VPN is a tricky technology, and many people have misconceptions about it. Some believe that people who use VPNs are paranoid about global surveillance and are afraid of their data being stolen. Let's put all the bias away and figure out together is a VPN worth it or not.
What is a VPN?
A VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It encrypts all the incoming and outgoing internet traffic from your device and tunnels it through an external server. This also changes your IP address, making websites you visit think you are accessing them from somewhere else. You can read more about VPN and how it works here.
Is a VPN Worth It in Terms of Your Data’s Security?
In most countries, the laws oblige Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to keep their users' logs. The officials say this data is only used for detecting crime. This means your ISP tracks all your online interactions and will provide it to the state if asked. What's even worse, some ISPs can sell your data to third parties.
But the ISP won't be able to do anything with your data if it's ciphered. That's where a VPN comes in. With a VPN, your ISP only gets sockets of data that look like a bunch of symbols and numbers. Unless your ISP has an extraterrestrial quantum computer, they won't be able to decode any piece of your data in the nearest million years.
The VPN is the best way to go if you’re after securing your private information from being leaked and used by the ISP. The VPN encrypts your data, making it unrecognizable for anyone.
Here’s how to protect your data with ClearVPN on your device (use the iPhone screen below as an example):
- Install ClearVPN on your iPhone
- Open the app and tap on Browse Privately and Securely Shortcut
- Activate the shortcut
- Done! Your data is safe now👌
Here's a similar guide to activate the shortcut on your macOS:
- Install ClearVPN on your Mac
- Open the app and tap on Browse Privately and Securely Shortcut
- Activate the shortcut
- Your data is safe 😎
Is a VPN Worth It if You Want to Expand Your Online Possibilities?
Some online resources and services may not be available in your country. A VPN changes your IP and routes your web traffic through a server in a different country. That's why VPN is the most popular software tool to bypass geo-restrictions. With a VPN, you can access all the services unavailable in your country. It's even possible to expand your Netflix library with a VPN.
A VPN makes you location-independent. Wherever you travel, you'll be able to enjoy the beloved services from your home country even if they aren't available there. Or alternatively, with a VPN, you can access services that work only in other countries, like the popular US-based streaming services.
Is a VPN Worth It When it Comes to Connection Speed?
As a VPN encrypts all your data, both incoming and outgoing, it may take a little longer to connect to the internet. But this "longer" is in milliseconds, which you can't really feel with a human eye. Modern VPNs provide you with such fast speeds that you won't likely feel any difference between browsing with and without a VPN.
What's even better is that a VPN can make your connection speed faster. Some web services may not work well in certain regions. Connecting to a VPN server in a different country solves this issue. Also, with a VPN, your ISP won't be able to do bandwidth throttling. That’s when the ISP detects a lot of torrenting or video streaming from one user and slows down their connection speed. A VPN encrypts all your traffic, so the ISP won't have any idea about what you're spending your paid megabytes of data on.
Is a VPN Worth it in Terms of Price?
Is a VPN worth it as subscribing to a premium VPN costs money? Many users prefer to use free VPN solutions. But it's not the best idea. Free VPNs often have a limited number of functions and out-dated encryption algorithms. In some cases, they can even sell your data to third parties. You can learn more about the pitfalls of free VPNs here.
Using a VPN can save you some money. The popularity of video-on-demand streaming services is booming — HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, and many more begin to appear in the USA. If you have a Netflix subscription and don't want to spend money on the new streaming services, use a VPN. It'll expand your Netflix library with the shows and movies available on other countries' Netflix.
Conclusion
When it comes to the question is it worth getting a VPN, we say yes, it is. A VPN prevents your ISP from selling your personal information to third parties or the government by encrypting your data. It also helps you expand your online possibilities by bypassing regional restrictions. With a VPN, your connection speed doesn’t suffer much and may become better, as your ISP won't limit it. You can save some money on streaming services with a VPN; it'll give you access to content that's not available in your Netflix streaming library. Install ClearVPN and expand your internet experience.
