Here are two examples why you may want to keep your browsing history private. Web browsers can track your search history and tie that information to your IP address. A lot of the websites you visit can also keep a history. Your internet service provider and your web browser can track just about everything you do on the internet. It’s no secret where you go on the internet. VPN privacy: What does a VPN hide?Ī VPN can hide a lot of information that can put your privacy at risk. Again, your VPN will keep your online activity private. Keep in mind, search engines also track your search history, but they’ll associate that information with an IP address that’s not yours. That means your search activity could appear to originate at any one of them. A VPN service provider may have servers all over the world. That’s because your web activity will be associated with the VPN server’s IP address, not yours. With a VPN, your search history is hidden. Without a VPN, your internet service provider can know your entire browsing history. Data security is especially important when using a public Wi-Fi network, because it prevents anyone else on the network from eavesdropping on your internet activity. VPNs use encryption to scramble data when it’s sent over a Wi-Fi network. Here’s a closer look at how a virtual private network works.
This benefit allows online freedom, or the ability to access your favorite apps and websites while on the go. VPNs essentially create a data tunnel between your local network and an exit node in another location, which could be thousands of miles away, making it seem as if you’re in another place. How a VPN protects your IP address and privacy VPNs also help keep your web browsing anonymous. The encryption and anonymity that a VPN provides helps protect your online activities: sending emails, shopping online, or paying bills. Unless you were logged into a private Wi-Fi network that requires a password, any data transmitted during your online session could be vulnerable to eavesdropping by strangers using the same network. Think about all the times you’ve been on the go, reading emails while in line at the coffee shop, or checking your bank account while waiting at the doctor’s office. That’s why a virtual private network, better known as a VPN, should be a must for anyone concerned about their online security and privacy. Surfing the web or transacting on an unsecured Wi-Fi network means you could be exposing your private information and browsing habits. Most important, VPN services establish secure and encrypted connections to provide greater privacy than even a secured Wi-Fi hotspot. VPNs mask your internet protocol (IP) address so your online actions are virtually untraceable. A virtual private network (VPN) gives you online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network from a public internet connection.