Many of us are working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so remote VPN access appears to be no less essential than ever before. Is a VPN really necessary, and what are its benefits? A virtual private network is designed to give you a private and secure connection while you browse the web, or use the Internet, regardless of whether you are using a PC, laptop, Mac, tablet, or mobile phone. The purpose of this particular blog post is to provide you with a more comprehensive explanation if you are still having trouble understanding. After reading this, you will have an in-depth understanding of what VPNs can do as well as how they work.
Why do you need a VPN?
Users of home internet and busy office environments are allegedly able to take advantage of VPN services in the following ways:
A method to hide your location and IP address
Your location, search time, and browsing activities may be accessed by anyone who captures your IP address. If you were writing a letter, your IP address would be the return address. Your devices would be the recipients. To remain anonymous online, you need to mask your IP address. VPNs allow you to hide your country, city, and download history from being associated with your identity.
Wi-Fi security on public networks
VPNs can allow you to save your data when you connect to a Wi-Fi network in public, for instance in a coffee shop or while riding the subway. The public Wi-Fi network can prove to be extremely useful, but it isn't as safe as your work or home internet connection. Using a VPN tunnel ensures that your information is fully protected. The data you send can't be decrypted until it's received, so it's safe to browse the web, send emails, and use your credit card on public networks.
Websites that are blocked
The ability to select a server in a particular region allows you to view content from anywhere since VPN services encrypt and hide your location. You might find that many social media sites are blocked if, for example, you are in Italy and trying to access your social media accounts. As a result, your internet will appear as though you are online in the US if you configure your VPN to provide an IP address based in the US.
It is possible to stream from anywhere
Some shows might not be available in the region in which you use a streaming account in the US if you are abroad. In contrast, if you choose an IP address based in the United States, for instance, all your favorites will be available to you, just like at home. You can now watch Netflix or Hulu without any problems.
Discriminating against prices is prohibited
When people are charged differently depending on their perceived ability to pay, price discrimination occurs. You might be surprised to learn how common this is. Location plays a major role in differential pricing. If you live in a city like Chicago or Washington, your income is going to be higher than someone living in Kansas or Philadelphia. This means that your goods will often be more expensive. A VPN protects your privacy and anonymity from these kinds of intrusions.
Work has been permanently changed by the pandemic. Despite the lifting of restrictions, it is unlikely that businesses will return to their former state. Only 10.2 million of the 150 million civilian employees in the U.S. worked remotely before COVID-19. However, the number is now closer to 80 million. These are people who are connecting from coffee shops, private networks, or public networks that are unprotected. Many use a virtual private network (VPN) to ensure their online communications stay safe and secure.
Here are the Top 3 VPN Services
1. NordVPN Review
NordVPN has established itself as an industry leader with its robust security features, high-level of performance, and strong privacy policy.
Located in Panama, the company does not have a legal obligation to collect or retain your data, and no mandatory laws mandate that it is retained. Moreover, Panama is not a member of either of the five-eyes or fourteen-eyes alliances. You don't have to worry about them tracking, collecting, or sharing your private information. NordVPN offers its users a double VPN feature, encrypting their data twice, rather than just once.
As an added benefit, they provide you with a kill switch, which will shut down all Internet traffic from your device if your connection drops even for a second, making sure that nobody can find out any information about you online. The company provides account managers specifically for its business customers. Control Panel allows you to set up user accounts, control permissions, and create gateways for your websites. Your control panel allows you to monitor user activity, add new users, add custom teams, and monitor the server's load.
Pros
- Known for its trustworthiness
- Around the world, there are many thousands of servers
- Login using a single account (SSO)
- A strong focus on security
- All devices have apps
- A fast internet speed
- Cash and cryptocurrencies accepted
Cons
- A VPN connection that is open to the public is unusable
- Addresses shared by multiple computers
2. ExpressVPN Review
Unlike other VPN providers, ExpressVPN does not specialize in business-oriented products. The company is consumer-centric, which is perfect if you're a freelancer, contract worker, or small business owner. The company offers mobile apps compatible with most devices and operating systems on traditional platforms, as well as applications compatible with Linux, Kindle Fire, and Chromebook.
Due to their consumer-oriented focus, their apps are simple to set up, easy to maintain, and user-friendly. In any case, you don't have to hire a full-time IT team to handle your needs. All of the leading VPN service providers provide you with encryption and security features. And, they provide additional features such as split-tunneling or using their own DNS servers. The company is based in the British Virgin Islands, so they follow the no-logging policy, just like NordVPN. Data retention laws aren't in place and there isn't mandatory government surveillance.
Pros
- Customer-centric
- Easily navigable and user-friendly
- Apps that run on all platforms and devices
- Reputation for quality
- Encryption and security that are top-notch
Cons
- Businesses can't use VPNs
- The products of their competitors are more expensive
3. Perimeter 81 Review
The Cloud VPN architecture of Perimeter 81 distinguishes it from other business VPN services. It’s great for users on multiple devices. The solution doesn't require external hardware or software. This cloud-based product combines all the tools required for managing remote employees securely. In addition to protecting your business from unplanned errors, Perimeter 81 is ideal for remote businesses. When employees connect to unknown, untrusted networks, automatic Wi-Fi Security and DNS Filtering protect your data.
You are protected against data breaches, negligence lawsuits, and other claims because of their service. It's essential for your employees to receive training, but Perimeter 81 helps protect your business and your employees. You can also monitor network activity with the data they provide. Access to resources can be audited, bandwidth consumption can be monitored, and network anomalies can be detected remotely. Bringing your own device (BYOD) policies are becoming commonplace in more organizations.
Having access points may be a downside to Perimeter 81's service. There are 650 public servers spread across 35 countries as of today. Compared to some of their competitors, it might not seem that much until you see that they operate in double or triple the number of countries as their competitors. In addition to that, you must also pay an extra $35 per month for a private gateway. The cost of this increase will be offset by a reduction in latency and an improvement in security for your organization.
Pros
- The functionality of single sign-on (SSO)
- The interface is user-friendly and intuitive
- Remote businesses will love it
- Automatically integrates with all cloud service providers
- Managed and unmanaged devices can be accessed securely
Cons
- Pricing at a higher level
- Their competitors have fewer servers
Conclusion
In recent years, there have been a number of Virtual Private Network services available on the Internet. From a niche market to an industry offering a number of services, the market has developed over time. Due to the growing awareness of cybercrime and surveillance in the digital community, these services are becoming increasingly popular. Due to this, it is difficult to distinguish which providers provide authentic services. VPN services that scam people out of money and information are out there. Therefore, it would be beneficial if you were careful when selecting your preference.
