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According to 2022 usage statistics, around 44% of all UK Internet users have utilized a VPN at some point on their devices.
At the same time, 41% of the UK and US populations utilize a VPN connection at least once a week, while 39% of all VPN users are aged between 16 and 22.
Despite this clear trend of increased usage (especially among younger users), VPNs continue to be widely misunderstood and subject to some long-standing myths. We’ve set out to bust these in the article below, as we look to get to the bottom of VPNs and the key advantages that they offer to users.
#1. VPNs Are Only Required if You’re Doing Something Illegal
This is number one on our list, as there remains a sense that VPNs are only really required to hide illegal or questionable activity online.
Of course, VPNs can be used for purposes such as launching hacking attacks or downloading copyright restricted material, but such instances are rare and there are a number of legal reasons why you’d want to use this type of secure connection.
For example, a VPN can help to protect your device when accessing a public Wi-Fi connection. It achieves this by encrypting your data and sending it through an encrypted virtual tunnel, which completely masks the nature of your content and your unique IP address.
This makes your IP address largely invisible to would-be hackers and cyberthieves, who would have to work considerably harder to access and intercept your data.
They also safeguard you against DDoS (Denial of Service) attacks while gaming, while preventing individual Internet service providers from accessing or logging your complete online browsing history.
In some cases, they may even help to reduce latency, depending on the scope of the VPN service provider and their network coverage in specific areas (but we’ll touch more on this later on).
#2. VPNs Make You Completely Anonymous
As we’ve already touched on, VPNs mask your device’s IP address and ensure that your precise location remains hidden from view.
However, this encourages some users to believe that they’re completely anonymous online when using a VPN, which is a completely untrue and potentially dangerous misconception.
For example, the use of cookies means that websites can track precisely where you are when you login to the platform. Social media buttons and ‘check-in’ features also track your whereabouts in real-time, creating a virtual trail that can fox even the best VPN connections.
So, although VPNs undoubtedly mask your IP address and create some form of virtual anonymity when online, they don’t completely hide your location and can’t negate all of the alternative tracking tools that exist on various sites and browsers.
#3. All VPNs are the Same
At their core, most VPNs achieve the same core purpose, but there’s a wealth of differences between individual service providers, their pricing and the value for money that they deliver.
You can access a paid or free VPN online, for example, the former of which will offer access to additional features and products depending on your level of investment.
The best operators will also commit to flexible pricing, enabling you to avoid rigid monthly subscriptions and access genuine value for money based on your exact usage.
It’s also worth noting that VPN service providers offer varying coverage (both domestically and internationally), with market leaders such as Surf Shark connecting users to up to 3,200 servers in 65 different countries.
Accessing a VPN with dense network coverage can help to minimize latency during usage wherever you may be, which is an important consideration given that VPNs often have to route encrypted data farther than through standard network connections.
#4. VPNs are Overly Complicated
When appraising VPN service providers and connections, you can review the low-level and finite details that distinguish one operator from another.
While the nuances and mechanisms of VPN functionality can be decidedly complex and difficult to follow, however, actually using this type of connection is incredibly straightforward.
In the current marketplace, you simply need to identify a viable VPN platform, before launching the relevant app and clicking ‘Connect’. In a matter of seconds, you can be seamlessly connected and able to browse the Internet freely and with additional peace of mind.
Of course, certain providers make this process even easier and quicker, but the key thing to remember is that you don’t need to understand every facet of how VPNs function in order to use these safely and effectively.
#5. A VPN Increases Latency and Cuts Your Internet Speed
We close with one of the most common and inaccurate VPN assertions, which is that this type of connection increases online latency and dramatically reduces your average Internet speed.
As we’ve already touched on, it is true to say that VPNs have to route data from farther out as part of the process, while the need to encrypt and decrypt data can theoretically increase latency and slightly reduce the speed of your connection.
However, much depends on the precise location of your VPN, and using a local and nearby service provider may mean that you notice no discernible difference at all.
What’s more, the best and most effective VPNs can actively reduce latency and increase Internet speeds in some instances, which is why it’s so important that you choose the best product to suit your needs.