Our modern world is reliant on technology and connectivity. Whether you want to use your laptop to work remotely from anywhere in the world, use your smartphone to stream Netflix movies, or use a tablet to watch sports live streams. The internet seems to be this global omniscient, and omnipresent element that the world is thriving on. As much as the internet has brought good to our lives, there is also a dark side to the internet that can’t be ignored.
Cybercrime is on the rise, with new attacks taking place every single day and governments are spying on their citizens. On top of that, when you dig deeper into the internet, you’ll find that the world wide web is not so “worldwide” after all. Countries use internet censorship to block people from accessing specific websites and other countries block foreigners from accessing their websites. It’s all a bit frustrating, but there is a way to get around it.
All you need is a cybersecurity tool known as a virtual private network, or VPN for short. You must use a premium VPN rather than a free one — we’ll get into the reasons for that later on. There is no better time than now to grab one of these nifty cybersecurity tools with this year’s Black Friday VPN sale. Keep reading to find out why you need one!
What is a VPN?
First things first, what exactly is a VPN? A VPN is a cybersecurity tool that is used to encrypt your internet connection. Using a VPN to encrypt your internet connection is powerful because it prevents anyone else from seeing what you’re doing on your device while you’re browsing the web. Not even the government or your ISP can monitor your internet traffic while your VPN is active, so you can be assured of security and privacy when you’re online.
But here’s where using a VPN is most important! We all know about those convenient public WiFi hotspots that are often found at hotels, restaurants, and airports. They’re a true lifesaver when you’re traveling abroad and can’t use mobile data.
The problem with these public WiFi hotspots is that they often use unsecured networks. Skilled cybercriminals can connect to the same network and listen in on your device as it sends and receives data through the internet. This allows hackers to steal your data, login credentials, and even your banking information.
However, if you use a VPN to encrypt your internet connection, you can safely access public WiFi hotspots without having to worry about cybercrime! So, next time you travel abroad, or head down to your local coffee shop to get some work done, make sure you’re using a VPN.
Other Benefits of Using a VPN
VPNs also have a whole host of secure global servers that you can connect to. These servers are located in different countries and cities all around the world. When you connect to one of these servers, your real IP address will be masked from the websites that you’re accessing, and your device will adopt the VPN server’s IP address by directing your internet traffic through the server.
An IP address is a unique string of numbers that is used to identify your device on the internet. One of the main purposes of an IP address is to pinpoint your physical location and provide that information to any website that you visit. This allows the website to send you targeted marketing messages and ads based on your geographic location — for example, ads for your local grocery store.
By changing your IP address, you will be changing your device’s virtual location even though you’re physically in the same place. Spoofing your location using a VPN has tons of benefits such as bypassing geo-blocking restrictions, overcoming internet censorship, finding cheaper flights and accommodation, and you can even use a VPN to find cheaper subscriptions for online services!
You can choose which country you would like to connect your VPN to. For example, if you’re trying to bypass geo-blocking restrictions to watch a sporting event in the US, all you need to do is connect to a server in the US. You’ll immediately notice the ads on your browser changing from local ads to US ads, and you’ll be granted access to the streaming website of your choice.
Why You Need a Premium VPN
There are plenty of free VPNs available on the internet, and it’s tempting to install one of these instead. However, your device’s privacy and security are not something that you should be taking shortcuts with. You need to invest in the best if you want to see results.
If you’re using a free VPN you’ll run into several different problems. With a free VPN, you could encounter slower connection speeds, more ads, poor encryption technology, fewer global servers to choose from, and daily data limits. So, make sure you take this opportunity to get the best VPN on the market at a fraction of its usual cost this Black Friday!