VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) have been around for quite some time now, the purpose of their existence being mainly to provide a secure connection through a remote server usually in a faraway location. This makes it seem as if you are locally connected to that network.

In this post, we will be covering the top five myths concerning VPNs and exactly how much truth lies behind them.
Before we go onto the different myths, we’d like you to check out some VPN ratings and reviews by vpntrends.

Myth #1: A VPN is not really required if there is nothing illegal to be done

A very common misconception about VPNs is that they are only required when you need to do something illegal, like, say you want to access content which has been restricted in your geographical location, for instance. Though a VPN may prove to be very helpful in these circumstances, it is not the only reason why they are used.

How VPNs work is by encrypting your communication, leaving your data secure. So even if your internet activity is not questionable, it would be a good idea to use a VPN at places that are not so secure (public hotspots for example).

Myth #2: VPNs Decrease Your Connection Speed
You may have read somewhere that since VPNs redirect your traffic through another server in another country, the use of one would significantly reduce your browsing speed.

Well! This is not true at all.

First off, a VPN’s speed depends on the speed provided by your ISP. It will never be able to exceed this. Secondly, the location of the server you are connected to also plays a major role. An increase in the distance between you and the server you are connected to means that there will be a greater latency, slowing down your connection.

What helps here is to select a VPN provider that has a number of quality servers in different spread out locations allowing you to get the maximum speed possible.

Myth #3: A Free VPN May Be All That You Need
Although we all love things which are free, actually to get something in return, you are always giving something up. What you need to check is if it is actually worth giving up that much. Though free VPNs provide their service at zero cost, they carry a few restrictions with them. Normally, they have a limitation placed on the maximum speeds you can achieve and on top of that, a cap on the maximum monthly bandwidth usage can be a buzzkill. Further, it may surprise you to know that you might actually be providing them details of all your browsing data, including personal information and email addresses.

We would always suggest to opt for a paid VPN service, which promises high connection speeds and does not keep activity logs.

Myth #4: Your VPN Choice Hardly Makes Any Difference
Having decided to use a VPN in the first place means you realized the need to secure your online traffic. For this, you must understand that a critical job for a VPN service is to encrypt your connection after you are connected through their servers; however, the level of encryption usually varies for each of the service. While some offer state of the art encryption systems with the highest level of security, others provide a very weak encryption. OpenVPN is the encryption that you should always go for; we would never suggest to go for PPTP encryption.

Myth #5: Using a VPN Means You Can Do Anything You Want Online

This last myth cannot be dismissed so easily and that is because VPNs can never guarantee one hundred percent protection, especially when your internet activity involves some inherent risk. If you are browsing on risky websites — along with a VPN connection— there are always chances that you will end up with malware downloaded on your computer, which could be a phishing attempt or a keylogger.

To remain safe, you must be very cautious, especially when surfing through public Wi-Fi hotspots. Keep an eye open for emails that seem dodgy and always keep yourself protected with antivirus software as well as a firewall.

Being able to fully understand the truth behind VPNs and opting for the VPN provider that can help maximize your online security can really make all the difference in the world. We just want you to remain as tension free as possible.

About the author:
Nuur Hasan is a software developer and a political activist, he intends to dedicate his life to the becoming the voice of the voiceless.