Secure Internet ‘Tunnel’ Worth Having
Are you using a VPN on your portable devices?
If not, it merits consideration, especially if you are in the habit of using password protected services in public places.
VPN, for those unfamiliar stands for Virtual Private Network.
It is a way of creating a secure and private ‘tunnel’ within the Internet that cannot be snooped on.
In a nutshell, when it comes to concerns about the privacy of your connection to free wifi at the pub, coffee shop or airport, it is worth having.
Even if your phone, tablet or laptop is well protected against external attack, it can still defend against other stuff you might prefer to avoid, like location detection.
VPNs work by providing a secure connection to a distant server, sometimes abroad, so that, to all the services you then access, you appear to be doing your business from that server, in a far more watertight manner.
Free VPN services are available, such as TunnelBear and Cyberghost, both available for Android, iOS, Windows and Macs, but these are slower and less robust than the paid-for equivalents.
One of the most highly rated in ‘Best of’ lists is NordVPN, which gives the ability to use it on as many as six devices for four dollars per month.
Other well regarded options are PureVPN, IP Vanish and the premium version of CyberGhost.
Many People use these products to access services that are blocked where they are.
For instance, by using a VPN to a UK-based server from the Med, it is possible to watch iPlayer content. But, of course, that infringes licencing, and content providers are already on the case!
