VPNs have a wide array of uses; here are some of the most important ones.
Protecting Your Data
The internet has become a platform on which we exchange and enter personal information daily; this makes it essential to have a secure, private connection. VPNs aid you in keeping sensitive information hidden from the prying eyes of hackers and, in some countries, government officials.
The heavy data encryption that VPNs provide makes it virtually impossible for entities trying to spy on your internet activity to intercept and access your data. This makes using the internet a safer experience, whether you’re browsing from home, work, or a public network.
Preventing Websites From Collecting Your Data
It’s not only hackers interested in monitoring your activity on the web and collecting your data. Websites you use every day, such as Facebook and Google, perpetually gather information about you based on your online activity.
They use this data to show you ads tailored for you based on the content you interact with and the things you search for. They’re even allowed, by law, to sell your data to third parties.
VPNs keep your internet activity private and make it much more difficult for such websites to collect your data.
Preventing Censorship & Geoblocking
Trying to watch a show on Netflix or a video on YouTube, but you’re being told that it’s not available in your country? Not to worry; you can bypass such geographic restrictions by using a VPN.
VPNs are also highly useful in countries where internet censorship is a significant issue. For example, governments in countries like China and Russia block access to popular websites, including Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, and news websites that the government views as a threat.
By masking their IP address, VPNs enable people in such countries to access blocked websites by making it seem that they’re connected to the internet from another country.
By that same process, VPNs allow you to access and stream content that’s otherwise not available in your country by connecting you to streaming websites via a server located in a country where that content is available.
Working Remotely
Following the pandemic, companies allowing their employees to work from home has significantly increased. Data encryption provided by VPNs allows employees to access the company’s network securely, getting their work done without putting the privacy of the company’s sensitive information in jeopardy.
Saving Money
Another perk of using a VPN is that when you’re accessing the internet from an IP address in a different country, you’ll often find that some products and services are actually cheaper in that country than in yours.
Things like airplane tickets and hotel rooms are often listed at different prices in different locations; by using a VPN, you can access the lowest prices available.
Of course, it takes experience to find these offers, but you can land some good bargains if you wait around long enough.