Where can I use a VPN?

Besides keeping you safe in cyberspace, a VPN offers multiple other benefits that may up your network experience. Here are some ways to use a VPN, some of which you may not have heard of:

            

Protect your right to privacy

 

One of the simplest and most important duties of a VPN is to protect your right to privacy. Every individual should be able to communicate and access the free internet without instantly giving up their right to a private online experience. Using a VPN can give you back some control over your data and who gets to see it, log it, and monetize it.

 

Make public Wi-Fi more secure

 

Connecting to public Wi-Fi isn’t always safe, but you can secure your Wi-Fi network with a VPN. A common misconception is that public Wi-Fi requires no additional safety precautions. Surveys show that 81% of Americans use public hotspots regularly, but only 1% use a VPN server to secure their network activity on public Wi-Fi.

If a Wi-Fi connection isn’t encrypted or has been set up by a hacker, connecting to it could expose your browsing activity. A VPN protects you by encrypting your internet connection, limiting the risk of potential malware and getting your details stolen while using public Wi-Fi.

 

Access websites while traveling

 

If you are abroad and want to access websites or services you’re used to accessing at home, and they are blocked due to country restrictions, use a VPN. A VPN can help you securely stream your favorite TV shows or sports games from your home country while lying under a thatch umbrella on a sunny beach.

A VPN is also great for remote learning and working, as it allows you to switch locations and access work or university networks/intranet in restricted areas. A VPN will help you access files and websites, secure browsing traffic on public networks, and protect you from third-party invasion and potential malware online.

 

Speed up your online gaming

 

When people talk about VPNs, they often mention how all but the best inevitably slow down your internet connection. However, this is not always the case.

 

Your ISP may 'throttle' your connection, meaning it slows down your internet when it detects certain activity – often those that use a lot of bandwidth. Prime suspects are online gamers, and while the same can happen when torrenting or streaming, in those situations a slow connection isn't a case of life and death.

 

Avoid location-based price targeting

 

Most prevalent amongst car hire and plane ticket merchants, being offered different prices depending on where you are and what you've searched is more common than you may think.

 

If you're thinking of purchasing a digital product – whether that's Microsoft Office, a game, or Spotify – taking a moment to check prices from around the world might save you a good wad of cash.

 

Those in lower-income countries are usually offered a cheaper price, but that's not always the case. In practice this process is often more trial-and-error than exact science, so having a VPN with plenty of servers worldwide is worth the investment and could end up paying for itself.