What is a Virtual Private Network (VPN)? If you haven’t already seen an online ad for one, you’re likely to see one after reading this article. VPNs have become a huge topic in the last few years, and judging by the current trends, they will only become more common in the future. It used to be a service used by business users and large corporations, but today, every regular internet user stands to benefit from having a reliable VPN subscription.
This includes everyone, even if their tech use is limited. Some people don’t use computers or laptops at all and do most (or all) of their browsing on their smartphones. But a VPN can still be an important service to have for a number of reasons.
Privacy
Privacy is a primary concern for everyone these days. And that’s a good thing because more people need to understand the implications of sharing their data without second thoughts. Almost every site out there is trying to track visitors’ activities in one way or another. And while it may seem harmless, for some people, all that data collected now could become a problem in the future.
Using a VPN on your portabke device can allow you to evade that tracking to a large extent. You can change your IP address on the go, obscuring your tracks and confusing analytical engines. Plus, when companies don’t know your real location, they have a difficult time serving you targeted ads.
Security
A smartphone is a device that is often connected to many unknown public networks. It comes with the territory – that mobile computer in your pocket still needs to connect to the Internet somehow. And people would be surprised how much they are putting at risk by just connecting to a random public WiFi. Even your favorite Starbucks can’t be trusted. People running the network may have good intentions, but someone who is exploiting faults in it won’t.
What would a VPN be worth if it wouldn’t encrypt users’ connection as well? People don’t have to worry about someone snooping on their connection and stealing their passwords. The entire communication will be encrypted, preventing anyone from extracting any useful information from it. This even includes sites that don’t support encryption by default. VPN doesn’t care what kind of traffic is running through it, it all gets encrypted either way.
Stream without interruptions
Users of Netflix, Spotify, Steam, and similar services often complain that they’re unable to enjoy their favorite content while traveling. It’s an annoying part of these services’ core design. Publishers care about regional distribution, so they require content providers to enforce certain rules.
That’s another problem that a VPN can solve very quickly. By virtually changing their location to any country in the world, people can gain access to your content even when you’re abroad.
VPNs also allow users to unlock new content that they would otherwise not have access to. They just need to make sure that they’re not violating any rules of the platforms they’re using. Recently, Netflix has been especially strict on that front.
Social media
Certain countries frown upon social media use. Users may find their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or other profiles inaccessible when abroad. Or, in cases where they are accessible, they may be severely limited. On the other hand, people also have to consider their privacy. Many of these countries may snoop on people’s connection when using services like that to ensure that they’re not breaking their laws.
While people should still be careful when traveling through such places, a VPN can be a good workaround if they really need to get online. The traffic produced by a VPN connection does not follow any specific patterns, regardless of the applications you’re using. This means that nobody will be able to tell if you’re using Messenger, WhatsApp, or anything else of that sort. On the other hand, people should remember that the consequences of getting caught can sometimes be dire. Therefore, VPN workarounds should be used only in emergencies.
Gaming
Many online games split their players into geographical regions for a number of reasons. Providing a better experience for everyone by reducing lag is the main one. Companies are also often trying to build on their specific local communities in each region. Mobile gaming is targeted even more than its desktop counterpart. In any case, this can be an annoying feature when you’re trying to play with a friend on the other end of the globe. Some games may not allow players to join the same server at all.
This can be avoided by setting your location to the required region with a VPN. With a few taps on screen, you’ll be able to connect to any specific regional server that you want. But a good VPN subscription is necessary for it to work properly. Otherwise, users run into lots of stability issues and often have to deal with annoying lag.
It saves you money
Some online stores and services have different prices for the same items and subscriptions, which are based on the location you’re browsing from. This includes clothing, books, music or video streaming services, as well as hotels and even plane tickets.
Online shoppers that have a VPN can try switching to different countries. It might take a bit more time to find a good deal, but it’s worth it in the long run. Just consider how much money you can save on airfares alone!
It’s reasonable to think that a VPN will become a basic requirement for all internet users in the near future. It’s a great service that can improve your browsing in multiple ways. But above all, the fact that it protects users’ privacy is the most important one. This is already a hot topic but it will become even more important soon. And the ones who familiarize themselves with the available solutions now will benefit the most later on. Don’t underestimate the importance of learning more about what VPNs are or why you need them, because you’ll regret it sooner or later
