Why Use a VPN? Essential Tips for Protecting Your Online Privacywhy-use-a-vpn

What is a VPN?

A VPN is a service that establishes a secure and encrypted connection between your device and the internet. As a result, with a VPN connection, your online activity cannot be easily tracked by prying eyes and sold to third parties.

In essence, a virtual private network encrypts your internet traffic and masks your IP addresses. Your browsing data is sent through an encrypted, secure VPN server, which prevents anyone from monitoring your actions online.

Using VPN services ensures that your browsing history remains private. It protects your personal information from hackers, advertisers, and even the government.

What Are The Top Reasons to Use a VPN Server?

1. Enhanced Online Privacy and Anonymity

Since a VPN service hides your IP address, your online activities become a lot harder to trace. In most cases not even worth the effort. It’s especially important while shopping online or accessing sensitive accounts.

A VPN server will protect your financial and sensitive information and, as a bonus, you will not see all those intrusive ads everywhere you go.

2. Protection from Cyber Threats

Public Wi-Fi’s are everywhere, and they’re not as safe as you may think. These networks are notoriously vulnerable to cyberattacks. Simply put, they’re an easy target for hackers to get ahold of loads of personal data that they can use for their own needs.

However, if you’re using a VPN, you can rest assured that the connection is encrypted and cybercriminals will have a difficult time trying to steal your information. And, as we mentioned before, cyberattacks are a big problem, which makes using VPNs essential in today’s world.

3. Bypassing Geo-Restrictions and Censorship

The most popular geo-restriction examples are news websites, Netflix, and other streaming services. Usually, these platforms have licensing restrictions that don't allow you to access content in different countries.

With a VPN service, you can bypass censorship, stream your favorite shows, and access content from anywhere in the world.

4. Safe Online Transactions

Financial data is way too important to be left unattended. VPN services allow you to safely use shopping and banking services online by creating an encrypted connection. They make sure that your credit card details and passwords are not intercepted by hackers and other cybercriminals.

5. Avoid ISP Throttling

Some internet service providers (ISPs) may intentionally slow down your network speed during heavy activities such as streaming and downloading. Since a VPN connection encrypts your traffic and your online presence is not easily tracked, it helps keep your internet fast and convenient.

6. Secure Remote Work

Remote work has become more common than ever since the COVID-19 pandemic. While it’s a great thing to have, it’s also a new opportunity for hackers trying to steal sensitive company data. As a result, VPNs are crucial in protecting such data by encrypting the connections.

Also, most platforms that are dedicated for remote work (such as Zoom and Slack) have smooth integrations with VPNs to ensure a safe work environment.

When Should You Use a VPN

• At home. A VPN connection will help protect your entire home network from your internet service providers, hackers, and other unwelcome eyes. Using a VPN will also give you an IP address from any country in the world, so if you want to view geo-restricted content, it’s a great option.
• While traveling. Connecting to unauthorized or unknown public Wi-Fi’s without a VPN, especially abroad, does not bode well for your data privacy. If you want to ensure a safe connection, protect your IP address, and access geo-restricted content back home, you will need a VPN.
• At work. As mentioned before, remote working is susceptible to cyber attacks. Therefore, employees should use a VPN service to protect sensitive company data. Most of the time, you’ll be using a VPN that’s issued by the company, however. If not, make sure you get a VPN for personal use.

What Are the Common Myths and Misconceptions About VPNs?

1. VPNs slow down internet speed. Some less functional or free VPNs may do that, but a premium VPN service provides high-speed internet browsing as well as significantly enhancing your online protection. Therefore, using a VPN won’t degrade your performance by a lot.
2. VPNs are only for tech-savvy users. Since their beginning, VPNs have increasingly become more and more user-friendly, with intuitive apps available for almost every device. Nowadays, anyone can install and use a VPN — it only takes a few clicks to form a safe connection.
3. Free VPNs are just as good as paid ones. Free VPNs have various limitations and risks: slower speeds, fewer servers, and even selling your data to third parties. Also, they usually can’t bypass geo-political restrictions effectively. Premium VPNs are always a better and safer choice.

How to Choose the Right VPN for Your Needs?

The most important factors to consider are security features, the IP address pool, connection speed, user-friendliness, and customer support. If you only want some basic encryption and to bypass geo-restrictions, you don’t really need to overthink your choice.

Factors to consider

However, if you’re looking to protect your corporate data and integrate the VPN with various business platforms, here are some things to think about:

• Enterprise-grade security. Look for VPNs offering AES-256 encryption, multi-factor authentication, a kill switch, and centralized management.
• Scalability. Search for VPNs that allow for scalability with multiple simultaneous connections across various devices and that smoothly integrate with your existing platforms.
• Centralized control. Consider a VPN provider that provides IT administrators with centralized management tools for controlling access permissions for employees. If it’s for personal use only, using such a VPN may not be necessary.
• Fast connection. The VPN provider must have high-speed connections to facilitate video conferences, file transfers, and access to business platforms without disruptions.

If you’re considering getting a VPN, CometVPN matches all the requirements you would need for safe and encrypted network connections.

In general, while you may be tempted to try a free VPN provider, it’s a lot better and safer to go with a paid VPN. As mentioned earlier, free VPNs could slow down your connection and even sell your data to other parties.

Using a VPN that you pay for, on the other hand, will provide you with robust security against cyberthreats and protect your personal and sensitive information from prying eyes.