Why is a VPN so important? Today nearly 90% of Americans have access to a wireless network, providing them unprecedented access to knowledge 24/7. Regardless if you think that’s a good or bad thing, the truth is that the move away from wired connections has made over 260 million devices vulnerable to cybercriminals looking to access sensitive information on unsecured connections.
In addition, emerging technologies and AI algorithms that can find new vulnerabilities in our devices at lightning fast speeds are bombarding us with increasingly sophisticated scams.
Even more concerning is that you no longer have to be actively connected to the internet for someone else to access your private browsing data. For example, your ISP (internet service provider) and other companies might be collecting information about what websites you visit or how often you go online and selling that data to anyone willing to pay.
These threats to privacy will only continue to grow as our lives become more intertwined with the internet.
What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network or VPN is an essential tool if you want to protect yourself.
A VPN will encrypt all of your activity online so it can’t be read, tracked, or collected by unauthorized third parties while also allowing you to mask your IP address to make it harder for hackers and others to find you. It can protect your identity and information when using various public WiFi networks or hotspots.
With a VPN, you can minimize the risk of a cybersecurity breach, prevent damage to your business, and save the headache of dealing with all the problems associated with identity theft and things like hacked bank accounts, crypto wallets, and social media accounts. Installing this layer of security on your devices means you can have peace of mind while working on your devices remotely and living life on the go.
A VPN can also be used to access sites that would otherwise be blocked. It can make it appear as if you are accessing the service from a country where it is available, allowing you access to geo-restricted content.
It feels like just another added expense, but when you think about how much money we spend on our safety, privacy should not be something we sacrifice for convenience.
What makes a good VPN?
Several important points should be considered when choosing a VPN:
Encryption: the type of encryption used will determine how much effort needs to be made to access the data; the more complex the encryption, the longer it will take to access any encrypted information.
Servers: servers work like a web address or domain name; they are the unique identifier for each server and help send data between connected devices. When using a VPN, you will have access to several servers in different countries. This allows you to choose where you appear to be accessing the web from. More servers mean faster connections.
Jurisdiction: law enforcement agencies can force a VPN provider to reveal any information about their user’s activities and identities when requested to, meaning it is important to choose one with a no-logs policy or that is outside of any country that has data retention laws or VPN bans.
The best part about a VPN is that it’s simple to set up!
There are plenty of free and paid options out there. At Sierra Research Partners, we recommend: PIA (Private Internet Access).
- They use AES-128 and AES-256, the most secure, unbreakable encryption algorithms in the world. (This is what the US Military and secret agencies use)
- They have over 19,000 servers across 77 locations worldwide, more than any other VPN on the market.
- Their strict no-logs policy is rock solid, and they have the court records to prove it.
The PIA VPN is available on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux – virtually any device! It only takes a few minutes to get all of your devices setup. You can use up to 10 devices simultaneously—and all of these features are available for a very competitive price.
If you travel internationally, you also have the added advantage of using the fastest VPN for streaming. It can help you bypass geo-blocks of your favorite content on services like Netflix or Hulu, and it has no bandwidth limit or speed throttling.
Going above and beyond for privacy rights and the internet
PIA has also been a great ally in the fight for digital rights. When I campaigned with the team at Fight for the Future, I remember PIA being a great partner on fundraising drives. They have donated to the organization more than $50,000 to date, helping fund historic campaigns that fight for free speech and the internet.
I use the VPN myself and have used it to protect high-profile clients and organizations throughout the years. It’s simply the best VPN tool out there. The fact that they also put their money where their mouth is just makes for a great cherry on top.
A win-win for internet freedom!
Get your Private Internet Access VPN to start protecting yourself from cyberattacks today.
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