Ghost
No VPN found

Know The Upsides And Trade-Offs Of Having A Vpn

Know The Upsides And Trade-Offs Of Having A Vpn
date
Mar 16, 2022
slug
know-the-upsides-and-trade-offs-of-having-a-vpn
status
Published
summary
There are pros and cons of using a VPN like everything else. To be transparent enough, this article covers both upsides and trade-offs of having a VPN. Let's learn!
tags
Website
type
Post
Author
Eda Guzelyol
category
Vpn
meta_title
Pros and Cons of Having a VPN - Know The Upsides and Trade-offs - FastVPN
The world relies heavily on the internet for taking care of all kinds of businesses. From online shopping, bill paying, and internet banking to streaming T.V shows, gaming, and social media use, you depend on it. But what if your data gets stolen? Think about it! You become vulnerable to hackers, and all your personal information gets susceptible to stealing.
This is where the Fast VPN comes in. The “Virtual Private Network” that protects your data. And that’s not the only benefit it provides. You get much more advantages and perks of using it. But did you know about the possible trade-offs? Well, using a VPN doesn’t come without the downsides.
So, this article will discuss the upsides and downsides of using a VPN. Also, we’ll weigh between them both and give our opinion.
Let’s talk about the benefits first.

The Benefits of using a VPN:

1- Data protection and online privacy:

When using various websites and connecting with random servers, you must be on your guard. You can lose your personal information like social media and bank account passwords or messages to third parties. These third parties could include hackers, data sellers, or government officials.
The more you spend your time online, the more vulnerable your data becomes. Your ISP (Internet service provider) could also access your data. And he might sell it to advertisement companies for money. Many websites also track your activity online to show you their adverts.
All in all, a VPN helps in resolving your worries. It provides encryption that protects your data. Any info regarding who you talk to or what messages you send will remain private. You can also use free wifi at a cafe or an airport without the fear of being tracked by cybercriminals. So, if you get a reputable paid VPN, you can rely on it for 100% privacy and data protection.

2- Get past through the Geo-Blocks:

A geo-block means you are in a specific country that might ban a website you want to use or restrict content. Often social media platforms like Twitter or Tiktoc get banned in countries due to controversies. Or you’ll find certain youtube videos or Netflix shows restricted in your area.
A VPN can help you get past these geo-blocks. It gives you a new IP address by concealing your real one. So, your identity becomes completely anonymous. It also allows you to change your location to other regions, which gives you access to blocked sites. You can stream shows that are unavailable in your area by connecting to a server of any other country.

3- Get rid of bandwidth limitation:

A VPN hides your identity by covering your IP address, even from the ISP. Your internet service provider can’t know what you’re up to online. That way, he can’t restrict your bandwidth, and you won’t suffer from throttling. You’ll be able to enjoy a fast connection for streaming and downloading.
Also, if you’re a gamer, this advantage would be a big plus. The VPN will protect you from DDoS attacks. And you could get past the geographical bans and play any game you like.
4- Use one subscription on many devices:
Some top-notch VPNs allow you to use one subscription on many devices and software. You can use it on your notebook, MacBook, Smartphone, etc., powered by Android or iOS. Some VPNs also provide a connection with your wifi router that activates VPN automatically for anyone who uses your wifi. Thanks to this perk, you can enjoy a secure connection on any device and remain protected.

5- Do online shopping at low prices from various locations:

Often the prices for the same product are different in different countries. You might get a higher price in your region, while a lower price might show at another location. So, using a VPN would help you get a fair deal. You can also benefit from online stores’ discounts and enjoy shopping globally. Moreover, this will help book airline tickets at a low cost as well.
All in all, you’ll have the advantage of checking out the market rates of online stores from any country. And shop only from the one that offers affordable pricing to you.
You could also face some downsides of using a VPN with all these significant advantages. Let’s discuss them now.

The trade-offs of using a VPN:

1- The internet speed drops:

One of the number one disadvantages of using a VPN is slowing down the internet speed. VPNs need time to reroute your traffic and encrypt all the data to provide a safe connection. Mainly, when you pick a remote server, the speed can decrease noticeably.
However, if you select a paid VPN like ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, or NordVPN, you won’t have to deal with the low speed. These premium and high-quality VPNs usually have servers worldwide with a robust infrastructure. They promise a speedy connection with no lags. This helps especially the gamers to do heavy multiplayer gaming without any interference in the link.
In a nutshell, a top VPNs speed drop rate is unnoticeable. But, if you choose a free VPN, you’d be losing your temper every day due to no good speed. That’s because free VPNs use limited servers without strong encryption codes. They don’t have a potent infrastructure to manage your traffic, and so the screen lags all the time.

