Some people believe that VPNs are only used for illegal purposes, while others argue that free VPNs are unreliable.
The History of VPNs
The first phase of VPN history began in the 1970s. During that time, private networks were used to connect discreetly with network devices. The development of modern VPNs is closely associated with Microsoft, as an employee of the company developed the first Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) in 1996. At that time, VPNs were used in the business world as a way to transmit data securely. The technology became popular in the 2000s.
Today, VPNs are used to protect internet connections, guard against viruses and hacking, ensure online privacy, bypass geo-restricted content, and conceal users’ actual locations. They are considered essential tools for maintaining online safety and security, and VPNs are now more affordable and user-friendly than ever.
Today, VPNs are used to protect internet connections from viruses and hacks.
Technological advancements have brought us free VPNs. Free VPNs often provide a level of encryption and use the same protocols as premium options. Typically, the free version of a VPN is used to attract new customers, some of whom will eventually purchase a premium subscription or recommend the service to their friends. Although there are certain limitations compared to premium options, such as fewer accessible VPN servers, free VPNs still offer excellent data security.
Myths and Facts About Free VPNs
Myth 1: Only hackers and criminals use VPNs
Today, VPNs are utilized as technology to protect against criminal activity and hackers. Statistics show that 65% of VPN users employ it for work and security, while the rest use it for gaming and accessing various entertainment websites.
VPNs provide security by encrypting traffic, making it more challenging for hackers to access your data since they not only need to steal your information but also decode it.
Even if you have nothing to hide, privacy is still valuable. Digital tracking is a lucrative industry, and even seemingly harmless data can be exploited to create a comprehensive profile of you. All the information collected by advertisers and data brokers is available for use or can be sold to the highest bidder.
Myth 2: VPNs are only for tech-savvy individuals; they are too complicated for the average user
Modern VPNs have user-friendly interfaces, so you don’t need to be a network expert to use them.
The process of using a VPN is quite simple in most cases. By using a Chrome extension or a VPN app on your phone, you can quickly set up a VPN connection with just a few clicks or taps on your phone screen.
Myth 3: Free VPNs sell user data
As mentioned above, free VPNs are often provided by companies that also offer paid options and use this as a way to attract new customers. Selling user data would be counterproductive as the potential damage to a person’s reputation would outweigh any immediate financial benefits. With fierce competition in the VPN industry, reputation is crucial. Therefore, a “smart” business would not take that risk.
Carefully review a VPN company’s privacy and security policy to see how they handle customer data. It is true that some VPN companies handle user data less carefully than others, but there are reputable VPN companies that adhere to strict security principles.
There are now free VPN solutions for almost all devices.
Checking the country of registration for the VPN provider is also essential. The regulations of that country significantly impact how the company processes user data.
Myth 4: Free VPNs have compatibility issues
Many websites employ various methods to block VPN traffic. Since unencrypted and anonymous traffic contains more user data that can be scrutinized and utilized for their benefit, they take these actions to protect their interests.
Regarding compatibility with different devices, there are now free VPN solutions available for almost all devices. So, you can install free VPNs on iOS, download browser extensions, set up VPNs on Windows, and more.
Myth 5: Free VPNs are usually slow
In reality, speed depends on many factors, including the current load on the VPN server, the distance to the remote server, and the VPN protocol. Both paid and free VPNs may experience cases where a server is overloaded, causing slow performance. This can usually be remedied by selecting a different server in the app. Typically, average users will not notice any change in speed, but this can be crucial for those who choose VPNs for gaming.
