Why is Having a VPN Bannable?

It’s now possible to have a VPN (Virtual Private Network) on your phone or tablet without having to use a jailbroken device. With the use of a software-only VPN like Tunnelblick, you can easily setup a VPN server on your device so that you can connect to it from anywhere with Internet access with the click of a button. This is great for people who need to use a VPN while traveling or people who want to use a VPN for added security when using public Wi-Fi hotspots. But why is having a VPN bannable in the first place?

Protecting Your Online Privacy

One of the most important things about having a VPN is for the purpose of protecting your online privacy and security. A VPN can help ensure that your personal data is kept private, that your financial information is not exposed to identity thieves, and that you are not accidentally or willingly giving your personal data to advertisers or other third parties.

Avoiding Location-Based Tracking

Another important reason for having a VPN is to avoid being tracked by advertisers or other third parties through your Internet activity. When you use a public Wi-Fi hotspot, your mobile device (such as your laptop, tablet, or smartphone) essentially becomes a tracker in ad-tracking software. This is because these devices actively look for available public Wi-Fi networks and which ones to connect to. When you use a public Wi-Fi hotspot, your identity becomes readily available to advertisers or other third parties because your device is constantly broadcasting your physical location (based on which cell tower you’re connecting to). If you don’t want to be tracked, you can use a VPN to ensure that your Internet activity is hidden from prying eyes.

Protecting Your Freedom of Speech

Some people believe that having a VPN is bannable because they believe that governments and other authoritarian regimes may try to ban it. Although this is somewhat of a paranoia-based argument, it’s still a legitimate concern. After all, China and various Middle Eastern countries have already tried to ban the use of VPNs by their citizens. The problem is that without proper protections, setting up a VPN and using it could land you in hot water. This is why it’s important to follow the proper guidelines when using a VPN.

The first and most important guideline is that you should only use a VPN to protect your privacy and security. If you do want to use your VPN to circumvent geographical restrictions or censorship, then you should definitely do so in a country where your freedom of speech is protected. In countries where such limitations exist, it’s best not to register or use a VPN because you could potentially breach local laws. Instead, find a way around them with a proxy or tor network.

Keeping all of this in mind, let’s examine a few of the top VPN services that you might want to try out.

1. PureVPN

If you’re looking for a VPN to protect yourself while traveling abroad, then you should consider trying out the PureVPN app. With this app, you can easily setup an account with a VPN server in a location that’s convenient for you. After you’ve set up your account, you can easily connect to the VPN server from anywhere with Internet access with the click of a button. While traveling, you can then access all of the content that you can in your own country with the freedom and security of a virtual space.

One of the things that makes the PureVPN app special is that it allows you to setup a free trial account with no credit card required. To get started, all you need to do is download the app to your phone (iOS or Android). After you’ve downloaded it, all you need to do is create an account with a valid email address. You’ll then be given a secure link that you can use to access your free trial account. At the end of your trial period, all of the personal data that you provided will be removed from your account. If this sounds good, but you still want to try out the premium features, then you can do so with a credit card through the checkout process.

2. NordVPN

If you’re looking for a no-logs policy and you want to ensure that your Internet activity is private, then you should try out the NordVPN app. Just like the PureVPN app, the NordVPN app allows you to quickly and easily setup a VPN connection on your phone or tablet. After you’ve set up your account and verified your email address, you can select a server location that’s convenient for you. Depending on your device, you can then connect to the VPN server with the click of a button.

The best part about the NordVPN app is that it keeps no logs of your activity. This means that your personal data is always protected and you can rest assured that your Internet activity will remain private and will not be distributed or sold to third parties. This may be one of the main reasons why the NordVPN app is so popular among journalists and other individuals who need to ensure the confidentiality of their activity online. Unfortunately, like most other VPN apps, the NordVPN app is not free. You’ll have to pay $12.95 per month or $99.95 per year for the premium version that has all the same features.

3. IPVanish

Another great option for a VPN app is the free and open-source IPVanish app. Just like the other two apps mentioned above, the IPVanish app allows you to setup a VPN connection on your device in a matter of minutes. After you’ve set up your account and connected to the VPN server, all of your Internet activity, including your browsing history, is anonymous and untraceable. Plus, since it’s open-source and completely free, you have the guarantee that you’re not being tracked by advertisers or any other third party.

What makes the IPVanish app different is that it allows you to select your preferred DNS servers for your device. The app then caches and stores these DNS entries so that your Internet speed is maximized and so that you don’t have to repeatedly look up domain names and enter them one by one while surfing the Internet. When you use free DNS through the IPVanish app, it caches and stores these domains so that you don’t have to constantly re-look them up while browsing. This means that you’re likely to get your domain entries correctly without having to frequently look them up. DNS lookups are very time-consuming and can significantly slow down your Internet speed.

4. Hola

If you frequently find yourself needing to connect to a VPN while abroad, then you might be interested in trying out the free and open-source app, Hola. Just like the other apps mentioned above, the Hola app allows you to setup a VPN connection on your device in a matter of minutes. After you’ve set up your account and connected to the VPN server, your Internet activity, including the websites that you visit, is secured and encrypted. Plus, since it’s a web browser extension, you have the option of using it without having to download any apps.

Unfortunately, not all websites that you visit may be accessible through the Hola web browser extension as it uses a blacklist to prevent tracking. So if you want to ensure that your personal data is always protected and that you’re not being tracked by advertisers or other third parties, then you should use a VPN to encrypt your Internet activity.

Let’s now examine a few more reasons why you might want to use a VPN.

Avoiding Theft

As we’ve established above, whenever you use a public Wi-Fi hotspot, your identity becomes readily available to advertisers or other third parties because your device is constantly broadcasting your physical location (based on which cell tower you’re connecting to). This means that your personal data, including your credit card numbers, becomes highly visible to anyone who has access to your device. Just think about the last time that you left your hotel room to go shopping or dined out with co-workers or family members. Chances are that someone could grab your device and all of your personal information could be revealed. To avoid this, you should always use a VPN while in public.

Security

It’s important to keep your data secured and encrypted whenever possible. This is doubly important if you’re using public Wi-Fi hotspots, especially if you’re connecting to a Wi-Fi network that’s at a coffee shop, restaurant, or other public place. Hackers, snoops, and scammers watch for people who aren’t protecting their data with encryption and will try to access it. If you don’t want to be snooped on or have your data compromised, then you should use encryption whenever possible.