5 Popular Reasons for Using a VPN

A VPN allows you to connect to a US-based server (or a server in the country where you want to watch), so your streaming service thinks you’re in that location and lets you watch your favorite shows online.

The Main Reasons Why People Decide To Use A VPN

When it comes to online privacy, security, and anonymity, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is one of the best tools you can use. A VPN encrypts your data and routes it through remote servers, making it difficult for hackers or other third-party snoopers to track or spy on your activities.There are a variety of reasons why someone might want to use a VPN. Perhaps you’re concerned about your online privacy and want to keep your activities hidden from prying eyes. Maybe you’re traveling in a foreign country and don’t want the government or local ISPs snooping on your activities. Or maybe you just want to access region-locked content that’s not available in your area.Whatever the reason, you always have to consider the main reasons why people decide to use a VPN and what security and privacy benefits this tool brings. These include:

Privacy

Nobody should be able to track your online activities by monitoring your IP address, yet many users continue giving out their private data on unsecured websites. A VPN helps keep your data hidden from other internet users by disguising it as regular traffic. It scrambles your IP address so that hackers can’t find you or steal your identity. This also allows someone living in a censored region, such as China’s “Great Firewall,” to access the unrestricted web anywhere, anytime.When it comes to online privacy, many people are rightly concerned about their activities being tracked and monitored by third-party snoopers. Almost every website you visit leaves a trail of data that can be easily accessed and tracked by ISPs, the government, or hackers. This data can include everything from your IP address and browsing history to your email addresses and credit card numbers. So, you might still be asking what’s a VPN exactly. A VPN is a great way to keep your data hidden from prying eyes. It encrypts your data and routes it through remote servers, making it difficult for anyone to track or spy on your activities. This not only keeps your data safe and secure but also allows you to browse the internet anonymously without leaving a trace. So if you’re looking for a way to keep your ISP or other third-party snoopers from tracking your web activities, this is definitely one of the best ways to go.

Protection

Even if you’re careful about not revealing information that can give others access to your data, there are still many dangers lurking online that can get past even the most experienced users. Hackers and other third-party snoopers can use a variety of different methods to access your data, from botnets that hijack your devices to man-in-the-middle attacks.A VPN is one of the best ways to keep yourself safe online and protect your data against hackers and other third-party snoopers. These remote servers scramble your data so that it’s practically impossible for others to track or access them. This not only protects you from being monitored but also makes it more difficult for hackers and snoopers to access your information, whether they’re hacking the local network you’re on or want to intercept traffic from a public Wi-Fi hotspot.

Accessing Region-Locked Content

One of the best reasons to use a VPN is that it allows you to access region-locked or blocked content. Depending on where you live, this might include everything from your favorite TV shows and movies to news stories and online services like Pandora, Spotify, and Netflix.Although there are many ways to access blocked content, using a VPN is arguably one of the best because it allows you to access this blocked content anytime, anywhere. It can help you break through geographical restrictions that prevent you from accessing your favorite news stories or watching your favorite TV shows. This makes it perfect for someone living in a censored region who wants free access to the internet or is looking to access region-locked content not available in their area.So if you’re looking for a way to access blocked content or want to stay safe online, using a VPN is one of the best ways to go. It provides many benefits that can help you protect your privacy and security online while also allowing you to break through geographical restrictions that are blocking you from accessing certain content.There are many reasons why people decide to use a VPN. Some of the most common reasons include privacy, protection, and anonymity. A VPN helps keep your data hidden from other internet users by disguising it as regular traffic. It also scrambles your IP address so that hackers can’t find you or steal your identity. This allows someone living in a censored region to access the unrestricted web anywhere, anytime.

5 Popular Reasons for Using a VPN

• March 05, 2020
• Susan Alexandra

5 Popular Reasons for Using a VPN

1. VPNs offer Safety and Security
2. VPNs Give you Anonymity
3. A VPN Allows you to Break Geo-Restrictions
4. A VPN gives you subsidized shopping and traveling
5. Improve cybersecurity with a VPN

VPN is not an alien thing for today’s internet users. The number of VPN users are increasing every day but a few years back, there were hardly any users of VPN. Even today, there are many people who aren’t familiar with this term. The rising popularity of VPN raises the questions of what is a VPN and whether you should use one.

VPN is a Virtual Private Network that works as an intermittent service between you and your host site. It can provide a safe mode for surfing the web as it gives you privacy and data security. When used correctly, a VPN helps keep your connections secure and protects your device from prying eyes.

