The Virtual Private Network, more commonly known as VPN, is a digital service that immediately connects to your host website. A VPN protects your devices from prying eyes and keeps your connections secure when used wisely.
However, you should bear in mind that not all VPNs are designed equal, with each having its own set of pros and cons.
In this article, we will walk you through all the benefits and drawbacks of using a VPN service so that you can make an informed decision.
Pros
Hides online identity:
VPN is helpful in protecting your online identity since it masks your IP address and encrypts your data. It allows you to conceal your online activities and creates a barrier against scammers, government entities, and ISPs tracking your online activities. A VPN blocks access to your IP so no one can find out personal details about you.
A VPN also shields you from advertisers who can sell your data to a third party. You may be surprised to discover that search engines, such as Google are free to share your sensitive data with any advertiser. Marketers then use cookies and ad tracking to sell you goods and services by monitoring your online activity.
If you are looking for the top VPNs with premium security, you can check out authentic reviews using DigitalSupermarket. Ensure you get a high-quality VPN, as a frequent connection drop may make you susceptible to data leaks.
Access to global content:
You can use a VPN to bypass any geo-blocking. Whether you want to access content from your home country while traveling abroad or get access to blocked websites, a VPN can give you access to worldwide content by changing your location.
You need to choose a VPN with servers in the locations you need to access. Also, don’t forget to opt for the service that offers fast streaming, so you don’t have to worry about the software hindering your online experience.
Better torrenting and gaming:
People who are addicted to online gaming and torrenting can benefit from VPNs. The reason is that both of these activities keep users at risk of cyber-attacks and hacking, like distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) or Cross-site Scripting.
A VPN allows you to play and torrent anonymously by evading internet restrictions. For example, your fellow competitors might hack into your IP and check your newest game strategies. Similarly, your government might track you using ISPs and give you a tough stance for using blocked sites. A VPN, however, can conceal your IP address and online activities. This means you can torrent legally without worrying.
Make sure, however, that you are only torrenting legal files. VPNs can’t save you from ISPs that catch you violating copyrights or digital licensing terms.
Cons
Slow internet:
By encrypting all your online activity, a VPN keeps your connection secure, but it can result in a very slow connection. In most cases, users won’t notice any difference in internet speed. However, when doing activities that require high-speed connections, users may experience lags. For example, users playing multi-player games online may experience lags when using free VPNs with low quality.
Mainly, there are three basic reasons for slow internet speed while using VPN:
- Data encryption: VPNs use encryption protocols to ensure your data safety, which is a time-consuming process. In general, stronger encryption takes more time, resulting in slower internet speeds.
- The remoteness of VPN servers: Data takes longer to travel when connecting to servers farther away. Requests and responses take longer to travel when connecting to remote servers.
- Excessive load on server: VPNs with a lower server load capacity cause slower speeds.
All in all, the slow connection speed is one of the biggest VPN disadvantages. However, you can overcome the problem by using a high-quality VPN or avoiding loading pages with high volumes of data.
Safety concerns:
Privacy and security are other significant concerns of using a VPN. You may experience IP and data leaks if your VPN is not configured correctly, which could expose your private data to hackers.
The safety concerns are more serious with free VPNs. The VPN providers can see your identity online. Since they have to generate revenues to run their operations smoothly, they can sell your information to third parties.
Additionally, a free VPN also tends to have limited server setups, which results in slower speeds for crowded servers. They also have weak encryption algorithms that make your connection drop frequently, resulting in exposing your identity.
Higher cost:
Free VPNs cost you your privacy and security. Furthermore, they may lack performance, lowering internet and loading speed. In some cases, a paid VPN offers a free trial with good security features. However, in most instances, you will require a paid subscription to enjoy all the benefits of a good VPN.
Bottom line:
Just like any other digital software, a VPN has its pros and cons. However, you can enjoy all the perks of high-quality service with the right VPN. Don’t forget to compare different VPNs available in the market to choose the one that best suits your needs.
