A VPN is used primarily for what purpose?

A VPN is essentially a security tool designed to offer anonymity and allows online users to securely bypass and access geo-restricted websites and services. So, in case your country has strict censorship laws, you can connect to a secure VPN server and gain access to virtually any blocked content. A VPN also offers online privacy. It deters hackers from stealing your data over public Wi-Fi and prevents marketers from tracking your online activities.

As for use cases, most online users nowadays use VPNs for torrenting or for bypassing geographic restrictions to access streaming services like U.S Netflix. If you’re new to VPNs, here’s what you can use a VPN for:

Hide Your Browsing Activity:

When you use public Wi-Fi connections, your browsing activity is visible for everyone to see around you. So, if you’re at a coffee, a would-be hacker can potentially see what you’re browsing online. A VPN prevents this by encrypting your data. A VPN creates a virtual tunnel between you and the VPN server. Anyone outside the tunnel would have no idea what you’re doing online. This even includes your internet service provider (ISP).

Access Geo-restricted Websites: 

Some websites and streaming services are only available in certain regions. For instance, streaming services like Netflix, Pandora, and Hulu are only available in the U.S. If you’re a non-U.S resident, or traveling outside the country, you will not be able to access any of the services due to geo-restrictions.

But with the help of a VPN, you can spoof your geo-location to obtain an IP address from anywhere in the world and access blocked websites or services freely without restrictions.

Bypass Internet Censorship: 

Many countries around the world have strict online censorship. Countries like China use strict firewalls to detect and block foreign or inappropriate content. Even Middle Eastern countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia have strict censorship laws that block most foreign content. However, a VPN is designed to bypass censorships and give a user access to any blocked content from anywhere in the world.