Virtual Private Network or VPN are becoming a popular option for businesses and personal security, but does it protect your privacy online?
The Internet has become a necessity in today’s world since it delivers fresh information, entertainment, and connection in seconds. Do you know that your online activity can be valuable to hackers or even advertisers?
There are different factors on how we can be tracked online, and it is important to be wary of how we access the Internet, especially in public places.
Browsers provide users with an option for privacy such as Google’s “Incognito Mode” or Safari’s “Private Window” that allows you to surf the Internet without saving cookies or browsing history to the computer. However, even with these safety measures, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can still track your online activities, and it can be used for several reasons. Some sell it to advertisers, thus the reason for seeing multiple ads related to your online queries. The data that your ISP collects can also be acquired by government agencies legally.
In public, such as coffee shops, or shopping malls, unsecured public WIFI’s are available, and that is how hackers or online spies can get to your personal information once you’re connected.
The role of VPN
Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows you to have privacy or anonymity when surfing the web. It hides your Internet Protocol (IP) address, so your online actions are untraceable by your ISP.
Virtual Private Networks creates a secured tunnel between the sender and receiver, making it seem like you’re in another location. VPNs’ goal is to provide secure data transmitted through the Internet by hiding the real IP address of the sender, making it extremely difficult for snoopers to access your online communication.
It is commonly used by businesses when working remotely, as it provides an encrypted connection to your work’s network, allowing you to work securely. However, your internet activity would still be visible to your employers.
What else can VPN do:
Protect your browsing history
Provide secure Internet connection
Bypass geographical restrictions
Provide access to blocked or restricted sites or channels
Change the current location to a selected one
Hides your identity from ISP tracking
For many business owners, privacy is very important, especially when handling projects that require confidentiality, and acquiring a good VPN provider is essential. Here are a few tips in choosing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) provider:
1. Privacy Policy
When evaluating for a VPN service, a clear and precise privacy policy is the most important element. Most of us agree to privacy policies without reading it, but most service providers lie about not logging your data. The VPNs privacy policy should specify what data they log and what they don’t on their policy.
2. Clear Connection Protocol
Different protocol exists depending on protection, speed, and level of encryption. Ensure that your VPN provider could identify the protocol you want to use.
3. Avoid Free VPNs at all cost
If you’re a small business owner, you might be tempted by free VPNs, but avoid them at all cost. VPN providers need the revenue to run their service, so if they are not getting it from their users, expect them to be selling your data to someone else.
4. Kill Switch
The kill switch ensures that your real IP address is not leaked whenever the VPN drops the connection, which is vital, especially when protecting your online privacy.
Still not sure about what to do next? Contact us today and learn how we can help secure your internet activities from the prying eyes.
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