Using the internet has become a part of us as a species. Computer literacy is increasingly important, almost as important as actual literacy. Ask yourself whether you know somebody in your life who does not know how to use a computer or another advice and do the most basic of things. Surfing the internet and looking for what you need certainly qualifies as basic these days. As younger generations arrive, there is soon going to be more people who have been born into the digital age. Those of us who were lucky (or cursed?) to be born before it remember what life was like without the world wide web.
The Internet is Great (-ly Restricted)
With all of its benefits and positives, the internet also has its downsides. Most of these revolve around content and actually accessing it. If you think you can open any page in the world just because you know the address, you are wrong. A lot of web pages are restricted for various reasons and the users from different countries have different things they can watch or do online. Some content is restricted due to political or religious reasons, while some things can only be accessed from certain countries. You have probably experienced this yourself when the webpage told you that it is not available in your region. Even the biggest streaming services in the world like Netflix and Disney+ have differences between countries and regions.
There Is a Solution
Luckily, there is a way around this and it is rather simple. The best way to still access restricted content is by using a virtual private network, or VPN for short. A VPN is a type of software like an app, a program, or an extension that allows the user to mask their true geographic location. Once you do this, you are able to access whatever content you wish regardless of where you are. For example, not all shows and movies are available to the Netflix users in the US. They cannot watch something that Australians can. Through the use of VPN, you can appear as if you are currently located in Australia and trick this restriction, bypassing it in the process and watching whatever you like.
It does not have to be USA or Australia either. There are servers and IP addresses to choose from the whole world. China has banned social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram because they have their own versions. With a VPN however, it would be possible to still access them from China. There are many examples like this where internet users are limited with the content they want to browse, watch, listen to, or play simply because the companies behind them have different deals and licenses in their respective country. If you are tired of not being able to view what you like, get a VPN today. Make sure to check out WeVPN, a VPN extension for Google Chrome and certainly one of the best in the business.
Dos and Don’ts of Using a VPN
Now, before you go on to using a VPN, you have to learn about the things you should do, and more importantly, those you should not. Consult the following paragraphs for more about this.
The Dos
We start off with the things you should absolutely do when using a virtual private network:
1. Rotate the IP Addresses
When you use a VPN, you are assigned a different IP address than your own. You are protected up to a certain point, but you should always try to increase this protection even more. Request new IP address from time to time so that you mask your internet presence and stay safe for longer.
2. Be Careful Who You Trust
VPNs are quite popular these days and there are numerous operators who offer this service. However, there are also those who are illegitimate and want to steal your data. Fake VPNs exist, like everything else on the web, and there are scammers who want to steal away information from users. Do not trust just about any VPN out there. Do research about them and only pick the real ones.
3. Keep It Up to Date
Making sure that your applications and programs are updated is very important. Updates are there for a good reason. When the creators realize that more can be done to improve their app’s security or features, they release a patch or an update. Whenever your VPN asks to be updated, allow it to do so.
The Don’ts
Let us now talk a bit about the things you should not do:
4. Don’t Think You Are Safe from Malware
A VPN is not an antivirus nor a malware protection. There are different programs and extensions for this. Virtual private networks simply allow you to access content you would otherwise not be able to. That is it, and that is more than enough. If you want to protect your device and information on it, make sure to find a suitable malware protection and a strong antivirus. Also, be careful what you download and from where.
5. Don’t Give Your Information to Anyone
This is a no-brainer really and a general rule for using the internet. You should never give your login information to anyone. This means that your email, username, and password that you have used to register to the VPN should only be familiar to you. If somebody online asks you for it, it is definitely an attempt to scam you and steal away your data.
6. Don’t Use A Single Server All the Time
The virtual private network app you use will present you with the map of the entire world with all the available servers you can use. When you pick a server, you are instantly able to view the website that is restricted in your home country just like the person from the country where the server is. However, it would be best if you changed between the servers from time to time. You will have to anyway because the content differs across the planet. But the true reason to do it is to protect your internet presence even more.
