It is nearly impossible to escape using the internet in today’s time. Whether you are using the internet to stay connected to old friends, share pictures with your family, find contract workers for your company, or even running your personal Etsy shop, there is no shortage of reasons to share information online.
The problem with this highly digital era is that what you put out into the internet becomes available in some facet for all to see.
When you search the internet for that embarrassing rash cream, you might jump onto an online store later to see that item being advertised to you across a large banner. Even using private and incognito tabs only protect you from base level data gathering. Your Internet service provider, or ISP, is still capable of tracking your data for later retrieval.
This isn’t to mention all the hackers and cybercriminals waiting in the wings to find a way to access your private data. But what can be done?
The only surefire way to ensure your privacy and cybersecurity on the internet is to use a VPN.
What Is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity involves the protection of the information and electronic data you use while online. Good cybersecurity ensures fortification against any measures that are taken to try to steal or unlawfully use any of that data or information.
Many people don’t stop to think about their cybersecurity. It is easy to believe that you are safe on the internet by simply avoiding “sketchy” websites and only communicating with people you know and trust. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are experts at obtaining your data through means that simply cannot be protected against without a good VPN.
What Is a VPN?
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a security device offered by many different providers which encrypts your data and hides your IP address from anyone who seeks your information. VPNs even hide your true data from your ISP making your time on the internet truly private.
VPNs not only improve your cybersecurity in regard to criminals, but they protect you from data tracking and collection from websites and search engines. With a Virtual Private Network, you can experience the internet in a truly free and fair way.
How Can a VPN Improve My Cybersecurity?
Hackers and other cybercriminals gain access to your information as it floats around the open space of the internet. If they gather enough bits and pieces of your information they can put together logins and passwords, credit card numbers, and much more.
Using a VPN masks your identity, location, and activity. This means that even if a hacker does stumble upon a random piece of your information, they will have no way of knowing to whom or where that information belongs, rendering the information useless.
Masking your IP address is especially important as criminals that seek to victimize you in the physical world can ascertain your real time location with your IP address alone – a terrifying crime that can be taught by a simple Google search.
How Can I Find a Good VPN?
There is a lot of information out there about VPNs and it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the options.
Do you want to use a VPN for extra security on your phone? Maybe you want to be safe while peer-to-peer sharing. You might be looking to increase the security of your small business, or maybe you aren’t even sold on a VPN just yet. There is so much to consider when deciding on a good VPN!
Luckily, vpnpro.com has a collective source of information on VPNs to help you discover which product is best for you and your device.
Do I Have to Pay for a VPN?
As with most digital products, there are options out there that say they are free. It may seem like a good deal, but you are often sacrificing essential features for those free services.
Free options tend to keep logs of your data, which isn’t really helpful in the fight for anonymity online. Additionally, the free VPNs tend to intensely slow down your internet and download speeds. Plus, if you want to use a VPN to stay safe while torrenting, the free options can slow your p2p experience so much that it makes torrenting a redundant process.
There are plenty of great VPNs, such as NordVPN, available that cost very reasonable prices. These VPNs offer military-grade encryption of data, fast download speeds, no log protocols, and much more.
So, whether you are an individual who likes to use the internet for social media and the occasional cat video, or a business owner looking to expand your reach to clients, a VPN is exactly what you need to stay safe and secure in the modern age of the internet.
