Is a VPN really worth it?
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In tech circles, we spend a lot of money, but there are some easy decisions and some difficult. We know that a smartphone is a must nowadays, so paying as much as $100 a month or more for the latest model isn’t something we generally worry about.
We invest in high-speed internet, powerful laptops, high-end headphones, voice-controlled speakers, mirrorless cameras, glow-in-the-dark keyboards, VR headsets… The tech elite will always want the fastest and most practical option. Which is why when it comes to getting the best VPN (Virtual Private Network), it’s almost easy to think if you care about privacy, security, and anonymity.
Unlike some of those other products, a VPN is rarely expensive, even if you choose the premium commercial options and add all the perks (shown below). The overhead of using a VPN isn’t that significant either (add about 10-15% in extra data usage), and the fact is that a VPN provides a layer of encryption for all your internet traffic that’s well worth the cost and trouble.
Add costs
You may not be completely convinced that a VPN is worth it, and it is smart to weigh the pros and cons. From a completely neutral perspective, the VPN out there ranks with an antivirus client in terms of how it protects you online from data breach or unethical hacking.
To understand the actual costs, it is a good idea to check the levels of service available. For example, Hotspot Shield offers a free VPN that allows 500MB of data to be used per day. This will work fine for many online activities like browsing websites and checking email, but it won’t last long if you start watching videos or sending attachments.
Fortunately, costs only go up by a small amount if you choose paid options. For example, ExpressVPN (our top rated provider) Tends to charge a little over $5 per month For unlimited access at faster speeds – plus you’ll have over 3000 servers around the world to choose from.
Moving to premium customers for commercial purposes, it will be more expensive to choose products from Cisco or Microsoft, but there will also be more assurances about service level agreements, technical support, encryption level, and reliability.
The main point to make here is that the decision often isn’t about whether you should use a VPN (since there are so many free and low-cost options), it’s how much you should pay. It depends on the level of protection you need and what you do on the Internet.
(Photo credit: Peter Lagson)
level of protection and service
Assuming you can justify the low cost of a VPN, the next decision is about how much protection and security you need. Let’s make one thing clear here – a VPN is a smart choice for those who need more security, privacy and anonymity online because you don’t want to be a pawn to advertisers serving you ads, you don’t want to be hacked, and you want to protect your identity. It does not mean that you are stealing software or streaming illegal movies. A VPN is a justifiable security measure for anyone who uses the Internet.
So, let’s move on to the level of protection you need. The free service usually provides encryption for one device, often for only one country where you can access the web servers. The speed will also likely be reduced, so you won’t be able to download 4K movies in a matter of minutes.
It’s also worth noting that a VPN is not a panacea. One of the important accomplishments to achieve is that your ISP still knows your identity and location no matter what since the VPN creates a tunnel from your existing and existing connection.
This is an example of how that works. Let’s say you’re calling at home with a cable modem. When you connect directly to a Wi-Fi network or modem, your ISP gives you an IP address associated with your location and identity. This IP address can be tracked by your ISP. So, the physical connection itself, and the ability to surf the web or download files, can be traced back.
The VPN constitutes a secure connection over the current Internet feed. When your ISP is active, they can’t see what websites you’re visiting or what you’re downloading, but they can see the level of bandwidth you’re using, and they still know you’re using the IP address they gave to connect. A good analogy here is driving a car. Your ISP knows what car you’re driving and at what speed, but they don’t know where you’re going or what’s inside.
Determining whether a VPN is worth it should at least include some thought into this fact – that your ISP still knows you connected and handed you an IP address.
Identity and location
Another factor to consider is that there are other ways to identify you and your location. Your actual internet feed is encrypted and your location is obfuscated, but this is only true if you never type in any location data or personal data. If you fill out an online form and type in your name, address, phone number, and credit card, you have revealed your identity.
A VPN protects your online travels, but you should also be aware of the fact that there are other ways to determine your location and identity online. For example, it is possible to detect your location based on GPS data, and Wi-Fi signals can be used to triangulate your location as well. A VPN certainly offers strong encryption and protection, but it’s only for the internet – not for other signals you might unknowingly send from a phone or laptop.
This does not rule out a VPN by any means. In fact, it should prompt you to consider another one. Fortunately, you can use a VPN to protect your online activity. The costs are low compared to other services that we know are important and valuable, and the level of protection and service, even for free customers, provides more privacy, good protection and peace of mind.
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