Stop Browsing Naked: Why You Need a VPN Right Now
A few years ago, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) were tools for hackers and whistleblowers. Today, they are as essential as an antivirus. If you are connecting to the internet without one, two things are happening: Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is selling your browsing data, and you are missing out on half the movies on Netflix.
Here is why you should hit “Connect.”
Stop the “Throttling”
Have you noticed your internet slows down when you stream 4K video or game at night? ISPs (like Comcast or AT&T) often “throttle” (slow down) specific types of high-bandwidth traffic. A VPN encrypts your data. Your ISP can see that you are online, but they can’t see what you are doing. If they can’t see it, they can’t throttle it.
The Streaming Unlock
This is why most people buy VPNs. Netflix US has different movies than Netflix UK or Netflix Japan.
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Want to watch a show only available in London? Switch your VPN server to “UK,” and boom—Netflix thinks you are in London.
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This works for Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+ too. You are paying for the subscription; you might as well get the full global library.
Public Wi-Fi Armor
We mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. Airport Wi-Fi is a security nightmare. A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel, making you invisible to anyone trying to snoop on your passwords or credit card numbers while you wait for your flight.
Free vs. Paid
Avoid free VPNs. If you aren’t paying for the product, you are the product. They likely sell your data to advertisers. Paid services (like NordVPN or ExpressVPN) cost less than a cup of coffee per month and offer military-grade speed and privacy.
