About 30% of Americans are online, constantly.
If you want to avoid data restrictions and hackers, you should learn what VPN uses are all about. You’ve heard about VPNs, but what are they?
A Virtual Private Network is a device that allows you to connect to the internet safely and securely. It operates by creating unique encryptions on the connection between your computer and the VPN server of your choice. This creates a secure tunnel through which all of your data passes back and forth with complete privacy.
VPNs offer many features, but you might not need all of them. If you don’t want to overpay for features you don’t need; you’re in the right place.
What features and benefits should your VPN provide? Read on to find out!
VPN Uses and Main Objective
VPNs keep you safe online, but that’s not all. VPN uses extend further than you probably ever thought possible. For instance, they can also help you get access to content that otherwise might be off-limits.
For example, if you live outside the United States, some websites may not work for you. This is true even if you live in the United States. The only way to access this content is by using a VPN to trick the website or service into thinking you live somewhere else.
Even if you are in the US, there may be times when you want to keep it a secret that you are looking at websites from here. You could do this if your company’s computer only allows access to specific websites.
Purchasing a VPN can be confusing because of all the different options out there. Some providers offer you fast internet at an affordable price.
Others have slower, worse internet for free. There’s also a big difference between operating systems and devices people use daily, such as computers or smartphones.
To narrow down your choices, take a closer look at some of the essential features to consider when shopping for a VPN. To decide what features will help you the most, you’ll need to get specific about your needs.
Questions to Ask
How can you decide what features you need when buying a VPN? It helps if you ask yourself a few questions.
For instance, what’s your budget? If you’re not looking to spend a lot, you can save time bypassing the more expensive options.
Next, what devices will you be using the VPN on? The device matters because each device has different technical requirements.
Moving on, get specific about your wants. What exactly do you need from your VPN?
Do you want to unblock certain websites or services that are only available in other countries? Or do you plan on using it for streaming content like Netflix and HBO Go? If so, you’ll need to determine how much speed and bandwidth you’ll need (and can afford). It’s worth taking a minute to find out what bandwidth can do for you. The more bandwidth you have, the more data you can transfer.
Why Location Matters
Now that you know how you want to use the VPN, where do you want to use it? Will you be logging in from hotels and coffee shops or just at home? There’s a big difference between logging in while traveling and doing so through the office.
If you’re going to be out in public, you’ll need a VPN that comes with a mobile app for your phone or tablet. You can also use a VPN from your computer if it’s equipped with the proper software.
Are you just going to use the VPN around the house? If so, you may want to focus on something that’s simple and doesn’t require all the bells and whistles.
If you’re only going to be using your VPN at home or in public, a more straightforward service is probably satisfactory for your needs.
You can find many free options, but it’s better not to use them because they are typically limited. If you choose to pay for a VPN service, look for one with an app that’s easy to use and set up.
When considering the different VPN uses, it helps if you take notes on what you want. Then you can use your notes as a buying reference guide. Once you’ve determined what you need from a VPN, you’re ready to dive into the protocols and encryption portion of things.
Security Protocol Services
Are you looking for a VPN that has the best security protocols?
Different services offer different protocols, but not all of them are secure. Some VPNs even use outdated security protocols that hackers have broken.
OpenVPN is an open-source VPN protocol that’s highly secure. This VPN helps you if your computer is not connected to the internet. The VPN can be configured to work on any port, and it uses strong encryption to keep your data confidential.
What About Encryption?
Once you have determined what type of service you will need from a VPN, it’s time to look at the most crucial thing: encryption. Not all VPNs encrypt your data, but you should avoid services that don’t use it.
All of the protocols mentioned above can be used with an additional layer of security called cryptography. By default, when you look for a VPN, you’ll find one that uses 128-bit or 256-bit encryption.
The more bits there are in the key, the longer it will take hackers to break it. So just because they’re using the same bit rate doesn’t mean all 256-bit keys are equal.
Also, keep in mind that some VPNs only offer one level of encryption. Whereas, others allow their clients to choose certain degrees based on how much data they want to share with the company. For the best security, you’ll also need to make sure all of your passwords are secure.
VPN for Public Wi-Fi
You have no way of knowing who is on the other side of a connection in public, so your data must be encrypted before being sent over a network. This will protect your information from hackers as long as they can’t gain access to your private key. For more protection, look for a VPN that offers multiple levels of encryption.
