You’re not much safer surfing the web from your home than anywhere else. Unfortunately, locking your door does very little to keep cybercriminals away. So if you want privacy and security online, you need a VPN (Virtual Private Network), regardless of where you’re connecting from.
Not convinced? Take a closer look at some of the key reasons why you might want to stay connected to a VPN at home.
Table of contents
Why do I need a VPN?
A VPN creates a secure connection to the internet and keeps your sensitive information hidden from your ISP (Internet Service Provider), snoopers, and any other third parties. So if you want some privacy online, you can get it by using a VPN at home, school, work, or on public networks.
Without the protection of a VPN, you are far more likely to receive targeted ads, phishing attacks, or become a victim of data breaches.
Premium VPN services like Surfshark have additional tools to ensure a safe and smooth online experience. These include the likes of Kill Switch, a data breach alert, a private search engine, or an antivirus to keep your devices safe.
5 reasons to use a VPN
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Protect your privacy online
You need a VPN to protect your privacy online. It’s the first thing people mention when talking about VPN providers, and there’s a good reason for it. A VPN is a privacy tool designed to keep your sensitive information away from prying eyes.
There are two basic ways how a good VPN service protects your privacy:
- By changing your IP address;
- By encrypting your data.
Scammers, hackers, invasive ISPs — everyone wants a piece of your data. But once you’re connected to a trusted VPN service like Surfshark, all your internet traffic stays protected.
Pro tip: with Surfshark’s Camouflage mode, your ISP won’t know you’re using a VPN.
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Enjoy entertainment privately
If you’re one of the more privacy-oriented people, you’ll want to stay safe no matter what you do. This includes entertainment. With a VPN, you can keep bad actors away when playing games or streaming your favorite movies.
Just make sure to look for a VPN that has fast servers and doesn’t limit your bandwidth. Surfshark has 10Gbps ports on most of its servers, allowing you to use as much data as needed. The result — less buffering and more entertainment, all with the protection of a VPN.
Disclaimer: Please note that using Surfshark services for any illegal activities is strictly forbidden and constitutes a violation of our Terms of Service. Make sure that any use of Surfshark services for your particular activities conforms to all relevant laws and regulations, including those of any service providers and websites you access using Surfshark.
Pro tip: you can enjoy private and secure streaming on the big screen by setting up Surfshark on your smart TV.
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Secure your whole family online
You’re probably not the only one using the internet at your home. Thankfully, there are ways to protect everyone within your household with a single VPN subscription. Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections on all of its plans, so you can keep your family safe while taking care of your own privacy.
You can secure your entire home network by installing a VPN on your router. By doing so, every device connected to your home Wi-Fi is immediately protected by a VPN.
And it’s not just about improving privacy on phones, tablets, and computers. All internet-of-things devices are safe as long as they’re connected to your Wi-Fi. This includes smartwatches, cameras, sensors, and anything else that connects to the internet.
Pro tip: the easiest way to protect every device on your home network is to set up a VPN connection on your router.
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Defy invasive laws and practices
You’d think it would be in your country’s interest to protect its people’s privacy. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Depending on the country, the law might require your ISP to keep logs of your browsing data for six months — or even allow them to sell your data to marketers.
A VPN encrypts all your data before it leaves your device. So instead of activity logs, your ISP sees gibberish code. The same applies to anyone trying to snoop on your traffic.
A VPN can also help you overcome oppressive censorship. This is particularly useful for users in countries that heavily restrict or regulate internet use. By establishing a VPN connection, you can overcome these restrictions and enjoy free access to the internet.
Pro tip: Surfshark offers NoBorders mode for users in countries that restrict VPN access.
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Save money online
Some services, such as airlines, rentals, and accommodation providers may change their prices according to your location and previous activity on their website. Whether it’s because you’re trying to get a last-minute flight or you’re visiting their website too much, price discrimination is real.
Fortunately, you can still hunt for bargains and save money with a VPN. Make sure to regularly clear your cache and cookies and switch VPN servers so that the website you’re visiting doesn’t have any information about your prior activity.
Pro tip: switch your VPN location a few times to find the best deals.
What does a VPN hide?
A VPN can hide most of the things you do online, including, but not limited to:
Your web activity
Everything you do online, including your browsing history, can be tracked by third parties. That’s everyone from your ISP to hackers.
