How a VPN Can Help You to Stay Anonymous

How a VPN Can Help You to Stay Anonymous

Image by Stefan Coders from Pixabay

In a society where our every move can be tracked online, total online privacy has become difficult to achieve. On top of that, we also have cybercriminals who are constantly trying to infiltrate our devices using several different strategies.

In this day and age it has become ever more important to keep your devices secure and ensure that you have the best possible anonymity while you’re spending time online. There are a few ways to achieve anonymity online, but the best way to do so is to use a premium VPN.

There are tons of different VPNs on the market, and it can be difficult to choose one, so here are some of the best VPNs on the market that we have found. Each one has a unique selling point and has its own benefits and drawbacks.

What is a VPN?

A VPN or virtual private network is a cybersecurity tool that has become more common in recent years. A VPN is able to encrypt your internet connection, which will prevent anyone from seeing what you are doing online. Not even your internet service provider will be able to track your internet traffic or data, which means that a VPN gives you unrivalled privacy while you’re online.

Moreover, a VPN will mask your physical location by connecting you to a global server in a different country or city. Doing so will hide your IP address and therefore also your location. Your IP address is a unique number that is responsible for giving your device an identification on the internet. One of the primary jobs that an IP address has is to pinpoint your physical location.

When Should I Use a VPN?

The true answer to this question is that you should always use a VPN! A VPN will give you superior privacy and anonymity while you’re online, even from your own home. However, there may be some other circumstances where a VPN will come in handy.

Websites often use your IP address to determine whether or not to block you from accessing their website. This is known as geographical blocking or geo-blocking. Some content on the internet is only allowed within certain regions, and if your IP address is not within that region you will be blocked from accessing it. However, you can bypass geo-blocking by using a VPN.

Websites also use your physical location to bombard you with ads. You may notice ads that are specific to your location. This is because websites are using your IP address to determine your physical location which tells them which ads they need to show you. When using a VPN you may notice that the ads are different as they use a different location or even a different language. This shows that your VPN is working as it is changing your IP address to one in a different country.

Internet censorship is another obstacle that many people face. Some countries have strict censorship laws and it’s often difficult to access the websites that you usually would. This is the case in several countries, such as China for example, where social media websites, foreign news, and even some Google services have been blocked by the Chinese government. Using a VPN you can bypass this censorship and continue to access your favorite websites even if you’re within the borders of a country that uses internet censorship.

However, oftentimes the countries that use internet censorship will also block the websites that allow you to install a VPN on your device. Therefore it is important that you install a VPN on your device before traveling to the country in question.

While we’re talking about traveling, it’s important to use a VPN while you’re abroad, even if it’s not to unblock websites or bypass geo-blocking. While traveling we often have to use public WiFi hotspots in order to get connected to the internet and catch up on our latest messages and news. However, these public WiFi hotspots often use unsecured networks which pose a risk to your device.

Cybercriminals thrive on unsecured networks as it gives them easy access to any other devices that are also connected to the same network. One of the most common methods of cyberattacks on an unsecured network is the man in the middle attack. A man in the middle attack is when a cybercriminal places their devices between your device and the network. Doing so allows them to intercept any of the data or information that you send or receive to the internet. This way they can steal your personal information, data, and in some cases even your login credentials.

Using a premium VPN will encrypt your network, even if you are using an unsecured network. This will prevent a cybercriminal from being able to connect to your device or launch an attack on your device.

How to Install a VPN

Installing a VPN is incredibly simple and it only takes a few minutes. It’s always a good idea to install a VPN on your device, especially before you travel abroad. You can follow the simple guide below to get your VPN installed right now;

  • Choose a VPN provider. Each VPN provider is unique and has its benefits and drawbacks. It’s important to do research on which one will suit your needs best.
  • Install the VPN software on your device. Premium VPNs will be available on all major app stores. Alternatively you can also install the VPN straight from the provider’s website.
  • Create an account with the VPN provider. You can do so by following the simple on-screen instructions.
  • Launch your VPN and connect to a global server of your choice
  • Enjoy private and secure browsing!

It’s important to make sure that you use a premium VPN as free VPNs often have several limitations that may affect your devices’ privacy and security. These drawbacks include slower connection speeds, a limited selection of global servers to choose from, and daily data limits.

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