What is VPN?
Many people have heard of it, but they never really know the exact answer to the question: what is VPN? VPN stands for “Virtual Private Network”. It describes the possibility to establish a protected network connection when using public networks. VPNs encrypt your internet traffic and hide your online identity. This makes it more difficult for third parties to track your activities online and steal data. The encryption takes place in real time.
How does a VPN work?
A VPN service hides your IP address by allowing the network to redirect it through a specially configured remote server managed by a VPN host. This means that when you surf online with a VPN, the VPN server becomes the source of your data. This also means that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and other third parties cannot see which websites you visit or what information you send and receive online. A VPN works like a filter that turns all your data into “rubbish”. Even if someone got their hands on your data, it would be useless.
Why more and more people are using a VPN?
Social exclusion to combat the consequences of the pandemic, has proven to have serious consequences for working practices. Although there are several solutions for this, a VPN is a useful weapon for office workers. Remote work has in many ways a security risk, not least because it opens up new avenues for cybercriminals to attack. For example, hackers can intercept unencrypted connections. Therefore, passwords can be stolen and used, and sensitive data can be stolen too. With a connection to your employer’s network secured by a VPN, you can work peacefully. Encrypted connections cannot be stolen. Your passwords remain safe and ideally, this VPN can be provided by your employer. If no VPN provision is made, please contact your IT colleagues. While it is possible to be refused, it would be surely thoughtless. Are you a freelancer or a virtual assistant? Maybe there is a collaboration portal you use. So, your vital files may be stored in the cloud. Or maybe you are concerned about the safety of VOIP calls. Still, you can use a VPN here. Simply subscribe to a top VPN service.
Home VPNs are cheaper than commuting!
Stop commuting – work from home through a VPN. Incredibly, staying at home and using a VPN to connect to your corporate network is cheaper than commuting. It doesn’t matter if it’s an emergency or if there is some other reason for working at home for a long time. Even when you consider the electricity costs and the VPN plan, it is still cheaper. And if your IT department has configured a VPN from your computer straight to your workplace, that’s even better.
Is a free VPN a good idea?
As the VPN market grows to meet this demand, there are now thousands of free VPNs that promise to keep you safe online at no additional cost. Sounds good right? Well, not so. VPNs are expensive and they have a complicated software that requires a lot of investment to maintain. They also need to be able to keep up with the ever-changing world of internet privacy. So how could a completely free VPN provide you with that kind of service? Free VPN providers have to cover the costs and make a profit, so they monetize their customers with the help of hidden tools and tricks. These tactics are not only dangerous and unfair, but also completely betray the principles of VPNs.
As you will see, using a free VPN can make you less secure online, it will cost you more than you think, and it could ruin your entire internet experience. Usually with a free VPN the connection is slower and your data is usually sold by the provider to third parties. Therefore, it is not recommended.
