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The digital landscape has undergone a major shift in the last decade, and the user experience of browsing online has changed with it. In an age where businesses have become so heavily reliant on user data, our privacy is under threat like never before.
Our online activities are being tracked for marketing purposes, while ISPs and websites are imposing location-based restrictions on our digital freedom due to geo-political factors. At the same, we also have our cybersecurity to worry about, with cybercrime rates rising with each passing year.
Simply put, the Internet of today is strewn with complications and pitfalls, and it can be difficult to navigate this space effectively as an average user. This is where Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) prove their worth, as they can help you protect yourself online, preserve your privacy, and bypass geo-blocks.
In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of using a VPN in your daily browsing and outline the most important considerations when choosing the right VPN solution.
What VPNs do
A Virtual Private Network is a piece of software that enables you to stay secure online. When you browse with a VPN enabled, all of your device’s data traffic is sent through a secure tunnel and routed through a server in another location. Through this process, your VPN encrypts your data, making it impossible for third parties to exploit. Additionally, this can help to hide your activities from ISPs (Internet Service Providers), allowing you to avoid bandwidth throttling.
Since a VPN allows you to access websites via a proxy server, it also enables you to mask your device’s IP address when you browse. This helps to protect your identity online so that your IP cannot be tracked, thus providing you with extra insulation against cyber threats. Moreover, your VPN will allow you to choose the location of the server that you use so that you can experience the Internet just as users in that region do. This means that you can bypass geo-blocks to access restricted websites.
For the reasons outlined above, a VPN is considered a must-have tool for any savvy Internet user.
Choosing your VPN solution
The VPN market has been experiencing massive growth in recent times, and the upshot is that this technology is as accessible as it has ever been. You can easily download and install a free VPN for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and other popular browsers, for instance. But with so many options to choose from, it can be tough to know where to start.
By prioritizing the following, you can ensure that you choose the best possible VPN solution for you:
Encryption security
As a modern Internet user, security and privacy should be a priority for you when choosing a VPN solution, as the level of protection you have can make or break your online experience.
When trying to decide which VPN service to utilize, it’s advisable to look into the type of encryption in use, as different VPNs use slightly different technologies to secure connections, such as AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), Blowfish, DES (Data Encryption Standard) and Triple DES, to name a few.
With just a little research, you can quickly find a VPN that allows you to benefit from military-grade encryption. This ensures that you have the best protection possible, giving you peace of mind when you browse.
Server network
Should you seek a VPN for circumventing geo-blocks, then it’s worth taking the time to compare the server networks offered by the different providers. Some VPN providers provide just a few select server locations to choose from, while others have multiple servers in regions all over the world.
By choosing a VPN solution with a wide range of server options, you can ensure that you have maximum flexibility when it comes to avoiding geo-blocks. As such, the right VPN for you will be the one that allows you complete freedom online, regardless of where you live or where you travel.
Bandwidth
While strong encryption and convenient server options are important, they will be of little benefit to you if your connection speeds are poor. As such, it’s important to take bandwidth into account when choosing your VPN service.
As a rule of thumb, you can use server count to gauge potential bandwidths. Typically, those providers that offer a more comprehensive selection of server locations will also have a greater number of servers in total, and this generally translates to better connection speeds for you.
Conclusion
The digital world is becoming an increasingly complex and dangerous place for the average user. With invasive data tracking, geo-blocking, and cybercrime threatening to degrade the quality of your online experience, it makes sense to utilize a VPN in your daily activities. By focusing on essential aspects such as encryption, server network composition, and available bandwidth, you can find a VPN that fits your personal needs to elevate your online experience.
