The Benefits of Using a VPN Online

One thing about the Internet is that you can get instant information whenever you want. However, if your connection is not secure, it can also expose your personal data to cybercriminals. Perhaps the best way to protect your browsing history is via a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

So, what exactly does a VPN do?

A VPN offers the user online anonymity by masking their IP addresses and encrypting their internet traffic.

It's easy to say that a VPN provides safe and secure connections, but the truth is that a VPN can do more than improve your device's security layers.

Are you still not convinced whether or not to use a VPN? Don’t worry; here are some of the top benefits of a VPN that will change your mind.

1. Enhanced Security

Any time you go online for whichever reason, you put your personal data at risk. That’s why a VPN should be a no-brainer tool to invest in – it helps to protect your entire traffic from snoopers as well as data leaks.

A robust VPN like ExtremeVPN encrypts all your traffic, hiding it from snoopers as it creates a secure tunnel between the VPN server and your device through which to send the data. That way, every packet of data leaving your device is encrypted, which makes it difficult for attackers to rack you online. Besides, even if an attacker intercepts the data, they won’t understand it, thanks to encryption.

Also, if your government or ISP monitors your traffic, they’ll not be able to trace it back to your IP address because the VPN server assigns you a different IP address.

Moreover, a VPN will offer you protection against cyber-attacks like DDoS attacks, doxxing, stingray attacks, Man-in-the-middle attacks, cookie hijacking, swatting, and SSL stripping, among others. Ideally, it hides whatever you're doing and where you're doing it, which makes it difficult for anyone to use your data.

2. Increased Privacy and Anonymity

As you already know, the internet is not private; in fact, it's the hunting ground for attackers to intercept and misuse user-sensitive data such as credit card numbers, passwords, and other confidential information. However, a VPN actively conceals your data, offering a robust solution.

The fact that your data travels between the VPN server and your device makes it unreadable to whoever intercepts it. That way, you can be assured that each time you’re online, you can share your information securely. Also, it means that you’ll have the freedom of expression, which allows you to express your opinion without the fear of reprisal.

Furthermore, it helps to prevent unwanted tracking as well as profiling given that most companies track user activities and create a profile of user habits, interests, and preferences for targeted advertisements.

3. More Accessibility

A VPN will give you more accessibility online. When you connect to a VPN, it assigns you a new IP address. An IP address tells where your device is located when you stream content, browse the internet, or whenever you engage in various online activities. Some services and sites don’t allow users from certain regions or countries to access all or some of their content.

Fortunately, with a VPN, you can easily access any content you want from anywhere globally. All you do is make it look as if you're using the internet from a location that's not restricted to the service you want to access.

A VPN is one tool that most streamers will love to invest in as most streaming platforms restrict content based on the user's geographical location. Moreover, if you’re planning to travel abroad and still want to continue enjoying your local favorite shows, then a VPN will be very helpful.

4. Prevent Data Throttling

Your ISP can slow your service down once you consume a given amount of data. That’s because your ISP can monitor your data and everything you do online. However, when you use a VPN, your ISP is unable to monitor the amount of data you consume or even what you do online. That way, they’re unable to cap your data usage, and hence, it prevents data throttling from your ISP.

5. Helps Avoid Bandwidth Throttling

Bandwidth throttling is merely when your ISP slows your general internet speed. Perhaps, it can happen when there’s someone capable of controlling how your home Wi-Fi network performs. Usually, bandwidth throttling happens when the user visits some websites or even engages in some internet activity.

For instance, gaming and streaming use significant data packets, and therefore, sometimes ISPs intentionally slow down internet speeds to regulate network traffic. This leads to slower upload and download speeds, increased latency, and an imbalanced user experience.

A VPN helps you avoid all that hassle by encrypting your internet traffic, and your ISP won’t see the websites you visit or the type of content material you access. Therefore, they won’t throttle what they’re unable to see.

6. Safe Public Wi-Fi Use

Most online users smile about the convenience of public Wi-Fi networks—you can connect whenever you are—even down the coffee shop. Unfortunately, public Wi-Fi networks are the hunting ground for attackers. Connecting to any public Wi-Fi network without protection is like strolling through a crowded marketplace with an open wallet.

Cybercriminals easily access user data on public Wi-Fi networks that they exploit differently. However, a VPN helps to hide user IP addresses and encrypts user traffic, which attackers will not be able to exploit.

7. Helps Avoid Bias and Discrimination

Sometimes, information about your browsing activity might lead to discriminatory practices. For instance, some online companies use that data to offer different prices to users or even to decide who can access specific services; this is known as dynamic pricing and regional pricing strategy.

A VPN will help you connect to a server in a country where the item or service you want is offered at a cheap price. It’s the best option for online shopping, in-app purchases, and even booking a cheaper flight.

Nonetheless, there are many benefits of using a VPN online, and we might not be able to name them all, but the truth is that a VPN is a no-brainer tool for anyone browsing the internet.

However, like any other technology, a VPN has its own set of drawbacks. Some of the drawbacks include slower internet connections, being banned in some countries, some VPNs being incompatible with other devices, and subscription costs.

Bottom Line

The advantages of using a Virtual Private Network are undoubtedly extensive. From fortifying your online security to expanding the network, it’s one of those tools that you must invest in to enhance your online experience.