A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can be used to keep your data secure and to maintain anonymity while surfing the internet. You can also access censored and blocked content by making use of a VPN service. The question is how does this happen? How does VPN keep data secure and gives access to blocked content? Is it illegal? How can I be sure that my data is secure? If these are some of the questions that are going through your mind, then this article is for you. Keep reading!
What is a VPN and why do you need it?
A VPN is kind of like a firewall but is meant to protect your data while you are on the cloud. It makes use of a combination of tunnelling techniques, encryption and network protocols to ensure that all your data remain private and protected from attacks and leakage while you are browsing the world wide web. VPNs add an extra layer of protection over firewalls and antivirus software to tackle evolving cyber threats and network security issues.
If you are a business owner with a good online presence like maybe an e-commerce website, you will definitely have some sensitive information travelling your website all the time like data for virtual paywalls. Attackers can steal such information like card details or passwords to exploit your customers which will collapse your business. This is just a single scenario. A VPN prevents all of this from happening. Plus, it also helps you access content that would be otherwise blocked. For instance, now it is easy to watch Hulu in Sweden – you just need a VPN!
How to choose the best VPN service for your needs
When it comes to choosing a VPN service to suit your needs, there are plenty of things to consider. The first question to ask is what are your needs. If you are just looking for a VPN to access content from another country (like US Netflix from India) and security is not a big concern for you, then you will probably be okay with a simple L2TP/IPsec protocol and a free plan with low bandwidth from a reputable provider.
But if you are a fortune hundred business owner who deals with a ton of sensitive data and websites with traffic from all over the world, a simple plan won’t cut it. You need to do thorough research, go for a high-security protocol like IKEv2/IPsec and invest in a solid subscription plan with a service provider who is well renowned in the field. Security and speed are of crucial importance in this case.
Hence, it is important that you choose a service depending on your needs. You don’t have to waste a lot of money if you are an average user but if you are someone who handles sensitive data, security should be your priority and money invested is not a waste in this case. Besides speed and security, some other things to take into consideration are how easy it is to navigate and understand, does the cost recur monthly or annually, bandwidth limits and system compatibility.
Final thoughts
With a VPN, you are investing in a service that handles your sensitive data for you. You need to have some type of guarantee that it works for you. And this may take some trial and error. So always opt for reputable providers that offer a low cost/refundable trial period so that you can be sure they are right for you before you buy a long term plan.
