VPN: The Safest Way To Be Anonymous On the Internet

We’ve always come across the statement that big brother is watching, but how many of us actually give it any importance is a thought to ponder upon. The internet has always been considered a safe portal through which a number of tasks can be accomplished. From online banking and shopping to web surfing, emails and of course the social media bonanza,  you name it and you can achieve it through access from the web.

But the real question is how many of us actually understand the dangers associated with an unprotected internet connection. Can public Wi-Fi facilities actually create more harm than good? Are there any ways of remaining anonymous while using the internet? Well, the first thing that comes to many people’s mind is making use of a VPN that you can get on itday.com to choose a best one.

Let’s take an up close and in depth look at the phenomenon associated with using a VPN.

Why a VPN is the right thing for you?

The rule in life is to weigh out the pros and cons of a particular subject and then decide whether or not you should go on from there. That’s exactly the case with a VPN. Before we get to the pros of a VPN, let’s understand what exactly a VPN does and how it works. A VPN or virtual private network allows its users to pass their data through an encrypted tunnel. This means the internet service provider will no longer be able to view the geographical location, websites and online activity of the user. This is because the IP address of the user that gives out this information is no longer visible.

Utilizing a VPN is extremely helpful in cases where users are exposed to public Wi-Fi connectivity. Common examples include hotels, restaurants, and airports. Users now no longer have to worry about exposing their IP address to total strangers. All data sent out is encrypted in such a manner that if someone wanted to view your online activity, they’d only be able to view the VPN service provider’s IP address. In simple terms, the user can now be termed anonymous.

What are the pros of using a VPN?

The common benefits offered for using a VPN include the following:

• User anonymity and maintenance of privacy- As discussed previously, masking of the user’s IP address will result in a complete disguise of the user’s personal details and online activity. In simple terms, your privacy is guaranteed.
• Access through Geo Block restricted websites- Be it video streaming or music sites, local Government bodies tend to implement restrictions on specific websites. With a VPN, you no longer have to worry about this.
• Greater online security- When all data is securely encrypted and passes through a secret tunnel, you no longer have to worry about being tracked, misused or hacked.

Does a VPN carry with it any drawbacks?

Not everything related to a VPN is great. A VPN connection does bring forward a few disadvantages and they include the following.

• Speed degradation- Slow internet speed can be a real turnoff when utilizing the web. With a VPN, your internet traffic is firstly routed to your VPN server’s connection. The amount of speed that dips down totally varies on the infrastructure of your VPN server. Some go as far as lowering the speed by 50%. This means you’ll now require double the time to download large files, applications, etc.
• Increased cost- Making use of a VPN can turn out to be costly. Some VPN service providers charge about $4.5 a month while others go as far as charging users $6.5 a month. This may not seem like a whole lot of money at first, but spending this amount of cash on making your internet connection private can be irritating.
• Not everything goes hand in hand with a VPN- You may be surprised to learn that not every program works well with a VPN connection. A common example is that of Netflix. Netflix fails to allow users to download their content as they feel that not every region is licensed to make use of it.

If we had to give a final verdict regarding usage of a VPN, we would categorize it as a partially productive tool in terms of hiding browser history and identity. With that being said, tech giants like Google are finding ways of deciphering a VPN’s IP address using tracking technologies. Users should only stick to using a VPN when needed like public locations. By this way, users won’t have to deal with the constant dilemma of reduced internet speed on a daily basis.