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Cybersafe October 29, 2021

The benefits of using a VPN

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.

What is 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.

Why should I use a VPN?

  • Keeps the hackers and cybercriminals away
  • Using a VPN enables you to encrypt the data you leave behind in the online world. Encrypted data has an “encryption key”, which is like a password needed to access your data.
  • Kaspersky says it will take “millions of years” for cybercriminals’ computers to crack the encryption key in order to steal your data.
  • In contrast, anyone can see and access unencrypted data as long as they have an internet connection. Hackers and cybercriminals will have a much easier time stealing that kind of data.
  • Ensure your privacy
  • Most VPN providers do not store data on your online activities. However, there are some providers that do record your online behavior, but do not pass it around to third parties.
  • A VPN also protects your location from being discovered. “Because the demographic location data comes from a server in another country, your actual location cannot be determined,” Kaspersky said in an article. This further enhances the privacy of your data.
  • Allows you to safely transfer data
  • This is especially important for work as there are times you will handle confidential and sensitive information. Using a VPN while sending it to a colleague ensures these files will not be intercepted by hackers or cybercriminals.

Where can I get a VPN?

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.

 

 *Kaspersky: “What is VPN? How It Works, Types of VPN”