How a VPN Can Improve Your Online Privacy and Security

A Virtual Private Network is a security tool that encrypts your Internet connection and shields your IP address from potential threats. With a VPN, you can use public or shared Wi-Fi without worrying about your online identity being compromised. It also ensures that your online activities can remain confidential and untraceable. Additionally, by rerouting your Internet traffic through a hosted server, a VPN enables you to bypass the restrictions set by your Internet Service Provider and access the web from a variety of locations. By allowing you to change your location, a VPN offers you the freedom to connect to the Internet from anywhere. In this article, we have rounded up the main benefits of using VPN services.

How a VPN Can Improve Your Online Privacy and Security
Photo by Thomas Lefebvre on Unsplash.

1. Access Geo-Blocked Platforms

People often wonder: “When to use VPN?” Approximately half of Internet users utilize VPNs to safeguard themselves against identity theft and secure their personal data. Additionally, a third of users employ VPNs on public Wi-Fi to reduce risks. According to statistics, 46% of people use such tools to access streaming services. Many users of popular streaming platforms utilize VPNs to access regionally-restricted streaming content. Many popular streaming services only offer certain content based on your location. This can prevent you from enjoying your preferred films or TV shows without a VPN. With a VPN, you can select the country from which you appear to connect to the Internet. It allows you to access otherwise unavailable streaming content. VPNs can also unlock restricted websites and social media platforms that may not be accessible in your country.

2. Solving Throttling Issues

As the number of individuals streaming media content online continues to rise, ISPs have taken measures to restrict the connection speeds of users who consume large amounts of data. This practice often leaves customers feeling frustrated and dissatisfied, as they no longer receive the Internet speeds promised in their service agreements.

Internet service providers often limit the Internet speeds of customers who download large amounts of content using torrenting clients like BitTorrent. The main VPN purpose is to conceal your Internet activities from your ISP, thereby preventing them from monitoring the amount of content you stream or download. This significantly minimizes the possibility of reduced Internet speed.

3. Safe Browsing Experience

Your web search activity is scrutinized by numerous shopping apps, social media platforms, and search engines. They monitor the links you access, the items you buy, and even the social media posts you endorse. This data is utilized to provide you with more personalized content and targeted ads based on your preferences.

You just need to tell your software: “Hide my location!” by clicking the dedicated button, and it will mask your IP. You might ask yourself: “Can you be tracked with a VPN?” It is important to understand that erasing your browsing history alone does not fully prevent tracking. The most reliable solution to safeguard against online tracking is through the use of such services as VeePN. This VPN conceals your cached data and location, ensuring enhanced privacy during browsing and thwarting attempts by companies to tailor content based on your searches and location.

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4. Maintaining Anonymity

One compelling reason for using a VPN is to safeguard your anonymity. Almost 30% of people use VPNs for personal reasons. By routing traffic through various location servers, a VPN ensures that neither your identity nor your physical location is identifiable to host sites. This anonymity can protect you from targeted cyber-attacks since your personal information cannot be tracked.

Even if you visit a malicious site while using a VPN, your identity remains protected. With numerous VPN providers available, you can be sure that your complete anonymity will be guaranteed, whether you use free or paid services.

5. Safe Wi-Fi Usage

Although public Wi-Fi is convenient and often free, it poses significant security risks such as data breaches and malware attacks. Because of this, it might be too risky to use it for personal and professional tasks. However, in some cases, it might be necessary to use public Wi-Fi, for instance when you are traveling or don’t want to pay exorbitant Internet costs. A VPN provides a secure tunnel for your online activity while also protecting your identity.

6. Secure P2P Sharing

Numerous ISPs restrict P2P connections to deter torrent downloading and sharing, due to pressure from copyright licensors. However, this can be a significant obstacle when users attempt to download files for legitimate purposes. Fortunately, by routing and encrypting your traffic through a VPN server, you can shield your P2P connections from ISP detection and enjoy uninterrupted access.

7. Remote Access to Important Data

The utilization of VPNs is crucial in facilitating secure access. With remote work being a norm in most organizations, ensuring safety online is of utmost importance. Implementing a corporate VPN can help users protect the software of a company, which is a prime target for cyberattacks. For individuals considering investments in a VPN for their companies, a significant perk is the ability of employees to access sensitive materials on their personal devices while off-site. Investing in a VPN is a wise choice for those who want to protect confidential assets outside of the office environment.

8. Protection Against External Threats

A reliable VPN can make it considerably challenging for malicious users to steal information during transfer, as it mitigates the risk through military-grade encryption technology. For instance, when an individual is connected to a local Wi-Fi hotspot, they don’t need to worry about the security of their confidential data, as a VPN acts as a barrier against malicious cyberattacks.

While VPNs can secure online connections, they do not provide protection against physical computer hacking. To safeguard physical servers, computers, and mobile phones, implementing strong password protocols, and 2FA is crucial. Businesses seeking enhanced security should consider additional measures such as least-privileged access methods alongside VPNs. 

Investing in a VPN is essential for any person who seeks to protect their online activity and data. By concealing cached data and location, maintaining anonymity, securing Wi-Fi usage, enabling secure P2P sharing, providing remote access to important data, and protecting against external threats, VPNs help you stay safe. When used in tandem with other security measures, such services provide an extra layer of protection.

Featured image by fullvector on Freepik.