“Virtual Private Network (VPN)” by Infosec Images is licensed with CC BY 2.0
We live in a digital age where seemingly everything we do is connected to the internet. Our phones, computers, and televisions all connect to the World Wide Web; even some of our cars have internet-enabled features and technology. All that internet use produces masses of data, which unscrupulous people would love to get their hands on. A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, stops those folks in their tracks.
A VPN works by acting as a middle man regarding using the internet. You connect to the VPN’s servers, and all your activity goes through them before reaching its final destination (the websites you visit). The same is true on the way back to your machine; the data passes through the VPN servers. That data is encrypted to such a level that it is impossible to decipher without the 256-bit key. Even 128-bit encryption would take tens of millions of years to crack.
Security and Your Privacy Is Important
GIS users are often on the road and have no choice but to connect to public Wi-Fi to browse the internet or upload their mappings. Public Wi-Fi like you find in coffee shops etc. is notoriously lax when it comes to security. Ill-intentioned internet strangers can snoop in on your data and extract it if they have the know-how. This means they can gain access to your browsing history, account passwords, banking information, or could even access your Bovada online sports betting account if you so much as logged into it. VPN usage stops this from being possible, period. Visit Cubik to find the best VPNS in 2022.
“Free WiFi” by Charleston’s TheDigitel is licensed with CC BY 2.0.
A large percentage of the workforce is working remotely at the moment due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Hints and tips for working from home is a subject matter for an entirely different article, but homeworkers should consider using a VPN. Your home network connection is probably reasonably secure. However, how many of you still have your router’s setting password as the default, which is usually something super-easy like “password”? Anyone who has access to your router can access your data. Do you log into your company’s intranet or access sensitive documents? Do you want prying eyes also to have access to this information? No, we did not think so.
It is not only data encryption, privacy, and security where a VPN comes into its own. They also make it possible to access content worldwide, even if that content is not available in your country. For example, you may be kicking back after a hard day’s work and want to watch the latest blockbuster on Netflix. However, you discover that it is only available to residents of the United Kingdom, and you are chilling in sunny California! A VPN can make it look like you are in another city or a different country, giving you access to previously inaccessible apps and products.
Which Are The Best VPNs?
There are dozens, if not hundreds, of VPN providers to choose from. Some are free, and others require a monthly subscription. The subscription VPNs are better than the free-to-use versions. Those that are free tend to have usage limits and limited features, so it is always best to go for one of the more prominent providers and pay their fees.
Do not worry, even the biggest and best VPN providers, ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and SurfShark at the time of writing, do not cost the Earth. A single month will set you back in the region of $10, which is relatively cheap. However, signing up for an annual subscription often lowers the price to less than $3 a month. One-hundred percent privacy and security for the less than a Starbucks a month? It is a no-brainer when you look at it like that.