Why You Need to Use a VPN at Home
Sep 08, 2021
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Many people are aware of VPN software. However, only some truly understand its importance. VPN software can keep your device secure, and protect your privacy. This is important to anyone.
However, using VPN software should not be reserved for when you are on a public WiFi hotspot. It is arguably the most important time to use VPN software, however, you need to make sure you use a VPN at home as well.
Doing so will maintain your security and privacy at all times. Cybercriminals are becoming more crafty by the day. They are able to find ways to infiltrate your home network, even if it is password protected.
Using VPN Software at Home is Important
Many of us understand why it is important to use VPN software while we are on an unsecured public WiFi network. However, sometimes people overlook the importance of a VPN when they are at home.
Even if your home network is secure and has a strong password, cybercriminals are still able to find ways to infiltrate your network. If you are not using a VPN, infiltrating your network becomes much easier for them.
VPN software will encrypt your internet traffic, which means that no one will be able to see what you are doing on your device. In addition, it also changes the location of your IP address. This is useful because it prevents cybercriminals from tracking your location once they have bypassed your security.
Is it Legal to Use a VPN?
In the majority of countries using VPN software is legal. In fact, in countries such as the United States, using VPN software is encouraged by the government. This is because it offers greater security and privacy.
However, in some countries the use of VPN software is illegal. This could be the case for several reasons. Some may be legal reasons and others may be religious reasons. However, in most of these countries, no one has ever been arrested or fined for using a VPN.
These countries often block the websites that allow you to download VPN software, which makes it difficult for you to gain access to them in the first place. Your best bet is to download a VPN before you enter the country in question.
What Can Cybercriminals do With Our Data?
If you are not using a VPN you could be at serious risk of cyberattacks. Hackers tend to target easy victims. This includes people who do not use the correct cybersecurity measures if any at all.
Once a cybercriminal has access to your data they have several crimes they can commit. The most common is to gain access to your accounts. If they are able to get into your bank accounts, they can commit fraudulent transactions, or even steal your money.
However, cybercriminals do not even need access to your bank accounts to commit their crimes. They can use much more basic information as well. Anything from your names, social security numbers, phone numbers or even your physical address can be used to commit crimes.
Cybercriminals can use any of this information to open accounts in your name. It can be as simple as a utility account. The account will never be paid, and you might never even know about it until you get into trouble for not paying it.
This shows that cybercriminals can make use of even the simplest of information to do damage. There are even more techniques being developed every day in which they can commit crimes.
While this information may be basic, it can also be sold on the dark web for a significant price. Any kind of personal information such as phone numbers or email addresses can be sold for a lot of money to other scammers.
Use More Cybersecurity Tools to Stay Safe
Using a VPN to secure your device is a good first step. However, there are some other critical cybersecurity measures you need to consider to boost the safety of your network and your devices.
The most important security measure you need to get in place is antivirus software. Antivirus is your device’s prime line of defence. Not only will it detect suspicious software that has been downloaded, but it will also warn you if you are entering suspicious websites that are unsecured.
Antivirus software will also consistently scan your device to find any potentially harmful software such as viruses, spyware and malware. All of this software is used by cybercriminals to attack your devices.
It’s important to always keep your antivirus software updated. Software updates are brought out to fix any potential flaws that might be discovered in the software. It can also add new lines of defence against cybercriminals who discover more ways to bypass the software.