Used by an estimated 1.6 billion internet users worldwide to encrypt internet traffic and hide personal information, virtual private networks (VPNs) have become increasingly popular over the years. If you haven’t used one before, this guide highlights the most adequate VPN usage perks for the best experiences online.
Despite some 15 countries imposing restrictions on using a VPN, usage of such services has increased year on year as people have become increasingly aware of their need to stay secure online.
NOTE – Not all VPN services work the same. Most people often use free VPNs for the sole purpose of not having to pay a dime. However, most free-provider software rarely functions smoothly and lacks the basic encryption standards or features that are important. Using the best VPN services is crucial, specifically while accessing online bank accounts, making payments, or even while using public Wi-Fi. The additional benefits are unlocking more streaming apps or websites, or even torrenting safely. For this reason, we recommend using Surfshark. It’s affordable and offers unlimited device connections.
With the outlook that VPNs will become a standard part of everyday life when browsing the web, we’ve compiled a list of ways you can make the most of your VPN.
The Best VPN Usage Perks For Streaming, Online Security & Beyond
Here are a few ways and reasons to use a VPN to make the most of your time online:
Hide or Spoof Your Location
In a world where many websites require access to your location, accessing a site not meant for your locale could be challenging. These websites employ advanced geo-tracking that locks onto your IP address and finds your area based on where you’re connecting from.
Using a VPN allows you to hide your location from nosy websites. Rather than seeing your IP and where you are located, these sites see the IP address and location of the VPN server you’re connecting through.
Aside from just hiding your actual location, VPNs can also be used to spoof your location. This allows you to appear like you are in one region, even if you are located on the opposite side of the world.
Speed Up Your Connection
Another one of the best VPN usage perks is a stable internet connection. Although this is not always guaranteed, using a VPN can sometimes actually increase your connection speed. This is particularly true regarding online gaming and can help reduce server ping and lag while playing.
The primary reason is that a VPN allows you to bridge your connection through another country. If you connect through the same local region where a game’s server is located, a measurable increase in connection speed can sometimes be observed.
Access Private Networks
Many companies and learning institutions have closed networks that sit behind extensive security protocols and firewalls. With online security becoming an increasingly mainstream topic, many private households are also beginning to close their internal networks to the outside world.
When this occurs, the only way to access these networks is through a VPN configured with the correct permissions required to pass through firewalls and protocols. As such, using a VPN can allow you to remotely access your work files, learning resources, or personal information.
Complete Your Financial Transactions
VPN usage perks are not always for streaming, but for security too. It is estimated that the cost of cyberattacks in 2023 equated to more than $11.5 billion, with the financial services sector being one of the most prone industries to these attacks. This encompasses online banking facilities, money-changing apps, and other platforms where individuals or companies access and manage their finances.
The best time to log into your online banking profile and perform transactions is when you’re connected through a VPN. While this doesn’t guarantee 100% security, it makes it substantially harder for hackers to intercept or corrupt your transaction information because all your data is encrypted by the VPN.
Get Extra Entertainment
As mentioned, geo-tracking is a significant part of many sites’ strategies. This ensures that people can only access their services within a specific locale. One of the most popular users of geo-tracking to prohibit access to content are streaming providers like Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu.
Using a VPN to spoof your location can grant you access to online libraries of streaming entertainment that would otherwise not be available based on your location. While doing this is commonly frowned upon for ethical reasons, it is a great way to get extra entertainment.
Secure Your Purchases
Whether purchasing a new item for the house or researching which sites are minimum deposit when gambling online, more than 2.64 billion people transact online each year. These transactions happen almost instantly, and many people give little thought to them.
However, these transactions are an excellent opportunity for hackers to steal your personal and card information. Once they have this, racking up massive debt can be relatively simple. By using a VPN, however, this information is securely encrypted so that you can make purchases or deposits without worry.
Download Without Trackers
There are 328.77 million terabytes or more of data that are created worldwide. Most people share or download them online. Whether a work presentation, class assignment, movie, or the latest song, almost everyone makes at least one download per day.
The general population downloads are screened by Internet service providers (ISPs), governments, and companies. This helps them identify who is guilty of piracy and helps block certain content. However, using a VPN while downloading items ensures that your downloads are private and nobody can see what you’re accessing.
Use Public Wi-Fi Without Worry
There are some risks when you access the internet through a private connection, like hacking, or a compromised public Wi-Fi connection. These connections are open to anyone because they place your device on an open network with all the other users.
Using a VPN allows you to use a public network while keeping all your data and information secure. This is regardless of what others on the network are doing.
Bypass ISP Restrictions
Aside from websites imposing restrictions on who can access their content, some ISPs (internet service providers) have their own limitations. These include what their clients can access through their network. To impose these, these ISPs monitor data usage and use tracers to see what sites client connections are accessing.
When accessing something not allowed by your ISP, your connection will generally be blocked. Using a VPN to access content hides your activity from ISPs, so they have no indication of what you’re doing online. This gives you access to sites or services that would otherwise be blocked.
To Conclude
There are many advantages or VPN usage perks that can help you receive the optimal online experience. However, since not all VPNs function the same, it’s best you choose only the best VPN service. Right now, Surfshark is making bigger waves on the internet. You can secure your connection, unlock the best streaming services, or secure your connection with industry-leading features.