Virtual private networks or VPNs are easy to use, they are affordable and essential for your online security and privacy. That is why along with antivirus and firewalls, you need to have a VPN installed on your computer or mobile device to ensure every moment spent online remains private. But if you are still unconvinced that VPNs are essential, check out this list of top reasons to use a VPN, it might just change your mind.
1. Access your favorite videos and flicks from outside the United States.
Due to copyright agreements, major media streaming providers like Hulu and Netflix do not broadcast some of their content outside the United States of America. It means some content they broadcast are not available to users in other continents including South America, Canada, Asia, Australia, and Europe. This geographical limitation is controlled and managed via IP address checking of users and tracing the country of origin.
By subscribing to a VPN, you can easily mask the IP address to make it appear as if you’re browsing in your target country, resulting to access to all of your favorite content. Take note that when you are using a smart television or a mobile device to establish a VPN connection, you need to configure it first. If you want a fast and secure VPN service, subscribe to a paid VPN service.
2. Download and upload media files in private.
The Motion Picture Association of America and other related organizations strongly discourage peer-to-peer or P2P file sharing for copyright and profit reasons. They catch offenders by disguising as file sharers or by simply eavesdropping on the signal of your ISP.
If you are a P2P user, you know that a VPN is your best friend. Although it can reduce bandwidth by up to 50%, it will hide your actual IP address, keeping you anonymous and allowing you to download and upload files in secret. So, if you are guilty of this and you wish to continue doing so, we suggest you invest in a reliable VPN service. It may cost but the protection and privacy you get are worth it.
3. Stay safe while connected to a public Wi-Fi network.
You may not be aware of this, but most public Wi-Fi networks are unsecured and unsafe to use. These Wi-Fi hotspots don’t have security features that can protect users, so if you use public connections, your signals are easily broadcasted within the network. Any tech-savvy individual can capture your details and use it to eavesdrop and steal your information. So if you regularly connect to a public Wi-Fi network, consider spending a few dollars per month for a reliable VPN connection like Outbyte VPN for a safe and secure browsing.
4. Bypass a limited network like in schools or cafés.
As a student, you need to go by the rules and be subject to an Acceptable Use policy for web browsing. In most cases, you can’t do anything about the policy and the unreasonable restrictions like blocking of websites (e.g. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Flickr)
By using a VPN connection, you can bypass this restriction and be able to access all websites and use the webmail services. Even better, your browsing activity remains indecipherable and unknown to the network admin, which means he cannot gather any evidence about what you are doing. While we don’t really advise going against the policy, if you feel you have sufficient and justifiable reasons to go against it, then an excellent VPN service will help. However, take note that a VPN service doesn’t save you from being caught red-handed by an authorized personnel.
5. Bypass a country’s Internet censorship.
Similar to the Acceptable Use policy enforced in schools, some countries impose unreasonable Internet censorship policies. Using the best VPN can even bypass the Great Firewall. We all know that aside from implementing a strict internet censorship, China has also started blacklisting the IP addresses used by common VPNs in China. Good VPNs, however, rely on stealth technology to get through the restrictions of the Great Firewall. Syria, Belarus, China, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Egypt, and Cuba are among the countries that limit their citizen’s access to the web.
If you reside in any of these restrictive countries, you can tunnel out of the restrictions and gain access to the World Wide Web by connecting to a VPN service. Once connected to a VPN, your activities will be concealed so any government agencies or authorities cannot eavesdrop on your activities. Take note, though, that as with most VPN connections, your bandwidth will become slower.
6. Conceal your VoIP communications.
VoIP or voice-over-Internet-protocol is one of the easiest ways to communicate via the Internet, but did you know that it’s relatively easy to eavesdrop on a VoIP call? Believe it or not, even newbie hackers can listen to your conversations. If you regularly use VoIP services like Skype, consider using a VPN. Yes, it will cost a few dollars but do not risk your personal privacy just to avoid added monthly cost. Remember that your privacy is at stake.
7. Browse the web with confidence.
Even if you haven’t granted search engines permission, they will remember and catalog all your performed web searches. They will keep your IP address and search query details so that the next time you perform a search, they can quickly pull out the information and show ads related to your previous searches. It may mean no harm, but it can unintentionally put you at risk of embarrassment or humiliation. Do not let search engines save your searches for love advice or bedroom tips. Invest in a VPN service and keep your searches private.
8. Access your favorite home shows while on-the-road.
If you are away from home, watching your favorite television show can be a problem. This is especially true if you are in another country. But if you employ a VPN service, you can still watch your favorite series or flicks anywhere you are.
9. Make your computer untraceable.
Are you a celebrity or a well-known personality? Are you an employee tasked to conduct market research of your competition? Are you a journalist who has been assigned a sensitive topic like human trafficking or violence? Are you a law enforcer trying to gather information about a particular criminal? If you answer yes to any of these questions, it is essential to keep your computer untraceable and prevent issues and reprisals. The best way to make your online presence untraceable is through a VPN.
10. Personal privacy is important.
If personal privacy matters to you, and it should, then you need not ask why. Use a VPN today.