Should you always use a VPN?
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Catherine Hiley
Contributor
Always keeping a VPN on is necessary to ensure that your device and personal information is protected. For instance, with a VPN (Virtual Private Network) always on, can protect you from cyberthreats on public Wi-Fi.
It can also hide all of your browsing activities and other data from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and even the government. Not to mention that you can always take advantage of all the internet has to offer, such as geo-blocked websites or streaming platforms.
In fact, the best VPNs will be able to do this and more without compromising speeds or costing too much. So, continue reading to find out all the reasons why using a VPN at all times is beneficial for you.
Best VPNs to use at all times
While the VPN market is filled with promising providers, not all of them ensure great performance and security. To help you out, we gathered a list of our approved best VPNs for staying connected all the time.
- NordVPN – one of the fastest VPNs that ensure great speeds at all times and is very simple to use.
- Surfshark – speedy and wallet-friendly VPN that allows unlimited device connections simultaneously.
- IPVanish – feature-rich VPN solution for multiple devices to stay protected at all times.
6 reasons why you should use a VPN
You can use a VPN for various reasons but online privacy and security of your data should be the main ones. However, a VPN can also be beneficial for entertainment reasons, such as bypassing geo-blocks.
- Stay private and anonymous online
- Unblock geo-restricted content
- Stop bandwidth throttling
- Stay secured from cybercriminals
- Safely access public Wi-Fi
- Save money
You can use the jump links to navigate through the VPN benefit descriptions. So, without further ado, let’s dive into more in-depth explanations of each perk:
1. Privacy and anonymity from third-parties
The biggest reason to constantly have a VPN turned on is privacy and anonymity. While you may not have anything to hide, it can still be uncomfortable knowing there might be outsiders looking at what you’re browsing.
A VPN carries your data through an encrypted tunnel, meaning all of your information, including your browsing activities, become unreadable and inaccessible to anyone’s eyes. This includes your ISP, hackers, or even the government.
Reliable VPNs, such as NordVPN, have a clear no-logs policy (even better if they’re audited), meaning they can’t track your activities either. So even if the government knocks on their door asking to give up your information, there won’t be anything to give in the first place.
On top of that, websites won’t be able to track you or your browsing activities either. This means that external companies won’t be able to use targeted advertising. So, if you’ve searched for a product on Google, it won’t reflect in the adverts you see.
2. Access any geo-restricted content
Keeping a VPN constantly connected means that you can bypass geo-restrictions and unlock content from around the world. When you use a VPN, it connects you to a secure server in a location of your choosing, so it can make it look like you are in that country.
So if you want to access Hulu or HBO Max but aren’t in the US, a VPN will let you bypass these restrictions from anywhere in the world. It will connect to an American server and create an American IP address to make it appear as though you are in the States, even if you’re not.
The other benefit of this is that you can switch servers seamlessly, so you can access an American server to watch Hulu, then switch to a British server to watch BBC iPlayer.
3. Avoid bandwidth throttling
Some ISPs will impose bandwidth limits to encourage you to upgrade to a more expensive package that promises faster internet speeds. If you always have a VPN turned on, your ISP won’t be able to constrain your internet speed. That’s because they won’t be able to see what you’re up to online.
So whether you want to download files, stream content, or play your favorite game in peace, you’ll find a VPN to be a valuable asset. However, if it so happens that your VPN slows down your connection even more, make sure you’re connected to a server that is closer to you physically. If switching between servers doesn’t help, consider looking into the fastest VPNs.
4. Security and protection at any location
Using a VPN all the time also guarantees that you’re protected from prying eyes of cyber attackers. Because your information, including sensitive data and online activities, is encrypted with such ciphers as AES, it becomes inaccessible to anyone.
In layman’s terms, even if someone could access your data, they would never be able to decipher it. To give you an example, the VPN tunnel will secure your communication channels, including your emails and Zoom meetings, from anyone trying to steal it.
Additionally, having a VPN turned on lets you transfer money safely. Since your online activities are hidden, it doesn’t matter where you make transactions. Be it your home network or unsecured public Wi-Fi – cyber felons won’t stand a chance at taking a peek.
5. Safe access to public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi networks are extremely vulnerable as you can never know who connects to them. This makes it easy for hackers to access your private information. That is unless you use a VPN for public Wi-Fi. It will make it appear as though your data is coming from the server you’re connected to instead of your own device.
To put it simply, if your VPN is always turned on, it will be impossible for hackers to decipher the encrypted data. As an extra precaution, you can turn on the kill switch feature in your VPN’s settings.
