A member asked, “Why VPN?”
Virtual Private Networks have been around for some time. In short, you encrypt everything you send and receive through the Internet and work through a server the VPN hosts. If you use cyber cafes or just wonder if your own Internet service and wifi at home is secure, using a VPN makes your machine secure. Anywhere.
It amounts to a private tunnel and separate address for you so no one else can see what you do. I chose to start using one shortly after Trump was elected when he changed the rules so your Internet provider is allowed to use logs of your use for its own profit. Using a VPN uses their service but encrypts it so they see nothing readable from (or to) me.
Most of these services are not free, but a few are. But for them to exist they may cause your surfing to slow down or receive ads that pay for it instead. Most services are more than $50/year, but some are less if paid yearly. I went with PIA for $35/year for five machines. For me this covers my wife’s and my computers and Androids. I use west coast servers and still get 75 mbps download and 7mbps upload speed from speedtest.net. Without VPN the speeds are 80 and 8mbps respectively, not much higher.
There are many other differences in services and I recommend Googling and shopping for what is best for you. But if you intend to visit sensitive sites, banks, email, etc. I see them as a must these days.
Thanks Larry, good information.
This is great info! I’m here in Eugene and work for Webroot. Another option for VPN is Webroot WiFi security https://www.webroot.com/us/en/home/products/vpn-wifi-security. It’s an easy, robust solution.
Hope you get to drop by and join us sometime, Webroot looks good!