Apart from security, it has numerous other benefits that are making this service worth using. Here are some of the top reasons people turn to VPNs in their home or business lives.

1. VPNs offer Safety and Security

The first and the most important reason people use VPN is its safety feature. It provides an encrypted tunnel for transferring data to and from your device and the host site. This removes all chances of spying and snooping on your data. Even your own internet service provider (ISP) can’t access your data or track your activities.

Whether you are surfing the internet for the purpose of mere entertainment or using it for share important files and information, everything is end-to-end encrypted with VPN. So you don’t have to worry about hackers and cybercriminals.

2. VPNs Give you Anonymity

Another crucial reason that people choose to use a VPN is because it respects and preserves your anonymity. VPN allows its users to explore the internet from different location servers. This way all the traffic is directed to and from the server, and your location as well as identity remain anonymous even to the host site. This anonymity can also help protect you from targeted cyber-attacks as no one can trace your information using your personal details.
Even if you land on a malicious site while using VPN your identity will still be secured. There are hundreds of VPN providers that promise to give complete anonymity. Some provide their services free of cost while others charge a nominal fee for their service. It is worthwhile to invest in a reputable NordVPN for safer options than the free ones.

3. A VPN Allows you to Break Geo-Restrictions

The Internet provides endless sources of entertainment and infotainment but unfortunately, these sources are not accessible for all. Most of the content on the internet is geo-restricted. This means that the content is available only for users living in certain geographical locations while its access is denied for users from other parts of the world.
VPN allows its users to go beyond the geo-restrictions and surf the internet from any part of the world through its remote servers. This allows you to access websites and entertainment channels that may not be accessible in your region.

4. A VPN gives you subsidized shopping and traveling

Did you know you can get different rates for booking flights from different destinations regardless of your flight’s arrival and departure destination? Many online shopping sites have different price lists for customers from different countries. The same is the case with airfares.
To beat this location bias, you can shop in online stores and check flight rates using VPN servers from different countries. This will help you in getting the best deals at the best rates. While it may be a bit time consuming and tiring, you might be able to save a good chunk of money. If you are already aware of subsidized rates for a certain country or state then you can simply choose the server of that country and save both your time and money.

5. Improve cybersecurity with a VPN

Public Wi-Fi is mostly free and is easily available but there are several security threats associated with it like data breaches and attacking malware. These security threats make it completely unsafe for personal and business use.

It is impossible to avoid using public Wi-Fi in various situations, especially if you are away from your hometown and state or are residing in a place that has exorbitant charges for private internet connection. In these cases, VPN comes to your rescue as it provides you a safe and secure tunnel for your online activities and also disguises your identity while using public Wi-Fi.

While using a VPN has become more and more popular for the reasons listed above, there are still some drawbacks to using this kind of network. It should not be used as a comprehensive, end-to-end security solution, for one thing. Your VPN could even be leaking your IP address, unbeknownst to you. And you should always check to see what level of encryption your specific VPN provides before giving away any private or personal details online.

Note: This blog article was written by a guest contributor for the purpose of offering a wider variety of content for our readers. The opinions expressed in this guest author article are solely those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect those of GlobalSign.

Why Do I Need to Use a VPN?

Why use a VPN? A VPN (or virtual private network) is a must-have tool to access content and keep your personal data safe on public Wi-Fi and on your home network. Keep reading to learn about the benefits of using a VPN, including how they stop third parties from tracking you and let you enjoy your favorite content while traveling abroad.

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Written by Elle Poole Sidell
Published on March 18, 2021
Reviewed by Mike Polacko

What is the purpose of a VPN?

The main purpose of a VPN is to hide your online activity. VPNs are often used to guard against hackers and snoops on public networks, but they’re also useful for hiding your IP address, browsing activity, and personal data on any Wi-Fi network — even at home.

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The more digital our lives become, the more likely our privacy is at risk. From your ISP (internet service provider) to companies collecting data to monetize or sell to hackers looking to steal your personal details for malicious purposes, someone might be watching or tracking your online activity anytime you browse the web.

A VPN helps you browse safely and securely by encrypting your connection and hiding your location. We won’t dig in too deeply here, but you should check out our detailed guide on what a VPN is to get a full definition and learn more about how VPNs work.

Do I need a VPN at home?

