In this day and age, when surfing the web or performing any online activity for that matter has become our second nature, it is of utmost importance to safeguard our online identity. Let’s face it, under normal conditions, your online activities are not safe. You are constantly under the eyes of ISPs, government authorities, hackers and anyone who wants to snoop in on your online data.
And, unless you have a strong security, your online data could be misused. That’s where you can use a VPN and surf the internet with utmost freedom and security. There is no denying the fact that with a VPN by your side, you can easily keep all security and privacy issues at bay, here’s a question that many users would want to have an answer to – should I keep a VPN on all the time?
Through this blog, we shall be diving deeper into this question. But, before that if you are new to the concept of VPN, let’s see what exactly is a VPN and how does it protect your online identity?
Also Read: Busting Common Myths Surrounding VPN Services
What Is A VPN and How Does It Work?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It’s a special kind of network which hides all your online data, immaterial of whether it is being sent or received. Basically, it hides your IP address by routing all your web traffic via a tunnel and you attain an IP address of your chosen server which belongs to some other location (country).
Also Read: VPN Not Working? Here Are The Fixes
Which Are The Best VPNs To Leave On?
After going through the whole blog if you are convinced that there might be instances when leaving a VPN on would be beneficial, there are several there. We would suggest that even if you have to invest in a good VPN, you shouldn’t shy away. For instance, let’s take an example of Systweak VPN, which is one of the best VPN services out there.
| Systweak VPN – Features At A Glance |
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How To Use Systweak VPN?
1. Install Systweak VPN and log-in into your account
2. Push the On/Off slider to the right to connect to the VPN
3. Choose your desired server
You are all good to go
Instances When You Should Keep VPN on All The Time?
1. When You Use Public Wi-Fi frequently
A hacker can maliciously rename routers, mimicking the one at the public Wi-Fi. So, if you live in and out of a suitcase or a travel bag and access the internet using public Wi-Fi at an airport or a coffee shop, keeping a VPN on all the time could help you keep away from intruders.
2. Keep Your VPN Switched On While Traveling
VPNs are popularly used for circumventing geo restricted websites and libraries. They are a way to stay connected with local shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO, Hulu, BBC iPLayer and on so many other popular video streaming platforms. So, to keep VPN on while traveling could be a great bet.
3. When You Have A Lot Of Sensitive Information On Your Hands
If you are a researcher who wants to keep the research private or even further, who wants the e-mails containing these researches private, a VPN can be a very powerful tool. Without a VPN, a hacker, government, ISP or anyone for that matter can easily access such critical pieces of information.
4. Keep VPN On If You Are A Shopaholic
A lesser known benefit of a VPN is that it can be used as a way to save a lot of money. There are several travel booking sites and online shopping portals that spike up their prices based on your location. And, now that you know that a VPN hides your location by hiding your IP address, you can easily grab deals and make transactions at original (and fairer prices). This can be a great thing, when you are booking a travel abroad or purchasing gifts for family and friends overseas.
Downsides Of Keeping VPN On All The Time
While keeping a VPN on all the time can have its perks, we don’t deny the downsides. Although few, you should still consider the downsides as well when a VPN can actually act as a hindrance –
1. Keeping A VPN On All The Time Might Slow Down Your Surfing Speed
If you go back to how a VPN works, you’ll see it hops through servers. Also, VPNs do use a considerable part of your device’s resources as well. Both these factors can lead to decrease in speed.
2. You Won’t Want To Keep The VPN On All The Time If You Are A Gamer
Be it guarding yourself from DDOs attacks, from aggressive stalkers or getting hands on games not yet released in your country, using a VPN for gaming makes a lot of sense. But, keeping a VPN on all the time can be counterproductive as it can reduce the overall speed of your game. You might even have to face connectivity issues where you even might have to re login several times. Leave aside games, a VPN can cause hindrance when you are simply uploading big files and you want a good speed.
3. Keeping a VPN on While Banking Might Not Be A Great Option
Many financial institutions such as PayPal or your own bank can lock your account if they detect that you are using a VPN for conducting transactions or editing financial documents. Not for any other reasons but on security grounds, fearing that your account might have been hacked by a cybercriminal.
Here’s A Neat Little Trick!
When using a VPN, always try and connect to a nearby VPN server. This wouldn’t make you appear as if your network traffic is coming from another country.
Bottom-line
To keep a VPN on all the time or not depends on the purpose you are using the VPN. And, through this blog, we have tried our best to give you a purview of when to keep a VPN on all the time. If you found the blog to be helpful, do give it a thumbs up. You can drop in any suggestions that you expect from the blog, in the comments section below.
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