The internet is home to a lot of misinformation. It’s easy to form an opinion on something just by reading headlines or comments. However, the reality is often the complete opposite. With news spreading about browsers integrating their own VPNs, many myths started coming to the surface.
Even though this technology was mainly used by businesses to transfer data securely, it’s now going to be a part of our daily lives. So, let’s get into debunking the most popular VPN myths!
There’s no need to be anonymous when you’ve got nothing to hide
This is a paradoxical statement because most people who say it don’t believe it at all. Imagine how it would feel like if a potential criminal decided to come in and stroll through your house at any time. You’ll probably be angry because that’s not a place where they should stick their nose in. Well, the same thing can happen on the internet. Why would you want cyber criminals to know what you’ve been doing or what kind of information you’re sharing?
VPNs have been connected to downloading or streaming pirated content and copyrighted material. They have also been used for shady deals and businesses. But, modern usage reports confirm that most people use them for other features.
First of all, being secure while using public Wi-Fi is a must. The same thing goes for using unsecured sites and avoiding hacks. The only way to avoid surveillance, tracking, and data theft is by using a VPN. It’s also the best way to prevent geographical boundaries when traveling and censorship.
Multiple countries have strict laws when it comes to VPNs. That includes Iraq, Turkey, Russia, and most notably, China. Since the government wants to rule in a regime, they want to monitor the behavior of their citizens. Because the primary premise of virtual private networks is against it, totalitarian countries ban the technology.
Your internet connection will slow down
There are a few factors that influence your browsing speed. One of the main things to realize is that your data goes through multiple layers of encryption when you connect to a VPN. You might experience a slight lag the first time you use it, but it’s not a general rule.
You’ll notice a significant difference in speed when you’re connecting to distant servers. You’re in Thailand, and you want to connect to a server that makes it look like you’re in the United States. The physical distance is significant, which slows down data transmission.
However, most people probably don’t know that using a VPN can make your browsing speed much faster. Internet service providers in the United States often use bandwidth throttling to limit your usage. Even if you have an unlimited data plan, they can limit your speed if you watch a lot of movies on Netflix or YouTube videos. They could mark you as a big spender, and they might restrict your usage to save their network during peak hours.
We all know that this is unfair since you’re paying for the full service. That means you need to have the same speed all the time. VPNs help here since they mask what you’re doing, so your ISP doesn’t have a clue. Plus, if you connect to a server in a place that has faster internet, you’re getting a double bonus.
You’re paranoid if you use one
People that live in first-world countries often forget about the dangers of today’s world. Being in a place where free speech rules, it’s tough to think that governments might try to silence their citizens or implement censorship laws. Apart from that, hackers are actively trying to cause harm by collecting and abusing personal data. The number of breached websites increases every year, with no signs of slowing down.
Traveling to another country and behaving like you’re at home could bring you a lot of trouble, especially in poorer countries where public hotspots are better than gold mines for hackers. Some people wait for tourists to connect to a hotspot in a coffee shop, airport, or park just to steal their credit card details. Even if a restaurant looks reliable, you should know that a teenager who knows a little about IT can steal all of your passwords.
You get protected from everything
The benefits of VPNs are plenty when it comes to security. However, you shouldn’t drop down your guard and think of them as a solution to everything. If you purposefully download suspicious files, you shouldn’t blame the VPN for getting hacked. Some VPN services offer threat protection when downloading files. But their main goal is to hide your IP address and help you browse privately.
Additionally, a VPN can’t help you if you use weak passwords and click on malicious links. You’re completely anonymous up to the point when you enter your email address and password. If you enter this information into a fake site, cybercriminals can target you even though your IP is protected.
You become completely anonymous
This myth is closely related to the previous one. Complete anonymity online is only possible if you never use the internet. You need to input at least some form of information in any other case. VPNs do a great job of protecting you from malware, targeted ads, tracking, data theft, and cyberattacks. But they can’t do the impossible.
You need to log in with an account when you want to like or dislike a YouTube video. YouTube’s algorithm then adjusts suggested videos based on your activity and watch time. Buying products online requires you to enter credit card details, a name, and an email. Even though data collection is creepy, it’s something that we need to live with.
Most services have no-logs policies, which means they delete what you’ve visited at the end of your session. This makes it impossible for governments, hackers, and prominent players like Meta and Google to get their hands on the information. Remember to pay attention to all of the information you’re giving out and try to limit it.