Even if you’re going online at home or in a coffee shop, you should use a VPN to keep yourself secure on any unsecured network. Even though some networks won’t block traffic if your VPN app is running, it doesn’t mean there aren’t people on either end snooping around.
Different Price Points
What can you expect to spend on a VPN? Typically, you’ll be paying a monthly fee. The price ranges from $5 and beyond.
As we mentioned earlier, there are free options available. But we wouldn’t recommend using them. A free service is generally much less reliable and much slower than a paid one.
Many people don’t realize that some VPNs offer different levels of service at various price points. For example, you could get a service that specializes in preventing identity theft.
Next, certain companies include malware blocking and ad-blocking software with their packages. Other companies might not. Some competitors also offer specialized servers for specific activities. Activities like double encryption, P2P filesharing, or dedicated IP addresses.
What is malware blocking? In laymen’s terms, malware blocking stops harmful software that you don’t want from running on your computer or mobile device.
Different Types of VPN Malware Blocking
What type of malware blocking should you get with your VPN? VPN users can utilize several different types of malware blocking.
The most common is antivirus protection. However, other forms include anti-spyware and anti-adware programs, and firewalls.
Firewalls guard against unwanted entry into the computer’s operating system. These programs often also offer privacy protection. The protection removes tracking cookies from your web browsing experiences.
Malware is powerful. However, it won’t necessarily stop all spam emails or messages or remove pop-up advertisements.
Benefits of P2P File Sharing
Do you need a VPN with P2P filesharing capabilities? Many companies offer P2P file sharing as an added feature, but it’s more of a nice-to-have than a necessity.
What is P2P file sharing? You might already know about this type of data transfer from apps. These programs let you download files straight to your device without having to go through the internet.
With P2P filesharing features, there are no limits or restrictions on what you can download. This means that you’ll never have to worry about the government or streaming services banning certain content. It also means that anything goes when choosing media – movies, music, ebooks, games…you name it!
Before downloading anything, make sure that your VPN is set up correctly and that you’ve chosen the right location for your desired content. Then, open your chosen torrent application and enjoy!
Dedicated IP Address
A dedicated IP address is a fixed address given to a user by the VPN service. A shared IP address assigns to multiple users and devices that use the same server. This means that if you’re sharing your server with other people, one device can have different information than another device using the same VPN.
As such, we recommend getting a dedicated IP instead of a shared one. This will give you more flexibility and reliability when connecting from any location.
Benefits of Using a Dedicated IP Address
When using a shared IP address, it’s easy for your activity to become linked together, especially if you are streaming video over P2P. If you’re not careful, ISPs and copyright trolls can easily track your activity across all the sites you visit.
This will never happen to you with a dedicated IP address because the only other people using it are those who signed up for the same service as you did. As such, there’s no risk of one person’s traffic becoming linked with another’s. There is no chance of your identity being revealed, or history sniffed out by ISPs or others.
What Is a Standard VPN?
A standard VPN is a virtual private network that gives users online privacy and anonymity by hiding their IP addresses. It allows people to pretend to be in a different country to bypass geo-blocked content or censored websites, shield themselves from mass government surveillance or prevent identification while torrenting.
Traditional VPNs are the most common type of VPN. Some even provide complete internet anonymity, so sites don’t know you’re using them.
Protecting Yourself With High-Quality DNS Services
One thing that makes VPNs stand apart from regular proxy services is their ability to access the geo-restricted content on streaming websites like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC. It’s all thanks to their lightning-fast speeds and strong encryption. Even if you connect to a server in another country, it will appear as if you are streaming from that location.
This means ISPs and surveillance agencies can keep track of your activity regardless of what you do online. Your ISP can see every site you visit and record the data. At the same time, government intelligence agencies like the NSA can use Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) techniques to un-encrypt your traffic and monitor everything you do.
Thanks to high-quality DNS services, traffic monitoring is no longer an issue. These services encrypt all DNS requests so ISPs cannot filter out which domains you’re visiting – even if they wanted to. This means there’s no risk of mass surveillance techniques being used against VPN users, no matter what.
Enjoy a Protected Network Connection
The internet is a dangerous place, but a VPN can make it safer. You know that a VPN can be used for everything from unblocking content to securing sensitive information like banking details or passwords. Your choice comes down to what you want out of your VPN service.
Write down the top VPN uses you want to take advantage of, and be specific. Then look for a service that can exceed all of your needs! If you’d like more tips, you’re welcome to read more insider tips. Just check out another one of our articles.
