Tricks that news users need to know to get the most out of your VPN
Certainly, a VPN is a powerful tool that not only helps protect your privacy and ensure online safety from spies, scammers, and annoying advertising campaigns. Plus, VPN capabilities don't stop there! From boosting your internet speed to staying safe when using public Wi-Fi – there are countless ways you can take advantage of it to make your experience with a VPN service more comprehensive. Explore the advantages of a VPN subscription and discover the special benefits it can bring to your online activities.
VPN tip #1 – Avoid geo-blocking and unblock censored content
Geoblocking is a method used by platforms/websites to restrict or block access to content and services based on a user's geographic location. They track your IP address and determine where you log in from. They then decide to authorize or deny access to specific websites. As a result, some content is only available to users in specific countries.
Many issues related to jurisdiction, licensing and copyright arise in this context. Gambling sites, for example, may block regions they do not serve. Streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, etc., may restrict access to certain content for specific countries or vice versa. Luckily, there's a simple solution to get around geographical constraints: use a VPN.
VPNs work by routing your traffic through a server located in another country. This helps hide your IP address and replace it with a temporary IP address that belongs to a specific country. So you can bypass geo-restrictions and experience your favorite content anywhere, even when you're on the go.
VPN tip #2 – Bypass bandwidth limits
Buffering plays an important role in slowing down the experience of watching videos on YouTube or downloading content from torrents. Anyone who engages in online activities, such as streaming, file sharing, or even gaming, may face the problem of limited bandwidth. Internet service providers (ISPs) often use throttling measures to control network traffic and alleviate bandwidth congestion.
VPN is a solution that allows users to avoid bandwidth restrictions and at the same time enjoy faster connection speeds. Through encrypting traffic, VPNs prevent ISPs from observing or tampering with it. This provides freedom and unlimited access, allowing you to experience the Internet without interruption from imposed bandwidth restrictions.
VPN Tip #3 – Download & Upload files risk-free
Using peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing offers many advantages, however, many internet service providers do not accept these activities. This leads to reduced connection speeds, limited bandwidth, or even restricted access to file sharing sites like The Pirate Bay, KickassTorrents, and others. Due to the nature of P2P file sharing, which allows users to view your IP address, this may pose a risk to your privacy and personal safety.
A VPN is the optimal choice when you want to safely engage in P2P activities without having to worry about your ISP throttling your connection speed. It helps hide your online activity from prying observation by hiding your IP address and encrypting all your data. This provides a layer of protection for privacy and ensures safety when engaging in P2P file sharing.
VPN Tip #4 – Protect the privacy of your voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) conversations
Do you want to make free calls or does your favorite game require using voice to chat? Chances are you've used VoIP, even if you weren't aware of it before.
VoIP is a technology that allows the transmission of voice and multimedia content over a network using Internet protocols. Most commonly, VoIP is used to connect phone calls and video chats over the Internet instead of over the traditional telephone network. The emergence of VoIP not only makes life more convenient but also reduces costs significantly compared to the days when phone calls were expensive.
Unfortunately, some countries with government-run telecommunications systems, such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, often block VoIP to prevent citizens from making free calls. This makes it difficult to use apps like Whatsapp, Skype, Discord, Facebook Messenger, even the native chat feature in online games. However, VoIP blocking is not the only cause. Although VoIP is cost-effective, it is still susceptible to eavesdropping by hackers. To face this drawback, many people use VPNs to protect safety and privacy, help encrypt data and prevent any eavesdropping risks.
VPN Tip #5 – Stay safe over public Wi-Fi
While using public Wi-Fi hotspots can be convenient, they often lack adequate security measures, making them a prime target for cyber attackers. Packet sniffers are just one example of how your information traffic can be compromised and stolen. Turning on a VPN every time you connect to a public Wi-Fi network in locations like coffee shops, hotels, and airports is an effective way to protect yourself from the dangers posed by hackers and snoopers. can be created through the use of public Wi-Fi. This helps keep your personal and financial data safe from potential threats.
VPN Tip #6 – Bypass Internet Censorship
Internet censorship is the process of blocking online content, often implemented by governments to limit information. Internet restrictions may affect your Internet usage habits. For example, China's Great Firewall blocks services like Google, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. Even Wikipedia went through a period of being banned in China. While Russia, North Korea, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates do not impose Internet censorship as strictly as China, they still create significant barriers to users' ability to connect.
When an Internet censorship regime becomes too restrictive in an emergency situation, many users often turn to the simplest solution: a VPN. A VPN establishes a secure channel from your device to a remote VPN server. When using a VPN, your traffic is routed through the VPN server, causing the website you visit to only see the server's IP address instead of your device's actual address. For example, if you are in Germany but your VPN server is in Japan, the website operator will think you are in Japan. This is based on the fact that you do not appear with your IP address but that of the VPN server. And because your IP address isn't routed directly to the website you want to visit, your risk of being targeted by cyberattacks, like ransomware, is also reduced.
VPN Tip #7 – Save money when booking flights, hotels, car rentals and more
Did you know that many types of businesses, such as subscription services or airlines, often offer similar amenities or products at different prices? It may be the case that tourists from wealthy countries have to pay higher prices than those from less wealthy countries.
If you change your geography to get cheaper service, you can avoid location-based pricing and, as a result, save a significant amount of money. In addition, you can also take advantage of special discounts for other regions. This benefits not only financially but also the fairness and justice of your experience.