VPN - what is it: paranoia or not?
According to surveys and research conducted by the Global Web Index in 2020, 25 percent of Internet users turn pages or consume media content under the protection of VPN. No, it's not a special antivirus and it protects differently. But what is a VPN, and how to use it?
Internet without limits
What other conveniences can you get by hiding your data stream from prying eyes? In addition to the obvious, like the ability to freely use blocked sites and applications, you can hide any traffic coming to and from your computer. You can not only go to the popular torrent tracker but also safely download and transfer files with music, movies, books, programs. In addition, in online cinemas that limit their content to certain countries (a striking example - Netflix), this "annoying misunderstanding" is easily resolved when connecting via a VPN server.
And yes, with frequent use of public Wi-Fi in transport, cafes, and other places, a VeePN becomes just necessary. Such networks are just a hotbed for all sorts of viruses and spies. There is no protection, devices on the network are visible to everyone, which is used by attackers. Obviously, in such conditions, you can easily track traffic.
VPN is needed by everyone who cares about the privacy and security of their data. With such a demand for services in the network, a huge market has been formed and it is difficult for a modern user to understand the abundance of offers. Here are some common points for understanding and defining the selection criteria.
Ways to connect to the Internet via VPN:
1)browser extensions
2)special services and applications
Each solution has its pros and cons, but most importantly, it protects your privacy.
Extensions are installed directly in the browser, and in the case of Opera, are even part of the default functionality. Just turn them on and that's it. However, there are some limitations:
1)privacy closes only your surfing through a specific browser with an extension and only he, the rest of the traffic is not hidden or encrypted
2)Internet speed for the browser will be limited and watching high-definition video will be a test of patience
In addition, free solutions offer too few options to connect. The list of servers to use is small, so the geolocation becomes limited to a few countries, and the speed will decrease even more due to the distance from your country.
You might think that VPN is a panacea for all the "diseases" of the modern Internet, but the situation is somewhat different. Using privacy only protects by hiding your location and encrypting traffic, but this technology is not an antivirus or firewall, so be careful and cautious on suspicious sites. Do not leave contact information, real address and other personal information in public places: forums, chats, social networks. Your safety is still in your hands.