Today we will know what is VPN? Every website you visit, every payment transaction you complete, and every email you open is an opportunity for cyber crooks to spy on your activities. But, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Social media apps spy on you all the time. A friend of mine told me that she was discussing a certain topic with her friend on WhatsApp, and later that day, an Instagram post related to the same topic appeared in her feed. Scary, isn’t it?
Now, not all of these platforms use this information for malicious purposes, but it’s wise to leave nothing to chance. A VPN, even a free one, is the least security step you can take to protect your online privacy.
So, the next time you hear someone ask, “Can I get a VPN?” Tell them the story I shared about my friend. If we want to protect our privacy and keep our sensitive data safe, we need to know what is really happening in the online world.
What Is a VPN?
A VPN is short for Virtual Private Network, but what does that mean?
When you turn on your computer, open your browser and start surfing the web, your device connects to a network over the Internet to fetch the data you request.
Now if you want to connect to a secure network that doesn’t expose your data traffic, you need to use a VPN. A VPN creates a private and secure tunnel between you and the World Wide Web VPN providers have many servers that can be located anywhere in the world, and when you turn on your VPN and select a server in Paris, for example, you are essentially connecting to the Internet from that server.
So the purpose of a VPN is to protect your traffic from prying eyes and connect you to the Internet via the most secure, undetectable route.
Why use a VPN?
Let me ask another question. What do you think is a routine good or bad?
If you are always at Times Square 7. and then stop at Starbucks to buy your latte with a chocolate brownie on your way to work, is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Routines are great because they create discipline and order. But they make us predictable, and when we are predictable, we become vulnerable.
Everyone will know our next move before we do it; They can manipulate our days without us noticing. So when it comes to the online world, the last thing you want is to have a routine. If you always use your local network to complete your online tasks, you are already in a predictable loop. Not to mention, all your data becomes an easy target for hackers.
The purpose of a VPN is to be your virtual shield against online snoopers; Instead of revealing your IP address, a VPN provider uses the IP address of its servers to connect you to the Internet. Here’s how it works:
Say you live in Malaysia and you use a VPN originating from a server located in Paris. Every website you visit sees the VPN provider’s IP address_Paris_ as the actual source of the data request, not your actual location_Malaysia.
VPN technology is very helpful if your country restricts internet access or bans social media platforms like YouTube, Twitter, etc. Although VPNs are one of the best tools for data privacy and online anonymity, you should keep in mind the VPN company you choose. In the following sections, we will introduce 10 trusted VPN providers so that you can choose the best one that suits your needs.
Why use VPN on iPhone?
Your iPhone is one of the most dangerous listening and tracking devices you can ever use. Don’t misunderstand me; I like Apple products and everything about them. As far as technology goes, Apple has done a phenomenal job of making communication and online tasks easier and faster. But what about your online security? It’s a lot of things you can’t do with an iPhone. Paying bills, sending emails, checking inventory, watching Wednesdays on Netflix, shopping on Amazon, listening to audiobooks and the list goes on. From the moment you want to do something on the Internet, your activity is being tracked. Any online snooper can track your online behavior and since you’re not using a VPN, you’re basically carrying a big neon sign with your name on it.
Social media platforms are innocent and super entertaining because they want to look like that, but are they really? Facebook tops the list for user privacy issues. According to Forbes.com, Facebook tracks you when you browse other apps and websites. How unstable!
We use social media apps for convenience and entertainment, but if we don’t protect our privacy, we’re fair game. So, instead of asking, why to use a VPN on iPhone, you should be asking why not to use a VPN on iPhone.
The same goes for other smartphones. Any device that connects you to the Internet can cause security problems. Luckily, for every problem, there is a solution, and in this case, a VPN is the most affordable solution that anyone can and should use.
Why use VPN at home?
Do you trust your Internet Service Provider (ISP)?
Are you 100% positive that they don’t track your data or, worse, sell it?
Here is a disturbing fact:
According to PCMag.com, US Congress allows ISPs to sell data about users and their online activities.
It was a public announcement, which is fortunate because it gave people the opportunity to take security precautions or stop using certain online services.
But what about the country you live in?
Do you believe the government will share laws that go against 100% of user privacy? Maybe your government already enforces this law, and you didn’t even notice. Your ISP may have strict mandates to share your online traffic; You can’t do anything about it.
But there are things you can do about what you can control, which is your online defenses. Yes, think of the online world as a digital battleground, something like Mortal Kombat if you will. Every company and entity is gunning for your data, but you’re not vulnerable.
VPN is the most basic security weapon you must use if you want to survive the data intrusion war. I’m using a gaming analogy for better understanding, but make no mistake; Data privacy threats are 100% real.
10 Common Uses of a VPN
The use of a VPN does not end with the list below, so we encourage you to use a VPN for all online activities, even if you visit legitimate websites and platforms.
