Five reasons to have a VPN installed on your PC


Five reasons to have a VPN installed on your PC

If you regularly browse the internet for work or any other purposes, you should be careful about digital malware that can affect your devices. Several hackers are waiting for an opportunity to access your private data and misuse it to commit theft. No matter how secure and safe your internet connection is, a hacker can get into it if you do not encrypt it with a VPN. A VPN is software that can encrypt your connection and make you anonymous while browsing the internet.

There are several free VPN in the market capable of establishing a secure connection between your computer and the internet. There are several benefits of installing a VPN on your computer that we will discuss later in this article. First, let us talk about what a VPN is in detail to understand how it works.

What is a VPN? Why are there free and Paid VPNs?

A Virtual Private Network is a secure and encrypted gateway between your device and the internet. This software can help you add a layer of security over your connection to secure it from hackers and trojans. When you use a VPN network, all your traffic is transferred through a secure network hosted by the VPN. Then the traffic is transferred to the destination website through this protected tunnel to avoid any leaks.

Several VPN providers offer both paid and free. While paid VPNs provide more security and features, free VPNs are best for individual use as it can guarantee your anonymity. Paid VPNs are preferred by companies that want to create a secure server for their employees or individuals that perform web scraping.

How does it work?

A VPN works by establishing a secure channel of communication between your device and the internet. When you browse the internet when connected with a VPN, all your data is routed through this secure channel. A VPN encrypts your data while routing and decrypts it when it reaches the website. This way, no one can access your data or hack into your private details.

When you browse the internet, your IP is visible to every website. When you browse a website, it stores your data such as IP address, device, and browser information in the form of cookies to provide you a better user experience.

However, this data can be hacked by hackers, which can risk your privacy. When you use a VPN, the software automatically masks your IP address with a different IP address to provide you complete anonymity while using the internet and avoiding any undue cyber risk.

Reasons to Use a VPN

Now we know what a VPN is and how it works. Now, let's talk about reasons to use VPN software on your PC.

1: Protect your PC from malware

The most important reason for using a Virtual Private Network is to protect your computer from unwanted software and malware. As you know, the internet is filled with viruses and trojans that can be downloaded on your pc without your knowledge. It happens when you click on an ad or an infected website. Using a VPN will help you avoid this by blocking most ads and creating a secure network.

2: Access restricted content or any geo-blocked content

With a VPN, you can use IP proxies to connect through different IP addresses spread worldwide. A proxy is an IP address that masks your real address to provide you with anonymity. You can connect to an IP anywhere globally and browse the website from that location using a VPN.

Some websites only show you data relevant to your location, depending on your IP address. By connecting to a proxy, you can access the website from a different location and view the data that might be restricted in your place of origin.

3: Bypass ISP throttling

ISP throttling happens when your ISP or internet service provider intentionally limits your internet speed to reduce the traffic. ISPs do this to manage the outgoing traffic, but it can severely affect your browsing speed. You can bypass ISP throttling by connecting to a VPN as it allows you to connect to a different ISP server anywhere in the world.

4: True anonymity (your ISP will not be able to collect information about you)

As discussed earlier, when you browse a website, it can save your personal information in cookies. This information includes your IP address, your browser version, your operating system version, etc. These cookies act as a digital fingerprint for your device, and it is unique for everyone. Websites store this information to provide you with the best viewing experience. However, hackers can hack into this data and access all your information. 

When you use a VPN, you connect to a proxy IP address that helps you mask your digital fingerprint. This way, all your private information stays hidden, and you can browse the internet anonymously. Another way that a VPN helps protect your privacy is by hiding your information from your ISP. Your ISP can store every online activity you perform in its database for future use. But when you use a VPN, you connect to a different ISP that stops your ISP from collecting any information about you and providing true anonymity.

5: Get better deals on eCommerce by switching locations

You can also get better deals on several eCommerce platforms by using a proxy network and viewing the website from different locations. Some eCommerce companies come up with deals that are only available in certain regions. You can connect to a proxy in that region and browse the website to obtain that deal.

Conclusion

Using a VPN for your pc can have several benefits for you. You can use a free VPN as well, as it provides all the same features with few limitations for free. However, if you want full and unrestricted access to a VPN feature, you can purchase the license from the VPN's website. While you should use a free VPN or a paid VPN depends upon your needs. It is highly crucial to use it, considering the continuous threat of cyberattacks.