A VPN is less necessary at home than in public because your home network includes security protections like a username and password to sign in. But many people still use a VPN at home to prevent some forms of online tracking or stream certain types of content.

On an unsecured public Wi-Fi network, hackers can easily intercept anything you send and receive. While most of your internet traffic is pretty uninteresting, it could include sensitive info like your bank account details, credit card numbers, or login credentials. Attackers cast wide nets, which is why the free internet at the public library or the airport poses a higher risk.

By comparison, home networks are much safer. It’s much less likely that someone can walk in and join your network. Plus, if you take all the steps to protect your home Wi-Fi router properly — including changing the default username and password — using a VPN at home for protection against cybercriminals is probably not one of your top priorities.

A VPN creates a private tunnel so hackers, your ISP, and the government can’t see what you’re doing.

But, even at home a VPN can help protect you from other types of privacy threats. Your online activity can be tracked any time you visit a website or open an online application. Companies collect information about you so they can improve their products or show you targeted advertising based on your online activity. A VPN, especially paired with additional anti-tracking tools, can strengthen your anonymity and help hide you from trackers.

Using a VPN for your home network not only adds an extra layer of protection, but it also makes it harder for anyone to see what you’re doing, since they won’t be able to find your IP address.

Keep in mind that with a VPN, sites can still track what you’re doing on their platforms, and even what you do elsewhere if you remain logged in to their site. That’s how companies like Google use your data to learn a lot more about you than you may realize.

But, without a VPN, your internet service provider has access to everything you do online. And in the US, thanks to a recent Senate vote, your ISP no longer needs your permission to track you around the web or sell anonymized data about you.

Besides monetizing your data, ISPs might throttle your connection speeds if you’re downloading or streaming a lot. Hiding your internet activity in a private tunnel makes your ISP blind.

In fact, one of the most popular reasons to use a VPN at home is to access streaming conten that’s not available while you’re traveling in certain countries. VPNs are also great for getting access to better online shopping deals and cheaper flight tickets, because prices often change depending on your location.

A VPN can give you an IP address in a different country so you can access your regular content even while traveling.

It’s important to note that while VPNs are legal in many countries , using a VPN to do something illegal is not. A VPN may help to conceal your identity or hide your IP address, but copyright infringement or cybercrime will still land you in trouble with the law. Before choosing and setting up a VPN, make sure you understand the terms of use (this goes for any online service you use) and avoid any activity that might be considered a violation.

What are the benefits of using a VPN?

While increased online privacy and security are among the top reasons to get a VPN for PC or any other device, there are many other advantages of a VPN.

Here are the main benefits of using a VPN:

Stream content wherever you’re traveling in the world

Video or other media content that’s available on your favorite streaming service might vary from region to region. That’s why if you’re traveling abroad, you might find that Schitt’s Creek has disappeared from Netflix, while another series like Star Trek Discovery has taken its place. Or, the big game might not be available.

A VPN allows you to connect to a US-based server (or a server in the country where you want to watch), so your streaming service thinks you’re in that location and lets you watch your favorite shows online.

Ease your fears about using public Wi-Fi

We’ve all spent a few minutes (or hours) online at our favorite local coffee shop, but it can end up being a little too crowded for comfort. The downside of public Wi-Fi is that it’s — well, public. And just like you enjoy connecting to a free hotspot, so do hackers. That means all the information you send and receive — including your passwords and other personal data — could be seen by cybercriminals if they’re spying on that network, or if you’ve unwittingly stumbled upon an “evil twin” Wi-Fi network set up by hackers.

While creating strong passwords — and using one of the best password managers — goes a long way toward protecting your activity, you should get into the habit of using a VPN to protect your connection any time you use a public network. This also includes using a mobile VPN when you connect to free Wi-Fi from your iPhone, Android, or tablet. After all, we don’t just use our computers online, and you’ll need to secure your connection no matter which device you use. To learn more, check out our review of the best privacy apps for iPhone, including VPNs.

Add extra security to your online banking

You probably already take precautions to keep your bank account information private, but is checking the security of your internet connection one of them? We all love the convenience of online banking, but it won’t feel so convenient if your identity gets stolen. While banks have strong internal security measures, they can’t protect you from every threat out there.

Avast SecureLine VPN adds an extra layer of encryption to your online banking that no one else can break into — not your ISP, not your bank, and especially not hackers. You get bank-grade, 256-bit advanced encryption as well as airtight protection against the most common online threats, so your data always stays safe and secure.