Diamond Member Pelican Press 0 Posted December 31, 2024 Diamond Member Share Posted December 31, 2024 This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up What Is a VPN and Do You Need One? Almost nothing you do on the internet is private. Whether it’s your internet service provider tracking your browsing activity or a company collecting data for targeted ads, your digital footprint is constantly under scrutiny. That’s where VPNs come in. A VPN, short for virtual private network, is a tool that can help shield your internet traffic and protect your personal information. VPNs also mask your location, which is particularly useful when traveling and you need to bypass geographical restrictions to access your home content. CNBC Select discusses what VPNs are, how they work and whether you should consider getting one. Compare identity theft protection servicesWhat is a VPN? At its core, a VPN is a technology that protects your online privacy by hiding your location and internet activity. It works by encrypting your internet connection and routing your traffic through different servers to mask your IP address, which is essentially your device’s unique identifier. This makes it harder for your internet service provider (ISP) and third parties to track your data. VPNs can provide an extra layer of security when using public Wi-Fi networks, where your data is more vulnerable to hackers. By hiding your true location, they also allow you to bypass geo-restrictions, giving you access to websites and streaming services that may not be available in your region. How does a VPN work? Normally, when you use the internet, your ISP acts as a middleman, requesting data from websites and then delivering it to you. However, when you use a VPN, your traffic is rerouted through secure servers and kept private. Many VPNs use a method called tunneling, where your data is sent through a secure “underground” passage, ensuring nobody else can see it. Your data is also encrypted, meaning it’s scrambled into an unreadable format to prevent unauthorized access. Will a VPN protect me from viruses? A VPN by itself generally won’t protect you from viruses because it can’t prevent you from clicking a malicious link or attachment. However, many VPN providers offer an antivirus, either as a separate product or bundled service. Using a strong antivirus program is crucial for protecting your sensitive information. This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up performed well during lab testing and offers a few additional benefits like a file shredder and a secure banking browser. While Bitdefender’s Antivirus comes with a VPN, it’s fairly limited, so pairing it with a standalone one could help. This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up Cost Costs may vary depending on the plan selected – click “Learn More” for details Standout features Bitdefender Antivirus Plus offers a strong suite of security tools including access to a VPN. It includes an anti-tracking extension, a secure online banking browser, and a vulnerability assessment for unseen security issues. Offers free versionAvailabilitySecurity features Bitdefender Antivirus Plus offers real-time data protection, network threat prevention, phishing and fraud protection, web attack prevention and more. How much does a VPN cost? VPN pricing can sometimes be a bit confusing as the service providers often run a variety of discounts and offer multiple plan tiers. VPNs often start at around $10 to $15 per month, but longer subscriptions typically include deeper discounts, and plans vary in their exact offerings. Experts often recommend This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up due to their limited functionality, but some can still be useful. This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up offers a free version with many of the same security features as the paid version, and you can choose to upgrade later if you want access to some premium features, like more servers or coverage for additional devices. This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up Cost (plus taxes) Monthly subscription: $9.99 12-month subscription: $4.99/mo ($59.88 upfront) 24-months subscription: $4.49/mo ($107.76 upfront) Money-back guarantee/free trial 30-day money-back guarantee Platforms Windows, Android, iOS, MacOS, Linux, Fire TV Stick, Android TV and more Simultaneous connectionsServer network 4,400+ servers; 90+ countries Speed testKill switchProsUseful free versionStraightforward pricingWide range of additional security featuresConsAverage speeds in our testingShould I use a VPN? Almost anyone can benefit from a VPN they are relatively straightforward to use. Many companies even require employees to use VPNs when working remotely. We named This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up one of the best VPNs with servers in over 100 countries and some heightened security options like a kill switch. Its basic monthly VPN plan starts at $12.99 and it offers additional tiers with more features like a password manager or more cloud storage, and offers over 6,000 servers. This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up Cost (plus taxes) Monthly Basic subscription: $12.99 1-year Basic subscription: $4.59/mo with 3 extra months ($68.85 upfront) 2-year Basic subscription: $3.69/mo with 3 extra months ($99.63 upfront) Prices can vary and were accurate at the time of publishing. Money-back guarantee/free trial 30-day money-back guarantee Platforms Windows, Android, iOS, MacOS, Linux, Android TV, Apple TV Simultaneous connectionsServer network 6,000+ servers; 100+ countries Speed testKill switch For those with multiple computers and smartphones, This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up could be a good fit as it covers an unlimited number of devices with just a single plan. The starter plan comes with VPN access plus ad and pop-up blockers, masked email generator, personal detail generator and higher tiers offer additional benefits. This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up Cost (plus taxes) Monthly Starter subscription: $15.45 12-month Starter subscription with 2 free months: $2.99/mo ($41.86 upfront) 2-year Starter subscription with 2 free months: $2.29/mo ($59.54 upfront) Prices can vary and were accurate at the time of publishing. Money-back guarantee/free trial 30-day money-back guarantee Platforms Windows, Android, iOS, MacOS, Linux, Fire TV and more Simultaneous connectionsServer network 3,200+ servers; 100+ countries Speed testKill switchHow to choose the right VPN provider There are a few things to consider when choosing a VPN provider: Price: Many VPNs offer monthly, yearly and multi-year subscriptions at varying prices. Many VPN providers offer free trials or money-back guarantees, allowing you to test them before fully committing.Compatibility: Make sure the VPN you’re considering is compatible with your devices. Many are compatible on major platforms like iOS, Android, MacOS and Windows, but this can vary by company.Speed: Using a VPN can affect your internet speeds, so you’ll want to choose one that doesn’t negatively impact your connection too much.Number of servers: While the number of servers doesn’t directly translate to quality, having more servers means more options for you to choose from, and can help reduce server crowding which could slow down your connection.Security features: Choose a VPN that takes your security seriously, and may include features like having a no-logs policy (doesn’t store any activity data), and a kill switch that cuts your internet connection if you’re disconnected from the VPN.Pros and cons of using a VPN Pros Increased privacy: VPNs can help hide your internet activity from your ISP and potential hackersAdditional security: Using a VPN can help you keep your personal information secure from threats, especially on public networksAccess content while abroad: A VPN could help you view content that might be region-locked Cons Price: The top VPNs typically require a paid subscriptionSlower connection: Using a VPN may reduce your network speeds as it adds extra stops to your internet trafficCompatibility issues: Not all VPNs will be compatible across each of your different devices and operating systems FAQs Are VPNs free? While there are free VPN options, most VPN services require a paid subscription for full features and security. What are the disadvantages of using a VPN? Using a VPN could reduce your network speeds, cause compatibility issues and generally will have a monthly cost. Are VPNs legal? VPNs are legal in most countries, including the U.S., Canada, the *** and most European and Latin American countries. Can I use a VPN on multiple devices? Yes, you can use a VPN on multiple devices, oftentimes even using a single subscription. Subscribe to the CNBC Select Newsletter! Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here. Why trust CNBC Select? At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. Catch up on CNBC Select’s in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up , This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up , This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up and This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up to stay up to date. Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up #VPN This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up For verified travel tips and real support, visit: https://hopzone.eu/ 0 Quote Link to comment https://hopzone.eu/forums/topic/188494-what-is-a-vpn-and-do-you-need-one/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
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