AD: This blogpost is part of my paid work as an ambassador for NordVPN.
NordVPN is the world’s most trusted online security solution. In a conversation with them recently, they taught me quite how important it is for us all to be using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) in our daily lives. NordVPN’s blog is a really great resource for people like me who aren’t 100% tech savvy, and I’d really recommend their explanation of what a VPN is and how it works. And, if you’re interested, I’ve put all the details about how to sign-up to NordVPN at the end of this blogpost! Read on to find out what I’ve learned…
I, naively, had always assumed that VPNs were a bit questionable and I think this is quite a common misconception. In fact, the use of a VPN service is legal in almost every country in the world – the issue comes if you use a VPN to access an illegal website, which is a completely separate matter! That aside, I had also assumed that I had no need for a VPN. Surprise, surprise…I was wrong again! So in case, like me, you need to learn a little bit more about how you could be benefitting, here are 5 reasons why I now use NordVPN:
- To keep my data secure when I’m using public WiFi
I am counting down the days until I can return to my favourite coffee shop to work on my thesis again. I love to hop from café to café, which means logging into countless public WiFi networks each day. It’s exactly the same story when I’m on holiday abroad. More than once I’ve stood on a cobbled street covered in suncream and tried desperately to log into any WiFi network that would let me just so that I could use Google Maps or check-in for my flight home. A VPN protects our data from hackers, who can exploit unsecured connections to steal other people’s data when using shared Internet hotspots. I can’t imagine how many times I’ve inadvertently put my passwords, bank details, passport number and so many other private details at risk… - To reduce my Internet footprint
If we took one thing away from the 2020 documentary The Social Dilemma (if you haven’t seen it, you absolutely must!) it is that ‘If you’re not paying for the product, then you are the product’. Your online traffic goes via an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and – without a VPN – they are then able to track and log your Internet usage and sell all of this data about you on to advertisers. This is the business model of almost every digital service purporting to be free – including free VPN services. Using a VPN protects your personal information from being used in this way and minimises your online footprint. A service like NordVPN ensures you have an encrypted (and thus private) connection to the Internet, and their subscription model means – unlike some other providers – they too aren’t taking or keeping a log of your activity. - To protect my phone
I thought I was doing quite well by having anti-virus installed on my phone. However, I’ve learned that while this protects my device itself by detecting malware, it cannot secure your connection. As users it is extremely difficult to know if any of the apps that we’ve downloaded (even “major” ones like WhatsApp) onto our phones are properly secure. If the security of an app isn’t up to scratch, hackers can intercept the data being sent through the app as we use it. With one NordVPN account, you can cover up to six devices – which means it can be easily downloaded onto your phone (I have it on mine!). With the touch of a button, I can enable powerful encryption (and optional ad-blocking too) as I use my smartphone. - To share the same experiences as friends and family abroad
One of my best friends lives in Prague, my cousin has moved to Australia and my mum works in East Asia. Add a pandemic into the mix and the need for us to stay connected – while kept apart – has never been more essential. One of the most popular uses of a VPN is to access content as you travel by changing your IP address and redirecting your Internet connection through a remote server. NordVPN means that I can watch the same shows and access the same services and platforms as my friends and family across the world, which makes the distance between us feel a little less. A VPN can also speed up and streamline your experience of streaming in general (who knew!?!) by preventing ‘throttling‘, which is when your ISP slows your connection speed – this can lead to lag and buffering. - To make my shopping cheaper
A VPN is an effective way of preventing retailers from using your own data against you. We’ve all watched the prices of flights, hire cars and hotel rooms jump up each time we visit a company’s website. These sites use cookies to track our movements across the Internet, and then raise their prices when we return to them to create a false sense of scarcity. If you enable a VPN prior to searching, your online presence is anonymised and thus you can access the lowest price available. Seemingly, too, the price of a digital product – for example a game download or a piece of software – can vary significantly depending upon where in the world you are purchasing it. Once again, this can be overcome by using a service like NordVPN to change your IP address.
Interested? I bet you are! You can access their best deal on the Internet here (affiliate link), or by adding the code Katherine70 at checkout. If you’re quick, you’re able to get 70% off their 2-year plan – which works out at less than a cup of coffee each month – plus an additional two months for free (one courtesy of NordVPN’s birthday celebrations and another on me!)
Quietly Cambridge 