Learn what VPNs are, what they are for, their advantages and disadvantages so that you can make the best decision about whether you need them in your daily life.

With the increase in online activity in recent years, there has also been a significant increase in cyber attacks.

So at any time you can be the victim of a cybercriminal who exposes both the privacy and security of your data, your physical integrity and even steals your money.

They achieve this by taking advantage of existing vulnerabilities in your equipment and devices, to a greater extent through the connection you make to public Wi-Fi networks.

If you are reading this, it means that you have probably heard about VPNs, want to know more about them and whether or not they are right for you. The truth is that these security tools have many uses for personal and work environments.

Below, you'll find everything you need to know about VPN connections, their pros and cons, as well as why you might want one.

What is a VPN Connection?

A virtual private network or VPN is a technology that allows users to send and receive data over public networks as if they were on a private network. This also means that with a VPN you can access the internet securely and privately from anywhere.

The VPN hides your real IP address, so you can surf the web without leaving a trace. Some providers of these services do not even monitor your online activity, so you can consume information completely anonymously, as long as you do not log in with your personal data in any service.

VPNs encrypt the data and send it to the Internet provider through secure channels. That is why your browsing will be safer and less traceable by cybercriminals with the use of these powerful security tools.

What is a VPN for?

Virtual private networks have many uses, among which are:

-       Connect to public Wi-Fi networks securely

A VPN can be extremely useful in those moments when you want to go to work at that coffee shop you love, at the mall or simply when you are traveling internationally, you do not have a data chip and you need to use the Internet for whatever reason.

The use of public networks considerably increases the exposure of your computers and devices to cybercriminals. This is because you can connect to a fake network by mistake, your data can travel without encryption or simply by installing malware.

-       Connect to streaming services not available in your area

Internet entertainment services, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, are not usually available in all countries. In addition to this, in some regions the offer in series and movies is also limited.

Many people use VPNs to connect to streaming services or access better content, since these tools allow you to connect through servers located in other countries.

-       Browse the Deep Web

Not all content on the Internet is intentionally indexed by search engines. Some pages simply deal with very dark social and moral issues, others for political purposes and more.

The problem with the networks that belong to the Deep Web is that many of its pages are used to infect computers with viruses or malware, work phishing, steal identity or credentials, as well as espionage and hijack webcams.

That is why VPNs work as a great protector, when people out of curiosity or need want to use these kinds of networks.

-       Access pages blocked by governments

Some rulers block access to certain web pages for political purposes. That is why the inhabitants of those countries use the services of a VPN to circumvent unfair controls on many occasions.

Even though privacy is a quality of freedom, some countries have outlawed the use of these tools since they make it impossible to control their inhabitants.

-       Make bank movements or access accounts on social networks from abroad

Social networks and banking sites have security mechanisms that await the establishment of your connections from your country of residence. When you are in a different location or country, applications and websites make it difficult to access.

To avoid this kind of inconvenience, users use VPNs with IPs belonging to the towns in which they reside and obtain more fluid access to their social or bank accounts.

Advantages of Using a VPN

Among the advantages of using VPN are:

-       Anonymous browsing

VPNs will help you browse and download the internet anonymously by hiding your IP address and only displaying that of the server you have connected to. However, for the anonymity to be real, you will have to choose a provider that does not save your activity on the network.

-       Avoid geolocated blocking

VPNs allow access to content that has been blocked by the services themselves or by governments within their countries. In this way, you gain more freedom by avoiding censorship and you can enjoy your TV content and streaming music.

-       Saving money

Some shopping sites set prices that are associated with the location from which you access, as well as if you are a new user or have certain consumption habits.

To avoid discrimination of this style, VPNs ensure access to these sites without providing more data and disguising the location of your IP so that you can save on your purchases.

-       Secure connection to banks and platforms to buy

This is one of the most important advantages that VPNs offer, since it hides your personal information from others and provides important security elements when connecting to banking and shopping websites or applications.

-       Reduces the possibility of suffering attacks during your connection

Because these tools encrypt the data you send and receive across the network, while hiding your connection, it will help you avoid certain types of attacks that compromise the security of your assets and personal information, such as the exact location where you meet

Disadvantages of using a VPN

As you could see, the advantages are important. But, the use of VPN also has some disadvantages:

-       Slow browsing

It is necessary to take into account that some of these tools, especially when using free plans, considerably reduce browsing speed. If this is the case, it is advisable to switch to a payment or provider plan.

-       Reduction of security in free services

It is important to know how to choose the provider of this class of services, since some of these systems carry out tracking and leave significant security gaps in connections made by users who have opted for their free plans.

How to Choose the Best VPN?

When choosing a VPN service, you should take into account the following aspects:

-       Use of secure protocols

It is necessary to evaluate what type of security protocol that service uses. Among the most prominent are OpenVPN, IPSec/L2TP, SSTP, PPTP and IKEv2.

-       Number and location of your servers

With this you will be able to determine if the service has the ability to bypass geo-blocks or connect to those websites you want to access with local IPs.

-       Number of simultaneous connections allowed

This is in case you need to have multiple computers or devices securely browsing the web at the same time.

-       Browsing speed

It is especially useful when you need to perform heavy downloads or access streaming services. A poor browsing speed would prevent you from doing other activities.

-       Use of Kill Switch

This allows that if the VPN connection fails, your computer's connection is automatically blocked. In this way, you will not have security problems such as the real exposure of your IP, open Internet connection, among others.

-       Type of information they store

Another important aspect to consider is whether the application saves your browsing information and payment methods used, lest the VPN cause you more damage than it can really protect.

Conclusion

VPNs or virtual private networks are programs that have the mission of protecting your privacy and offering you the greatest security in the use of the Internet. They can be used in work and personal environments, but their greatest use is when connected to public Wi-Fi networks.

If you are a person who travels frequently, connects to the Internet from public places or simply needs to access pages that are not available or that change their settings depending on the place from which they are accessed, you may need to use a VPN.

What is necessary to consider is that the application does not save sensitive information, allows you to browse at a good speed and that it really provides you with the levels of security and privacy that it offers.

Thanks for your time ;-)