We all know that it’s not particularly safe to join a public Wi-Fi network, where hackers and snoops can easily access your private data and wreak havoc with your devices.
What many of us don’t realize, however, is that browsing at home on our own secure Wi-Fi connections isn’t that much safer—at least, not if you don’t have a VPN like Surfshark installed.
If you’re not yet up to speed on this essential feature of modern internet security, a VPN—which stands for “Virtual Private Network”—uses encryption and anonymous servers to shield your internet data from prying eyes.
The technology behind VPNs is complicated, but in a nutshell, it replaces your IP address—a highly specific string of numbers denoting your real-world location, ISP, and a whole lot more—with an address linked to a server used anonymously by thousands of other people.
Without a VPN, collecting your data is about as difficult for a hacker as looking you up in the Yellow Pages. With a VPN, you’re about as easy to find as a specific water molecule in the Pacific ocean.
Internet security is the main reason that most users install a VPN. It lets them browse the internet safely and privately, even when their devices are connected to public wi-fi, where “man in the middle” attacks are commonplace.
But they do so much more.
For a start, a VPN lets you avoid those creepy targeted ads that seem to know exactly how old you are, where you live, and what kind of stuff you like to buy.
If marketers don’t know who you are, they can’t get all up in your face with quasi-personalized recommendations, leaving you free to make your own mind up in peace.
Then there’s the question of censorship and regional restrictions. The internet isn’t the same place for every country in the world, with many governments blocking certain types of content for political reasons.
Likewise, companies often restrict the flow of content by region for commercial reasons. Ever tried Canadian Netflix? It’s a blast, and only people in Canada get to enjoy it.
A VPN lets you get around this problem by simply connecting your computer to an anonymous server in Canada.
Or, if you live in Canada but happen to be on holiday elsewhere, a VPN lets you connect with your native land and access your region-locked banking apps, local news services, and, yes, Netflix.
Plus, a VPN gives you access to region-locked video game betas, YouTube content, and much more.
Which, by the way, is not an invitation to do anything illegal online, safe in the knowledge that you won’t be caught. The terms of service for VPNs like Surfshark insist that users comply with all applicable laws—so behave yourself.
Security and access to restricted content are two of the best reasons to start using a VPN, but the list doesn’t stop there.
A VPN also solves the problem of ISP throttling, by preventing your ISP from knowing where traffic on its network is coming from. And you can use a VPN to get the best deals since the prices of products and services often vary by region.
If you’re looking to join the VPN movement, you could do a lot worse than take advantage of Surfshark’s current 83% off + two months free offer.
Surfshark is an award-winning option, and right now it’s an absolute steal.