2- Beware of losing data and unsafe connection:

When you install a VPN, you completely trust the VPN provider with your security. They provide you with a secure connection from others, but what if they steal your data themselves? At this point, you must find a reputable VPN that honors its privacy policies.
So, when selecting a VPN, you must look for the one that offers a no-log policy. A no-logging policy includes that the VPN provider won’t peek into your data or store any files.
Even so, the free VPNs usually steal your data and sell it to third parties. You probably think they are free, so why not take advantage, but you get no benefits in return. They give only terrible slow connections with no guarantee of online safety.
But that’s not all. We know that free VPNs aren’t trustworthy and might sell your data to get money. But did you know the paid ones could do the same?
Well, firstly, if you pick a VPN that says it might track your activity or store files, don’t go for it. You’ll be wasting your money. And secondly, only choose the one with positive reviews. Do not pay for a VPN with no name. For example, in the case of DoubleVPN, they promised never to keep your logging details. Yet they were later caught keeping records and passing them to the government agency. So, it would help if you were critical in selecting a VPN.

3- Get blocked from using sites:

We discussed in the advantages section how the VPN allows you to access blocked sites. But, some streaming sites like Hulu or Netflix can recognize the VPN’s IP address and block it. Some sites restricted by governments can also figure out the IP addresses given by a VPN and block you. It might come off as an annoying experience because one major part of buying a VPN is getting across blocked sites. But if you can’t do that, then what’s the point?
There isn’t a lot to worry though. You can choose a VPN that offers a massive amount of servers globally. This will allow you to connect with another server that can get past the firewall so you can dodge blocking.

4- Top-quality VPNs might be expensive:

The top-quality VPNs won’t provide their services free of cost. If you need a free one, you won’t get guaranteed quality. But, while some VPNs can be expensive, others offer affordable pricing. You can check out reviews on various VPNs and compare their subscription plans to see what suits you best.

5- It doesn’t protect the data you give away yourself:

You use many applications that demand access to your internal storage to provide services. This includes your social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google. And other free apps used for gaming or photo editing would also ask for your data. The VPN won’t protect you against these data collectors as you allow them to access your info. Here, you have to be careful and prevent risks by not permitting just any random app inside your storage.

Is it worth paying for a VPN?

In our opinion, we recommend using a paid VPN like Fast VPN. Such a high-quality VPN provide a secure connection without stealing your data. It have a no-log policy to honor and keep you protected from malicious attacks. Your identity remains concealed, and you enjoy complete privacy and high speed.
So, we believe that the upsides outweigh the downsides if you cleverly choose the right VPN like Fast VPN. As discussed, remain wary of free VPNs like Hola VPN that sells your data to shady people. If you can’t afford a paid VPN and need it regardless of its limitations, then again Fast VPN would be a good option.

FAQs

Q1- What dangers do free VPNs pose?

The majority of free VPNs aren’t safe to use. They might install malware on your device. Also, steal your data and sell it to third parties. Moreover, they might show you various ads that might not only be annoying but redirect you to a shady site. This could also cause viruses to attack your device. Not to mention the low internet speed and overall poor device performance you’ll get. With so many trade-offs, it’s better not to get a VPN at all.

Q2- What VPN is best for gaming?

For gaming, you must require a no-lag VPN. A no-lag VPN doesn’t throttle or take its time loading in the middle of a game. ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and NordVPN are the best for gaming.
Q3- What to look for in a VPN for buying?
Investing in a VPN will cost you less to more money, and that’s why it’s crucial to select one with extra care. You wouldn’t want to be scammed and browse the internet unprotected. So, check our list below:
  • A massive amount of servers:
You’d need to check if the VPN offers an immense amount of servers. As it allows you to use various IP addresses, you should know the level of the infrastructure.
  • Robust encryption codes:
Without the strengthened algorithm, the VPN can’t protect your data. A layman who doesn’t have much knowledge of VPNs and doesn’t know how it works can look at this figure – 256-bit AES. This encryption algorithm is by far the most robust code in the market. If the VPN offers you this, then go for it.
  • No-log policy:
A no-log policy is a must, and you should only pay for a VPN that provides it. The VPN provider must not store any files or keep records of your online activity.
  • The VPN provider’s headquarters:
You must check if the VPN provider belongs to a country known for unauthorized surveillance. Or also if it violates citizens’ privacy to keep them under control.
  • Customer service:
Check out if the customer service is dependable and efficiently resolves your query.
  • Free-trials:
Many VPNs provide free trials to make up your mind about their services. It helps you decide if you want to continue their services by buying a subscription plan or not.

Final thoughts:

There are upsides and downsides to everything, and VPN is no exception. We figured how the advantages outweigh the trade-offs the VPN might bring with it. And how most of the disadvantages can be avoided if you choose the right VPN. Also, a free VPN can be dangerous to your privacy, and only reputable paid VPNs are worth it.
We also discussed what points you must look for in a decent and trustworthy VPN.
Fast VPN is the trusted VPN you can go for. Choose it and get the security you deserve.
This website uses cookies to improve the user experience. To learn more about our cookie policy or withdraw from it, please check our Privacy Policy.