Savvy tech experts and those in the know have often spoken highly of using VPNs for many reasons. If you’re regularly browsing the web, looking at your socials, or even sitting down to watch the TV, the chances are you’ve come across several different VPN advertisements.

This small, previously niche area of the online world has recently broken into the mainstream. According to information released last year by market-leading data collection company Statista, the global VPN market is worth around $45 billion.

If you consider yourself a tech novice or don’t know the ins and outs of a Virtual Private Network, don’t worry; you’re in the same group as millions of others. Today, we’ll fire through a handful of key reasons why people use them, their functionality, and the benefits people cite, and hopefully help you decide whether it interests you.

How Does A VPN Work?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) offers a facility where users can encrypt their data and mask identifiable digital footprint information, such as their IP addresses, to protect themselves from trackers or cybercriminals looking to build a picture of their identity. A VPN hides browsing activity, identity, and location, ensuring that users are more protected when browsing the web.

#1 – Streaming & Accessing Content In Other Countries

If you travel the world often, watching home comfort shows from back home can be a welcome break to your schedule. However, without access to a VPN, you may be unable to watch shows or seek out websites from your country. Even prominent streaming services like Netflix have a different selection of films, TV shows, and documentaries, depending on where you access their service.

Not only do VPNs give you the option to select a virtual location across a selection of dozens of countries, but they do not sacrifice internet speed or bandwidth while doing so – so if you’re streaming or watching a film, then you shouldn’t have to worry about potential latency issues. The same applies to other video streaming services that can require a bit more bandwidth, such as online casino gaming.

Specific casino games, especially popular live dealer ones like blackjack, require more bandwidth. So, this is a consideration if you’re playing blackjack at a live table. Blackjack games come in a variety of forms, but any table that requires interaction with a live dealer will often have a live chat facility and other players, so it’s clear why bandwidth is so vital.

#2 – Protection When Using A Public Wi-Fi Connection

Cybercriminals commonly gain access to sensitive information by using unsecured, public internet connections as a bridge to access your device that is connected to the same network. Some estimates believe the number of people who have fallen foul of this is as high as 40%, but given that there’s no definitive data, this number could also be higher.

VPNs mask this information, so even if a criminal tries to access your laptop or phone, a secure VPN connection means that your IP address and activity are both hidden from prying eyes.

Although public Wi-Fi connections can be a vital tool if we’re stuck without an internet connection on our phone, it’s vital to be aware of their risks. If you do connect to a public connection and a rogue operator is looking to pounce, then you can rest assured knowing a VPN is on the frontline to stop them in their tracks.

#3 – Heightened Encryption & An Additional Layer Of Security

Although many websites use high encryption and security to protect your information, VPNs often use 128-bit or 256-bit encryption—the two highest levels of encryption and security anywhere on the internet – neither has been cracked.

So, if cybercriminals are looking to attack the VPN host server instead of the connection you’re using to connect your device to the internet, they won’t enjoy that, either.

Some people pay for their VPN, and others are happy to use free VPNs, but there’s usually not much difference in their services. Just like any product or service, it’s essential to seek out reviews and what other people have had to say about it before you download it and begin using it on your laptop, smartphone, or PC.

Conclusion

There are other positives to using a VPN, but the three we have explored today are among the most common benefits that users will cite. Millions of people now use this technology to browse the internet. They often shop around looking for the best deals, try 30-day trials, or explore social media reviews about the most suitable VPN for their browsing.

Many VPNs provide a route to protect multiple devices in the same household. Although we didn’t go into detail about this point, this is another popular reason people use VPNs for daily browsing.

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