What Is a VPN? Do I Need It?

You’ve probably heard of VPN. You surely have seen an ad about it online while you’re browsing on Facebook, or heard it from a friend who recommended you get one. In this age where we spend countless hours online, download or stream content almost every day, and engage in digital transactions regularly, it has been constantly advised by tech sites and internet-savvy friends that we get a VPN. After all, the Philippines remains the “social media capital of the world” according to data, so perhaps it is indeed time for Pinoys to look into the best VPN for Philippines.

But first, we must understand…what is a VPN exactly?

Privecstasy UnsplashImage: Privecstacy via Unsplash

What is a VPN?

Trusted VPN reviews and recommendations site VPNSurfers explains what VPN is.

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. How this software works is it encrypts your internet activity and hides your IP address. This means that no website or any other person online can see what websites you visit or what you do on the internet. You might have heard about how websites, social media platforms and apps store our information and sell them to third-party companies for research, marketing and advertising use. Well, a VPN helps shield you from that because the websites cannot access your information.

VPNs also help protect your IP address. Every time you visit a website, your IP address can be detected by the site, which gives away your location. But when you have a VPN, you’re connected through their server instead, and thus the website can detect your VPN’s IP address and not yours, helping protect your location.

These are just some of the basic functions of a VPN. But VPN providers usually also provide different plans that can give you access to many other amazing features that can help protect you online. If you’d like to know about different VPN plans you can avail, VPNSurfers has reviewed the best VPN for Philippines here.

Why You Need a VPN

apple macbook laptop computer unsplashImage: Unsplash

One of the best functions of a VPN is it can help protect your information from third-party companies. VPNSurfers shared some of the info a VPN can hide:

  • Your real IP address
  • Your streaming activity
  • The websites you visit
  • Your internet traffic
  • Your torrenting activity
  • Your internet history and online searches
  • Download content
  • Who you talk to online

Plus, here are the other benefits of having a VPN:

Protection from hackers. When you connect to a public WiFi network like in a coffee shop or at the airport, it makes you vulnerable to other users connected to that same network. Hackers, for example, can take advantage of this and use the opportunity while you’re connected to steal details from you like credit card information, passwords, and more. But when you have a VPN, all these data will be encrypted, thus making it very hard for hackers to just access your information.

More secure online transactions. We live in an age of digital transactions, which means we so often have to key in our personal data, bank details, emails and passwords on various apps and websites. A VPN helps make sure that no one else can access your data. As VPNSurfers puts it, “Without a VPN, your most personal information is exposed.”

Access to sites all over the world. Because a VPN can help hide your internet activity, data, and location, it can also help you get access to content barred in your country. A good example is streaming sites. Usually, the movies and shows available on streaming sites vary per country, but because a VPN hides your IP address and location, it can help you access content from other countries!

Netflix LaptopA VPN can help you get access to global content on streaming sites.

So if you’re still wondering, do I need a VPN? Well, if you’re constantly online and are concerned about your online safety, it’s clear that a VPN could be useful and well worth it for you. Ready to get a VPN? Head now to VPNSurfers to look for the best VPN for Philippines.

Do you have a VPN? Which VPN provider do you recommend and why? Tell us in the comments!

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