A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a service that encrypts your Internet traffic to provide security and privacy when you browse the Internet. They are a great way to protect yourself against hackers when using public Wi-Fi. Find out if you really need a VPN while browsing the Internet
However, do you really need a VPN, especially if you’re only using your home internet connection?
Before discussing whether VPNs are useful for home use or otherwise, you should know that a VPN No it is an ad or tracker blocker itself. While some VPNs come with a blocking tool, they alone cannot protect you from advertisers trying to collect your data.
You really need a VPN while browsing the Internet
Do you really need a VPN when using public Wi-Fi?
When you want to use a public Wi-Fi network, there is no way to determine which network is secure. It’s mostly guesswork, so you can never know which network the bad guys are using to spy on your online activity.
They use a name that is similar to a nearby coffee shop or retail store to trick you into connecting to a network. Once you are connected, they use man-in-the-middle attacks to monitor your internet traffic. This means that if you use your credit card or bank account online, a hacker could steal that information.
More sophisticated attackers go a step further and configure the access point to change its SSID based on the SSID the device is looking for.
In such cases, a VPN service can provide data breach protection by creating an encrypted tunnel that no one, including the network administrator, will be able to monitor. The level of encryption differs between VPN providers, but AES-256 is pretty much a standard now.
Do you really need a VPN at home?
An attacker is much less likely to run a man-in-the-middle attack on a home network because it’s much more difficult to break in and replace someone’s router. Not a hacker to worry about with your home network; it is your ISP (Internet Service Provider).
The US Congress decided in 2017, and since then, ISPs have been able to legally sell customer data. ISPs must provide an opt-out clause, but the customer must manually prohibit data collection. By default, ISPs are allowed to collect data.
For this reason, investing in a good VPN is not entirely useless, even if you are on a home network. Remember that there are still ways you can be tracked online, even if you use a VPN, but it won’t be your ISP collecting your data.
Do you really need a VPN for streaming services?
VPNs are not only useful for personal data security and online privacy; They are also useful when you want to access geo-blocked content.
For example, think of Netflix. Netflix will offer a different content library based on your location and the distribution rights you have for specific content. So if you access Netflix from the US, you’ll automatically have access to the US library, which might not have some of your favorite Italian or Indian comedies.
The same goes for Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and most other services.
The easy fix? VPN.
When you connect to a VPN server, you will be assigned a different IP address. When you access a website through a VPN, the website will read the IP address of the server and assume it to be your physical location, even though it is not.
You can also use VPN to unblock services that you cannot access at all. For example, if you want to access a foreign streaming service like Hotstar that isn’t currently available in the US, you can use a VPN to acquire a British or Indian IP address to access it.
The best VPNs
Even premium VPNs like ExpressVPN cost no more than a few dollars a year. While there are also free VPNs out there, many of them have questionable logging policies. The following are some of the best VPNs that you can choose from.
1.
ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs out there. It’s pricey, but it comes with all the bells and whistles, including a kill switch and split tunneling in the app.
A kill switch makes sure that your IP address is not exposed in case the VPN connection is dropped. In-app split tunneling allows you to use the encrypted VPN tunnel for specific apps, while you can use the unencrypted tunnel for other apps.
It has a user-friendly interface, a client for almost all operating systems, and offers unlimited bandwidth. However, it does not offer dedicated IP addresses.
If you’re looking for a VPN that can provide a top-notch streaming experience, ExpressVPN might be a good fit. You can bypass geo-blocks on websites like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video with ease. However, if you want a VPN for torrenting, consider NordVPN.
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two.
If you like torrenting, NordVPN is your best bet. It features custom P2P servers that make NordVPN more equipped to support torrenting and offer better protection. Additionally, NordVPN also offers double-hop servers (meaning using two servers instead of one) which adds another layer of security.
NordVPN offers excellent speeds and has one of the largest server networks (5,000+ servers) of any VPN out there.
It also has a great browser extension, which means you can use the VPN from Chrome, Firefox, or any other browser without installing the app. Alternatively, you can choose to install the desktop or mobile client on your Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS device.
NordVPN also comes with a malware blocker, something ExpressVPN lacks, but it can’t completely replace your antivirus. It’s also priced significantly lower than ExpressVPN.
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Do you really need a VPN when Tor exists?
Tor (short for The Onion Router) is a free network of access points called nodes. You can use Tor Browser to connect to the network and browse the Internet anonymously. You can test Tor yourself by downloading the browser from the .
Traffic passing through the Tor network is encrypted, so it offers online security, but it’s still a free network run by volunteers who have access to your traffic. Tor has also been under the government’s radar because it is a popular choice among cybercriminals.
There are also some usability issues with Tor. It doesn’t support P2P connections and it’s terribly slow, which means it can’t deliver a good streaming experience.
While Tor may offer better cybersecurity than an unprotected internet connection, it cannot match the security of a VPN. You can also combine the use of Tor and VPN to get the best of both worlds.
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Really you need a VPN? Well, in most cases, you’ll be fine without a VPN, especially if you’re only connecting to your home network. However, that’s not to say they can’t offer value for home use.
A secure VPN keeps your private data safe when you’re online and helps you access content that might not otherwise be available in your region. If you connect to many public Wi-Fi hotspots, a VPN connection will ensure that a hacker cannot steal your information.
When you compare the cost benefits, it makes sense to invest in a VPN and use a secure connection, especially if you use public networks or stream a lot of content from foreign websites.
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