4 Reasons to Use A VPN

Somehow due to different reports in the media, more and more people are concerned about their online privacy. You can regularly read in the news that private data becomes public or that people gets scammed online. This is one of the reasons to use a VPN. But what is this and what can you do with the best VPN? and is there also a free VPN?

What is a VPN?

When you connect to the internet via your computer, you do this with your own unique IP address. This can be compared to your home address or your telephone number. The website you are connecting to will then know to which address should the data be sent. This means that you are traceable, because eventually your IP address can be traced back to your real name and address. VPN stands for 'Virtual Private Network' and means that you make contact with the internet via a deviation. You make contact with the VPN server, so you surf the internet with the IP address of the VPN server. Therefore, you can no longer be traced via your own IP address. The data that is sent back and forth is also encrypted. You can find many VPN services, including free VPN services, however you will usually have to pay for the best ones.

Why using a VPN?

Whether you are using a cheap VPN or the best paid VPN, there can be several reasons to use it. So, here four reasons why using it.

1. Improve your privacy

Surfing the internet without an IP address is impossible, otherwise, the websites you visit do not know to which address they should send their data. Everyone who has a subscription through an internet provider will receive its own unique IP address that can ultimately be traced back to your name and address. This also means that your internet behavior is traceable, such as which websites you visit, your e-mail traffic and which videos you watch. If you use a VPN, your internet behavior is no longer linked to your own unique IP address, but to the IP address of the VPN server. Websites and agencies that want to track your internet behavior will not get further than this IP address, so that your privacy is guaranteed.

1. Use public networks securely

Free internet is offered in many public places, such as city centers, cafes, stations and shopping centers. Free internet is handy, but you never know how secure your data is. This is often misused and strangers can access your personal information. These kinds of free connections are simply more susceptible to be hacked. But, when you use a VPN, your IP address cannot be traced and all data is sent via a secure connection.

1. Bypass government censorship

Many countries monitor the internet use of their residents. This also happens to a limited extent in Western countries. In some, mainly dictatorial countries, strict censorship is applied to prevent the inhabitants to search certain information. Government surveillance of their Internet behavior will make people feel their own privacy affected. This is a very important reason to use a VPN. The connection is encrypted and governments cannot get to the IP address of the VPN server. This allows you to escape government censorship.

1. Anonymity for internet companies

Google, Facebook, Twitter and more of this type of large internet platforms have a lot of power on the internet and they also know a lot about you, partly because your IP address can be traced. The most well-known example is the personalized advertisements that you receive when you visit a certain web shop. These internet giants draw up very detailed profiles of their users and this is a form of invading your privacy. Do you want to make yourself more anonymous for this type of companies? Then a VPN is the best alternative. It is also important to limit your privacy settings with these companies as much as possible for an optimal anonymity.