When it comes to enhancing your online security and privacy, VPNs are most definitely one of the best pieces of software at your disposal. Some may think that it’s something that people only use on their laptop or desktop to achieve online anonymity. But, you’ll actually find that the many benefits that VPNs provide can also be enjoyed on mobile devices.
But, just how useful is a VPN for smartphone users? You might be asking yourself. Well, in the following article, we’ll delve deeper into this particular topic and uncover whether it’s worth investing in a service for your Android device or one of many VPNs for Apple smartphones. So, without any further ado, let’s get to it!
Table of Contents
Bypass geo-restrictions
In the past, you may have attempted to access a website, but weren’t allowed to do so due to your geographical location. Sound familiar? Well, in the current day and age, geo-restrictions are becoming increasingly common. This means that you will often struggle to access the content you need, whether it’s for work or entertainment purposes.
The same can also be said for Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video too. Each of these streaming services and many others make use of geo-blocking practices, meaning that you can only access the content which is available in your particular location. Thankfully, you can get around this by connecting to a relevant VPN server which makes the website or service think you are based in a different area to where you are actually located. It’s as simple as that!
However, something worth mentioning is that not all VPN services are capable of this particular feature, with certain VPNs blocked by the aforementioned services. Therefore, it’s worth doing your research before parting with your hard-earned cash if you need a VPN for this particular purpose.
Enhance your online privacy and security
According to Forbes, damages caused by cybersecurity threats are expected to exceed a staggering $6 billion by 2021. When you take into account that attacks have become more sophisticated and severe over the years, this is hardly surprising. As the years go by, it’s inevitable that online crime will continue to be a problem, which means that precautions must be taken in an effort to protect sensitive data.
But, it’s not just desktop or laptop computers that hackers are targeting. You’ll also find that they are increasingly placing a focus on portable devices such as smartphones and tablets too, as the security on these particular devices is usually somewhat lacking. In turn, this often makes it incredibly easy for hackers to gain unauthorized access to private data.
To emphasize this point further, working remotely, accessing online banking, shopping online, and many other online tasks can now be performed easily using just a smartphone. This means that a huge amount of private data is continually being put at risk, particularly when a user connects to an open WiFi network.
This is where a VPN becomes particularly useful, as it makes any personal data processed over a network far less susceptible to unauthorized access. This is made possible thanks to the VPN encrypting your connection and providing you with the ability to mask the true IP address of your smartphone.
Are there any downsides to using a VPN on a smartphone?
Unfortunately, things aren’t always sunshine and rainbows regarding VPNs, as certain services could actually put your data at risk if you happen to choose a VPN service that doesn’t rank highly in terms of online security and privacy. Some red flags to look out for are services that don’t have a clear no-logs policy, suffer from DNS leaks, or don’t utilize military-grade encryption.
In addition to this, there are many VPN services on the market that can considerably slow down your internet connection. So, depending on your base internet speed, you may struggle to perform certain online tasks such as streaming HD quality content or performing online gaming.
Thankfully, there is a wide range of VPN services out there that rank highly when it comes to speed and performance. Therefore, you should always choose wisely when it comes to investing in a VPN, which you can do easily by analyzing reviews beforehand.
Conclusion
Overall, it’s safe to say that using a VPN on a smartphone is the way forward if you’re looking to considerably enhance your online privacy and security and would like to enjoy a wealth of content wherever you are.
Thanks to VPNs, it’s now possible to keep your data safe at all times – no matter if it’s on your computer, mobile, or another internet-connected device. An added bonus is that you’ll be able to bypass any geo-restrictions put in place by many websites and services throughout the world. So, it’s clear that a VPN can be useful on a smartphone in more ways than one.
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