A good VPN – short for Virtual Private Network – comes with plenty of benefits. It will let you access geoblocked websites and content from all around the world, including your favorite streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, and BBC. You can use it to change your IP address and appear as though you’re in a different country, and get better prices on flights, hotel rooms and more
But it’s not all fun and games. A good VPN will also secure your internet connection, protect your privacy and conceal your identity, keeping you safe from hackers or anyone else who might be trying to keep tabs on your online activity.
It’s important to remember that not all VPNs are created equal, and each one comes with its own set of pros and cons. We’ll break it all down for you so you can make an informed decision.
A VPN Keeps You Safe
In this day and age, we are constantly sending personal information over the internet without giving it a second thought. But let’s face it – whether you’re logging into your bank account or just having a private chat with your best friend, you don’t want anyone snooping on you.
A VPN encrypts your data and keeps your private activity really private, whether you’re browsing the web at home, at the office or through public wi-fi. You always remain anonymous and nobody – from hackers to government officials – can see what you’re doing online.
A VPN Can Save You Money
Once you use a VPN to change your IP address, you’ll soon discover that free access to content from all over the globe isn’t the only perk.
Many e-commerce websites display different prices to shoppers from different countries – for instance, a product which may seem very expensive if you’re accessing a site from Sweden may suddenly drop in price if you access the same site through a server in India.
This is good to keep in mind when you’re booking a flight and hotel room for your next vacation.
VPNs Are Affordable
At no more than a few bucks a month, a premium VPN service can unblock any website you want and keep your connection anonymous and secure. VPNs are significantly cheaper than other types of security plans. There’s no hardware to install and no technicians to deal with, and your VPN can be up and running within minutes.
While there are various free VPN services out there, keep in mind that they’re never exactly “free”. You always end up paying one way or another, whether it’s popup ads, limited data transfer, excruciatingly slow speeds, or worse – some free VPNs will actually sell your personal data to third parties or provide you with mediocre security at best.
The good news is that many premium VPN services offer free trials and/or money-back guarantees, so you can try them out before you buy. This is great if you only need a VPN for a short while – but once you get used to the benefits of a premium VPN service, you just might feel that it’s totally worth paying for.
Only CONS for a VPN is that:
Your VPN Connection Can Suddenly Drop
With a reliable VPN service, you shouldn’t experience connection drops very often – but it does happen from time to time. The main problem with this isn’t just the inconvenience of having to reconnect. It’s that the moment your encrypted connection drops, your real IP address is exposed, and you are no longer anonymous.
A kill switch feature, which instantly disconnects you from the internet in case of a server drop, can prevent this from happening.
