A VPN is a powerful tool that can be used to protect us while we’re online. These virtual private networks are designed to create a secure internet connection. They are especially useful for hiding our browsing activity from third party trackers.
As the internet continues to evolve, we’re at an increased risk of our data falling into the wrong hands. Additionally, we might want to hide our browsing history so that we can get access to more offers and deals when shopping online.
There are many positives that come with using a VPN. However, there are also some myths that surround these tools too. Here, we bust some of those myths so you can rest assured your VPN is a positive addition to your setup.
Myth 1: “It’s only being used to do sketchy things!”
Depending on the laws in the country you are in, VPN providers are actually required to keep your data. For instance, some VPN in India have withdrawn their services as a result of the changes to the media laws and regulations in the country.
Governments and authorities are able to get their hands on that data if you incriminate yourself. This means that, while your privacy is protected by a VPN, you can’t break the law. So, while it may appear to be a tool to hide yourself behind, it is most definitely not. A VPN is there to protect you against criminals, not the other way round.
Myth 2: “Everything is being slowed down!”
VPNs encode your connection, and this can slow things down slightly. However, in most cases this is a very minor slowdown and things pick up quickly after that.
The reason why this minor blip is over with quickly is because there are many servers available. Switching to a server with more available capacity happens easily and automatically. So, the transition is usually seamless.
There might be instances where you want to avoid any sort of slowdown and target the apps that you’d like to access via a VPN. This can be done via split tunnelling.
Myth 3: “They only work if I use them constantly!”
This isn’t the case. Most websites are encrypted and have added protections. This is especially the case for major websites like BBC News, for instance. But it also applies to smaller sites, too. This is because the security measures in place with any website build are more advanced than ever before. These evolve as more developments are made. And we’ve been made aware of websites that aren’t secure for years. In fact, it was back in 2018 when Google started flagging sites that might not be safe to browse.
All of these security measures mean that VPNs only need to be turned on when you are handling sensitive data.
While VPNs can seem unusual, they simply provide safe internet use while keeping your connection private.
