How to Make a VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A Virtual Private Network or VPN is a technology that allows businesses and individuals to create private networks that are completely isolated from the outside world. This isolation allows for more security and privacy when using public Wi-Fi. VPNs can also be used to circumvent network restrictions and geo-blocks.

Why should you make a VPN? There are many reasons why you might want to make a VPN, here are just a few examples:

Protect Your Privacy On Public Wi-Fi

Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, you will most likely have to use public Wi-Fi from time to time. Unfortunately, all too often, we see businesses and travelers falling victim to cybercrime and data theft through public Wi-Fi. VPNs allow you to protect your personal information and sensitive documents from cyber criminals and government spies. When using public Wi-Fi, you should always assume that your personal information is not secure.

Imagine being abroad and wanting to browse the internet for information. If you have an unencrypted Wi-Fi connection, then any hacker or snooper along with a few keystrokes can certainly see what websites you are visiting. If you are unfortunate enough to be using a public Wi-Fi connection when you are the victim of a cyberattack, then the intruders have access to your personal information. Your browsing history, your login details, and even your credit card information might be at risk. To make matters worse, the authorities are more than likely going to accuse you of being complicit in the cyberattack. They might even treat you as an accomplice. When using public Wi-Fi, you should always use a VPN to create a secure and private network.

Preserve Your Freedom Of Movement

We all love to travel and sometimes we need to move around a bit to get to our next destination. In the case of an international flight or a long drive, you will most likely be required to change airports or routes a few times. This means that you will be connected to the internet through different Wi-Fi hotspots. While this might be convenient, it also means that your personal information could potentially be at risk. Even if you change passwords frequently and use the best firewalls and anti-virus software, you are still not entirely protected. When traveling, you should create a VPN to ensure that your personal information remains private and secure while connected to various Wi-Fi hotspots.

Create A Safe Haven For Yourself

Let us say you are preparing to submit a large file to a remote server through email. If you do not have an encrypted connection, then any snoopers or hackers along with a few keystrokes will certainly be able to see what you are sending. To make it worse, suppose one of the parties involved in this email scam is a criminal and he decides to stop by and look at what you are sending. Suddenly, your personal information will be in the hands of a third party and you will have no way of getting it back. This is where a VPN comes in handy. When using public Wi-Fi, you should create a VPN so that you can safely send and receive encrypted emails.

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Use A VPN To Get Around Geographic Restrictions

Some companies and establishments don’t want their customers to use VPNs to get around geographic restrictions. So, if you try to visit a site that is blocked in your country, you will most likely be asked for your VPN credentials. In some cases, you might even be required to click on a legal disclaimer before you can continue to access the content you want to see. While it is not necessarily ideal to have to jump through these hoops to get online, at least VPNs allow you to get around them. In cases where other methods fail, using a VPN can give you the access you need to continue your online activity without any problems.

VPNs are not a silver bullet and they are certainly not a replacement for good old-fashioned common sense. Nevertheless, they are a useful tool for those who want to maintain some privacy and security when using the internet. Hopefully, with more education about the threats posed by cybercrime, individuals and businesses will stop thinking of VPNs as an optional extra and will start seeing them as an essential part of everyday internet use.