Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are effective tools for protecting your privacy while using the internet, but that isn’t the only thing they’re capable of.
That’s right! From streaming unavailable content to avoiding online price discrimination, there’s so much you can do with a VPN on your device.
Interested? Read on as we share some of the best VPN tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your VPN subscription.
7 Amazing Things You Can Do With a VPN
Here are some cool uses for a VPN that you might not have known about:
VPN Trick #1 – Dodge Bandwidth Throttling
There’s nothing more annoying than experiencing endless buffering when watching YouTube videos or torrenting files. Bandwidth throttling could happen to anybody engaging in online activities like streaming, file sharing, and gaming. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) commonly use throttling to reduce bandwidth congestion and manage network traffic.
A VPN lets you bypass bandwidth throttling and enjoy faster connection speeds. Since your traffic is encrypted, it can no longer be seen or controlled by your ISP.
VPN Trick #2 – Access Geo-Locked Content
You’ve probably noticed that you can’t access the entire library on Netflix. Due to copyright agreements, certain movies and TV shows are unavailable in certain countries. With a VPN, you can unlock any country’s content for your viewing pleasure by switching your IP address. That’s also true for Amazon Prime, Hulu, and other streaming services.
Similarly, if you’re traveling outside your country, you can use a VPN to get around geo-restrictions and watch your favorite content from back home.
VPN Trick #3 – Download & Upload Files Safely
P2P file-sharing has plenty of benefits, but many ISPs frown upon the practice. This results in slower connection speeds, bandwidth caps, or restricted access to The Pirate Bay, KickassTorrents, and other file-sharing websites. Due to the nature of P2P file sharing, your IP address is also visible to other individuals, which poses a serious security risk.
If you want to indulge in P2P activities safely and without your ISP slowing you down, a VPN is your best bet. It’ll conceal your IP address and encrypt your traffic so that nobody can intercept or see it.
VPN Trick #4 – Keep Your VoIP Conversations Private
Whether you’re calling your mother or organizing a teleconference with your colleagues, you wouldn’t want your conversations to be snooped on by outsiders. While VoIP has become more secure than before, the truth is, it can be eavesdropped upon by hackers. Furthermore, VoIP services are blocked in some countries, so you might not be able to access them during your travels abroad.
VPNs not only allow you to use VoIP services from anywhere in the world but also prevent third parties from monitoring your communications using robust encryption.
VPN Trick #5 – Connect to Public Wi-Fi Securely
Even though public Wi-Fi hotspots are very convenient, they typically offer little to no protection, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals. For instance, they can use tools like packet sniffers to capture your traffic and steal personal information. With a VPN protecting your traffic, you can securely connect to any public Wi-Fi network at a café, hotel, or airport.
Since your entire connection is encrypted, the bad guys won’t be able to get their hands on your data and use it to their advantage.
VPN Trick #6 – Beat Online Censorship
Many nations around the world are known for practicing censorship on the internet. Take, for instance, China’s Great Firewall that restricts users from being able to access most western sites, apps, and social media networks. If you happen to be in such a country, you can get around censorship and use the internet freely by connecting to a VPN.
Just choose a server in a country with no online censorship, and you’ll be able to access the services you want with your new IP address.
VPN Trick #7 – Book Car Rentals, Hotels, & Flight Tickets for Cheap
Did you know that airline, hotel, and car rental websites use your location to determine the prices you’ll be shown? Visitors from affluent countries might get charged higher as opposed to those from less affluent countries.
Using a VPN, you save some money by making it seem as if you’re connecting from a country where the rates are lower. You can also take advantage of specific discounts available to other regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the disadvantages of a VPN?
A slower connection is one of the biggest disadvantages of using a VPN. This is because of the encryption and decryption process that takes place. However, most reputed VPN providers will have workarounds in place to ensure you get the fastest possible speeds.
How can I increase my VPN speed?
If your VPN speed isn’t up to the mark, fret not. There are a few things that you can do to improve it, such as:
- Selecting another server
- Changing your VPN protocol
- Trying split tunneling
Should I have my VPN on all the time?
It comes down to what your needs actually are. Generally speaking, though, you’re better off leaving your VPN on most of the time as it protects your personal data from interested third parties like ISPs, hackers, and the government.
So, Get Yourself a VPN Service!
And with that, we’ve come to the end of our VPN tricks guide. Hopefully, now you have a better idea about what VPNs can be used for. Not only are they ideal for protecting your privacy, but also they help you book cheaper vacations, bypass geo-restrictions and censorship, and more.
If you don’t already own a VPN, it’s the right time to get one. PureVPN secures your traffic using bank-grade encryption, comes equipped with must-have features like a kill switch & DNS leak protection, and doesn’t keep logs of any kind, making it a worthy choice.
Got any questions? Feel free to use the comments section below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
PureVPN
January 1, 2024
4 months ago
