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Surfing the web feels like walking around naked – your activity is exposed for everyone to see. But a VPN is like throwing on a privacy cloak, securing your browsing data from prying eyes.

What is a VPN?

A virtual private network, or VPN, is an encrypted tunnel that connects your device to the internet. When you use a VPN, your internet traffic is routed through the VPN server instead of your internet service provider (ISP). This makes it much harder for ISPs, hackers, and snoops to track your online activity, including the websites you visit, the data you download, and even your location.

VPNs are used for a variety of reasons, including:

• Protecting your privacy: VPNs can help to protect your online privacy by masking your IP address and encrypting your internet traffic. This can prevent ISPs, hackers, and other third parties from tracking your online activity.
• Securing your internet connection: VPNs can help to secure your internet connection by encrypting your data when encryption is otherwise unavailable. This can protect your data from being intercepted by hackers or other third party snoops.
• Accessing geo-blocked content: VPNs can be used to access geo-blocked content. For example, if you are in the United States and you want to watch a TV show that is only available in the United Kingdom, you can use a VPN to connect to a server in the UK and watch the show.
• Bypassing censorship: VPNs can be used to bypass censorship. For example, if you are in a country that blocks certain websites, you can use a VPN to connect to a server in a country that does not block those websites

Stop ISP Tracking

Internet service providers (ISPs) serve as the gateways to the internet, connecting your devices to the vast network of websites, applications, and online services. However, this position of power also grants ISPs the ability to monitor your online activity, including every website you visit, every search query you make, and every file you download.

ISPs often utilize this data to build detailed browsing profiles, which can reveal your interests, habits, and even personal information. This information can be used for targeted advertising, data monetization, or even potential surveillance by law enforcement agencies.

VPNs effectively disrupt this surveillance by establishing a private tunnel between your device and the VPN server. This tunnel encrypts your internet traffic, rendering it unreadable to your ISP and any other third-party observer. As a result, your ISP cannot track your online activity, preventing them from building comprehensive browsing profiles and safeguarding your privacy.

Hide from Public WiFi Spies

Public Wi-Fi networks, such as those found in coffee shops, airports, and libraries, offer convenient internet access on the go. However, these networks often lack adequate security measures, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks. When you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, your internet traffic is transmitted unencrypted, leaving it exposed to interception by malicious actors.

Cybercriminals can exploit this vulnerability to “snoop” on your online activity, capturing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card details, and even personal communications. They can also inject malware into your device, gaining unauthorized access to your files and personal data.

The risk of being targeted on a public Wi-Fi network depends on several factors, including the type of network, the location, and the number of users. In general, open Wi-Fi networks in crowded areas pose a higher risk than password-protected networks in less frequented locations.

If you frequently use public Wi-Fi networks without a VPN, the risk of being compromised increases. Cybercriminals actively scan public networks for vulnerable devices and are more likely to target users who don’t take adequate security precautions.

While the likelihood of being compromised on a public Wi-Fi network without a VPN may vary depending on the factors mentioned earlier, it’s crucial to acknowledge the potential risks and take appropriate precautions. Employing a VPN provides an extra layer of security, especially when accessing sensitive information or conducting online transactions on public networks.

Why Consider a VPN?

There are many motivations people have for seeking more privacy online:

• Political activists and journalists in restrictive regimes rely on VPNs to access and share information safely. VPNs allow them to bypass censorship and conceal communications.
• Business travelers secure company data and communications while using public internet connections in airports, hotels and cafes. VPN encryption protects sensitive documents and emails.
• Consumers want to keep their browsing habits, locations, identities and relationships private from corporations, data brokers and identity thieves. VPNs provide a layer of concealment.
• Parents want to monitor and restrict what content their kids can access online. VPNs allow configuring filtered connections for more family-friendly browsing.
• Internet users want to access region-restricted content, like streaming video and music services with geographic licensing. VPNs get around location blocks by spoofing your location.

The common need across these examples is controlling what data is visible to whom on the internet. VPN services provide a way to take back some of that control over your personal information.

Access Resources Remotely

VPNs aren’t just for browsing privacy. They also enable securely accessing your devices and networks remotely:

• Employees can use a VPN to remotely log into their work computers to retrieve files, access internal tools and do their jobs while traveling or out of the office.
• Family members can connect through a home VPN to stream videos from a media server, print documents on a home printer, or control smart home devices while on vacation.
• Administrators leverage VPNs to manage servers, workstations, and other systems on their office or data center networks from offsite locations.
• Developers take advantage of VPNs to securely debug live cloud applications and environments from anywhere.

These ty[es of VPNs are not always provided by commercial products, but rather setup on a home or corporate server. By establishing an encrypted tunnel straight to your home or work network, you can enjoy secure remote access to internal resources and functionality from any internet-connected location.

Take Back Privacy

VPNs like CyberGhost make it easy to protect your browsing. Try a free 24 hour trial or sign up with a 45 day money-back guarantee and take back control of your data!