You might be using a virtual private network for various purposes, from accessing geo-locked content to hiding online activities from ISPs. If you rely on these tools for the latter, then you probably know how hot of a topic ISP tracking is.
Most ISPs are known to sell their users’ browsing history for a profit. Although this practice may sound illegal, it’s acceptable in certain countries like the US. Below, we’ll explain why it’s better to trust a premium VPN more than your ISP:
Two Reasons Why You Can’t Trust Your ISP
1. Your Data is Valuable, and Your ISP Knows That
As an Internet user, your most prized asset is your data. Every app you use, purchase you make, website you visit, file you download, and map you view can draw an eerily accurate sketch of who you are and what interests you. Not only this, but also your data could indicate where you are, what mood you are in, how much you spend, and more!
In short, your whole digital life is at risk because it serves as a great source of information for third-parties like advertisers, cybercriminals, and even governments. ISPs have tremendous power over your data, but they benefit more from not keeping it to themselves.
2. ISPs Won’t Promise Not to Sell You Out
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) publishes an annual report known as “Who Has Your Back” to see how well leading tech companies protect your personal data from government requests. The 2017 edition revealed how the most popular US ISPs (Verizon, T-Mobile, Comcast, and AT&T) were the worst performers.
It turns out, none of them inform their customers about data inquiries from the government. The situation, unfortunately, became more dire with Trump abolishing the Obama-era broadband privacy rules and allowing ISPs to sell your private data.
Two Reasons Why You Can Trust VPNs
1. The Sole Purpose of VPNs is to Keep Your Data Private
When it comes to VPNs, they are in the business of protecting your privacy. You trust them to safeguard your data, and failure to do so would tarnish the reputation of the company and its brand. On the other hand, the sole purpose of ISPs is to connect you to the Internet – nothing more, nothing less.
Your privacy isn’t their concern because they have other agendas. However, concealing your traffic from prying eyes is what keeps VPNs afloat. That said, don’t make the mistake of assuming that all providers behave the same way. The best ones, such as PureVPN, will store no connection or activity logs!
2. Unlike ISPs, a VPN Will Encrypt All of Your Traffic
When you connect to the Internet through your ISP, they can view everything you do as your traffic is unencrypted. This is what enables ISPs to track your online activities and sell them to entities with an interest in you.
If you connect to a VPN before hopping on the Internet though, all your traffic is passed through a secure, encrypted tunnel. As a result, nobody can learn what you are up to online – not even the VPN provider itself!
Why Should You Beware of Free VPNs?
Signing up for a free VPN instead of a paid one can be tempting, especially for first-time VPN users. It’s great to get something for nothing, after all. But that’s not the case with these services. They too have to make money to stay in business, right?
What most people don’t know or overlook is they do this by:
- Showing you intrusive ads.
- Selling your online activities to the highest bidder.
Don’t fall for this trap as free VPNs go against the very purpose of using a VPN. It’s recommended you stick to paid options that offer a money-back guarantee to reap all the benefits of a VPN without risking your money.
Keep Your Data Private with a Premium VPN like PureVPN
Do you want to use the Internet securely, privately, and freely? Wait no further and get yourself a PureVPN subscription today!
We are a no-log certified VPN service, secure all your data with military-grade encryption, and offer a plethora of features that boost your online experience.
What’s more, PureVPN has a 31-day money-back guarantee, so you have ample time to test and see if our service is right for you.
PureVPN
January 1, 2024
4 months ago
