The Importance of VPNs for Cybersecurity

By Sarala Vanga On May 6, 2020

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) help to extend a private network across a public network so that its users can send and receive information across the networks as if their devices were physically connected to a shared private network. We live in an age where everything is turning digital, and data has become one of the biggest markets in the entire world. A huge amount of data is shared every day through thousands of mediums, all on the internet. VPNs help to protect and secure this data so that no one can tamper with it. Encryption is a typical example of one of the features of a VPN. Let us dive deep and understand how a VPN can help strengthen cybersecurity.

What can VPNs do for you?

A VPN privatizes the connection between the user’s device and a remote private network through its encryption feature. This means that the information shared between users will be protected using a security key or code, and only those with the correct passwords will be able to decode the data. It also means that users will be able to access any webpage or website while keeping their connection private so that their real identity is not exposed, helping to maintain an anonymous online presence. It is proven to be a cost-effective and highly economical answer to the problem of cyber threats as it hides your Internet Protocol (IP) address from possible hacking and potential identity thieves.

Hike in cyber-attacks and cyberterrorism

Cyberterrorists use the internet to commit acts of violence to threaten individuals, businesses and governments for personal, political or ideological gains. A study done by IBM and Ponemon Institute’s ‘Cost of Data Breach Study’ found that cyber-attacks caused 48 percent of leakage in data and only 52 percent were caused by human error and technical glitches combined. The study also found out that, on average, data breaches cost organizations about US$3.6 million worldwide. In 2018, The Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report said that seven out of ten businesses are not prepared and do not have the necessary tools to avoid a cyber-attack, where 43 percent of attacks are carried out on small businesses. A VPN helps to secure the network and hides the login credentials of employees. If the connection is left unsecured, a hacker can retrieve the login information of an employee in a financial institution and steal money.

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VPN on a mobile phone

Smartphone users around the world amount to more than 3.6 billion people, meaning that there is a constant exchange of personal and public data between individuals, groups or large businesses. Android VPNs work in the same way that a VPN works for a computing system. Its primary task, according to Anonymania.com, is to make sure that the user’s identity his hidden at all times when he or she is surfing through the millions of sites on the internet. It also helps to encrypt all the information which is shared and received by the user. It keeps the login credentials of social networking sites, banks, groups, etc. hidden, including the physical location and IP address of the user. Another feature accessible to Android VPN users is that they can use this service to unlock and view content that might be restricted for the people of a particular geographical location.

Free VPN or Paid VPN

If you search for a free VPN, Google Play Store and Apple I-Store will show you hundreds of options to choose from. Aside from being free, these VPNs don’t have anything worthwhile; instead, they pose to be a threat to the security of the device. Free VPNs are known to sell personal information to third parties so that their overhead costs can be paid. They also make you watch lots of advertisements and decrease your internet speed. A paid VPN connection is a much better and safer option to consider as it will guarantee the protection of your data from cyber threats and will not pose limitations on your system or bandwidth.

In a Nutshell

Protecting your business against potential cyber threats is essential, and a VPN service will help you establish goals of a safer online presence with rising cyber-attacks and less knowledge of defense against it. VPN services have proven to be of immense importance.

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