Why Invest In A VPN?
Multiple questions are surrounding the need and reasons to invest in a VPN. This article seeks to inform you of and answer the majority of issues surrounding the blur of VPN.
What is a VPN?
The abbreviation stands for Virtual Private Network; this is a virtual pathway between devices. A VPN allows its users to create a secure connection to other networks via the internet. With the feature of encryption, it safeguards your every move on the internet, be it working, shopping or banking, proves to be one of the best tools on the market to ensure your internet privacy.
How does a VPN work?
Did you know that VPNs were initially set up by Microsoft in 1996, to have employees remote securely to the company’s internal network?
Virtual Private Network (VPN) works by routing your traffic through a VPN server instead of sending it directly to your internet service provider. What this does is data that is transmitted via the internet, such as your online searches, uploads, and others appear to be coming from your VPN server and not your devices used for browsing.
In our previous article titled IP Address Security, you would have read how a VPN aids in protecting your IP address, which is a unique number associated with your home or office network. This unique number is visible to the web; hence investing in a VPN hides your IP address by rerouting your traffic, thus protecting your identity with the added encryption feature.
Why Use A VPN?
I recently had a conversation with a friend who asked me; why do I need to use a VPN? My answer was, why not? Not several people use the tool for varied privacy reasons. At that time, I thought we are more modernized, and everything is or can be done online.
Public Networks: public network wi-fi, which is found in your favorite places as your favorite coffee shop, and other areas are exceptionally high-risk. If a hacker is on this same open or public network, this individual will easily spy on your activity with the high potential of accessing and using your private information. Having a VPN secured network will have all hidden, and your identity secured.
Why Use a VPN In Home?: The VPN affords you the opportunity of IP address protection, but it also allows you to hide your internet provider. You may say that is not important, but you avoid discrimination of price and geo-blocks on media with it.
Six Reasons To Use A VPN
The piece of mind for secure connections where ever you go:
We mentioned the public network earlier. While it is not security or privacy correct, we all fall short of using that coffee shop wi-fi or the airport wi-fi as we need to connect, to check and reply to that email or simply view social media, I have. In doing that, we shared our information with multiple people in our location.
Accessing video streaming content where ever you travel worldwide:
True story: A year ago I took a trip to the Caribbean while on the island I decided to get connected to the internet and watch my favorite investigating series, only to find out it wasn’t available in my geo-location. My first shocker of many that could have been resolved with a VPN.
Seen that a VPN allows you to connect to a US-based server or an equivalent home server while you take those memorable trips, this has your streaming services thinking you are still at home.
Be safe shopping locally or internationally online:
We can’t deny the convenience and benefits of shopping from your most comforting spot (home or office), can’t deny online shopping.
A reminder from the previous article “website security” shop or disclose sensitive information only to SSL certified websites, which means your website should have the closed lock to the front of “https.” In this, the site is more secured for you.
Feel secure when banking online:
From the various conversations with customers and clients, one of the most important to both parties to secure other than their social security number (SSN) is their banking information. Your VPN provides an additional security layer, which puts your mind at ease because we all love the convenience of online banking.
Ability to remain anonymous:
Often we may hear the phrase, “our phones listen to us,” and that is true. We often search for items in our search engines, and they pop up on our social media page(s), which proves our devices listen but safe to say they provide answers.
Your VPN allows you to remain anonymous from shopping for flights to checking in your hotel room as these websites also track your activity.
What fears of public wi-fi?
It cannot be said too many times, airports and other places with public wi-fi offer you this opportunity to be entertained or busy while waiting on your flight or even coffee. You may not realize that this would be a hotspot for identity theft just waiting to happen.
Advantages of:
- Censorship avoidance: Though illegal in most cases to circumvent restricted government information sometimes it is necessary and a VPN allows that.
- Stream from any location: A VPN gives you the grand privilege to stream your favorite videos from whichever location you are.
