If you use the internet, then VPNs are for you. Why? VPNs protect your online privacy from prying eyes, and in the 21st century, there are more prying eyes than ever.
One beginner-friendly VPN provider that you might be interested in is Surfshark. Unlike many virtual private networks, this one does not keep logs, and this makes your online activity even more private and exceptionally secure.
Getting a VPN is beneficial for the entire family, and even grandparents who use the internet rarely could benefit from having one. That’s because many people in this age range are fairly new to the internet, and they may not be familiar with cyber-security threats.
Many middle-aged people make online purchases often and use online banking. Therefore, it’s essential to ensure that these transactions remain secure, and VPNs can do just that.
Also, VPNs are highly beneficial for teenagers since teens tend to use the internet frequently and often connect to public networks, and this places them at a higher risk of cyber-security threats that VPNs can offer protection against. Furthermore, many younger kids who are new to the internet are largely unaware of cyber-security threats.
As a result, having a VPN can help them to remain protected. Also, many dangers that kids and teenagers face online come about as a result of the lack of anonymity, and VPNs can solve this problem.
Virtual Private Networks Hide Your Online Address
While your street address is how people can figure out your location in person, an IP address allows people to figure out your address online. Your IP address is a series of numbers, and the average individual may be able to figure out what city you live in with it. However, individuals who are able to get information from ISPs (internet service providers) can determine your precise physical address.
You’re Safer On Public Networks If You Use A VPN
If you spend a lot of time connected to public networks, you’re not alone. In fact, a large number of people do much of their work on public networks. Here’s why you need a VPN anytime you’re connected to a public network:
Hackers Can Create Fake Networks To Imitate Legitimate Public Networks
It’s common for hackers to create a fake network with a name that is vaguely similar to a particular business, and they will send the network out from their personal device. Individuals who connect to this network are making all of their data visible to the hacker, and as a result, they are able to steal financial information if you perform any online transactions.
The Internet Is Monitored By Governments
Three letter agencies can have access to data that is sent over the internet, and the NSA continues to gather large amounts of metadata on internet users in the United States. However, relatively little is known about the gathering of this metadata and what it’s used for.
Why Would You Be Concerned About This If You Have Nothing To Hide?
Even if you aren’t doing anything that you feel you need to hide, do you really want to think that every site that you visited is permanently in a government database somewhere? Probably not.
Net Neutrality Laws Have Been Repealed
The repeal of net neutrality laws could have a serious impact on our ability to surf the web freely, and a VPN would be a way around these restrictions. Here are some examples of ways that the internet could change as a result of net neutrality repeal:
You Might Have To Pay To Visit Popular Websites
While this might sound far-fetched, it’s actually not. In fact, it’s already happening in Portugal. Citizens of Portugal have to pay extra to visit certain sites, such as Google and YouTube. In addition, some internet service providers block out certain websites entirely. If you lived in Portugal, you wouldn’t be able to access the internet as we now know it unless you were using a VPN.
Political Censorship Could Become A Reality
Internet service providers could block access to sites that they don’t feel are consistent with their political views. Due to the change in legislation, this censorship would be completely legal.
Furthermore, this type of online censorship is common in many parts of the world. For instance, China currently has an internet firewall, and this blocks access to sites that express views that differ from the government. A VPN is the only effective way to get around this form of censorship, and it is common for individuals in these countries to use the software to circumvent censorship. Some countries are now beginning to implement internet firewalls, such as Russia.
Your Bandwidth Could Be Throttled
Not only could censorship happen, but the internet could also be slower. Certain internet service providers could throttle the bandwidth of certain websites in order to deter people from using them. As frustrating as the slow connection may be, it would be very hard to determine that the slow connection was caused by the internet service provider.
In conclusion, using a VPN soon may not be advisable, but also necessary; and it already is in some parts of the world. The best course of action here is to educate your entire family about the current context and invest in a beginner-friendly tool that could help you navigate the internet safely and without arbitrary restrictions.
