March Issue
by Lee- Yandra Paulsen
GETTING TECH SAVVY:
WHAT IS A VPN?
People now live online, but did you always want to keep your personal information private? Well, VPN is a good place to get started. A virtual private network (VPN) is a service that helps you stay private online. A VPN creates a secure, encrypted connection between your computer and the internet, providing a kind of private tunnel for your data while using a public network. A VPN protects your IP address. Meaning that your physical location remains hidden while you are online. The conclusion here is that true anonymity is possible on the Internet. In the VPN mechanism, instead of sending Internet traffic such as online searches, uploads, and downloads directly to your Internet Service Provider (ISP), the VPN server is the source of your data. In other words, a third party cannot see the websites you visit or the data you send or receive online. The VPN filters the data and converts it into nonsense. Advantages of using a VPN •
You can stream from any location. Meaning that even if you live in another country, you can access your streaming account in the United States, for example.
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Avoid censorship. Some governments have restrictions on what the public can access, but VPNs give you the freedom to browse the Web.
Along with all the advantages of a VPN, there should be some drawbacks. The disadvantage of using a VPN is that it can slow down due to the extra steps that web traffic goes through. VPNs keep your Internet browsing private, but they cannot block cookies. Tracking cookies, for example, can remain in your browser, but these can be easily removed. A VPN may keep your information online, but you are not completely private because the VPN provider has access to all your information. Choosing a trusted VPN provider is essential. Be sure to connect to your VPN before surfing the web. A good VPN encrypts your browsing activity and redirects online traffic through secure tunnels. Tips for getting the most out of your VPN service. Always use premium VPN services, choose a VPN based on what matters most, such as privacy, and then use a VPN with the best security features. Here are some VPN services: Express VPN- offers effective online protection, internet without borders, connection to any limitless bandwidth, speedy VPN servers. Norton- Secures your net connection, you could adequately connect with your favored websites, browse the net anonymously, do now no longer tune your online activity. References Avast (2022), What is a VPN and How does it work? Available at: www.avast.com. [Accessed: 18 February 2022]
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Visit a blocked website
ExpressVPN (2022), Best VPN, Best deal. Available at: www.ex-
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VPNs are not tracked, which helps protect information from businesses, governments, and cybercriminals.
Kaspersky (2022), What is VPN? How it works, types of VPN. Avail-
pressvpn.com. [Accessed: 18 February 2022] able at: www.kaspersky.com. [Accessed: 18 February 2022] Norton (2022), Norton Secure VPN. Available at: za.norton.com. [Accessed: 18 February 2022]
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