Even if your VPN connection drops, the kill switch will temporarily shut your Internet down until the connection is restored. This way, there won’t even be accidental data leaks.
6. Save money
External companies can gain access to your information and use it for their own advantage. For instance, if you keep looking for flight details or the same hotel rooms, the prices may increase the next time you come back to the same site. That’s because companies track your search history and frequency.
If you have a VPN turned on at all times, such companies won’t have a clue how many times you come back to their site or search for particular services. This means that a VPN will ensure the price won’t be affected, ensuring you get the best deals.
Plus, some companies may apply discriminatory pricing structure – people from one country may get products/services cheaper than those from another. To avoid this, you can simply use a VPN to change your location and compare pricing to save a bunch of money. And since there are plenty of cheap VPNs, your wallet won’t suffer.
What can a VPN be used for?
Depending on what you need a VPN for, it can be beneficial in many ways. So, without further ado, here are a few advantages of using a VPN as a business user or for entertainment:
1. Business VPNs
VPNs for businesses can be more expensive than regular user VPNs. However, they’re much more than worth it. For starters, they protect employee data from being stolen or viewed by third parties. This includes remote workers who tend to work connected to their home network. A VPN does not let anyone, even the Internet Service Provider (ISP) of the employee, see what they are up to online.
Additionally, remote workers can feel safe on public wifi knowing that their data is encrypted. That’s because public networks are known to be a cybercriminal hazard.
2. Streaming VPNs
Streaming VPNs do exactly what the name says… help with streaming. So if you’re one who feels that they often run out of things to watch on their streaming service, a VPN is a great solution. The best VPNs for streaming movies will help you unblock huge Netflix libraries, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney Plus, or any other service.
Plus, if your ISP tends to limit bandwidth as soon as you start doing data-consuming activities, including streaming, a VPN can help. Since your data is encrypted, your ISP can’t see what you’re up to. This means that the VPN won’t let your ISP limit your data, thus improving overall streaming speeds.
3. Gaming VPNs
If you can’t go a day or two without gaming, a VPN can benefit you in multiple ways. For starters, gaming VPNs can help you access other regions on services such as Steam. Changing your virtual location helps access a larger game library.
Also, some unfair gamers attack other players to get them out of the game. This is called a DDoS attack, or distributed denial of service. A VPN hides your IP address and personal data, securing you from cyber bullies and attacks.
Just like with streaming, some ISPs tend to limit speed for gamers. If that’s the case for you, a VPN will improve your speeds and gaming experience.
Should I leave my VPN on all the time?
For the most part, yes, because your data should be protected all the time. VPNs are one of the best security tools on the market and not that expensive considering the value they bring. VPNs ensure data protection from hackers and secure browsing. In result, this prevents advertisers or ISPs from accessing your browsing data.
At the same time, there may be times when you need to turn your VPN off. That is when you need to access local sites or devices, such as streaming platforms or a printer.
When should you turn off your VPN?
While we recommend to keep your VPN on as much as possible, there may be cases when you actually need it off. This includes accessing local content or devices.
For instance, you may need to access streaming services that are unavailable in countries you’re virtually connected to. The same goes for various websites that may be geo-restricted elsewhere. You may also need to connect to devices on your local network, such as a printer. In such cases, it’s easier to just pause your VPN connection for some time.
Another reason you may consider pausing your VPN is if it slows down your device speed. But first, try switching to other servers or choose those that are physically closer to you. If that doesn’t help, consider viewing our speed test tool to find faster VPNs.
When you need to turn your VPN off, we suggest pausing rather than switching it off entirely. For that, pick a VPN with a good pausing option – such as NordVPN that even lets you choose for how long you want to disable the VPN.
Get NordVPNShould I use a VPN at home?
Using a VPN at home is preferable, advised even, but it isn’t always essential. The main reason it may not be necessary, is that your internet activity should already be shielded by your password-protected Wi-Fi network. The other concern is connecting to a remote server can slow your connection speed. Yet, it shouldn't be the case with NordVPN – it offers great speeds.
At the same time, the pros of using a VPN at home largely outweigh the negatives. Even Reddit users agree that using a VPN at home is a great way to secure yourself from your own ISP. When a VPN is on, your ISP can’t see what sites you visit or sell your data to third parties.
Additionally, if your ISP throttles your Internet speed, a VPN could even improve it by shielding your activities. All you’d have to do is set up a VPN on your router, and all of the devices on your network will be protected. Not to mention that it also allows you to watch geo-restricted content at home for your entertainment.
What VPN should I use?
