understanding VPN, virtual private network and how it can prevent online identity theft

Paid VPN Services Vs Free Anonymity Services

Two things to bear in Mind while we talk about Protecting yourself  Online in order to Prevent Online Identity Theft and being Victim of Cyber-Criminals:

A. Keep in mind that antivirus software  protects only your device, not your internet connection. It’s only Secured and Protected Virtual Private Network, VPN can securely protect your internet connection communications between your computer device, servers and websites. 

B. A VPN is a must-have utility to protect your privacy and prevent hackers and snoopers from stealing your personal information.

VPN services provide a layer of security over the Internet that makes conducting secure transactions possible. This is why it's so popular with businesses. Quite frequently, VPN services are used by employees located in remote areas or who are temporarily out of the office to access resources on a private LAN. VPN services are generally paid ones. There are also free services that offer anonymity, which is a component of VPN services. While VPN services do anonymize Internet surfing for the user, the free services have their adherents.

Free Services

Probably the best-known anonymizing service among the free offerings is TOR. This program uses a network of volunteered connections to anonymize your IP address when you visit websites or use other resources. This is a popular solution for those who only need anonymous surfing once in a while. You can do a good job of obscuring your IP address but, given enough skill and the time and resources to make use of that skill, your IP address can be tracked back to you.

There are other free services out there, as well, but they do lack some of the principal advantages of paid VPN. Particularly for businesses, paid VPN services have some significant advantages that cannot be easily overlooked.

Paid Services

If you're switching from a free VPN service to a paid VPN service, the first improvement you'll likely notice is speed. Paid VPN services compete partially on the basis of how fast their servers can get their users to webpages, so they do tend to be pretty fast. Free services, including TOR, can be agonizingly slow at times. Additionally, while those free services may obscure your IP address, they don't necessarily encrypt any of the traffic between you and your destination server, which is a significant issue for business users.

Paid services also have the advantage of there being an accountable party in the event that something goes wrong. For businesses, this is a necessity. It's really impossible to use a free service for business purposes because of the lack of technical support and the lack of a company that can provide assistance if the product turns out to be possessed of one problem or another. If a free service fails, of course, there's no way to get your money back and there's really nobody that you can hold responsible for the failure in any regard.

Overall, paid services are generally much better VPN options for businesses and individuals. The main advantage is that there is a company behind the service and, therefore, there's someone to call and ask if you have a question. The free services do have some advantages. For example, if you only need a VPN network or an anonymous IP address every once in a great while, it may not be worth your while to pay for VPN services. Other than that, however, the advantages of the paid services are significant enough that they constitute the only realistic choices for business users and for individuals who frequently need anonymity and security.

Michael Maxstead is a computer networking consultant who likes to write about VPN and Networking related technologies. If you visit his website VPNreviewz.com you can learn about [http://vpnreviewz.com/hide-my-ass-review/]hidemyass and [http://vpnreviewz.com/hide-my-ass-review/]download hide my ass.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Paid-VPN-Services-Vs-Free-Anonymity-Services&id=6779790] Paid VPN Services Vs Free Anonymity Services

Virtual Private Network and how Vpn can help protect your online security and safety

Facts About VPN

Two things to bear in Mind while we talk about Protecting yourself  Online in order to Prevent Online Identity Theft and being Victim of Cyber-Criminals:

A. Keep in mind that antivirus software  protects only your device, not your internet connection. It’s only Secured and Protected Virtual Private Network, VPN can securely protect your internet connection communications between your computer device, servers and websites. 

B. A VPN is a must-have utility to protect your privacy and prevent hackers and snoopers from stealing your personal information.

VPN or virtual private network is typically used to provide employees remote access to a secure company network.  An example would be an employee who needs to access the company's computer programs or applications, or files that are only within the company's server.

If your company had a VPN connection installed in the company's system, and also in your own laptop or desktop, you can get through your company's secure network and access all the files you need, and acquire them without risking somebody else viewing the sensitive data.  With a VPN connection, users or employees will have access to files, printers, and external drives located in the office, without even going personally there.

