VPNs are the most effective way of safeguarding your information and preventing cyber criminals from being able to farm and harvest your personal data. However, you don’t have to want to protect yourself to use a VPN, because there are many other uses for them.
Before addressing this post’s main topic, it’s important to mention that if you are looking for a VPN, you should find one that’s reliable, trusted by consumers, and that has features like DNS leak protection and a kill switch. These things will keep you safe online.
Here are the main benefits of getting a VPN:
Bypassing Restrictions
Unfortunately, some governments restrict their citizens’ abilities to access certain sites. It is very common for some countries to restrict people’s access to gambling sites because the government forbids gambling for religious or moral reasons. One of the internet’s most popular betting sites, Bet365, is commonly banned. Finding a VPN for Bet365 (or any gambling site for that matter) shouldn’t be especially difficult. You should be aware that countries that restrict their citizens’ access to gambling sites typically restrict their citizens’ access to VPNs, too. What this often means is that people have to leave the country to be able to download a VPN. If your country forbids the use of VPNs, then you may have to go abroad to download one. If you are found to be using a VPN in these places, you can get into a lot of trouble.
Online Anonymity
When you are using the internet, it’s always good to be as anonymous as possible. Unfortunately, the internet is overrun with criminals. Cybercriminals regularly target people and try to steal their information, so that they can sell it on the dark web. Using a VPN can protect cybercriminals from being able to identify you, and then steal your data. Total online anonymity can be achieved with a VPN. A DNS leak, as mentioned in this post’s introduction, is when certain software allows ISPs and cybercriminals to see your location and steal your personal information, even when a VPN’s activated. Make sure that the VPN you use has a DNS leak protection, for this reason.
Complete Protection
When you use a VPN, you don’t have to worry about your data being stolen or used for marketing purposes (which will be explored in the next section). You are completely and totally protected. There is no way for anyone to be able to access your personal information without your permission. You should make sure that the VPN you invest in has a kill switch. Kill switches are activated when VPNs are accidentally deactivated. A kill switch will then automatically turn off your device’s internet connection until the VPN is reactivated.
Marketing Information
Unfortunately, marketing agencies pay ISPs to sell their users’ personal information. As your ISP is able to monitor all of your internet activity, they are able to figure out what kind of content you like to view, and what products you like to buy. A marketing agency will then pay for this information because it gives them a very good idea of what they can sell to you. Marketing agencies, with your IP, will then begin sending you targeted marketing content. They may even send you emails.
Watching Content
If you want to watch content on international streaming services, then a VPN’s required. Most streaming services lock their content to specific regions. This is because they only have permission to broadcast certain films and television shows in specific countries. If they then broadcast this content outside of the country that you are licensed to broadcast it in, then they can get into a lot of trouble. Activating a VPN when you use your regular streaming service can allow you to watch content from that region. You may need to invest in a fully paid VPN subscription if you want to watch region-specific content because otherwise, you might not be able to select the specific servers that you want to.
Government Monitoring
Lastly, a lot of people use VPNs so that their governments can’t monitor them (as mentioned previously). In some countries, governments restrict their citizens’ internet access, preventing them from watching foreign media and using foreign news sites. If your government monitors the kind of content that you watch, then it is very important for you to use a VPN, so that you can use the internet freely. The internet was made to be used freely, not restricted.
If you are interested in protecting yourself online and also accessing more content, then you need a VPN. Most VPNs are very affordable and can be paid for monthly, rather than all at once. You can also get VPNs on trials, which is great if you want to try one out before buying it.
