPNs can vary. Some companies disallow torrents completely, some are totally fine with them, while others wont stop torrents but officially disallow them. We arent here to advise pirates, but anyone looking to use a VPN should understand what is and is not okay to do on their providers network.
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