VPN Uses: Protect Your Online Activity and Access Blocked Content

Using a VPN is absolutely the best way to optimize your personal internet experience.

What a VPN is and how it works

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an online service that creates a more secure Internet connection, stops spying and tracking, and helps you bypass filters, blocks and restrictions. Many users rely on VPN for privacy, as it masks their online activities and prevents unauthorized access to their data

Here’s how.

First, a VPN takes the Internet connection you’re on—whether your home connection or public Wi-Fi—and routes it through their own secure, encrypted network. It makes any internet connection extra secure.

Next, it substitutes your actual IP address with one that doesn’t reveal your actual location. That stops the tracking and spying.

Finally, a VPN prevents online services (like Netflix or sports networks) from denying access to content based on your location. It gets you around censorship too.

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What a VPN Is NOT

The popularity of VPNs has brought up some misconceptions, though. Many Internet users seem to think that VPNs are the answer to all cybersecurity problems when going online…and this mindset leads them to take dangerous risks or lower their guard.

Let’s learn what VPNs cannot do and why you should rely on other cybersecurity measures to stay safe online.

VPNs are not proxy servers

VPNs and proxy servers both offer privacy online but in different ways. Think of proxy servers as gateways and VPNs more like tunnels. A proxy server lets you substitute another IP address for your own, like VPNs. But when proxy servers reroute data from your device to the internet, they do not encrypt data through a secure tunnel, like VPNs do.

Sometimes people confuse VPNs and proxy servers and use the terms interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. VPNs are generally more secure than proxies.

VPNs do not protect you from phishing attacks

Phishing attacks happen when someone with bad intentions sends you a fake email that looks real (like from your bank or your boss). The email contains a link that the nefarious sender wants you to click on. This could do any number of bad things to your computer. It could take you to a website that starts downloading malware onto your machine or a site that asks for login credentials so they can be stolen.

Phishing works because people fall for it. They don’t scrutinize the email enough, click the link, and then they’re screwed. Nowhere in this process does a VPN play any part. If you have a VPN turned on and you click a malicious link in a bogus email, the VPN will not stop malware from downloading onto your computer. Nor can a VPN identify phishing emails for you.

You still need to keep your guard up with suspicious-looking emails.

VPNs are not antivirus software

As mentioned in the phishing example, a VPN cannot protect your computer from viruses and malware. You still need solid antivirus software installed and you need to keep it up to date. A VPN encrypts or protects data in transit; antivirus software monitors your computer and scans any new files for potential threats. If you want to surf the Internet safely, you should use both.

VPNs do not provide firewall protection

A firewall is either a software or hardware device that blocks unauthorized access to your computer when it’s online. You can set up security preferences with a firewall and block specific websites if you so choose.

Firewalls cannot detect anything malicious unless you program them to. When configured correctly, firewalls are indispensable for browsing the web on your computer. You can’t program a VPN to detect and block threats like you can with a firewall.

VPNs cannot completely hide your location

VPNs are billed as the “ultimate anonymity” tool. Nobody can see what you do online, you’re totally private! But, you’re not.

Your ISP still knows your IP address. They assigned it to you, put your name on the account, and send you an Internet bill every month. They still know who you are and they can see when you use a VPN.

A VPN can hide your IP address from websites but it can’t hide other info websites collect such as:

Which browser you’re using (Chrome, Firefox, etc.) and the version number
Your operating system (Windows, macOS, etc.) and its version
Your screen resolution
The time zone, language, and any active plugins on your device

Gathering up all this information is known as “browser fingerprinting” and websites do it mostly so they can build advertising campaigns and better optimize the user experience. According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), there’s a one in 286,777 chance that your browser shares a fingerprint with someone else. So websites can still use all this info to identify you, even if they don’t have your IP address.

When you make an online purchase with a VPN turned on, the retailer still knows who you are, especially if you use a credit card with your name on it to make the purchase.

Mobile service providers may not be able to use geo-tracking when you have a VPN turned on but they can still use signal tracking — monitoring the signal strength from cell phone towers — to find out where you are.

In short, you are not completely anonymous online simply by switching on a VPN.

