Why use a VPN

> Why use a VPN? For many people, the answer is simply – “so I can watch Netflix in another country”. But there are more important (and less legally dubious) answers too.

For starters, your ISP always knows exactly what websites and services you’re using, so you have no real privacy when you’re online at all. That’s where a VPN – virtual private network – can prove really useful. A VPN uses special software to route all your internet communications through private servers that are run by the company that developed the VPN software. This means that your ISP can no longer see what websites or services you’re connecting to, and those websites can’t see where your connection is coming from either (which is how the Netflix trick works – although we do remind you that this is somewhat illegal). A VPN will also encrypt outgoing data and messages, to prevent hackers from hijacking personal or financial info. That protects you for online shopping and banking when at home, but it’s also important when using public Wi-Fi hotspots – which are notorious for weak security.

There are dozens of VPN apps available, but the three that always float to the top of all the ‘Best VPN’ lists are ExpressVPN (expressvpn. com), NordVPN (nordvpn.com), and Surfshark (surfshark.com). These all require a monthly subscription costing £10-£12 each, but they also offer big discounts if you sign up for three months or more. With many of us now working from home and shopping online, a good VPN is a worthwhile investment.