There are several reasons to get a good personal VPN. For some people, the main motivation is security, as it allows them to use things like public Wi-Fi hotspots (such as you might find in hotels, airport lounges and restaurants) to browse the web without fear of their activity being ‘snooped on’ and their personal data, like their email and social media passwords, compromised.
For others, privacy is the main advantage to using a VPN, allowing them to use the web anonymously. This can be a priority for people who use downloading services and are concerned they may be suspected of piracy, even if their use of software like BitTorrent is legal.
For others still, a VPN can allow them to get around regional restrictions on content availability. This can include situations like journalists in countries with government enforced restrictions on certain domains and content who use VPNs to be able to see resources available in their home countries. It can also simply be used by people who want to watch media that isn’t available in certain regions (like British ex pats who want to use BBC iPlayer).
If you would like to set up your own personal VPN, here are some tips for getting started:
Choose Whether to Set up Your Own or Use a VPN Service
You can create your own VPN, and this is something you might want to consider if you have specific needs and are tech savvy enough to do it without too many difficulties. You can read a good introduction to VPN protocols which can help you understand some of the options you have when it comes to different types of VPN. If you don’t really fancy that, then the easiest thing to do is choose a VPN service from a provider. This will be a service you subscribe to that allows you to log in to the VPN either from a client program on your device or through the web. You can then simply fire that up whenever you want to browse securely and privately. It is advisable to do this all the time if you mostly use public Wi-Fi, for example if you spend a lot of time staying in hotels for business and work from their networks.
Choosing a VPN Service
If you decide to go down the route of using a VPN service provider, Tech Surprise Blog highlights that you should shop around and do some research before you choose one. Some solutions are very, very good, whereas others can have speed issues or simply aren’t designed for the level of usage you may want (particularly if you want to do a lot of downloading). Read reviews by other consumers for the providers that offer products that meet your needs, and choose one that has a reputation for a good service and reliable customer support.
Once you have got your VPN set up, all you need to do is activate it when you need it, and you are good to go!
