To answer correctly is VPN good or bad ? We need to know who is asking. If an authoritarian government with no respect for freedom of speech or communication is reading this, then it is very bad.
But, if you are a citizen of such a country, then this type of software might be the only way to access most of the internet.
Regardless of the quality of the VPN, it will always offer three things:
- Mask your IP address
- Allow you access same as the VPN server
- Encrypt your connection
And, if you are using a premium provider like Le VPN, you can get a lot more. With servers placed all over the world and military-grade encryption, you can get free access to the entirety of the internet and keep yourself protected at all times.
Also, it is important to point out that unless you are certain which server you are using and who is running it, buying a premium service is always better than going with a ‘’free VPN’’ from an unknown source.
As the saying goes, if you’re not paying for the product – you are the product. Free VPN might be a scam to connect to a server that will more easily steal your data.
Not all VPNs are the Same
While most cybersecurity experts will focus on the worst-case scenario when discussing untrusted VPN connections, this is the minority of cases.
On many occasions, the person or group running the VPN has the best intentions and is made by internet enthusiasts. But, if such a network grows, it will come under attack from hackers and data thieves.
And, as those enthusiast groups don’t have the resources and manpower to fight such attacks, they become compromised. This makes private servers only viable either with a very limited number of users or as a legitimate premium service.
Is VPN Good or Bad for the User?
Overall, a good VPN is a cornerstone of your cybersecurity and an overwhelmingly positive software to have. And, as processors are becoming faster and the requirements for using a VPN app or program are staying the same, the downsides are becoming negligible.
There are countries where using a VPN is illegal. Though this restriction is almost impossible to enforce, some state governments will punish people who connect through a VPN. We would never suggest breaking the law of any country, but hypothetically – don’t get caught.
Finally, some people don’t have a use for a VPN. If you really like your whole life being an open book and you don’t care if somebody forces you into debt by stealing your identity, then you have little to gain from a VPN apart from watching shows from abroad.
Is it Illegal to have a VPN?
There are currently 10 countries in the world where using a VPN is illegal: Russia, China, Belarus, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Oman, UAE, Uganda, and Venezuela.
There are also some places where the question of are VPNs legal is neither here nor there, as governments in Syria and Libya are generally against such connections. But, there is no strict ban in the law like in the mentioned ten.
And finally, there are countries like North Korea where VPNs aren’t illegal, nor is anyone cracking down on them. But, all foreign IP connections are forbidden. In other words, you don’t need to censor the internet if there is no internet.
Benefits of Using a Proxy Connection
Free VPNs that only have a single server and maybe a few people on maintenance are usually just referred to as proxy connections. There is little difference between connecting to these servers or your friend’s computer in another country.
Still, there are some benefits, even with such connections. Your IP address will still be masked by the computer you are connecting through, and you will get the same local access abilities as said computer.
Amateur providers won’t give things like the hotspot VPN app, top-range encryption, or a kill switch. But, some benefits will remain.
Advantages of Using a Good VPN
If you know how to use a VPN, you can gain a full range of advantages with a good one. You will get everything from shows to games and even better cybersecurity for your devices.
And, if you are a gamer, you can connect to the same server with your friends and play in a virtual LAN connection, which is astonishing. Games like Counter-Strike: Source are very easy to set up for such a game.
Not to mention that you can patch and purchase games from places where they aren’t censored and avoid Sony censorship in the US by buying their games from Japan directly.
Risks for Using ’’Free’’ VPN Services
If you don’t trust your VPN provider completely, there is a good chance that your free VPN is just taking you for a ride. And, in some of the countries where such a connection is illegal, you will even get governments sponsored Free VPN connections used to round up the opposition.
Generally, it is better to use something like the TOR browser than to risk with such services.
Downsides to Using a Premium VPN
It costs a few bucks a month and a couple of seconds to install and run.
Conclusion
Overall, a VPN is a very good thing to have, both as an individual and a community. But, you need to be careful and use trusted providers. Companies like Le VPN not only give a better service but are completely safe and impossible to hack.
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Written by Vuk Mujović @VukMujovic
Vuk Mujović is the founder of MacTíre Consulting, an analyst, data management expert, and a long-term writer on all things business & tech. He authored blogs, articles, and opinion pieces aimed to help both companies and individuals achieve growth without compromising their security. Vuk is a regular guest author to Le VPN Blog since January 2018, where he gives his expert opinion on the topics related to cybersecurity, privacy, online freedom, and personal data protection. He also often shares his tips and best practices in relation to internet security and digital safety of private individuals and small businesses, including some additional applications of using a VPN service.