Your VPN can’t do everything

VPNs are a useful tool, but they don’t allow you to become careless when you go online. When you’re using public Wi-Fi, always be cautious and avoid sending any sensitive data, even with a VPN turned on.

A first-time user shares his experience.

“WhatIsMyIPAddress.com” talked to an email subscriber recently who had just signed up for a VPN and asked him what his motivation was for opening his account and what his personal experience was like. By reading about it here, you’ll see that it’s a pretty straightforward experience, and it might encourage you to get past any indecision or obstacles.

Q. What was your main reason for choosing to sign up for a VPN?

I am an independent contractor, so I work at home or anyplace where there’s an Internet connection. Since I find myself doing office-type work at coffee shops and hotels with hotspots, I started to get more concerned about my privacy and Internet vulnerability. A friend told me about the risks of unsecured wireless connections and about virtual private networks, so I decided to look into it. I ended up setting up a VPN account.

Q. What made you choose your particular VPN provider?

I liked the look of their website, which was professional. The content was clear, friendly and easy to understand. The website and copy came across as very credible and professional.

They offered both a free option and a paid option. I am willing to pay for the service because with the free option, I’d have to see banner ads while I browse online and I didn’t want that. Plus the monthly fee I’m paying is pretty minimal, just a few dollars a month for a six-month period. That sold me.

Q. What did you like about their offerings, or what impressed you most about their website?

The VPN provider I chose didn’t have a bunch of packages or add-ons to choose from, which can make it a harder decision. I like things simple. Sure, maybe I could get have gotten some extra services with another service, but I like it that they made it seem very easy.

Q. Was it easy to sign up and set up your account?

Yes! In fact I was surprised, and really pleased, at how simple it was to get started. There was not a lot to it. It’s all done while you’re online, and you don’t need any technical information about your computer or router or network to set it up. I think that if everyone knew how easy these VPNs make it, they’d sign up. I literally clicked to download the software and it ran by itself. I set up my profile by providing my email address and phone number, and then picked a username and password. That’s it. I wish I’d done it before.

Q. Did you check your IP address once you were online to see if it had changed?

I did, and I went to WhatIsMyIPAddress.com to do it. Plus, if you go to the VPN’s website while you’re logged in, the dashboard has a button to click to verify that you’re protected. When you click it, it goes to an IP address-detector website. You can easily “pause” protection and refresh to see your IP changing.

Q. Did you notice any change in performance when you went online?

I didn’t and that was a relief. I had been wondering what my connection speed would be like using a VPN, so I was very happy that there seemed to be no noticeable change in surfing speed on the Internet.

Q. What problem, if any, have you come across?

There has been one hitch: For some reason, I’m unable to send email through my normal email application. (I don’t use Webmail.) In doing a little online research, it seems that email problems can occur with VPNs. Now, I can send email using a Web browser like Gmail or Yahoo, but that’s not my preference. My email problem has yet to be resolved. I’m still working on it.

Q. Are you happy with your choice? Do you think you’ll look at other VPN providers?

I’m happy so far. At this point, I’m not sure if trying another VPN would solve my email problem or not. If that issue turns into a headache, I might try out another VPN provider if I know they have it fixed. But overall, I don’t have a real reason to switch VPNs because I’m getting the Internet privacy and peace of mind I wanted.

Choose the Right VPN Effortlessly with Our Tool!

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How to choose the best VPN for what you want.

There are literally hundreds of VPNs to choose from, which makes it difficult to choose best one for what you want. So, we surveyed thousands of VPN users and found out what they want most from their VPN.

Then we created VPN Simplifier™.

Just go to our VPN Simplifier™ page, answer one question (it’s the most important one), and we’ll recommend a top-rated VPN for you.

And because nearly all reputable VPNs offer free trial periods and money-back guarantees, you, as a VPN user, can get such a product risk-free.

Go to VPN Simplifier™ now.
Controlling the Internet is now in your hands.

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VPN Uses: Protect Your Online Activity and Access Blocked Content

Using a VPN is absolutely the best way to optimize your personal internet experience.

What a VPN is and how it works