How many of you have any idea of the kinds of cyber threats that prevail in today’s modern digital space? The internet of yesterday was already at its peak with cybercrimes and other forms of malicious attacks, but the rate has almost spiked double the velocity since the Pandemic back in 2019.

However, among these issues, lies a couple of internal risks. For starters, your internet service provider constantly tabbing in to the activities you take part in, look up your search history, or even restrict you from accessing a number of websites that are safe. They even go so far as to controlling your bandwidth, by slowing down the overall speeds of the internet.

Apart from all these issues, there are many countries around the world that are regulated around harsh internet surveillance, or monitoring of online spaces. The ISP or the government tracks your every move, and mostly restricts you from accessing international services that they deem as harmful. Sometimes, laws as such spring in the right direction, but that isn’t the case for all.

For instance, in China, the government has imposed such harsh online restrictions, which practically strips away “online freedom” as a whole. You will find platforms like “WhatsApp” that run on end-to-end encryption banned there.

These policies apply to people living there, or those traveling to the country. This isn’t the case just in China, but in many countries around the world. It’s why you need to be extra careful when online. You need to go the extra mile to protect and conceal your identity, and the best way lately, is by using a top VPN service.

How can a VPN help to conceal your identity with a VPN?

There are situations where journalists living or traveling to war-stricken countries or even countries with harsh online laws, need to hide their identities when online. A VPN might not be a 100% reliable, as is the case with all software, but it is the best option today.

A VPN, short for Virtual Private Network, is a security software that is designed to protect you online. The best ones offer top of the line military-grade encryption, and other advanced features that are required for privacy and protection against prying surveillance eyes. However, it all comes down to how you choose one, and for that we’ll get into it a little further on.

So, how can a VPN help protect your identity online? Here are a few points:

• It protects you from identity theft

Have you heard of identity theft? A VPN will encrypt all your data to ensure that all your web traffic passes through a secure tunnel. The same applies for numerous websites, and apps.

There are even VPN providers that steal user data and use it for other purposes, which is why you need to choose the best one.

• Shields your virtual IP address and leaves no traces of identity

Streaming has become the number one source of entertainment off late. You will hardly hear about anyone using a cable TV. With that said, there are many streaming services available today that offer the best or the most popular movies, TV shows, documentaries, music videos, radio channels and more!

 However, the only downside to it, is that most streaming platforms are available in particular countries or regions around the world. If you’re anywhere outside these regions, you won’t be able to access it.

 A VPN on the other hand will allow you to change your virtual IP address and allow you to access almost any streaming service you desire. How does it protect you? Well, the virtual IP address that you’re connecting to, will not only change your location, but will also prevent your ISP or the government authorities from tracing anything back to you.

• A great option for journalists, public figures, or business owners

It’s a huge risk for freedom fighters or even journalists to portray their version of news affairs on public platforms. There are countries that are completely against it, and the punishment for things like this by law is either imprisonment or fine. However, with a VPN, your digital footprints won’t be traceable. You could speak your opinion anonymously and safely.

Read More: “How to Change Spotify Username“

Is there another use for a VPN apart from identity protection?

There is a lot more you could do with a VPN other than just use it for security. Here is a little about the perks of using a VPN:

• A VPN comes with a whole array of virtual servers from locations and countries worldwide. You could connect to just about any one of them to change your IP address virtually. This allows you to access streaming services worldwide, access your bank accounts from abroad, or even gets you discounts on games and airfare tickets.
• If you’ve paid for a fast internet but get nothing in comparison, chances are that your service provider is throttling your speeds and bandwidth. A VPN comes with solid encryption that allows you to bypass these issues, and stabilizes your speeds.
• Using a public WiFi or an unknown WiFi source can be a threat to your data, device and overall online presence. A VPN can help protect you from unknown sources by protecting your device from malicious attacks, and or phishing attempts.
• With a VPN, you could connect your entire workforce under one unit, regardless of where they work from.
• Most apps come with vulnerabilities. A VPN can help protect a major loss of data while using such apps.
• Most operating systems like iOS or Android already come with great security that’s already built in the device. However, that is not enough. For starters, an iOS device does not come with an AdBlocker, not an anti-virus. By pairing a VPN with your device, it could increase the overall security of it.

How to choose a VPN that is the best for anonymity and privacy

As mentioned above, there are many VPNs in the market that comes with the best security features, but how do you tell them apart from sources that aren’t reliable? For starters, here’s a quick guide in choosing the best one:

• Make sure that the VPN offers a free trial and refund period. This gives you the chance to get a feel of the app.
• Privacy and no-logs policies must be genuine. Scout out more information on the provider, take on other user-experiences, and combine them with your own findings.
• If the VPN has undergone any audits, it’s a plus point!
• Server coverage is important. The VPN you go with must have an extensive or smart server coverage. It should include servers from countries like the USA or Canada, as well as neighboring countries around you for faster and better results to local content.
• It needs to be compatible with your device or operating system. Speaking of, look for one that allows multi-device connections.
• Their customer service should be helpful in case you face any issues along the way.

In conclusion

A VPN is a great way to protect your identity or add overall anonymity online. However, you need to be able to choose one wisely, and use it safely. As mentioned above that no software is a 100% reliable, which is why the VPN you choose must offer a refund or trial period. This is in case you’re not happy with the results.