- Beat price discrimination: Your location and internet service providers play a huge role in this area. Have you ever realize that your more sought after items from your browser usually populates your social media pages and other sites? Your VPN helps in minimizing in that department.
- Don’t be tracked: Cannot be said too many times a VPN adds that layer that hides you from hackers and other cyber type criminals.
Disadvantages of:
- VPN Blocked: I learned this at an inopportune time on my part, that companies do get wiser in detecting VPN. Here I was settled to stream one of my favorite series and the website gave me an error as it was detecting my VPN.
- No cookie protection: There are cookies that sole purpose is to make the websites work better, in those cases, the VPNs will not be able to block cookies. You are allowed with the privilege of deleting cookies that track or some virus protection such as AVAST that allows you a secure browser.
- Potential slow speed: This happens as there is a lot more pressure on website traffic putting it through a VPN, with all the steps of finding a private network.
- May not have complete privacy: This point must be most alarming. While your VPN blocks and secure from hackers, government entities, and any other lurkers, your VPN providers can see all activity if they wish.
Reasons Business Needs A Responsive Website
It is not new, and, should not be surprising that this is a topic to have. With the modernization of technology, your website should be responsive on all devices, tablets, mobile phones, and with all operating systems (OS). This responsiveness aids in captivating users and increases the speed at which your web-page moves, which should be aligned to new-age technologies.
This blog will outline the effectiveness of a modernized website and how much of a critical element this is to your business.
Increase In Mobile Device Usage
With the increase in mobile usage, this is no surprise that the majority of browsing is now done on mobile devices. This is so as, in my opinion, and others would agree your mobile device is always with you, and with the multiple wifi spots or cellular data, it makes “life easier.” The statics report below will better explain mobile browsing increases:
- According to official Google statements, over fifty percent (50%) of searches are done on mobile devices, and this increases by approximately ten percent (10%) each year.
- As for internet usage on mobile devices in the United States of America, some Europian countries and India over thirty-six percent (36%) of users make use of the internet on their mobile devices.
- Over sixty-five percent (65%) of customers provide better reviews on brands or products that offer an excellent mobile experience.
- Research also shows that ninety-five 95% of users access emails on smartphones while over fifteen percent (15%) of users use tablets.
None Responsive Websites Equates Bad Reputation
It is indeed a fact that the monitors do get more substantial with time, and the devices for responsiveness testing varies. This variation includes but not limited to the size of the screens or the operating systems. As mobile users’ increase, so should your business grow. Just as the rise in mobile users with the modernizing of generation, so will the frustration increase with that frustration, usually your company survey and then the reputation. The majority of those unsatisfied customers will indeed inform you that they were not catered for, you are not with the time, or the time spent on your website was time wasted.
Excellent User Experience Is A Must
Have you ever been on a website that does not suit your mobile needs, and you immediately exist and find another more like that of the competitors? According to Google Think Insights on smartphones and tablets, if a user does not see or feels comfortable with what they are looking for, they will most likely go to the competitors’ website. This is approximately seventy-one percent (71%). It is also proven that it has a great experience using your website there is a fifty-nine (59%) percent chance they will be interested in the product you have to offer.
Responsive Websites Loads Faster
In this, your SEO advantage is way high, and a responsive design typically loads faster than a mobile site. With this, you must know that internet users, especially those on smart devices, enjoy the information on their research at the quickest time.
Responsive Sites Adjust To All Devices
In recent times website designs were done for a particular sized monitor, fast forward to the Millenium we are designing for several screen sizes and operating system. This is the main advantage of responsive sites the ability to create for all screen sizes.
Responsive Sites Converts Visitors Into Customers
It is a fact that once visitors enjoy service, they will return the frequency may become a family. For example, I went on vacation to a particular hotel in Jamaica, and for hotel picks, I return there quite often; the service was excellent. The same goes for a website. You meet the visitors’ needs in that timely manner. They will return with a possible referral.