What is VPN and what is it for
Before discussing the advantages and disadvantages of using VPN services, you need to understand what they are all about. Each VPN is a virtual private network. It is something like a bypass road, which, like the main one, makes it possible to get from the same point “A” to the same point “B”, but provides a lot of additional nuances. For example, if the government has blocked the main road to a particular site, you can still get to it along this bypass.
.The convenience of using a particular VPN directly depends on how high-quality it was made by the owners. If it has many reliable servers in different countries of the world, then it will be possible to use it as comfortably and productively as possible, as well as safely.
What Benefits Customers With Reliable VPN Services
Privacy and security of user data
ISPs that provide Internet connectivity can use tools to analyze traffic and save specific data as it travels through the network. Of course, this is unlikely to be done by your home or office service provider – he is not interested in getting caught up on something like that. However, I suggest you remember how often you connect to free Wi-Fi networks in public places. Happens? For sure! But now think about what “good” goals someone just gives you the Internet for? It happens that of the not very good.
Through free Wi-Fi without a password, it is especially dangerous to authenticate on resources important to you, make payments and generally transfer some valuable information. In this case, it is better to protect yourself with a reliable VPN service: either a proven free one with a positive history, or a paid one with an impeccable reputation. One of them will just become that safe bypass road that will protect you from conventional “traffic jams” on the main road. In this case, the ISP will no longer have access to all your data and you will not have to worry about it.
Many people mistakenly believe that in a free Wi-Fi network, they will be able to secure themselves through incognito mode – private access, which is now available in almost any browser. However, this is not the case: it only does not store data on a specific computer, but does not affect the traffic on the network.
Some also believe that VPNs are being used more for nefarious reasons: for impunity for illegal activities on the network. But this is just a special case. Protecting your payments and other activities from potential intruders is a more general purpose.
Interestingly, some VPNs also offer additional options for a safe and comfortable surfing experience. They can block intrusive ads, as well as protect from not the most secure sites and other resources, blocking access to them.
The ability to simultaneously protect several gadgets at once
High-quality paid VPNs most often make it possible to simultaneously use several of your gadgets at once: they will provide protection for your computer, smartphone and tablet. For this task, each of them will often need to install a client of the corresponding service.
If you have a particularly large number of gadgets that you want to use within the VPN network, you can use special add-ons for some models of routers that support it. Many manufacturers have these: Asus, TP-Link, Mikrotik and so on. They will help ensure that all of your gadgets are using a specific VPN. Usually, paid VPN services provide the ability to connect from three to seven devices at the same time. However, in the case of a router, only one will be counted, and the rest will come out to be used outside of home or office Wi-Fi work.
With a VPN-enabled router, you will be able to protect data even on those gadgets for which special applications are usually not made. We are talking about smart TVs and other household appliances with a smart prefix, which many of you have probably already furnished your abode with.
Remote work in the corporate network of a particular enterprise
If you work in a large company with a mass of employees that cares about the security of the data inside, a VPN will also be an excellent solution for you. Such organizations usually prohibit direct Internet connections and only allow access to sensitive information within a secure local area network. Nevertheless, in current conditions, when the overwhelming number of employees conduct business in a remote format, own VPN also becomes a way out of this situation, opening access to the internal network via the Internet.
It is important to understand that the data that is transmitted inside the VPN network, in this case, remains secure – in fact, the same as if you were inside the local network. They are transmitted over the Internet in encrypted form and should not fall into the hands of intruders.
It is important to understand that the idea of using VPNs for specific enterprises is not new at all. Important employees using them could previously work remotely. The only thing that needs to be emphasized is that in this case we are talking about their own VPNs of specific companies, and not about random services.
Using a static IP address for professional purposes
Internet operators today do not usually provide their users with static IP addresses by default. Most often, they are an additional service for which you will have to pay extra regularly. If dynamic IP is enough for you, you can move on to the next point, but it happens that you need just static. I myself faced the problem of access to the server of one of the sites, which was provided only by IP. The administrator added addresses to the trusted list, and everyone else was ruthlessly banned. Bad luck: how can you give a specific IP if you have dynamics everywhere and you need to connect to a server from a dozen different locations.
The solution was found very quickly. It turned out that for a fee or even without it, some VPN services are ready to assign you a specific static IP address. This, for example, is offered by NordVPN. Yes, you have to pay up to $ 12 monthly for it, but sometimes it is still worth it.
Of course, using a VPN also has some disadvantages.
Unfair owners. You can only use trusted VPN services – paid ones are the best. Free ones usually either provide extremely low quality of services, or try to make money on their users by selling their data and in other immoral ways.
Drop in connection speed. In most cases, a VPN connection will be slower. Returning to the analogy with the bypass road, it can be noted that it is usually not the shortest way. Here too: the duration of data movement increases, so the speed is not always happy. When it comes to specific VPN services, it is also important to consider the number of servers they use, as well as the regular load on them. The more famous resource is used, the better it is with all this.
Periodic disconnections. VPN connection is not always stable. If you did not pay attention to the fact that the corresponding incident happened, you will use an unsecured connection, naively believing that everything is under control. This fact must be taken into account.
VPN is illegal in some countries. This happens, in part, because such services offer anonymity, privacy, and encryption. Of course, it is not a fact that you will be caught using a virtual private network, but there is still a risk, and sometimes you have to answer for it.
Some services block by VPN. This also applies to the Netflix site. Its owners are not interested in users paying less, so they try to find troublemakers and block their access to their content once and, if possible, forever.
This article was written based on material from Android Authority
