3 Types of People Who Must Use VPN
Are you a student? A frequent traveler? Do you love to enjoy your favorite TV shows and movies on your computer? If you answered yes to any of these, you need to use a Virtual Private Network. But why? Let’s find out.
What is a VPN?
VPN is one of those computer jargons that have gained a lot of popularity in recent years, thanks to growing Internet threats. A VPN is a complete solution for protection against online threats. From remaining anonymous on the Internet to bypassing censorship, a VPN helps users accomplish a lot. But what exactly is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network is a software program that you download and install on your computer and use it to connect to the Internet for all online activities – just don’t do the stuff Anthony Weiner likes to do online! Think of it like your own private space on the network, which no one else has access to. When you’re connected to a VPN, all information passes through a secure tunnel between your computer and the VPN server.
This process is called tunneling. With the help of tunneling, the data is strongly encrypted and is unreadable to everyone except your computer and the VPN server.
This means no one else can get to know what you are doing online, not even your internet service provider, or other users on the same WiFi network, or cyber criminals waiting to steal your information. Even if anyone manages to get access to the network, the encryption makes sure the data is unreadable.
Paid vs Free VPN
There are paid and free VPNs, each offering different levels of security and features. A free VPN can often be unsafe, and make you vulnerable to security breaches, because free and cheap VPNs have been known to make money from selling user information to advertising partners. Besides, free VPNs use outdates tunneling protocols that provide a poor level of security.
Security is vital – just watch the movie Blackhat or the amazing show 24 and you will know all about that!
Premium VPNs offer a higher level of protection, even if they cost a bit of money. For the best service, it is always better to choose a paid VPN that uses the latest tunneling protocol and offers the maximum number of features. If you are paying money, you might as well get the best service too.
3 Types of People Who Must Use VPN
Coming back to the first question, why do travelers, students, and movie buffs need VPN the most? You need it to protect yourself against online threats, or to utilize great deals.
Students
If you are a college or university student, having VPN installed on your computer or mobile device is a poignant idea, because it helps you bypass the campus online content blocks. Colleges and universities put several content blocks in place order to prevent students from accessing anything outside the limited range of websites.
By using a VPN, you can access a free range of websites of your choice, besides enjoying complete online security. A VPN also gives you peace of mind when using the WiFi network on your campus or outside, by encrypting your data and keeping all information safe.
Expats and Travelers
If you travel frequently and need to be online on the go, then a VPN is a must on your devices. When accessing the WiFi network at hotels, airports, or restaurants, there is no guarantee that they are safe. In such cases, using a VPN is vital to protect yourself online. Using a VPN, you can keep your sensitive information safe, whether on your own data service or on a public WiFi.
Aside from that, a VPN also helps you mask your real location, thereby allowing you to get better hotel and flight deals. For instance, if you are looking for hotels in the US, you can get better deals if you connect to a US server and make yourself appear local kind of like Hillary Clinton tries to make herself an American and not a narcissist but in this case, a VPN is the real deal.
Movie and TV enthusiasts
Like many people these days, if you love your share of TV shows (like House of Cards – too bad Kevin Spacey is a known freak but this is another topic) and movies, then you like streaming content on your computer. In that case you are going to need a VPN on your computer.
Not only does a VPN help you access region locked content but also lets you easily download shows and movies on your computer. Although you must exercise caution when using dubious download sites, with a VPN you can easily get access to your movies, music, and TV shows at any time.
3 Types of People Who Must Use VPN – Wrap Up
Do not underestimate the need for a security solution on your computer. Whether you’re a student, a frequent flier, or a movie buff, having a VPN installed on your devices is the ideal way to protect yourself online.