(Newswire.net — December 6, 2018) — Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have been around for some time now – for over 20 years to be exact. Their original purpose was to secure corporate network connections, which ensured that file access systems and work e-mail was encrypted at all times.
In more recent years, it can be said that VPNs have come a long way – continually evolving to coincide with the high rise in internet usage. An ever-increasing number of people around the world turn to a VPN to keep themselves protected online. After all, a VPN helps to mask your IP address, which in turn prevents hackers accessing your private data, and stops any snooping from the government or your internet service provider (ISP).
There are a whole host of VPN providers out there, so it is well worth checking out the latest information on the best VPN services available. But first, it’s time for you to find out exactly how to protect yourself online using a VPN.
How Does a VPN Protect You Online?
In the digital age, your priority should be keeping yourself protected online. After all, there are many hackers around the world just waiting to snoop in on any private data they can get their hands on. Without using a VPN, you are leaving yourself in a very vulnerable position. This is because personal information such as passwords, bank details, and more can be easily intercepted should you not take the proper precautions. This particularly goes for public networks, which often leave you wide open to having your data stolen.
By making use of a VPN service, you will ensure that any data which is processed over the networks that you use is encrypted. Essentially, this allows you to remain anonymous as your IP address will be hidden at all times. This makes a VPN useful for anyone who makes use of streaming sites or third-party add-ons which provide access to copyrighted material.
If you were to use such services, then your ISP and the government can see exactly what you are doing. This is why it is absolutely imperative that you use a VPN if you use unofficial add-ons on Kodi for example. Otherwise, you will most likely receive a letter informing you to stop accessing such content. In some cases, illegal streamers have even been threatened with having their internet service cut off. But, there have also been instances where people have received hefty fines.
Using a VPN to Change Your Location
As we’ve already mentioned, IP address masking and data protection are two of the biggest reasons one might use a VPN in the modern day. However, its benefits don’t end right there. You’ll also find that you can use a VPN to spoof your location too.
What this means is that if you are based in a country such as the UK and wish to access a U.S. website, you can do that with a VPN. Particularly for those who use services such as Netflix and want to access content which is only available in another country, a VPN is undoubtedly a great option.
However, just make sure that you do your research, as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and other similar streaming services have become wise to VPN use. So, this means that many VPN services will not work when it comes to accessing location restricted content. In spite of this, you’ll find that there are some services which still work for this purpose.
Which VPN Service Is the Best?
To answer this question, it would be appropriate to mention that it all depends on your particular needs. There are both free and paid for services available to choose from, which means there will most definitely be something suitable for you. Regarding free services, you have the likes of Tunnelbear and Windscribe to choose from. Each of these offer fast and reliable service, albeit with certain limitations including a cap on data usage.
Therefore, if you are a regular user of streaming services or browse the web quite often, an upgrade to a paid service is probably the best way forward. Excellent rated ExpressVPN, really good and unique IPVanish, and last but not least NordVPN are just some of the services available to choose from, with each of them offering multiple servers, a fast and reliable service, and no limitations on data usage.
Of course, you might be asking yourself the question – are paid VPN services expensive? If so, you can rest assured that there are multiple price plans available from less than $3 a month. So, there is sure to be an option which is tailor-made for your particular needs. All in all, it really pays to do your research, as this will allow you to discover more about the best VPN services available, and find the one which can fulfill your requirements.