The Do’s And Don’ts Of VPNs

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have gone from being used by tech and business professionals to being a household essential. This is because it’s one of the most secure ways to keep your browsing activities online private from unwanted eyes.

You probably wouldn’t enter a public area and willingly hand out your passwords or bank details, right? But that’s similar to what happens when you use the Internet on an unsecured network. All your information is out there for hackers to find with little difficulty on their part.

Fortunately, that’s where VPNs come in. They encrypt your data so it can’t be accessed while transferring between networks and allow you to use public Wi-Fi networks safely. Additionally, you could also use it to stream content that may not be available in your region as it hides your IP address as if you were in a different location entirely.

 

 

Why Do People Use VPNs Beyond Security?

 

In addition to securing your online activities, people also use VPNs to access content. In countries like the UAE and China, even UK to an extent, certain websites or streaming platforms are unavailable. This could be due to things like government restrictions or licensing issues.

Since your VPN changes your location, if you were in these areas, you could use the VPN to bypass the geographical restriction and access the content. It’s a common use for VPNs for people like digital nomads and frequent travellers who want to access familiar platforms while they’re abroad.

 

The Do’s And Don’ts Of VPNs

 

Having a VPN on your device is one thing but setting it up and using it correctly is another. It’s great to have one but if there are any issues, you’re not as protected as you think.

So what should you do when you have one? And, more importantly, what should you not do?

 

What You Should Do When Using A VPN

 

When a VPN is used correctly, you can have peace of mind that your online privacy is protected and you can continue with your browsing without third parties accessing your data. Here are a few things that you need to do in order to get the most out of your VPN.

 

Choose A Reputable VPN Provider

 

There is no doubt that this is the most important decision that you’ll make when it comes to your VPN. Not every VPN provider is the same. Some are slower than others, some have weaker encryptions, so you need to do your homework to make the right choice.

A reliable provider will have a no-logs policy so you know that your data isn’t tracked and strong protocols in place for encryption. In this case, avoid a free VPN where you can because some will actually sell your data for profit.

 

Use The VPN On Public Wi-Fi

 

It’s easier for hackers to get into open networks that you would find at coffee shops, hotels or airports – essentially any public place.

Before you connect to these networks, turn on your VPN. It will encrypt your data straight away and make it unreadable to anyone who may be lurking in these spots.

 

Keep The VPN Updated

 

As with most software, VPNs are only as good as their last update. Providers will often add updates to fix any bugs, improve speed or even add new features so these should be installed as they come available.

If you don’t, it just means that you’ll continue to use the older version which won’t have new security improvements.

 

 

Use Your VPN On All Devices

 

It doesn’t matter what device you use, they can all be tracked if they connect to the Internet. If you’re using your phone, a tablet or a laptop, make sure to use the VPN.

Most subscriptions will allow you to use multiple devices so you can easily set it up across them all.

 

Enable The VPN’S Kill Switch

 

Most VPNs come with a kill switch feature. If your VPN connection were to drop for some reason, the kill switch will immediately disconnect your device from the Internet to prevent your data from being accessed.

You’ll find this feature in your VPN settings and it’s handy to have if you work with any sensitive information.

 

What Should You Not Do When Using A VPN?

 

Now that you know what you should do when using a VPN, what are some of the things that you should steer far away from? Avoiding these things can go a long way in keeping you from running into issues down the line.

 

Don’t Accidentally Leave It Off

 

This can happen very easily when you try to access a website that is blocking your VPN so you turn it off and then forget to turn it back on. Once it’s off, your data is open again for anyone to see. Some VPNs will automatically connect when you join a new network so if you have this setting, it’s best to enable it.

 

Don’t Think You Are 100% Anonymous With a VPN

 

VPNs can give you a false sense of security to think that you are completely invisible online and that’s not the case. If you were to log into your Google account then Google will still know that it’s you.

Also keep in mind that VPNs don’t protect you from malware on your device, cookies that track your browsing or any phishing attempts. For that, you’ll need an antivirus.

 

Don’t Use VPNs For Illegal Activities

 

VPNs offer privacy but they are certainly not a free pass for users to commit any crimes. Service providers will usually co-operate with any law enforcement regarding data if they are required to do so.

That means you can’t use a VPN to torrent any content that is copyrighted or buy and sell anything illegal. These are still very much crimes and will land you in hot water.

 

Don’t Forget To Read The VPN Provider’s Fine Print

 

Before you sign up for a VPN, it is tedious, but take a moment to read their privacy policy and terms of service. Even if a provider says they have a no-logs policy, they could still track other data. Find out which specific data is collected, do they work with any third parties and how long is information stored for. If anything doesn’t sound right, move on to another provider.