Speed Up Gaming
Gamers can be quite competitive, and if your rival is a tech-savvy developer, he can use your IP address to launch a DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack and knock you offline. A VPN masks your real IP address and secures your network connection. Also, if you use a VPN to connect to a server located near the game’s main server, your gaming experience is significantly improved.
Streaming Movies/Series/Events
Some streaming platforms, such as Hulu or Netflix, prevent certain countries from accessing their content. Or in some cases, countries themselves block these entertainment platforms, but when you use a VPN, you can access any geo-restricted content. Check out our guide to unblocking Netflix titles available in certain locations.
Secure remote access
When the pandemic began, more and more businesses had to turn to online tools, especially remote access software, for their day-to-day collaboration. This type of software has made it possible for remote workers to connect to any device from any location.
For example, RDP was quite popular for remotely accessing and managing files, but still, companies were worried about the security aspect of this software. Employees need to secure network connections to prevent hackers from spying on company data; Enter the VPN. A VPN hides users’ real IP addresses and encrypts their network traffic, eliminating all security vulnerabilities.
Bypass geographic restrictions
Many governments enforce internet restrictions that can cost many remote workers their jobs. For example, popular meeting platforms, like Zoom, or project management software, like Asana, are blocked in some countries. A VPN lets you use these platforms safely without being blocked by your ISP.
Block Bandwidth Throttling
Some Internet service providers slow down your connection to manage network bandwidth, commonly known as throttling. For example, if you purchase a cheaper plan from your ISP, they may limit your bandwidth so premium users can get better internet speeds.
A VPN blocks your ISP from seeing your online activity, so they can’t know what services you’re using and, as a result, they can’t throttle your traffic.
Bypass airline/online store price disparity
It may come as a surprise, but some stores or airlines change the price of their products/services based on where you are. The price disparity isn’t fair, but instead of complaining, you can use a VPN and not wonder if you paid the real price or triple it.
Public WiFi protection
Hackers can set up public WiFi connections in the name of popular entities like Starbucks. As soon as you connect to this fraudulent public WiFi to pay for your coffee, the bad guys have access to your payment details. So unless you want to expose your critical data, never connect to public WiFi without a VPN.
Safe downloading and uploading
If you use P2P (Peer to Peer) file-sharing websites and experience slow speeds from time to time, your ISP is involved. Without a VPN, your ISP can see your online traffic and limit your bandwidth when you’re sharing files with colleagues or anyone else. Also, since your traffic will be encrypted when using a VPN, you can share sensitive data without worrying about security breaches.
Block Malicious Ads
Free VPN doesn’t protect you from malicious ads and websites, in fact, the pop-up ads you see when using a free VPN are gateways to phishing websites. But most premium VPNs, such as NordVPN, use advanced security measures to block ads from malicious websites.
Untargeted competition research
Website owners can see who visited their website and from where. So when you visit a website without a VPN, they have access to your real IP address, i.e. your true online identity. If your business competitor is doing well and you want to access their website without being detected, then a VPN is the easiest tool you can use.
Top 10 VPN Providers in the Market in 2023
- Private Internet Access
- CyberGhost VPN
- ProtonVPN
- NordVPN
- IVPN
- Surfshark VPN
- Mullvad
- ExpressVPN
- Mozilla VPN
- TunnelBear
Most VPN providers’ pricing plans are quite affordable, but if you’re looking for a long-term, most cost-effective way to encrypt and secure your online traffic, a self-hosted VPN is a perfect option.
Can I get a VPN or host myself?
It depends on your specific needs and budget. If you want to access restricted content online or limit your ISP’s interference with your network, you can buy a trusted VPN and maintain online freedom and anonymity.
However, if you use a free VPN, you will likely be redirected to a public IP shared by many users. If hackers are also on this shared IP, they can block it entirely and you’re back to square one.
Most premium VPN providers offer dedicated IP addresses to their customers, so there will be no IP-hacking or blocking issues. But your online experience is still limited based on your VPN provider’s configuration protocol.
On the other hand, a self-hosted VPN gives you complete control over your VPN settings and configuration. Also, if you are worried about anonymity issues, you can buy a VPS service with Bitcoin. Note that configuring a VPN requires you to have adequate knowledge of networking and encryption. But given all the benefits you get from having your own 100% private VPN, the option is worth considering.
How to Choose the Best Hosting Service for Setting Up Your Own VPN Server
If you’re a bit cynical and don’t trust VPN companies, you can buy a VPS and host your own VPN. Most VPS providers accept crypto payments, so no personal information will be traded, giving you 100% anonymity.
The best thing about hosting your own VPN server is that you have complete control over its configuration and privacy settings. Nobody will be able to log or sell your online traffic, and best of all, no monthly subscription fee. You only pay for your VPS server, which is basically nothing compared to the monthly VPN fee.
