A VPN is one of the easiest ways to protect your online privacy. With just one tap, it can change your IP address and encrypt your internet traffic. It also stops your internet service provider from seeing what you do online.
However, even though VPNs have many benefits, it is important to use them properly. Using them the wrong way can cause more problems instead of protecting you.
Common VPN Mistakes You Should Avoid
Using Free VPNs for Everything
Many people use free VPNs for browsing the internet. These services often claim to give full protection, but in reality they do not. Running a VPN requires servers, bandwidth, and other resources, which cost money.
If a VPN is free, it may be tracking your browsing activity or showing ads. Some free VPNs even sell your personal data to other companies. This means your privacy may actually be at risk instead of protected.
Blindly Trusting a VPN
A VPN can hide your IP address and encrypt your internet traffic, but it is not perfect. It cannot make you completely invisible online.
Websites can still track you using cookies, and any account you are logged into can still show your activity. So, you should not assume that using a VPN makes you fully anonymous on the internet.
Always Connecting to the Nearest Server
Many VPN apps automatically connect you to the nearest or fastest server. While this can improve speed, it also has downsides.
The nearest server may sometimes be crowded or slow. Also, you may need an IP address from a specific country to access certain content, which the nearest server cannot provide.
Turning the VPN On and Off at the Wrong Time
Some people keep their VPN on all the time, while others turn it on only occasionally. Both habits are not ideal.
When you are at home and using secure services like banking on a trusted network, it is better to keep the VPN off to avoid slow speeds. But when you are using public Wi-Fi, you should always turn the VPN on to stay protected.
