Virtual Private Network - What Is It & Why Do You Need It?
In today’s era, Virtual Private Network, a.k.a VPN, is not an alien concept among internet users. With the rising data breaches, VPN users are also simultaneously increasing. If you go back a few years, you will be surprised to see that there were hardly any VPN users. People were not even familiar with this term. But today, with the rising cybersecurity concerns, it has grown in popularity and has become an integral part of the online world. Even regular internet users are now concerned about their privacy and are aware of the importance of maintaining anonymity on the world wide web. And without a doubt, VPN is one of the most promising ways of keeping yourself safe.
Now that people are familiar with this term, the next question that arises is what exactly VPN means and whether you should use one? How effective is the VPN, and what benefits does it offer? If you, too, are stuck with these questions, this article will help you find all the answers. So, scroll down and learn more about Virtual Private Networks.
Virtual Private Network: What Does It Mean?
VPN is short for “Virtual Private Network.” It is a service that allows people to surf, shop, and perform banking functions over the internet while keeping their online identity hidden. It encrypts the connection between the computing device and the host site to ensure complete protection, security, and freedom. This is done to prohibit hackers from snooping on users' activities. In the online world, it functions as a secret tunnel that ensures privacy and prevents them from being seen by anybody on the internet. If it is downloaded on your device, the data appears to be coming from a distant server, because of which nobody can see where you are and what you are doing. This makes it difficult or nearly impossible for them to steal the data, which is otherwise possible.
Why Should You Use A VPN?
When it comes to internet security, using a VPN is a no-brainer. If you are wondering whether you need a VPN or not, the answer is quite simple - YES. It’s always better to err on the side of caution. This is why using a Virtual Private Network is of great importance. However, if you are still not convinced, here are some benefits that make this service worthwhile. There are ample reasons why you should step up your privacy game with VPNs. Here’s a closer look at some of the reasons:
Safety And Security
The most significant reason why people use Virtual Private Network services is because of the safety feature. It provides end-to-end encryption when a person is accessing the internet for any purpose. This service eliminates the stress of hackers and cybercriminals spying or snooping into your data and provides a safer world online.
Avoid Geographical Restrictions
When we talk about the importance of VPN, we can’t miss the advantage of avoiding geographical restrictions. There are some internet or streaming services that place geographical limits on their content. Because of this, the user can’t get access to all the entertainment and information sources. But with the help of a Virtual Private Network, users can go beyond the restrictions and use the internet without any geo-restrictions.
Complete Anonymity
The next obvious reason why people opt to use a VPN service is to enjoy the internet in incognito mode. VPN respects users' privacy and helps them maintain their anonymity. Generally, the location, as well as the identity of a person, can be easily traced. But VPN services are a blessing in disguise to stop this and hide such details.
Security On Public Wi-Fi
The public network is a paradise for hackers, making it incredibly risky to connect your device to the internet when you are in a cafe, airport, hotel, and other public places. All the activities can be easily traced when connected to a public network, and hacking becomes much easier. However, in such scenarios, VPN acts as a safe and secure tunnel and hides every action you carry out while connected to public Wi-Fi.
Anonymous Downloading
In most countries, it’s illegal to download Torrents. And for doing so, the downloaders are traced and punished by the authorities. Hence, VPN understands the importance of privacy and anonymity even while downloading and uploading files. This is why a Virtual Private Network encrypts the traffic and reroutes IP addresses so that a person can download any file anonymously.
Bypass Censorship
Every government intends to protect the vital information and their citizens from the safety issues of the online world, and some go to great lengths to keep it under control. This is why in many countries, the internet is extremely censored because of which a person can’t access several websites or applications. However, VPN providers believe in unadulterated free speech, and hence, they help bypass censorship and other restrictions.
Other Benefits
There is a long list of reasons why an internet user opts for VPN services. Apart from the above-mentioned benefits, a Virtual Private Network also helps in providing data privacy from hackers and government, gives access to companies' networks, allows the user to beat the price discrimination, prevents digital files from getting traced or hacked by third parties, and makes it easy to use the internet.
Disadvantages Of Using A Virtual Private Network
Like any other technology or service, there are some drawbacks of using a VPN too. While it appears to be perfect for safeguarding yourself on the world wide web, it also has some disadvantages that you must consider. Here is an overview of the negative sides of using a VPN service.
- It slows down the systems
- Degrades the quality of network
- VPN can’t block cookies
- It does not provide all-round protection
Best VPN Providers Available Right Now
Now that you have decided to start using a Virtual Private Network, the next major question that needs to be answered is– which provider should you go for? There are several VPN services available in the market, and there is always some debate over the best one. However, to make it easier for you to choose a trustworthy provider, our experts have tested some of the superior VPN services. As a result of our testing, we have found our three best contenders who deserve the title of best VPN providers.
1. NordVPN
2. Private Internet Access
3. VyprVPN
In order to learn more about these VPN services and other providers, make sure you visit Home of Expert Advice. It is the one-stop solution for all your security needs.
Final Thoughts:
Whether you are using the internet for your personal or office usage, VPN is always important for protecting yourself from data breaches. Their objective is to provide the users with ultimate security and protection when using the internet. While it comes with some disadvantages, it is ideal for adding a layer of security and safeguarding yourself, your financial interests, personal information, as well as your reputation. Now that you understand what Virtual Private Network is, why you need it, which service you should go for, and more, it’s time to get your hands on one of them and provide yourself with a safe online environment.
Stay safe, stay happy!
