The internet is a great place to play, learn, and interact with other people. However, the reality is that cyber-attacks happen every day. That doesn’t mean the internet is inherently unsafe, it’s not. But you do need to be vigilant whenever you’re surfing. Calculating the exact number of cyberattacks is tough, but the NETSCOUT Threat Intelligence report identified more than 4.8 million during a six-month period in 2020. That equates to an average of 26,000 attacks per day. Now, we’re not trying to scare you, we’re simply highlighting the fact that you can’t take things for granted and that surfing the net unprotected is a bad idea.
Everyone needs to have the basics covered. This means activating a firewall, running various virus scanners and only visiting reputable websites. However, if you want to go beyond the basics, you can make your time online even safer by connecting to a virtual private network (VPN). What is a VPN? In technical terms, it’s a service that routes your data through an encrypted connection. To put it another way, a VPN hides your IP address and replaces it with one in a different location. This has the benefit of masking your tracks and making it tricky for anyone to see you/your data.
Make Your Internet Connection More Secure
Privacy is the goal here. The more privacy you can achieve, the more secure your connection will be which, in turn, means you’ll be safer when you do anything on the internet. Of course, it’s impossible to be 100% safe at all times. However, masking your IP and encrypting data via a VPN goes a long way. A secondary benefit of using a VPN is that you can access international websites and servers. For example, a VPN can help you access Netflix content that isn’t available in your region.
Let’s say you’re in the UK and want to watch the latest US releases. You can use a VPN to route your IP through a server in New York, for example, and get access to Netflix USA. You can do the same with gaming sites. Someone in the UEA, for example, can safely access online casino sites like 888 and Betway by using a VPN. Doing this gives them the ability to access games available in Europe, as well as international payment methods and promotions,which is especially important given that gambling is generally prohibited in the Middle East. The Arabianbetting website reviews all of the licensed sites where Arabic players can legally play using a VPN, and they also provide guides on how to do so. In essence, a VPN can unlock an additional, trustworthy online service. And, again, it encrypts your data so you’re safer online.
How to Use a VPN in Five Easy Steps
Those are the basics of VPNs and the reasons to use one, we now need to address the how. How do you use a VPN? The good news is that it’s easy:
Step 1: Find a VPN provider. There are plenty of options out there. Some are free, some have a monthly fee. The cost doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality of a VPN or how secure it is. Free VPNs can be just as secure as premium products. However, it’s also true that premium VPNs offer faster, more stable connections. Moreover, they provide connections to a bigger variety of countries. Some of the most popular VPN providers are: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost and NordVPN.
Step 2: Register an account with your chosen VPN provider and download the software. Modern VPNs are available for desktop and mobile devices, so you can protect your connection on multiple devices.
Step 3: Install the VPN software and allow it to access/modify your IP address.
Step 4: Open the VPN and search through its list of connections. You’ll typically find that you can route your internet connection through servers in the US, UK, Germany, Spain, Australia, India, and many more countries. In fact, some VPNs allow you to use servers in specific cities.
Step 5: Connect to a VPN and serve the internet in a safer way.
If it all looks easy, that’s because it is. VPNs are designed to be simple but effective. You don’t need to be an expert in coding, computers, or internet security. All you have to do is download some software and hit the “connect” button. This will encrypt your data, adding another layer of protection when you’re enjoying everything the internet has to offer.
