In case you’re not familiar, a VPN is a Virtual Private Network. It’s a service that encrypts your internet connection and routed it through a server in another location. That might not sound like much, but using a VPN can actually provide you with quite a few benefits. Here are six reasons why you should use one.
1. Improve Your Security
If you’re using public Wi-Fi, there’s always the risk that someone could be snooping on your connection. When you use a VPN, however, all of your traffic is encrypted, making it much more difficult for anyone to intercept your data. This is especially important if you’re using public Wi-Fi to access sensitive information, like online banking or email.
2. Bypass geo-restrictions
Have you ever tried to access a website only to be told that it’s not available in your country? That’s because many websites and streaming services use geo-restrictions to limit who can access their content. However, when you use a VPN, you can route your traffic through a server in another country, which will allow you to bypass those restrictions.
3. Protect your privacy
When you browse the internet without a VPN, your ISP (internet service provider) can see everything that you’re doing. They can track the websites that you visit, the ads that you click on, and even the searches that you perform. This information is then usually sold to third-parties or used to target ads at you. However, when you use a VPN, your ISP can only see that you’re connected to a VPN server—they can’t see what you’re doing beyond that point. This protects your privacy and ensures that your ISP can’t sell your data without your consent.
4. Improve Your Streaming Experience
If you’ve ever tried streaming content from another country, chances are you’ve run into issues with buffering or low-quality video streams. That’s because many streaming services limit who can access their content based on location. However, when you use a VPN, you can route your traffic through a server in the country where the content is available, which will allow you to stream content without any issues.
5. Save Money on Flights and Hotels
You might not know this, but prices for flights and hotels often vary based on your location. This is because companies use cookies to track your browsing behavior and target ads at you accordingly. However, when you use a VPN, companies are only able to see that you’re connecting from a different location—they can’t track your browsing behavior or target ads at you. As a result, they may offer lower prices for flights and hotels when they think you’re located in another country.
6. Avoid Government Censorship
In some countries—such as China—the government censors what its citizens can and cannot see online by blocking certain websites and services. If you live in one of these countries or frequently travel to them for business or pleasure, using a VPN is essential for circumventing government censorship so that you can access the internet freely without fear of repercussions from the authorities.
Using a VPN provides numerous benefits for users ranging from improved security to bypassing geo-restrictions on streaming content. If privacy is important to you, a VPN should be one of the first tools that you reach for when browsing the internet. Not only does it keep prying eyes off of your internet usage, but also makes it more difficult for ISPs and other third – parties to get their hands on your data. Whether you’re looking for better security, want to watch content that’s not available in your country, or simply don’t want your ISP tracking everything you do online, a little bit of investment into a VPN can go a long way.
