These days, you can never be truly alone. The Big Brother is constantly watching over every single move you make online. First of all, the Internet Service Provider(ISP) is always keeping tabs on its users and recording time stamps, a list of visited websites, and more.
Then we have the government agencies around the globe that regularly collect personal user data and even share it with other intelligence actors..
And let’s not forget about the hackers who use vulnerabilities in the network to take sneak peeks and (potentially) steal sensitive, essential data.
Even if you’ve got the best anti-malware software, it may not protect you from the prying eyes. A Virtual Private Network, however, will. It’s capable of hiding your real ID and giving you access to dozens of otherwise blocked websites.
VPNs encrypt Internet connections and create a virtual data tunnel between your local network and a remote node.
Therefore, it is important to understand what is VPN.
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VPN Principles
Here’s how a VPN works: you get a list of secure servers scattered worldwide.
The most advanced VPN services own (or rent) up to five thousand servers to ensure all users get one without compromising on connection quality.
Once you select a server, your traffic automatically gets routed through that server. Next, the encrypted tunneling protocols kick in.
They ensure a safe connection between two networks and scramble your data.
As a result, all the potential “attackers,” including internet service providers and big-bad government agents, are tricked into believing that your traffic is being generated by that VPN server. It may be located on the other side of the world, and they’ll still think it’s the traffic source.
Speaking of the encryption protocols, most leading VPNs implement the AES-256 protocol.
It was developed by the US military and is, to this day, being actively used by the American government to protect its assets. It’s considered to be impenetrable as no hacker has ever had success breaching it. So, one can use it for various purposes.
Access Streaming Platforms
It’s no secret that Netflix has a very strict policy when it comes to content. For example, if you’re living somewhere in Europe, you won’t access the US catalog.
The same is true the other way around. And then you have the BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO, and other leading streaming services that follow the same policy. A VPN is pretty much the only “key” that outsmarts these limitations and grants you quick access.
As mentioned, VPN routes all your traffic through a secure server. And, if you pick a server that’s located in the States, that will trick the streaming platforms, making it look like your IP/geolocation is American. In reality, you can be in any part of the world. The same is true for some geo-restricted websites like Facebook and YouTube, or sports coverage.
Download Torrents Risk-Free
Moreover, with a VPN, you can freely download torrents without constantly looking over your shoulder. We don’t support illegal use of copyrighted content, of course, but that’s not even what we’re talking about here. Many Internet users like to share unique files/apps with each other through the P2P protocol. Plus, there’s a lot of free stuff posted on torrenting websites.
But the ISP won’t differentiate between the “right” and the “wrong” types of torrents.
For example, in the US, it’s not rare for internet service providers to call the police on you if they find out you’re downloading torrents through the P2P protocol. With a VPN, they will never be able to do that, as they simply won’t “see” what you’re doing with the traffic.
When to Use?
If you’re just casually watching your favorite streamer on Twitch or enjoying some silly YouTube videos, there’s no need to use a VPN.
However, if you’re planning on doing some online banking and shopping, we strongly recommend activating the Virtual Private Network.
And, a quick hint for the fans of adult content: make a habit of hitting that green “On” button on your VPN before watching 18+ content.
The reason – many websites tend to charge the viewers from time to time, especially if they know their actual email addresses.
There’s nothing worse than getting a bill from such a site, especially if you’re not alone at the moment.
Considering VPN, whenever you’re accessing sensitive corporate data (say, you’re doing that at home, not from the office), always do that through an encrypted VPN server.
In the end, you can actually save some money when shopping/booking through a VPN and secure your location. Take some time and search for states or countries that get tickets/reservations for cheap. Many reservation centers (like an airport or hotel) have different prices for different regions.
In some cases, this works perfectly. Other times, you might waste hours and end up with nothing. Why not having such a tool on your device?
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