Thriving in the digital age, society has been continuously mastering the use of the Internet. Online presence has turned into a basic necessity. The Internet has become a major component of our daily lives – from being our personal outlet to socialize with the community to becoming a tool in building up careers and businesses.
Contrary to what we believe and know, for many users there is still a lot left to uncover about the Internet. We have been relying on the Internet for years and unfortunately, most of us are not aware that our personal information can be accessed in practically an instant, online. What’s worse is that, the information may be accessed illegally, by crooks and used to their personal or business advantages. No matter how you attempt to hide your information (via privacy settings , etc) – believe it or not, hackers can still easily access it. The digital realm has turned into a playground for online bad guys.
The Facebook – Cambridge Analytica Scandal is the perfect example of how the Internet has quickly transformed into a dangerous information jungle. About 87 million Facebook users have been involved in the illegal acquisition of personal information initiated by the political consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica. This was made possible through an outside researcher who violated his privacy agreement with Facebook. The acquisition of data was declared to be questionable as some whistle-blowers revealed that this was made possible was through test taking apps which are trending on Facebook. The information acquired was then used to influence millions of people regarding their political decisions related to the presidential campaign in the United States back in 2016. Cambridge Analytica is directly involved in boosting President Trump’s campaign and it was also reported that the data they primarily used was also taken advantage of by US Senator Ted Cruz.
If this is not enough for you to question your privacy when using the Internet, then why not look into the ISPs or Internet Service Providers and what they really see. ISPs can be compared to Google. These providers have access to your personal information and they know almost everything about their users. Before you know it, the ISPs have shared this information and sold them for marketing purposes. The ISPs can monitor your traffic and see every website you visit.
These scandals reveal that the Internet poses a threat to our security. Our personal information requires data protection and VPNs are the solution. VPNs or Virtual Private Networks facilitate secure exchange of data between a private user or network to a public network. VPN ensures that data kept on your computer will be kept secured from any external and unwarranted access. Think of it this way, VPN gives your computer and primarily your data, a cloak that hides it from hackers. VPNs can manipulate your IP address and set a different location for your computer. With this, all the information you are sending and receiving through the Internet will be encrypted and kept safe from any kind of threat.
The Need for VPN
Here are some of the reasons why you should start using VPN:
Upload and Download Safety
Users may complain about the connection getting slowed down but this can surely be compensated by the security that VPNs can provide. These can grant you privacy from surveillance when it comes to file uploads and downloads. Your access to content online will be made easier and safer.
Public Browsing Security
Public wi-fi connections in hotel lobbies, coffee shops and other locations are not entirely safe most especially if you are handling confidential browsing and emailing both for personal and business purposes. If someone in the area is tech savvy enough, your information can easily be acquired. Data encryption through VPN will give you the freedom to browse the internet safely in public.
Search Engine Protection
Everything you search online, every website you visit, all of these are tracked by the search engine websites and internet service providers. Your choices are collated and associated with your IP address. These techniques are used for advertising purposes. Though initially, it may not pose any harm, later on, it can be a risk for faux pas.
Right to Privacy
Privacy is a basic right and so as freedom of speech. Everyone should have the privilege to safely browse and use the Internet without any threat of their personal information being taken advantage of. VPNs will give you the chance to exercise your right to privacy.
There are a lot of VPN services that are available online. Some are free while most require monthly subscription fees. Not all VPNs are structured the same and you have to look into convenience, security, speed, efficiency and range. The VPN should be able to support the right protocol for your needs. You also have to check the reach of their servers most especially if you are browsing websites that are located in different parts of the world. Concurrency of connections is also something that must be checked. It’s never too late to start using a trusted VPN for your data protection.