Internet security and privacy are critical components of the digital age. Numerous platforms, like e-commerce stores, online casinos, and financial institutions, rely on the internet for survival. However, this benefit is accompanied by concerns for data protection against uncontrolled access, especially by internet fraudsters. Despite the security provisions of most of these businesses, users are often not very convinced and, as such, resort to other self-protection tools. Virtual Private Network (VPN) is one such security that has continued to gain rapid popularity.
VPN provides a secure pathway for data transmission between your computer/device and the public internet space by running it through an encrypted channel. Imagine you want to pay on eBay, AliExpress, or an online casino wherein you must provide your credit card details, full name, and address. With a VPN, you mask the information before releasing it to the receiving public network. Unsurprisingly, there are over 1.5 billion VPN users globally. This article highlights why it has become a valuable security tool for secure internet access.
Security on Public Wi-Fi Networks
Using public WI-FI can pose a serious risk to the integrity of your data. Today, many countries offer free internet services. For instance, at the train station, hospital, coffee shop, or library. Such public networks are the easiest for hackers to access user data. It is possible to track sensitive information like work email, personal information, and business transactions. As such, using a VPN at this point becomes very crucial.
Once activated, the VPN takes your network from public to private. It encrypts your information, rendering it unreadable to anyone who does not have the encryption key. This is unlike the default public network, wherein there is no access code, and almost anyone can access your browsing activity.
Remote Work
Remote work has come to stay since the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020. Most companies have fully embraced the idea of employees working from anywhere worldwide. However, the concern, as always, for sharing information on the web is security. VPN allows users to change location where it is necessary to do so in the interest of the company. Also, it ensures that company data is protected and secure as employees may access the internet using a public network from where they reside.
Bypassing Geographical Restrictions
There might be some mixed opinions about this particular benefit of using a VPN. Nevertheless, it does not change the fact that millions of users globally use it to provide an access passport to various activities. One of the biggest beneficiaries is the online gaming industry. While online gambling is legal in many countries, it is not so everywhere. Hence, some players use VPNs to access their favorite platforms.
For instance, many top gambling ecosystems like Slotsoo offer a library containing hundreds of online casinos. Some of these platforms have licenses from different jurisdictions that may not be accessible by every player, depending on their location. With VPN, that becomes possible. It allows players to mask their IP address and change it to any location of their choice. While this may be shrouded in controversy, as already mentioned, it is a common practice that also cuts across other sectors like e-commerce and social media.
Access To Restricted Apps
TikTok was almost banned in the US following President Trump’s inauguration in January 2025. Although the platform has been given an extension of 75 days to allow more time for negotiations, there is no certainty whether the Chinese parent company, ByteDance, would sell to US investors. If the ban happens, US citizens who have mapped a niche for themselves on the platform may find it challenging to quit. This is a practical example of how a VPN comes in handy. It allows such users to access restricted apps based on their privacy settings.
Another similar incident was when the Nigerian government banned Twitter (now X). This happened in June 2021 and lasted until January 2022. During this period, many Nigerians resorted to using VPN to access the platform and continue their business and other activities as applicable.
Functions as Ads Blocker
For some persons, the only reason they activate a VPN is to block unwanted ads. Today, one can barely go a few minutes on any platform without seeing an ad pop out of nowhere.
This cuts across almost every platform and some of these can be very disruptive and annoying. According to a publication by Forbes, an estimated 6% of global VPN users activate one for this purpose.
Better Shopping Deals
Experience shoppers understand the relationship between location and price on most online platforms. Booking flights or making hotel reservations from specific locations can raise the price by a significant margin. Using a VPN allows you to make that comparison and get the best deals as applicable to specific locations.
Concluding Thoughts
Virtual Private Networks are confidence boosters in a world of digital economy, data protection and privacy are crucial. From shopping online to making payments for hotels and flights, a VPN provides an additional layer of security. While this is only one of the many tools, be sure to follow up on the latest trends here at DEFSTARTUP to get more tips.
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