Are VPNs really needed anymore? I have seen so many articles telling me that they are not!

This is an interesting topic and I have read a lot of articles about it lately. If you really want a deep dive on this topic, I suggest that you read the following article which deals with whether or not a VPN is recommended or not: https://www.ipaddressguide.org/is-a-vpn-recommended-to-people-working-with-cryptocurrencies-does-it-improve-security/

Check that article. But, if you don't want to read an article on a source different from Steemit, I will try to share some thoughts right here, right now as well!

http vs https

VPN services have been around for a very long time. Websites have been around for a very long time. And do you know that not many years ago, most websites you visited would simply use the http in front of the address and not https. What is the difference? The first one is totally unencrypted, while the second is encrypted. What does that mean? People with some hacking skills can easily steal your data and see your movements and the data you send as you visit unencrypted websites.

So, in a world in which almost all websites ran unencrypted, a VPN was crucial if you didn1t want your data to be stolen online.

But, as you visit websites today, you will see a little key next to the address (or a lock), telling you that it is a safe websites, using https in front of the address. This is giving you an extra layer of security already.

So, does that mean that a VPN isn't necessary anymore?

Don't I need to pay for a VPN anymore?

To be honest, using a FREE VPN is out of the question. That is the most dangerous thing you can do, even more dangerous than not using one. Free VPNs often steal your data, and some of them might even install spyware and other malicious content on your device. Stay away from those.

So, the question is whether you should use a pay-VPN or no VPN at all?

It is all a question about your online activities, and how safe you want to be?

Most people don't need a VPN for security reasons.

If all you do is to visit Facebook and Twitter while surfing from home, you probably don't need a VPN. But, if you don't trust your ISP, if you want to hide your activities from your ISP, or if you are afraid that people will spy on you for some reason, then a VPN will make it way harder for anyone to spy on you, and it will also make it extremely hard for people to actually track you down. This is because you are using a VPN which is hiding your real IP address, and instead, it will show a different IP address. As a result, you are hidden, and you are protected and all your online traffic is encrypted.

These are just some thoughts on the topic. Check the article above for even more information!