How Much Does VPN Slow Down Internet Connection?
If you’re looking for a new way to protect your digital life, consider investing in a VPN app or service.
A virtual private network app or service (VPN) connects your device to a remote network (usually via the internet) so that all your internet traffic is encrypted.
While it has many advantages, VPN also has the potential to slow down your internet connection.
Here’s a quick guide to help you understand how much VPN can slow down your internet connection so that you can make the right choice before you sign up.
The Advantages Of A VPN
A VPN provides numerous advantages, not the least of which is complete security for your personal data.
Whether you’re traveling abroad or living in a smaller town, VPN allows you to work remotely without worrying about security threats. It also provides you with additional privacy and security, should you choose to use it.
Another advantage of a VPN is that it allows you to access blocked resources and content, like news sites, social media, and forum discussions that you may not have been able to access from outside of the country you’re in.
A VPN can also improve your browsing experience by preventing your devices from getting blocked by security systems used by websites you visit.
The Downside Of A VPN
Like with most things in life, there’s a downside to a VPN. While it provides you with many benefits, it also has the potential to slow down your internet connection.
To understand how much slower your internet connection can become if you’re using a VPN, let’s first examine the factors that can make up the difference.
Location Matters
If you connect your device to a VPN server located in a different country to the one you’re in, your connection speed could slow down. In these situations, the internet service provider (ISP) in the country you’re in may not have the best connectivity to the outside world, and so your internet may slow down as a result.
In some cases, it could even become unusable if you’re located in an area where there’s a lot of restriction or blockage. For example, if you live in China and connect to a VPN server in the U.S, your speed could drop by over 80 percent, according to some reports.
How Secure Is Your Data?
Data security is one of the major factors that can affect your internet connection speed when using a VPN. For example, if you’re connecting to a unsecure WiFi network while you’re on vacation, your device’s data could become accessible to others. This is why it’s not usually a good idea to use a VPN while you’re traveling abroad. If you absolutely have to, choose a VPN that provides you with added security features like two-factor authentication (2FA) or a strong passphrase for your account, rather than relying on the password alone, which many people find easy to guess.
How Many Devices Can You Connect To?
This is another factor that can affect your internet connection speed when using a VPN. If you have more than one device, like a laptop and a mobile phone, you can connect them both to the VPN and protect all your digital life on the go. If you’re traveling abroad, this could be a problem because you may not have access to fast enough internet speeds to keep both devices connected at the same time. In these cases, you could either use a WiFi connection to access the internet on one device, or you could use a mobile data connection to share access with another device.
How Many Countries Do You Get Support For?
Depending on how you plan on using a VPN, you may need to consider the countries you get support for. Let’s say you want to use a VPN to access U.S. Netflix, which is currently unavailable outside of North America. If you live in a country where Netflix is blocked, you’re out of luck. In these situations, you could either change your IP address to one that is within the supported countries, or you could use a VPN that offers you a choice of servers located in different countries.
How To Choose The Right VPN For Your Needs
Once you have a good idea of the advantages and disadvantages of using a VPN, you can make a more informed decision about which VPN is right for your personal needs.
To start with, look at the performance of the VPN you’re considering using. This will give you a good idea of how much your internet connection speed will likely slow down and whether or not it’s a good choice for your needs. If you live in a country where internet speeds are already slow, you don’t have much to worry about. Otherwise, you may encounter problems if you use a VPN.
Next, consider how secure your data will be in case you connect to an unsecure network. If you’re not sure, ask the company that provides the VPN and be sure to get a clear response about whether or not your data will be secure. In addition, choose a VPN that is supported by experts in data security if you’re worried about the safety of your data.
The Bottom Line
Overall, a VPN can be a great tool for protecting your personal data or just increasing your online security. If you want to make the right choice before you sign up, be sure to consider all the pros and the cons and choose a VPN that meets your needs and wants.