5 VPN Myths you need to know
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a service allowing users to access the Internet privately and securely. It works by masking your Internet Protocol (IP) address and other relevant data while you’re online. So, spyware, malware, and hackers will have a difficult time accessing your valuable information. There are, however, misconceptions about this service. Here are five debunked VPN myths you need to know.
5 VPN Myths you need to know
1 . VPN’s are Only for Illegal Activities
2. VPNs Make the Internet Connection Slow
3. VPNs Give You Complete Anonymity
1 . VPN’s are Only for Illegal Activities
Many people say that you don’t need to hide anything if you’re not doing anything wrong. VPNs might be useful for hiding criminal activities, but hacking and gathering illegal data aren’t the intended purposes of private networks.
Data security is still an essential element for many Internet users. Casual users can secure their valuable information when browsing the Internet. Consider this scenario; imagine sitting in a mall and freely accessing the mall’s Wi-Fi on your phone in order to check the latest discounts from your favorite online store. You see an item you like and gladly place it to your cart for checkout. The next step is for you to input your credit card details to pay for the item. It sounds like a straightforward process, but you might not know if a hacker is lying in wait for you to make the transaction. Keyloggers and other spyware can capture the data you input online, which includes your credit card information.
A VPN helps masks the source of the data to and from your device. So, other people would need to go through various digital protocols before they can reach your online information. That operation might require a significant amount of time and effort. Many hackers know when a project is too strenuous for them to handle, so they might walk away from an attempt to steal your data.
Also, VPNs can mask the identities of average consumers and business entities. For the latter, companies can use private networks to help encrypt and secure sensitive business information from the world wide web.
In summary, it might still be a possibility that people can use VPNs for illegal activities, but these services don’t limit themselves to illicit activities. You can still use a VPN to help secure your digital information from cyber attackers.
Perhaps, you might already be looking at various VPNs at this point. Consider checking a LimeVPN review as your first step to finding the right digital private network to use.
2 . VPNs Make the Internet Connection Slow
You may have had a bad experience with the first VPN you used. Perhaps, you were connected to an unstable server so your browsing experience was less than satisfactory.
The Internet connection speed provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) still plays a critical role in the speed of the VPN. Hence, if you’re watching online videos using a 50 Mbps connection, the VPN speed won’t go past that point.
Another factor that affects VPN speed is the location of the server. The further the server is from your device, the higher the latency. But don’t confuse latency with bandwidth. Take a look at these two terms in better detail:
- Latency – The amount of delay for the host device to send and receive data to and from a server. The higher the number when recording latency, the slower your gadget receives online data.
- Bandwidth – The amount of data transferred in a fixed amount of time. It’s the speed at which you can upload and download data to and from the Internet.
If you’re using high bandwidth and low latency connection, you may not find issues when you’re downloading or uploading files. Take a look at these scenarios for a better understanding of these terms:
- High bandwidth, high latency – This connection is like a runner taking large but slow paces to reach the finish line.
- High bandwidth, low latency – An ideal connection. This scenario makes it possible for fast downloads, uploads, and browsing speeds.
- Low bandwidth, low latency – Download and upload speeds might be slow. However, browsing sites like social media might present minimal challenges to users.
- Low bandwidth, high latency – Download, upload, and browsing speeds might be slow with this poor connection.
Hence, if you’re using a VPN and the connection seems slow, then it might not be the service that is primarily at fault. Consider other factors like latencies and bandwidth allocations before concluding that you’re using a substandard VPN app.
3. VPNs Give You Complete Anonymity
It can be an exciting idea to use a VPN service because it provides you with anonymity while using the Internet. However, VPNs cannot provide you with complete anonymity.
For example, using a private network doesn’t make you physically invisible to the eyes of other people. Individuals who look over your shoulder while you’re browsing websites will still see the content.
It might be almost impossible to guarantee complete protection when using the Internet, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t increase your online privacy and security.
One way to achieve such goal is to use a VPN kill switch. This feature provides automatic shut-off when your VPN connection stops. You might be browsing websites when you lose the private link, or it might already be several minutes since the connection got cut. That time when you didn’t get a private connection means you left your data unsecured.
The kill switch helps by shutting down the Internet connection on your device. You might have to reconnect after the function activates manually. But it’s better than compromising your valuable data to cyber attackers.
Another way to help increase your anonymity while using a VPN is by using https instead of http protocols when browsing websites. Keep your browser secure by adding the letter “s.” The letter stands for secure. It may not appear on your browser’s search bar, but you’ll know when the site is safe if there’s a padlock icon next to the URL.
Remember, a VPN isn’t a “Get Out of Jail Free” card. Authorities might still lock into your location by using sophisticated tracking tools if you’re using private networks for illegal activities.
4 . All VPNs are the Same
Not all online security protocols work the same. On that note, some VPNs work better than others.
Here’s a list of features you should consider when scouting for an excellent VPN service:
- Fast Internet speeds
- Stable connections
- Secure and reliable encryption
- Straightforward interface
- Peer-to-peer (P2P) functionality
- Tech support
- Static IP
Many VPNs offer a broad range of features. But free private network services might not provide a host of functions for its users. Use the list above to help you choose the right VPN app for you.
Also, it’s an ideal move to check the list of connectivity protocols used by the app. Many VPNs use SSL, but many cyber attackers may already know methods to create backdoors to get past this protocol. Consider using a VPN app that offers more than one encryption protocol. For example, a trustworthy private network service lets you use other protocols like IPSec, L2TP, and PPTP.
Don’t forget to check online reviews for your preferred VPN software. You should read through the feedback posted by other users. See if the application you choose helps you get satisfactory security features.
5. TOR is Better than VPN
The Onion Router (TOR) is a non-profit organization with a primary objective of researching and developing online privacy tools. The TOR network helps users by disguising identities by moving information sent and received by users to the organization’s servers. So, encrypted traffic becomes difficult to trace to its source.
Albeit TOR is also a solution to help improve Internet user privacy, it still has its drawbacks. One major disadvantage of this service is its speed. TOR is slow, especially when compared to many reliable VPN services.
Interesting Read : VPN vs. TOR – Advantages and Disadvantages of VPN and TOR
TOR offers a dependable encryption service for its users, but your data has to go through many speed bumps before it reaches its destination. So, the Internet speed might be unreliable when using this service.
Conversely, VPNs might slow down Internet connections if bandwidths and latencies become erratic. On that note, the stability of TOR connections heavily relies on its servers. But noteworthy VPN companies may have different servers to serve as backups. So, if one server fails, users can still connect to other servers to resume secure online browsing.
Also, various ISPs know when people are using TOR. Thus, it may do a more inferior job in comparison with a VPN in hiding your presence from your local ISP.
Keep Your Web Browsing Safe with a VPN
Don’t immediately believe in anything you hear about VPNs. You might encounter rumors about using private networks which are not accurate. Research is still paramount to help you understand how you can benefit from using a VPN. This post aims to help you recognize the benefits, warnings, and realities of VPN services.
Rachael Chapman
A Complete gamer and a Tech Geek. Brings out all her thoughts and love in writing blogs on IOT, software, technology etc
