A virtual private network, VPN, is an innovative cybersecurity tool that keeps us safe and secure online. But did you know it can do so much more for you?
A VPN can help you with everything from helping you save money to accessing restricted content to speeding up your connection and more, all the while keeping your information safe from hackers!
Below are seven underrated (but equally important!) reasons why it makes sense to use a VPN.
1. Buy Cheaper Flights and Rental Services
Airlines and rental companies often use a ‘dynamic pricing’ model to calculate their prices. This considers various factors about you, including your location, to maximize profits.
A VPN can help you save on flights because it has an innovative feature known as an IP address changer. You can visit booking sites and disguise your IP address to make it seem like you’re from an entirely different country.
When browsing for flights, simply change your location to another country. Don’t worry, you are still purchasing the same flights but at a potentially cheaper rate.
And don’t forget about the rental services either. Car rentals, for example, are known to charge higher prices to people in other countries because they anticipate your needs as being higher. You may earn significant savings by changing your location to the target city and booking with a local IP address ahead of time!
2. Get Cheaper Purchases Online
From clothing to gadgets, hotel bookings, software, and more, a VPN can help you make more savings on other online purchases, too. That’s because a VPN encrypts your online activity, making it impossible for advertisers to track what websites you’ve visited and what items you’re interested in buying.
E-commerce sites might automatically increase the price of things they feel you have high-purchasing intent on or have already checked out in previous days.
With a VPN, websites won’t be able to see your online behavior and cannot anticipate what you’re looking for or what items you’ve shown interest in before. This way, websites often offer you the best, most competitive prices at checkout because they’re unaware of your interest.
3. Avoid Paywalls
Many websites now have subscription memberships that place content behind a paywall. You might only be allowed to read one or two articles per month, or a certain amount of uses per month, before being locked out.
A VPN can help you make massive savings on subscriptions and paywalls by allowing you unfettered access to these websites. Once you’ve used up your free content, you can, in theory, disguise your IP address to avail of freebies again.
4. Access Geo-Blocked Content
Another underrated use of a VPN is your ability to access restricted, blocked content, regardless of location. Because a VPN can disguise your location, you can enjoy geo-restricted content typically reserved for residents of a state or country.
This is helpful if you are on holiday or studying abroad and want to enjoy all your favorite shows from home.
5. Escape Data-Throttling
Some internet service providers ‘throttle’ bandwidth, which limits or slows down your service considerably. It’s often used for specific activities like gaming, streaming, or sharing large files between people, which providers often discourage.
A VPN can free you from data throttling because it encrypts your online data, making it increasingly difficult for your service provider to figure out what you’re doing online. The result? Throttle-free internet!
So, if you’re an avid gamer or stream content regularly and notice your internet speed is dwindling – a VPN could be just the trick needed to stabilize your speeds and get the best possible connection.
6. Bypass Censorship Restrictions
Countries have different attitudes towards the internet, with some restricting access to specific websites, software, services, platforms, and video games.
If you’re in a country with strict regulations or visiting one on holidays, a VPN is instrumental to you enjoying content otherwise inaccessible.
For example, the video game PlayerUnkown’s Battleground (PUGB) was blocked in India last year after Google received a government order. Gamers could still, in theory, play the game in India if they used a VPN to reroute their IP.
Specific Wi-Fi networks, like on a school or college campus, might have strict regulations on particular sites and software you can access while connected. Again, a VPN can help you navigate these blocks and surf whatever content you wish.
7. Cover All of Your Devices – Not Just Your PC!
Most people think of a VPN as something complicated that only works from a home PC or laptop. But a VPN is a versatile tool that can help protect and enhance your online activity on many devices, including your tablet and smartphone.
VPN providers often have a complimentary app you can install and run, which is set up quickly and offers widespread protection. Whether at the local café, on a college campus, or using any other public Wi-Fi network, you can log on with your phone or tablet to browse, buy, play, and stream with total peace of mind.
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