VPNs are Great, but there are Disadvantages Too

The Truth About VPNs | The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly 

VPNs create a secure and anonymous connection between two or more devices. People can then use this tunnel to encrypt and protect data as it travels between the devices.

One significant disadvantage of using a VPN is that it can slow down your internet speed. In addition, since your data has to travel through a different server before it reaches its destination, it takes longer to process. Another disadvantage of using a VPN is that it can be more challenging to set up than a regular internet connection.

You may need to download & install special software, and you may need to configure your devices to use the VPN. Finally, using a VPN can be expensive. Most VPNs charge a monthly fee, and the costs can add up over time. In addition, free VPNs tend to have problems. These include things like limited data caps and slow speeds. Many free VPNs are also hiding malicious code that can steal your data.

Potential Pitfalls of VPNs

Once you connect your computer to the Internet, bits of personally identifiable data are transmitted online. This data can be used to track your online activity and expose you to dangerous adware, malware, viruses, and Trojans. Unencrypted browsing provides hackers with a clear window into your online activities. Use due diligence when researching VPN providers.

Knowledge is key. Users can gain fascinating insights from reading up on top providers, as evidenced in this detailed Surfshark VPN review. However, as pointed out by this provider, there are many other considerations to bear in mind, including multifactor authentication, ad blockers, the number of devices you can connect up to, and whether or the VPN is audited.

A high-quality VPN can fix all of that. Since VPNs provide a cloak of invisibility between your IP address and the outside world, they are naturally safer. This means that you can browse the web with confidence, knowing that all of your online activity is encrypted. With a top-tier VPN, you can access blocked sites, and switch your IP address to any server, in any supported country.

It’s not all sunshine and roses with VPNs. There are clear disadvantages to using a VPN, including the following:

• VPNs are not always legal in all countries. VPNs are outright illegal in some countries, and in others, their usage is restricted. Countries that ban VPN use outright include Turkmenistan, Belarus, Iraq, and North Korea. Countries that limit VPN use include the UAE, China, Russia, Iran, Oman, and Turkey.

• VPNs cannot guard against phishing and malware. Many folks believe that VPNs are the ultimate security protection mechanism. Unfortunately, they are not a substitute for a powerful antivirus program. Malware, adware, and spyware can still infect your personal computer or handheld device. Much the same is true of phishing attacks, even if you are using a VPN.

• Privacy considerations are another issue that VPN users need to deal with. Privacy refers to how the VPN provider uses your information. The reputable VPN providers do not share your information with third parties, but others do.

It’s important to carefully read the privacy policy of VPN providers to ensure that they do not keep logs of your browsing behaviour and, therefore, cannot turn over any of your activity to the government. Always pick a no-logs VPN service provider.

• Contrary to popular opinion, VPNs do not guarantee complete anonymity since the VPN service provider may have records of your browsing activity. This can be in the form of your online registration data when you create an account and download the software or the logs kept with specific providers.

Also, search engines like Facebook, YouTube, Google and others tend to monitor your activity online. So browser fingerprinting, cookies and web trackers need to be factored into the equation.

• VPNs can considerably slow down your Internet connection speed, and that’s true for all VPN service providers. Slow speed can occur because you have to connect from your IP address to a server in a different location, linking to your chosen website.

The traffic is re-routed all over the place to obfuscate your IP address and provide a tunnel of anonymity. But, a handful of quality VPN providers have minimal effect on your browsing speed. Ironically, if bandwidth throttling occurs with your Internet Service Provider (ISP), a VPN can offer increased speed for your browser!

• Various online services bar VPN users from connecting. If you’ve tried to connect to a website using a VPN, only to receive a blank page, chances are VPN users have been blocked. Scores of online casinos, news sites, government websites, movie streaming services, and e-commerce platforms already block users from connecting through VPNs. Many websites tend to ban free VPNs since these are poor-quality providers filled with viruses.

For all of these reasons and more, it’s important to thoroughly vet your choice of VPN service providers. Once you sign up, you entrust your Internet browsing activity, personal information, and user logs to the VPN provider. Pick a VPN provider with a no-logs policy, with maximum anonymity and rapid connections. You should use VPN services in tandem with antivirus software, firewall protection measures, and secure browsers at all times.