10 benefits of a VPN you might not know about

With the growing rate of cybercrime, online surfing for Indian users is becoming more fragile to hacking and private information theft. In India in 2019 alone, the latest National Crime Record Bureau’s data shows cybercrime cases were reported to have increased by 63.5%.¹ These cases include not only financial hijacking but also overtaking of email accounts to ask for ransom.

Online users must maintain safety measures to secure their valuable data, and activating a reliable VPN service would be the best choice to do so. (How does a VPN protect you from cybercrimes?)

At a basic level, if you activate a VPN (or virtual private network) when you go online, it can provide two fundamental benefits.

Privacy — masking information like your IP address, location, and search history, keeps them from being tracked by websites, internet browsers, cable companies, internet service providers (ISPs), and others. 

Security — by helping protect your personal information and other data as it’s in transit or being sent from and received by your device.

But that’s not all the advantages of VPN. It can also help you in other ways. 

1. Hides your private information

Websites and apps can continuously track your online activity, analyzing the data they collect. A VPN can prevent web browsers and others from accessing your connection, helping to keep the information you send and receive anonymous and secure. Some VPNs also offer military-grade 256-bit encryption of your data.

2. Escape data-throttling

Data throttling occurs when you’ve used a certain amount of your data and, as a result, your internet service provider slows down your service. With a VPN, not only will your data be free from the prying eyes of ISPs and others, but you also won’t be subject to a data cap. ISPs can place caps on data to maximize internet speed for some of their customers.

3. Avoid bandwidth-throttling

If you’ve suffered from slower internet speed on certain websites at times, you may have experienced bandwidth throttling. ISPs — or anyone with administrative controls over your network — might be responsible for the slowdown. A VPN can help. It can thwart the sluggishness by encrypting your device’s internet traffic. This prevents anyone on the same network from seeing your web traffic content and disguises its destination.

4. Access region-blocked services like PUBG Mobile*

Some VPNs may be able to access geo-blocked apps and content such as PUBG Mobile (Banned in India in September 2020), Netflix, and other providers*. How? A VPN can change your IP address to make a content provider think you’re browsing in another location or region that allows access. Note: Always check the Terms of Service agreements to determine what’s permitted by your local streaming service and follow those guidelines. Even though using VPN is perfectly legal in India, there are few cases where the government (police) has punished locals for using the service.²

5. Avoid censorship when travelling abroad*

VPNs can help you bypass geographical restrictions. For instance, some countries restrict or forbid access to certain websites such as social media platforms or censor certain content. A VPN, however, may help grant you access by making your traffic look like it’s coming from a different location. Keep in mind that it is the user’s responsibility to identify whether their use of a VPN is legal or not and to check the country’s laws (where you’re travelling to)  before using a VPN.

6. Access regional sports coverage unavailable in your location*

Some VPNs can help give you access to sports coverage that’s geographically restricted. For instance, a television network such as Sky Sports (available in the U.K and Ireland only) doesn’t have broadcast rights in India.³ Nevertheless, a VPN will be capable of making viewing such a channel possible.

7. Offer cheaper leased-line alternatives

A VPN can offer specific savings for businesses, in particular. For example, companies may bypass renting expensive network capacity lines that achieve connectivity between office locations through VPNs. Instead, they could connect via public infrastructure through cheaper local leased lines or broadband connections through a local ISP. 

8. Offer cheaper long-distance telephone charges

A VPN will be able to reduce long-distance phone charges. For example, instead of connecting via remote access servers and dial-up networks to access a company's intranet, you could connect to your local ISP access point by activating a VPN. 

9. Provide network scalability

As organizations grow, so do the costs of building a dedicated private network. Internet-based VPNs can allow businesses to tap into network lines and network capability already available, potentially giving remote and international locations, particularly, better reach and service quality.

10. Reduce support costs

Using a VPN may help a business reduce the cost of maintaining servers because support can be outsourced to third-party service providers who can support a lower cost structure due to their many clients. 

Are there disadvantages of VPN?

While the benefits of using a VPN may outweigh the disadvantages, there are a few potential drawbacks to keep in mind. 

Slightly slower internet 

A VPN reroutes and encrypts your internet connection, which may slightly lessen your internet speed. 

Illegal in some countries* 

Although the use of VPN is legal in India, in some countries, use of a VPN is banned or heavily regulated, so always check the legislation if you’re travelling to a different country.

Potentially difficult to set up 

Depending on the VPN you use, you may have some trouble setting it up. Be sure to choose a beginner-friendly VPN service to avoid this.  

Lack of encryption knowledge

Unless you’re an encryption expert, it’s hard to know the encryption quality of your VPN. However, selecting a reliable VPN service with positive reviews will more likely ensure a high quality encryption of your data.

How to choose a VPN

With all the VPN Advantages and Disadvantages explained, you may now have an idea of what it does. The best VPN for you will depend on your needs and what you want to pay. Free VPN services may not offer all the features you need, and some services may offer free service in exchange for access to your data.

Here’s the choice. If VPN providers don’t charge user fees, they may pay for their costs through advertising or gathering and selling your data to third-parties, like data brokers and marketers.

Choosing the right VPN for you might mean paying for one if you value your online privacy.

Remember, a VPN gives you the control to add additional layers of online privacy and security to your online activities.

It should offer a secure private network that will help keep your personal information safe from cybercriminals and anyone else who might attempt to intercept your data.

Norton VPN uses the strong encryption (AES-256) to help protect your data and help secure your identity.. So, pick your preference wisely and start enjoying some of the benefits of VPN. 5 6

¹ https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/law-and-order/63-dot-5-percent-increase-in-cyber-crime-cases-in-india-in-2019-most-cases-in-a.html

² https://www.tomsguide.com/features/are-vpns-legal-in-india

³ https://www.quora.com/Why-cant-Sky-Sports-be-seen-in-India

⁴ https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/v117122849