A virtual private network(VPN), is a great way to increase your online security and privacy. A VPN creates an encrypted connection to the Internet, which filters all traffic through a server. This protects your online activities from cybercriminals and your internet service provider (ISP). This post contains a complete guide to the pros and cons of VPNs.
There are many great VPN services like CyberGhost VPN and PureVPN that offer great benefits. However, they are not perfect. A VPN service can provide some anonymity and safety to your online activities. However, they may not tell you that it can slow down your connection speed or that some providers can log your activity to sell on to third parties. Before deciding whether a VPN service is right for you, it is important to fully consider the pros and cons of VPNs.
| VPN pros | VPN cons |
|---|---|
| Security | Slower internet |
| Privacy | Activity logs |
| Geo-blocked content access | Low-quality options that undermine security |
| No ISP bandwidth throttling | Shared IPs (which can be blacklisted) |
| Lower support costs | N/A |
The pros of VPNs
Security
Your online data must travel through multiple servers as you surf the internet. You can check your email, shop online, or browse your bank statements. Information such as your passwords, messages, and bank statements are all transferred between various sites and servers. Without an encrypted connection who knows who might be watching? Information could be accessed by your ISP, government agencies, and cybercriminals for malicious purposes.
Premium VPN services instantly encrypt all traffic and online activity, protecting you from any pesky hackers trying to steal your data. Cybercriminals will always try to hack VPN security, especially on unsecured public WiFi networks. However, you can often find a trusted VPN service that uses AES256 encryption to prevent this.
Also read: Who is Better For Security: VPNs vs. Firewalls vs. Antivirus
Privacy
It is legal for ISPs to sell personal data in the United States. Many organizations are looking for this information and will pay a large sum. Businesses are available to monitor your online activity and spy on you. A VPN gives you a digital veil of anonymity whenever you are online.
When you connect to a VPN you have your own private web lane that you can use to browse the internet at will. You’ll still be able to see your favorite sites, but your activity won’t be tied to your IP address. Instead, you will just be anonymous. Your ISP or cybercriminals will not see you. Any activity you do will appear only as traffic from the VPN server to which you are logged in.
Geo-blocked content access
A VPN allows you to keep your activities anonymous and opens up new possibilities. VPN services often have servers in multiple locations around the world, which allows you to bypass geo-blocks. Do you know that Netflix has different content for different countries? VPNs can be used to quickly circumvent this.
A VPN allows you to log in to any server in your country. This makes your traffic appear as though you are actually there. Log in to one of your VPN’s Chinese servers to access Youku, even if you are in Delaware.
No ISP bandwidth throttling
Bandwidth throttle is when your ISP slows down your internet speed. An ISP can throttle the speed of your internet for any reason. This could be because you are using streaming video or peak hours. To protect your anonymity, all traffic is filtered through a VPN server. This hides your activity and makes it impossible for your ISP to throttle it.
Lower support costs
A VPN can be used to cut costs and reduce the IT staff’s workload. A cloud-based VPN provider allows your IT team to quickly set up a VPN client on your company’s computers. This will keep your business protected from cyberattacks and malware. Even better, your VPN provider will manage all support and maintenance, ensuring compliance with encryption standards across your company.
The cons of VPNs
Slower internet
The biggest disadvantage of VPNs is the reduction in internet speed. Your internet connection speed will decrease as traffic passes through the VPN server. You might experience some slowdowns when you log into a server in another region. For example, if you log in from Los Angeles to a French server, your performance may be a bit slower.
The effect of a VPN on speed is minimal and you might not notice it. Businesses that use multi-stream workflows or bandwidth-intensive services, such as a Livestream of a multi-hour 4K event, would suffer the most from lower speeds.
Activity logs
It may be required by law for VPN providers to keep detailed logs about all internet traffic, depending on where you live. Many VPN services also keep logs of your internet activity solely for the purpose of selling it to third parties.
VPN providers with a base in the U.S. or Australia may have to keep detailed records if they are subject to strict censorship laws of oppression. Government agencies around the world regularly access VPN logs and use them to monitor and target suspicious activities or organizations.
Less security with free or low-quality VPNs
You get what you pay when it comes to VPN services. Some free VPN services may have a conflict of interest in providing a private and secure internet connection. Free VPN services need to make money, so they may sell your data or activity logs.
A free or low-quality VPN service might not provide the encryption necessary to protect your data. You could be vulnerable to hackers if you save money and use a VPN without the proper encryption protocols.
Also read: What Is a Business VPN? Benefits and Features for Business
Blacklisting of shared IPs
A shared-IP VPN uses an IP address to assign users to the VPN server. Although a shared IP VPN can provide a secure connection to the internet and protect you against cyberattacks, too many IP addresses can overload the domain name system (DNS), causing your IP address to become blacklisted.
If your IP address has been blacklisted, you will be required to complete a CAPTCHA verification to confirm that you are not a bot. However, some sites may restrict your access to certain websites. It can cause significant delays and disruptions, as well as the need to disconnect your VPN in order to access certain sites. This can make you more vulnerable to security breaches.
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