When picking a VPN, it’s important to choose one that offers high-class security and performance. You want to be guaranteed advanced security features as well as a clear no-logging policy. However, you don’t have to compromise speeds for the sake of it, so it’s important that the VPN can also deliver fast speeds.
At the same time, we strongly advise against using unreliable free VPNs. Since they have to make some profit too, they may end up selling your data to external third parties and running malware-infected ads.
Therefore, if data privacy is something you are looking out for, consider trying out these premium VPN services:
| NordVPN | Surfshark | IPVanish | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand |  |  |  |
| Rating | |||
| Price | $3.29/month | $2.30/month | $3.33/month |
| Encryption | AES-256 | AES-256 | AES-256 |
| No-logging policy | No logs, independently audited twice by PwC | No logs, independently audited by Cure 53 | No logs, independently audited by Leviathan |
| Servers | 5700+ servers in 60 countries | 3200+ servers in 100 countries | 2000+ servers in 50 countries |
| Unblocks | Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more | Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Disney+, and more |
| Simultaneous connections | 6 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Check NordVPN deals | Check Surfshark deals | Check IPVanish deals |
These VPNs offer high-level security and are astonishingly fast. Also, all of them protect your browsing data with some of the strongest encryption ciphers. In terms of entertainment, they’re all capable of unblocking geo-restricted content, like Hulu, HBO Max, or BBC iPlayer.
The bottom line
Ultimately, a VPN is a necessary and valued tool in 2023. It completely secures your private and personal information and prevents your data from getting into the hands of third parties who can use this information against you. For such reasons, it’s recommended to keep your VPN on for most if not all of the time.
However, it may so happen that you need to turn off your VPN. That is when you need to access local content or devices on your network. In such cases, using a VPN that allows pausing your connection is a great solution.
For this, we recommend using NordVPN. It ensures advanced security, is one of the fastest services out there, and lets you pause your connection for a chosen amount of time.
Best VPN deals this week:
More great topics on VPN usage
Bypass VPN blocks – ISPs and governments tend to put restrictions or even block VPN connections. Learn how to bypass them
Safely access the Dark & Deep web – if you are curious to access deeper layers of the internet, make sure you do it safely with a VPN
How to watch American TV outside US – learn how to watch various exclusive US streaming services outside the US with a VPN
How to change Netflix region – unlock global Netflix libraries wherever you are and never run out of things to watch
FAQs
Do I need a VPN?
A VPN is an essential tool to fully protect your browsing data. It provides a fast and secure service that maintains your anonymity. A VPN also enables secure connection to public Wi-Fi and encrypts your information. The best VPN for advanced security is NordVPN. It provides you with protection from malicious threats and hackers, includes a reliable kill switch to prevent data leaks, and more.
Should I always turn on my VPN?
If privacy and security online are your main concerns, you should always (or most of the time) have a VPN turned on. This way, your data is encrypted at all times and no one else can access it. For your convenience, some VPNs, like NordVPN, have a pause button that lets you choose for what time you want to pause your connection.
Should businesses use VPNs?
Yes, businesses should definitely use VPN solutions to ensure online protection. Business VPNs secure remote connections so that employee and company data wouldn’t be intercepted.
When should I use a VPN on my phone?
You should use a VPN on your phone when you connect to public wifi networks. This way, you’ll be secured from cyber snoopers who are lurking to steal your data. Plus, you can also connect to a VPN if you wish to unblock geo-restricted content on streaming platforms.
Are VPNs legal?
In most countries of the world, using a VPN is completely legal. However, there are places where using a VPN is illegal or restricted, such as North Korea, Iraq, and Belarus. You should also keep in mind that even if VPNs are allowed in your living area, that doesn’t make illegal activities legal.
How much do VPNs cost?
For personal usage, a cheaper VPN can cost anywhere from $1.64/month. Meanwhile, businesses have to pay per user, resulting in around $8-9 per employee.
Comments
So what are these issues? That the more secure a website and sites that require valid personal identifiable data don't work on a VPN. These sites and apps see the random and often connections from locations that differ from your actual location are identified as security risk because they behave in exactly the same way that criminals and fraudsters use.
To use a VPN with these services you have to either disable your VPN or add the site/app to an excluded list. these sites are banking, online selling, shopping and government sites. The fact that the VPN is there to protect your data and identity is negated by this and therefore makes the VPN just extra clutter on your system. As an illustration, to allow access to an major online shopping site I was going to use to sell on, I had to find out the IP numbers they used to add them to the excluded list, (for some reason the VPN only recognises apps or IP's not domains for exclusion) how many users would know how to do that? Plus, using this site with customers personal and payment details, as well as my own banking and site access data is now unprotected! So why bother with the VPN?
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