Virtual Private Networks are all the rage right now. Now that your internet service provider is permitted by Congress to sell your search history, everyone is scrambling for a VPN. Why? Because VPN’s provide security against private and public networks (such as Wi-Fi hotspots at the local café) to keep you, your personal information, and your search history safe. VPN’s have been around since 1996 but until now, they weren’t talked about nearly as much. Today we are going to talk about why they are great and how to set one up.
Free vs Paid
As with all things, there are free options and paid options. With increased discussion around privacy and VPN’s, there are a ton of free options out there. We recommend you avoid the free option. It’s the age old “you get what you paid for” at work with a free VPN. You simply will not get the protection you desire and free programs are a little easier to hack. It is best to work with a company that has a tried and true program that fits your budget. As of right now, when reading comparisons of VPNs, IPVanish is one of the top-rated services on the block!
Protect Yourself
Ultimately, we are creatures that naturally protect ourselves from danger. While internet usage may not tap into the physical mind, it’s still something we need to protect. Identity theft has been on the rise over recent years and continues to grow as a mounting problem. If you use your credit card online or do any banking online, a VPN will protect your information from hackers. Hackers will be able to attack your ISP and gain recordings of your activity. Anything you do online financially will now be available for those hackers to use. Additionally, using a VPN when using a Wi-Fi hotspot can save you a lot of heartaches later. It is always recommended to not shop or do any banking online when on a public network, but there are still people doing it. A VPN is your best friend to save your financial information! Furthermore, you don’t have to feel concerned about government surveillance. The concern has risen greatly since certain behaviors by our current administration has occurred. VPNs are designed to block your ISP’s attempts to record your activity online.
What to Look for in a VPN
Before signing up for a service, it’s best to make sure it’s going to meet your needs. Here are a few things to look for:
· System compatibility
· number of devices you can use on your VPN
· Available bandwidth
· number of servers
· where are the servers distributed?
· Ticket/live chat support
· Log policy
· Refund policy
Create Your Own
There is a possibility of creating your own VPN by purchasing specific routers for the purpose of having your own VPN. This is perfect for at home use! The pros are that anyone can use your VPN by you connecting them to the system at your home. The downside is, it’s limited to at home use. If you step out with your laptop to a hotspot, you are back to being vulnerable.
VPNs really started gaining notoriety in the bitcoin community with the rise of bitcoin gambling websites. Now that more people are concerned about their safety online, VPNs have become an even hotter topic and will be popular for quite some time.
