If your ISP (internet service provider) is blocking content at a particular location, you can bypass that wall with a VPN. If you really don’t know what exactly a VPN is then you must check out VPN Explanation guide ‘What is a VPN’ from Whatismyipaddress.
A VPN can route your traffic through the public Internet. Hence, it appears you are accessing the website from outside of the country, thus bypassing its geo-blocking restrictions.
Benefits of Having a VPN at Home
1. Reduce your Online Security Risks
A VPN can provide a secure, private, and quick connection to the Internet. Using one at home can also allow you to bypass geographical restrictions on content, such as streaming sites that don’t work in countries like China.
It also protects from other threats, such as malware and viruses, along with the ability to bypass censorship when out of the country.
2. Access Geoblocking Content
A VPN can essentially help you make all of your content appear region-free. When traveling abroad, you will have the same access to content at home.
Another benefit of using a VPN is it can help you access geo-blocking technology in China and other countries that prevent users from accessing certain websites.
3. Access Blocked Content
A VPN will allow you to access blocked content worldwide because many top media websites are not region-locked. It includes everything from news to sports and movies.
All you have to do is bypass your country’s restriction on the website you are trying to access; voila, you will be able to access the content as though it were in your own country.
4. Stop Malware and Viruses from Hacking Your Computer
VPN technology will encrypt all of your Internet traffic so no one can hack into it. It includes your ISP, website owners, and government agencies.
The encryption will ensure that even if someone tries to monitor or tamper with any information coming in or out of your computer, they will not be able to do so because it is encrypted.
5. Secure Your Home Network
A VPN can protect your home network from prying eyes and intruders. If you are concerned about someone being able to see what you are doing on your computer, then using a VPN can provide an extra layer of security.
Almost all VPNs include a great feature, the ability to use a “firewall.” This feature can help you block incoming connections from specific geographic locations and prevent others from connecting to your router without permission.
6. Protect Yourself Online
Everyone is concerned about online privacy. The good news is that a VPN will not only help you with this, but you can also use it to encrypt your data so no one can steal your information while it is transmitted from your device to the web.
It includes when you are downloading items from the Internet and when you are on social media. The best part is that a VPN will encrypt everything for free.
Tips on How to Choose a VPN for Your Home
1. Free or Premium VPN?
Free VPNs are suitable for light web browsing and anonymity, making them a decent choice if you need to do something quickly and anonymously. Premium VPN services will cost a few monthly dollars and give you the fastest connections and best service.
Premium VPNs are usually paid by the month or year, with some offering free trials to speed-test them before committing.
2. Number of Servers
The more VPN servers have, the more connections they can make. While having more servers is not essential if you are using a VPN to shop online in China, it is necessary if you want to stream content.
One server will be enough to do the job if you need a simple internet proxy for your online shopping or light web tasks.
3. Speed
A faster connection means a better experience when streaming or downloading content. However, some contacts may be so slow that they may not be good enough to use, while others are so fast they are practically unusable.
To test the speed of your VPN, download a free speed test from an independent website such as speed test.
The Bottom Line
A VPN, or virtual private network, allows you to use your home internet connection as though you were using a public link. If you want to stream your favorite shows and movies while out of the country or access blocked content at home, then using a VPN may be the right choice.
It will encrypt your data so it cannot be accessed by anyone else and will provide you with access to websites they may block in your area.
