Let’s comprehend the basics of “anonymity” in the network. This post will help you determine whether you need a VPN service specifically for you and will also talk about the pitfalls of this technology. If you know nothing about VPN and want to be aware of all the nuances of this technology, both positive and negative, then this post is definitely for you.
What Is VPN?
Virtual Private Network is a network of devices that is created on top of another chain, inside of which secure channels are created for data exchange, which is done thanks to encryption technologies. The VPN server manages users’ accounts of this network and serves as their entry point to the Internet, through which encrypted traffic is transmitted.
Some people may think “why should I hide my ip address,” but believe us that there may be a reason for it. There are many benefits of using VPN services.
- Change of your IP address if you were banned on some site/ in the game;
- Have access to forbidden, blocked, non-displayable content and websites;
- From your working PC, visit some websites that are blocked in your office network;
- Buy plane tickets/ book a hotel. On some sites, prices for visitors to different countries may differ greatly. If you visit the same site for the same ticket from the same IP and the browser with a difference of several hours, the company can increase the price each time you visit the website;
- Order goods in an American online store that monitors IP of buyers and filters product delivery.
It is obvious that using VPN services opens many doors and opportunities for a person. Thus, you can access any website from any PC at any hour without being caught and “punished.” What is more, thanks to modern encryption technologies, your personal information and logs are not stored anywhere and cannot be hacked.
Cons of Using VPN
Despite the above positive features of VPN services, there are still some cons associated with the Virtual Private Network.
- Speed – the speed of Internet access when using a provider may be lower than browsing without it. Furthermore, it can be unstable, depending on the time of the day or the location of the selected server.
- Technical difficulties – the provider may have interruptions in its operation, especially if the company is small and unknown. The most common problem here is that VPN disconnected without notifying its users.
- No anonymity – some providers still store user logs and personal information in a database, which causes a risk to the user.
Solution
Although the above cons may be true for some VPN service providers, it is not always the case. If you deal with a well-known and trusted company, there is nothing to worry about. That’s why it is important to read reviews (both customer and expert), check out their documentation and Terms and Conditions, as well as test their service before investing in it.
