Introduction
According to Matt Davies Stockton, even if you aren’t into tech, you have probably heard about VPNs due to their massive ad campaigns on social media platforms and wide use in countries with high levels of censorship. However, getting around censors isn’t the sole purpose of VPNs. Let’s check out the benefits of using a VPN.
The Benefits
1. Protection from privacy breaches by corporations – In the age of data mining and government surveillance, privacy has become a myth. VPNs allow you to get back in control of your data privacy and prevent third parties from watching your every move. At the first layer, your data is being monitored by your ISP (Internet Service Provider), be it Verizon, Comcast, Google, or Spectrum. They can see, when, where, and how you browse, collect that data and sell it to advertisers. Browsing on the ‘incognito’ or ‘private’ window doesn’t protect you. Hiding your internet activity with a VPN does.
Apart from your ISPs, there are also apps and services you use regularly that snoop in on your internet activity. While Facebook has built up the most notorious reputation for snooping on its users, everyone else does the same. A VPN prevents those apps and websites from tagging your behavior with your IP address and creating your virtual profile.
2. Protection from privacy breaches by governments – Finally, there’s the government that wants to breach your privacy with your tax dollars. Everyone remembers the Snowden leaks and how the NSA loves to watch over every online activity of US citizens. This even birthed the ‘Government Agent Watching Me’ meme and shows how this has been normalized and accepted after the initial outrage. You can prevent governmental outreach and protect your data with a VPN.
3. Security on public Wi-Fi – Public Wi-Fis have become more common than ever and you can access it everywhere from the local cafe to hotels and airports. While they are convenient, they also come with a risk. Public Wi-Fis makes tracking your online activity easier and allows third parties to have access to your passwords, banking information, and other sensitive data you use over public Wi-Fi. This can be prevented with a VPN.
4. Accessed to locked content – People in high-censorship countries aren’t the only ones who use VPNs to get around censorship. You can also use VPN to get around geo-locked content that isn’t available in your location. For instance, due to licensing issues, Netflix’s catalog varies in different countries. For instance, popular shows like Fargo, the Office, and Friends are available on Netflix in other countries like the UK, but not in the US. This can easily be solved by connecting to a UK server on your VPN.
Conclusion
Matt Davies Stockton suggests that you try out VPNs and use them for the above-mentioned benefits. Most VPNs come with a free tier or trial period that allows you to use and experience their features. You can try out all your options and choose one that best suits your needs.