Do You Need A VPN?

Hey Geeks!

Are you considering using a VPN? If so, there are some excellent reasons why -- and some why not.

A VPN, or "Virtual Private Network," is a service that encrypts your internet traffic, routing that traffic through a server in another location. The service allows you to hide your IP address, protect your data from hackers and snoops, and access geo-restricted content. Sound cool? Well, it is in the right circumstances. Like any other tool, they have uses where they help and hurt. Here are the best uses..... IMHO

Protect your online privacy.
The main benefit of using a VPN is that it protects your online privacy. You can surf the web anonymously and securely without about being tracked or monitored. When you connect to a VPN, your IP address is masked and replaced with the IP address of the VPN server. Replacing your IP means that your online activities cannot be traced back to you by your internet service provider, government (shhhh), advertisers, or anyone else interested in your online activities. For example, if you want to visit a blocked or censored website, you can use a VPN to access it without revealing your identity, location or telling your boss. Also, VPN's can prevent advertising companies from collecting your data.

Secure your data on public Wi-Fi.
Another reason to use a VPN is that it secures your data on public Wi-Fi networks. Public Wi-Fi networks are often unsecured and vulnerable to hackers who can intercept your data with tools called "sniffers" and steal your personal information, passwords, credit card details, and more. Using https: helps on websites, but things like SMTP (sendmail) may need to be encrypted. VPN encryption scrambles the data and prevents anyone from snooping on your online activity. You can use public Wi-Fi more confidently, knowing your data is protected. For example, if you want to check your bank account on a Panera hotspot, you can use a VPN to secure your connection and avoid identity theft or fraud.

Access geo-restricted content.
A third reason to use a VPN is that it allows you to access geo-restricted content. Some internet content may only be available in certain countries or areas due to licensing agreements, local laws, programming reasons or a slew of other things. For example, Netflix has different sets of content for different countries, and some countries block access to social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. A VPN can help you bypass these restrictions by changing your virtual location. Most VPN services have servers in different countries where you can connect, which changes where the service thinks you are coming from. So you connect to the VPN server in the country or region where the content is available and enjoy it as if you were there. For example, let's say you are in Utah and want to watch a service that was recently banned in Utah; you log into your VPN and connect to a service in another state, and stream until your heart is content.



Save money on online shopping and travel.
This next tip is not widely known, but the fourth reason to use a VPN is that it can help you save money online shopping and travel. Some websites and services offer different prices for different countries or regions based on various factors such as demand, taxes, currency exchange rates, etc. For example, you might find cheaper flights or hotel deals if you change your IP address to another country. A VPN can help you do that by allowing you to switch between different servers and compare prices. Also, these sites know that the more you visit, the more likely you are about to buy - so chances of getting a discount or a sale price are significantly reduced. For example, if you want to book a flight from New York to London, you can use a VPN to check the prices from different countries and find the cheapest option.

Now those are reasons why you would want use a VPN. That is why you should NOT use a VPN.

VPNs slow down your internet speed.
When you use a VPN, you are routing your traffic through a remote server that likely is located in another country or on a heavily used network. This extra routing adds extra latency and reduces your bandwidth. You will notice a significant drop in your browsing speed. Some VPN companies will charge you for an upgraded network connection that will help - but it will never be the same as a straight connection.

VPNs don't protect you from everything.
Many people think using a VPN will make them anonymous and immune to online threats. But that's not true. VPNs only encrypt your data between your device and the VPN server. They don't prevent websites from tracking you with cookies, ads, or fingerprinting. They don't protect you from malware, phishing, or ransomware. They won't stop your ISP from seeing how much data you use or throttling your speed.

VPNs can be expensive and rather unreliable.
Hundreds of VPN providers are out there, but not all are trustworthy or worth your money. Some VPNs may log your activity, sell your data, or expose you to leaks and breaches. Some VPNs may need better customer service, features, or policies. Some VPNs may even be blocked by certain websites or services that detect and ban VPN traffic. For example, it is quite often at the MajorGeeks Forums that we are notified by one of the users that they were banned as a spammer from our servers after logging into their account - to their surprise. In this case, the banning is due to the user logging into the forums with a VPN, but that VPN's IP address had already been blacklisted because spammers are using the VPN to hide -- getting the IP range banned.

Shady VPNs could collect and sell your Data.
That's right, they can spy on your online activity and make money from it, and the incentives can be high. VPNs can profit from your data by selling it to third parties, injecting ads into your browser, or even hijacking your bandwidth. So you want to be careful when choosing a VPN.

So there you have it. My top reasons why you should and should not use a VPN. Of course, this is my opinion, and you may have different needs and preferences.

I hope this post gave you something to consider and helped you understand that a VPN is a tool, not a cure-all.

If you are in the market for a VPN - check out our listings of the Top VPNs we have curated. Many are freemium or open source, so trying a few to see what works for you costs nothing. I'd also recommend looking at Opera Browser - which has a VPN built in that you can toggle on and off as needed. If you need a multiplatform pay service, check out CyberGhost. Not a household name, but one of the faster ones I have ever tested, and your one account will work on all your devices. Also Privado VPN. They track nothing about you and their speed is very good for a VPN. They also offer unlimited devices.


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