Aside from the above uses, VPN can also mask the IP address of individual computers, making users surf the web anonymously, or access websites that are restricted only to one geographic location, such as TV online channels (NBC, ABC, and HULU) that can only be accessed within the United States.  VPN finds a way around these restrictions, helping you be American anywhere in the world.

How Do I Get a VPN Connection?

Normally, there is no problem with the set-up process if the VPN connection is for company use.  Owners hire professional to do that kind of stuff.  However, for personal use, you have to do the setting-up yourself.

Prices of VPN connection begins at $5 a month, such a small amount to pay for the protection that VPN can give you.  You can choose from a long list of providers on the web.  Once you sign up, you will be sent an email instructing you how to install the VPN in your computer.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a VPN Provider

Before you choose a provider, know first what you will mainly use your VPN connection for.  Would you be using it to access restricted channels?  Are you going to use it for your small business where you have remote employees, or you need it for downloading torrents?  You have to determine first your reason, to match it with the right provider.

When choosing a provider, check if they have trial periods.  That way, you will be able to 'test the waters before going in'.  You can check if the speed is okay, if the privacy you need is provided, or whether the service/connection is reliable or not.  When you feel satisfied after the trial period, you can sign up for a paid service, because you already know the type of service the VPN provider can give you.

Aside from the things I mentioned above, a good VPN provider should have a great support system.  In case you encounter any problems, it's good to know that you can call someone anytime to help your solve issues. 

Michael Maxstead is a proud contributing author who writes articles on several subjects including VPN and Technology. You can read more of Michael's articles and learn about [http://vpnreviewz.com]vpn software review and [http://vpnreviewz.com]vpn software reviews located at VPNreviewz.com.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Facts-About-VPN&id=6289529] Facts About VPN

how to protect yourself online using virtual protetcted network VPN

Two things to bear in Mind while we talk about Protecting yourself  Online in order to Prevent Online Identity Theft and being Victim of Cyber-Criminals:

 

A. Keep in mind that antivirus software  protects only your device, not your internet

connection. It’s only Secured and Protected Virtual Private Network, VPN can securely protect your internet connection communications between your computer device, servers and websites.

B. A VPN is a must-have utility to protect your privacy and prevent hackers and snoopers from stealing your personal information.
 

 

You may be wondering right now what VPN is, and how using it can make your internet surfing safe and secure. For most people, VPN is something they have not heard about, or heard about it but couldn't care less because it's a technical computer term. Let me tell you now, you should really care. Also, understanding VPN is not such a complicated process. Once you discover what it is and its uses, you will be surprised that it's something you really need.

VPN stands for virtual private network, and its main use is to keep the data you send when you use the internet private. Presently, all of us are very much concerned with our security, which is a natural instinct, but even more so today, because the modern world presents so many security risks. One reason behind this is the association of computers with just about anything.

Most, if not all, companies already make use of the computer for their business transactions, and to store sensitive company information. One security breach could be the downfall of some companies.

On the other hand, personal computer use can also fall prey to hackers, some do it for fun, while others do it to steal credit card information and other banking details, or obtain some personal data so they can use it as their own (identity theft). To protect valuable information, as well as to prevent hackers from accessing your system, experts have developed VPN.

How will VPN safeguard privacy?
Here is a short background on how VPN works. The internet is a public network, when you browse through it, with your system unprotected; you are prone to an attack from someone who has harmful intent. He or she can steal data, or even access your entire computer system. The problems that hackers can bring to your computer include viruses, spyware, and intrusion attacks. To stop that from taking place, you can put up a firewall or install anti-virus programs. Unfortunately, that's not enough. Firewall can protect the date in your computer, while anti-virus programs shield your system from viruses, but what about the data you send while you are using the internet, who protects that? This is when VPN comes in.

VPN guards the data you send online by making your activities private. By setting up a VPN connection, you are creating a private tunnel that other people will have difficulty finding. To make it simple, you will become anonymous when you surf online using a VPN. The data you send out on the web goes to the server of your VPN provider, and this server is the one that will connect you to the public network known as the internet.

Michael Maxstead is a proud contributing author who writes articles on several subjects including VPN and Technology. You can read more of Michael's articles and learn about vpn reviews and vpn service located at VPNreviewz.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Michael_Maxstead/998434