Halloween is just around the corner, a time when we think of ghosts and other supernatural entities that come to life to spookily torment us. But when it comes to cybercrime, one can imagine everyday feels like Halloween.
Cybercriminals do not choose a day when they will work to harm us. There is a possibility we will encounter phishing, malware, or fund transfer scams every day. Here at #Cybersafe, we have given various tips on how you can protect yourself, such as not giving your personal data like your One-Time Pin (OTP) to anyone and knowing how to detect phishing and other scams.
However, there is one thing you can use to enhance your cybersecurity even further. And that’s by using a VPN.
A virtual private network (VPN) allows you to be safe if you are using public networks, such as WiFi hotspots at coffee shops or in the mall. If you are surfing online while using a VPN, the VPN blocks your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and other third parties from seeing what websites you visited.
How does this work? The VPN hides your IP address by letting the network redirect it through a specially configured remote server run by a VPN host, according to cybersecurity company Kaspersky*.
Ultimately, the biggest benefit of using a VPN is ensuring the privacy of your personal data.
It is actually very easy to get one! There are countless free VPN apps for download in the Play Store (for Android) and the App Store (for Apple devices). You can also download paid VPN apps, which usually provide greater benefits such as more server options in other countries compared to free apps.
If you cannot decide which VPN provider you should use, there are many online articles from tech-focused publications that touch on this topic. For one, TechRadar has a guide for the best VPN providers for 2021.
Using a VPN is one of the things you can do today to be safer online. Remember, you can play a big role in defeating cybercriminals and scammers by staying up-to-date with the latest trends on cybersecurity and cybercrime.