Reasons you should use VPN on smartphones
Virtual private networks (VPNs) are an important part of modern computer security. While VPNs have been widely used for decades, the rise in remote working has brought them into the spotlight for many users and raised questions about their use in the workplace. Where and on what device?
VPNs work by creating an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet, routed through the VPN's servers. In other words, your device securely connects to the VPN service and all traffic is routed through it. As a result, any website you visit will only see traffic coming from the VPN's servers, rather than seeing specific information that can identify the user, such as IP address, location, or location. Friend,…
Although awareness of VPNs is growing, adoption on mobile devices still lags behind desktop usage. In fact, according to TheBestVPN, 17% of desktop users use VPNs, compared to 15% of smartphone users and only 7% of tablet users. Many mobile users believe that they don't really need a VPN, as many smartphones are inherently safer and more secure than computers. Even so, there are a few reasons why you should still use a VPN on your phone.
Privacy and security
The primary reason to use a VPN on your mobile phone is the same as on your personal computer: privacy and security. VPNs help mask identifying information that websites can use to build a profile of you.
Your location is one of the key issues that a VPN can help hide. Because your internet traffic is routed through VPN servers, websites cannot track your activity with your personal IP address. Because websites often use IP addresses to create individual advertising profiles, masking this information is important to protect your privacy.
Similarly, because your internet traffic is routed through the VPN, it prevents your ISP from tracking the websites you visit. Internet service providers like Verizon have attracted attention for implementing browser history collection programs to tailor their services. Using a VPN also prevents this type of tracking, as Verizon can only see that you are connecting to the VPN and cannot determine the specific content of the connection.
Using a VPN on your mobile phone becomes especially important when connecting to public Wi-Fi, like at coffee shops or hotels. Without a VPN, anyone else on the network can harvest your data packets, which may contain sensitive information. Connecting via VPN prevents this by encrypting all traffic between your device and the VPN server.
Bypass regional restrictions
Another important advantage of using a VPN is the ability to bypass regional restrictions. Many online services impose access restrictions to particular countries or regions, creating difficulties for people traveling through those regions who want to access content.
Thanks to its operating mechanism, VPN can help users overcome this barrier. Most of the top VPN services have thousands of servers globally. When connecting to a VPN, users can choose which server to route their connection to. Usually, choosing a server near your current location is the best choice to ensure high performance and low latency.
Avoid ISP throttling
While many wireless carriers offer unlimited data, there are often caveats surrounding the definition of “unlimited.” One of the things to pay attention to is the content you see. For example, many wireless carriers "squeeze" video streaming on lower-end wireless plans, limiting video quality to standard definition.
A VPN is one of the easiest ways to avoid bandwidth throttling from your ISP. Because traffic is routed through the VPN, the ISP has no way of knowing what type of content is being displayed. All the ISP can see is that you're connected to the VPN, not the specific content you're watching. As a result, they have no way of knowing whether to make adjustments or not.
As the examples above show, a VPN service can bring many benefits to phone users. In fact, because of how and where they use their smartphones, phone users may need the benefits of a VPN more than traditional desktop users.