Who doesn’t enjoy eating in a restaurant or staying in a hotel room with free Wi-Fi? We all realize how alluring it is to cruise the internet and check your social media accounts for free. Who wouldn’t want to save some money on their mobile data plan, even if it’s only for a few minutes? We all do, and we’ve all taken advantage of free Wi-Fi.
However, it is important to use a VPN before you connect to that public Wi-Fi. You should understand the dangers that come with it. This is where the VPN comes in.
The term “virtual private network” refers to a service that allows you to remain anonymous online. A virtual private network (VPN) creates a secure, encrypted connection between your computer, smartphone, or tablet and the internet. It allows you to keep your data and communications private while using public networks. You can read more on 4 Reasons Never To Use A Public Wi-Fi Without A VPN.
VPNs encrypt data sent between your computer and the server, allowing only the machine with the appropriate decoder to read it. VPN encryption allows for a secure connection across a public network.
For example, you can easily be hacked while using public Wi-Fi, it’s possible that you’ve logged into a phony public Wi-Fi with a similar name without realizing it. Consequently, there is the need to discuss why you should surf the web using a VPN.
1. Your Browsing Data Is Secured
Your browsing history will be saved someplace when you use a public Internet network. Most of the time, this information is utilized for marketing analysis so that marketers may learn about your preferences and serve you ads that are more relevant to your needs.
By hiding your IP address, a VPN service can protect your data from being stolen. By routing your Internet activities over a secure network, it will prevent the hacker from collecting your personal data.
2. Your Activities Are Untracked By Networks
Everyone wants their online activities to be kept private. While utilizing public Wi-Fi at a café, you may not be doing anything illegal. However, you don’t want anyone to know how long you spent looking through Facebook or what lingerie brands you prefer. And you certainly don’t want your Facebook chats, emails, or bank transactions to be viewed by others.
All of this may be avoided by using a reputable and trustworthy VPN. When accessing a public Wi-Fi network, you’ll be able to filter out those curious pairs of eyes and protect your surfing behavior.
3. Ability to Stream Games From Anywhere
The use of public Wi-Fi can be accessible at train stations, lounges, you name it. It has become possible for anyone to have access to the internet no matter the location. Which allows you to watch your favorite soccer team games by streaming live on the go.
VPNs have also been very common in Malaysia with many Asian gamers. This is usually necessary for accessing foreign game servers. They have also been essential in accessing sites that are inaccessible due to location.
For instance, when players are in other parts of the world, they can access some platforms like SBO, which has listed the best betting sites in Malaysia, when using a VPN. As some of these sites offer the best odds and generous welcome bonuses, subscribers may not want to register elsewhere. In addition, payment options such as e-wallets and crypto are supported, so receiving payments from anywhere is no problem.
4. You Are Safer From Malicious Attacks
Airport authorities or café owners have no say over who uses the public Wi-Fi network. As a result, any area with many people browsing the publicly available open internet is bound to attract hackers. Man in the Middle (MITM), as mentioned in Security Boulevard, is one of the most common malicious activities in public Wi-Fi areas.
It occurs when hackers place themselves between your device and the Wi-Fi network, causing all your internet traffic to pass through them. They can then gain access to sensitive information such as your financial information, passwords, business information, etc. From there, you will be powerless and need to change all your passwords immediately.
5. Access Content in Different Countries
If you are ever browsing through Netflix and are not happy with what’s available, a VPN will help you. Depending on what country you are in, specific movies or TV series are available to watch. Therefore, if you are in the UK but prefer American content, you can set your VPN to an American city. From there, there is much more to choose from.
The same thing happens if any content is geographically restricted. For example, the BBC’s iPlayer is only accessible to people in the UK. However, if you use a VPN, you can access it from anywhere in the world. It’s especially convenient when wanting to view live sports too. If the Premier League is being streamed on a US service such as Peacock, you are able to watch it from your laptop via a VPN.
6. Access Prohibited Content
If you are a foreigner in China a VPN is paramount if you wish to access all the websites you are used to. We are talking about Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Google, all of which are banned by the Chinese government.
The same can be stated in Western countries where particular bookmakers and online casinos are not accessible. In Italy, for example, only selected bookmakers are available online, but if you prefer a different one you can utilize a VPN.
Conclusion
There you have it, there are tons of possibilities with a VPN. From protecting your privacy to accessing any type of content, a VPN is a small investment for such a huge upside.
It’s cheaper to pay for a yearly membership than it is to pay per month, but either option is inexpensive, starting at around $5 per month. For such a small fee, the benefits outweigh the costs.