Importance of a VPN in times of COVID-19

A few months after the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis, it was clearly noticeable that there was an increase in cybercrime. This is of course, quite surprising. After all, this applies to cybercriminals: the more people online, the more potential victims. Cybercrime is the new breaking-in. This is why it becomes extra important in times of corona crisis to guarantee your online privacy.

In this case, a VPN Service offers a solution. You can read below what a VPN is and which are the benefits of using a VPN. In addition, you can read about the relationship between VPN use and the corona crisis, and how to find the best VPN.

What is a VPN?

The idea behind a VPN service is actually quite simple. VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. The purpose of such a network is to form a link between your device and the web. This link is a VPN server. Because you access the internet via the VPN server, the website will not be able to trace your own data. This way the website will be able to learn very little about you. There are several companies that offer VPN connections. The best VPN for you depends on your specific needs. ExpressVPN and NordVPN are examples of large and reliable VPN providers. You can only use the internet safely with a reliable provider.

The relationship between coronavirus and a VPN usage

If you take a look at relevant cyphers and statistics, you will quickly come to the conclusion that the use of VPN’s has increased during the corona crisis. Statistics show that the demand for VPNs has strongly increased by a 44%. In some countries, the demand has even increased by more than 200%. This growth is, of course, not completely random. Because more people access the internet from home, the demand for safe internet is increasing. In addition, certain companies and universities require that you use a VPN when you work from home.

The risks of working from home

Some people find working from home ideal and some people find it terribly boring. Whatever you think of it, it is important to pay extra attention to your online privacy when you work from home. The increased risk is due to a number of aspects. First, cybercriminals are of course also aware of the crisis. They anticipate this by carrying out extra criminal activities on the internet. The door is also wide open for new cybercriminals, as they see how lucrative it can be. These cybercriminals often work cleverly and finding out who the criminal is, often turns out to be quite difficult.

In addition, the increased risk is that you now have to carry out work-related matters from your private network. Normally, these things would come from your employer’s network and this one may be extra protected. But by working from home, you therefore not only increase the risk for yourself but also for your employer.

Finally, we should be aware that nowadays not only employees make frequent use of the internet. Also (sometimes very young) children use the internet a lot on a daily basis due to the numerous lockdowns. You cannot expect every child to be fully aware of the dangers on the internet. Parents now have to teach their children about the dangers of the internet, but cybercrime is not always obvious. The same argument can be made when it comes to the elderly.

A VPN offers a solution

When it comes to safe internet, you can better anticipate rather than react. When you become a victim of internet crime, your options are certainly not endless. However, by establishing a VPN connection, you prevent yourself from becoming a victim and you guarantee your online privacy.

There are many VPN providers online. The best VPN provider for you depends on your necessities. In any case, it is advisable to opt for a VPN connection that is enabled by a large and reliable party. That way you know for sure that it is right. There are differences between these major VPN providers when it comes to options, speed, and price.

When you have a good VPN, it can be faster than your own internet package. This way you not only have the advantage of a safer but also the advantage of a faster connection. In addition, a VPN protects you against hackers and criminals, and it also prevents websites from building up a file based on your personal information.