A VPN is a virtual private network. It is used to cloak your browsing activity on the Internet to prevent third parties from accessing your information or intercepting your communications. The devil is in the details when it comes to purchasing VPNs. The fact that a VPN service can reroute your communications from your location through a different server in a different country is not the only criterion that you should be concerned about. There are many other aspects to consider. These include the reputation of the company, the privacy information, whether that company will share your logs with the authorities, and whether they even keep logs of your browsing activity. These are important considerations to bear in mind when it comes to selecting a VPN service.

What Should You Know about a VPN Service?

First of all, it’s important to read up on VPN services to understand what you need to look for, what a VPN does, and the pros and cons of using a VPN service. If you’re looking to browse the Internet anonymously, then you definitely want to use a VPN service. The government, hackers, intruders and other ‘bad actors’ routinely scour the Internet for weaknesses. Perhaps you are going on vacation to Las Vegas, Orlando, or even Los Angeles, and you’re staying in a hotel with free Wi-Fi.

Are you aware that public Wi-Fi is one of the biggest security risks for your personal information? Today, most of us have sensitive personal information stored on our computers such as credit card details, ID, photographs, work-related information etc. If that data falls into the wrong hands, it could prove catastrophic for your life. Identity theft is real, and criminals are constantly searching for ways to intercept our information. A VPN is a solution that can protect you from prying eyes.

A VPN a.k.a. a virtual private network is a security enhancement mechanism. You can send/receive information on the Internet from remote computers to different locations. Your own IP address (Internet protocol) is masked, and that’s the benefit of using a VPN. If everyone knows your IP address, they can collect information about you and spam you accordingly. A VPN like HMA! Pro VPN is especially beneficial since it is easy to use, instantly cloaks your identity and connects you through a different server within a couple of seconds. Once you subscribe to a VPN service, your Internet footsteps are completely concealed.

Are There Any Downsides to Using a VPN Service?

Besides all the positives, there are a few downsides to using a VPN service. For example, cost considerations must be borne in mind, even though all known VPN cost about the same price. They typically cost you around $10 per month, and that is still money that comes out of your budget and goes towards protecting your browsing activity. Of course, any money that needs to be paid out is a distinct disadvantage.

But, the alternative of not being protected online can cost you a lot more. Perhaps the biggest downside of using a VPN service is the time that it takes to connect to your favourite websites. You will be slowed down – there’s no doubt about it, it’s just a matter of how much. If you have terrific Internet speed, you may not even notice a difference.

Of course, you always have the option of free VPNs or paid VPNs. With free VPNs, you are going to be bombarded by advertising and probably slower connection speeds. If you want to try out VPN services, you should remember that there may be a trial period in play. This should not dissuade you from using the VPN services, since it will allow you to evaluate the quality, speed, and reliability of the VPN. Some of the most popular VPN services currently on the market today include VyprVPN, NordVPN, HideMyAss VPN, express VPN, VPN area and others. It’s always good to conduct a little research before you pick one VPN service over another.

Tom Parillo

I am interested in all things technology, especially automation, robotics and tech that helps change how society will live in the future.