Protecting your activity from hackers is essential, as they typically have malicious intent behind their actions. ISPs can’t be trusted, either. Some of them have been known to sell your information to advertisers or pass it on to government agencies.
A VPN hides all your traffic from third parties by encrypting it in a code that’s nearly impossible to crack. Anyone trying to spy on you will see gibberish and won’t gain any useful information from you as long as your VPN connection is active.
Your IP address
Without any protection, your IP address is exposed every time you go online. Imagine that each time you went to a coffee shop, you had to write down your home address and give it to the barista. That’s what happens whenever you visit a website. And it’s just as compromising since bad actors can use your IP address in ways that can seriously harm you.
Once you establish a VPN connection, you hide your real IP and use the one the VPN provides instead. Whenever you’re in a coffee shop, you write “Surfshark” as your home address. And there’s no way to track it back to your address.
Your networked devices
You probably have a lot of devices connected to your local network — your phone, laptop, TV, or even your smart fridge. And guess what? They can all be found and hacked into. Hackers can then blackmail you, steal sensitive data, or even restrict your access to the internet.
That’s where a VPN connection comes in. A VPN on your router will hide your devices behind an encrypted tunnel, protecting you from hackers.
Do I need a VPN on my phone?
Having a VPN on your phone is more important than having one on any other device. You take it wherever you go and likely connect it to various networks, such as free Wi-Fi in coffee shops, trains, or airports. Such public Wi-Fi hotspots pose a lot of risks, so having the protection of a VPN is a must.
This is even more true if you, like many others, treat your phone as the default device for everything you do online. It likely has passwords, addresses, search queries, and other things you wouldn’t want in the hands of bad actors. And using a VPN is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect them.
The takeaway: is a VPN necessary?
Whether at home or on the go, using a VPN is one of the easiest yet most reliable ways to improve your online privacy and security. Choose a reliable paid VPN service, and you won’t have to worry about the prying eyes feasting on your sensitive information.
FAQ
Is it worth having a VPN?
Yes, if you want to protect your privacy. With a VPN like Surfshark, you can get VPN protection for as little as $2.49. That’s one less coffee a month. Not a big price to pay for your safety online.
Is it OK not to have a VPN?
It’s your choice whether or not you want to use a VPN. However, the benefits that a VPN offers far outweigh the price of a VPN subscription. A VPN provides you with privacy and security on the internet. So while having a VPN isn’t a must, it sure is recommended.
Do I need a VPN abroad?
Yes. A VPN abroad will protect you from malicious attempts to steal your data and personal information, including credit card details and passwords. You can secure your network and browse safely online using different Wi-Fi spots while exploring the country. You’ll also be able to access local online sites and services.
When shouldn’t you use a VPN?
You shouldn’t use a VPN if it’s free. Yes, yes, obviously, a paid VPN provider is going to tell you that, but it’s true. No good product is free, and a couple of dollars a month for a premium VPN experience is a worthwhile investment.
There are many things to consider when it comes to free VPNs vs. paid VPNs. For example, what you save in monetary value with a free VPN, you pay for with your sensitive data. Free VPNs can only keep up because they sell user information to third parties or run an excessive amount of intrusive ads.
Do I need a VPN for my business?
Businesses need a VPN to secure their employees’ internet connections and connect them to a remote VPN server where files and sensitive information can be accessed safely. This allows for a secure, encrypted connection, even when employees work remotely.
For large businesses, tools like a VPN concentrator offer a great solution for protecting the entire network of employees. Smaller companies will find it sufficient to get a VPN for business to keep all sensitive data and files safe.
Do I need to install a VPN on every device?
Yes, it is recommended that you install a VPN on any device that connects to the internet. Even devices such as a smart fridge or a smart vacuum cleaner can leak data, so it’s best to keep them protected. If native VPN apps aren’t available, install a VPN on your router to protect your entire home network.
Do I need a VPN for online banking?
Yes, you do need to use a VPN for online banking. Especially if you’re accessing your bank on a public Wi-Fi network. That said, many banking apps may require you to connect to a VPN server in your home country or not use a VPN at all. If that’s the case, make sure only to use online banking on a safe network.
