VPN: Pros and Cons you should keep in mind before using it
👨💻
This post is sponsored by John Mason of TheBestVPN.com, an unbiased VPN review site.
Virtual private networks, or VPNs, are essentially private networks that are created to connect two (or more) remote sites with each other, so that they are in the same logical network. In general terms, it creates a private network that can be accessed over a public network (the Internet). Companies use VPNs to create secure private networks, allow remote employees to access company data hosted on private servers, and much more. On the other hand, people typically use VPNs to remain anonymous while browsing, and secure their data on the networks with little (or no) security. So, if you ever wondered whether or not you should use a VPN, Here are the advantages and disadvantages of using a VPN:
Advantages of using a VPN
To be perfectly honest, there are a lot more pros, than drawbacks, when it comes to using a VPN. However, the drawbacks are quite significant when it comes to using VPNs for highly sensitive business, which is why you should read and understand the risks involved before you lead yourself to believe that a VPN means anonymity.
1. Enhance security
The primary way VPNs work (or are supposed to work) is because they Encrypt all network traffic, so it is transmitted over the network securely. This means additional security for network traffic. Therefore, you should definitely use a good VPN service when you are connecting through an unsecured network, such as public WiFi hotspots. If your traffic is not encrypted, anyone eavesdropping on the network will be able to see your traffic, making it possible to steal confidential data from your devices.
It is also why companies use highly secure VPNs to allow their remote employees to access corporate data. With a virtual private network, people in two remote locations can do this Connecting to each other, communicating over the network, as if they are sitting in the same building, communicating over the local area network.
2. Bypass geo-restrictions on sites and content
This is probably the most common reason people use VPNs. Since VPNs are basically Route all your network traffic through a “tunnel”and makes it look as if you are accessing the internet from another site, you can easily Use a VPN to get around most geo-restrictions Placement on websites and content. To teach by example, Netflix was a very popular service that people used VPNs to access, before Netflix started blocking VPNs and proxies. However, for the most part, you can use VPNs to get around geo-restrictions on websites and content.
3. Anonymous downloads
Although torrents have become synonymous with hacking, they are actually used for a number of perfectly legitimate uses. For example, Canonical offers Official Ubuntu Downloads as Torrents. However, accessing a torrent website or running a client can lead you to your ISP’s watchlist, where VPNs can be very useful. You can use a file VPN to hide your IP address, and it looks as if you are accessing the torrent site from somewhere else; And even your ISP will not be able to snoop on your traffic, ensuring that you stay safe. However, you should never use VPNs for illegal downloading. Not all VPN providers are created equal, and some may log your real IP address, which they may have to hand over to government authorities, if asked.
4. Easy file sharing between remote clients
By definition, VPNs work in such a way that any user connected to the VPN can access the entire network as if they were on a local network. This provides companies with a huge advantage, such as Remote clients can connect to the private network, access related data, and even share files with each other as if they were in the same building. This makes it very easy for large multinational companies Manage multiple remote sitesIt provides easy access to important data for remote employees. Image courtesy of Wikipedia
Cons of using a VPN
1. Speed issues
A VPN’s strongest point is also its weakest point: a VPN encrypts all of your network traffic, ensuring anonymity and security. However, stronger encryption naturally requires more time and resources. this is the reason Most VPNs are disappointingly slow, because encryption of network traffic introduces a significant amount of overhead. This is not always the case, and you can find many VPN providers that do not compromise on security, while still maintaining a good connection speed. However, most of these will be paid.
Without a VPN (left), with a free VPN (right)
2. Increased network complexity
Usually better quality VPNs Use a large number of network topologiesand protocols and devices to create the network. While this ensures that you get a file more powerful network, like that Increases network complexity. In contrast, people who use a VPN should be well aware of the various security threats that the network can face, and they should have a good knowledge of how VPNs work.
3. Security issues
If we talk about VPNs that organizations use, the main use case is to allow remote employees and users the ability to Connect to the corporate network, as if they were physically present there. This allows ease of use, but it also brings with it several security concerns. Since not all of the devices used to access the VPN are on company premises, Network administrators have little or no control over the devices that remote users use to connect. They must trust users to use secure methods to access the network. This means that the company’s security The network depends on a number of remote usersIt cannot be completely controlled by network administrators themselves, which is a huge problem when it comes to enterprise security.
How to choose a good VPN service
No matter what you need to use a VPN service for, you should always make sure to choose the one that best suits your needs. This may involve a fair amount of research on your part, and if you don’t want to work that long, you can check out some great VPN providers for Android or iOS devices. If you want to search for a VPN that perfectly fits your needs, here are a few things you should look for before choosing one:
1. Security protocols
Virtual private networks use one of several security protocols. This may be SSL/TLS, PPTP, IPSec, and others. that’s it The protocols that the VPN service will use to encrypt and protect your network traffic. For regular users, this doesn’t matter much, unless you’re doing something where the need for security is paramount. However, for enterprises, a VPN service should IPSec or SSL is preferred For the best possible protection.
2. Server locations
Another thing to consider before choosing a particular VPN service provider, is the places where they have servers. This is important for several reasons:
- If the VPN provider has a larger number of servers, the chances of the servers being located nearby are higher, which leads directly to faster speeds.
- More servers also mean you can circumvent geo-restrictions for more sites.
3. Registration Policies
One of the most important things to check if you are going to use a VPN service to maintain anonymity online is Whether they record any data about you. Most free VPNs will definitely log your IP address, or at least timestamps. However, this is a huge threat to privacy, because if they have a history of your real IP address, someone else might get it as well. However, if you choose a trustworthy VPN (which you will likely be paid for), you will likely notice that they are straightforward, and clearly state that they will. Do not log your IP address, or any identifying details about you, anywhere on their servers.
See also: VPN vs Proxy vs Smart DNS: What’s the difference?
Keep these things in mind before using a VPN
While using a VPN can make you feel completely anonymous, there are actually a lot of things to consider before you are sure of it. If you are using a free VPN service, you should be especially careful; After all, the free service also needs money to run, which means that they may sell your data to ad providers, which means you are not anonymous at all. Free services may log your real IP address, which is definitely not a good thing. So, before you commit to a VPN provider, you should definitely check out the things I have mentioned in this article. If possible, find a good paid VPN service, as they usually won’t log any details about you or display ads, etc.
As always, we would love to know your thoughts on VPN services, and whether you think people should use a free VPN service at all. Share your thoughts with us, in the comments section below.
[ad_1]
Don’t forget to share this post with friends !
