How a VPN Protects Your Privacy When Using Your Windows Device

If you want to stay safe online, you need multiple layers of security. Your antivirus is just one layer – it protects your Windows PC against viruses. However, when you connect to the internet, your data often goes on an unsecured network where it can be read by your ISP, the government, and even hackers. To stay safe when you’re online, you should use a VPN, which helps you stay anonymous on the internet and have a safe online experience.

What is a VPN?

A VPN or a Virtual Private Network is a simple way to secure your online presence. It encrypts your data as it leaves your computer so your ISP cannot see anything you do online. They get garbled data instead, so while they can see you’re using a VPN, they cannot see the activities you’re doing online.

When you use a VPN, your data is rerouted through one of the VPN services servers. So, when you go online, the internet doesn’t see your real IP, it sees the IP of the server you’re connected to.

A VPN helps you be completely anonymous and secure on the internet. This is especially useful if you use your Windows PC to connect to a public Wi-Fi hotspot. Since public Wi-Fi networks are open and unsecured, they can easily be hacked.

When you connect to a hacked Wi-Fi network, your activities can be seen by the hackers. If you are using a VPN, the hackers will get encrypted data that doesn’t make any sense to them.

This is why many people who use public W-Fi connections have now started using VPNs to stay secure.

How does a VPN protect your Windows device?

As discussed earlier, a VPN protects you when you connect to a public Wi-Fi. But that’s not the only way in which a VPN keeps you safe.

Your ISP tracks your data. And so does your government. If you want complete privacy, a VPN can help you out. There are some VPNs that provide highly secure encryption to make sure that it is practically hack proof.

However, all VPNs aren’t safe. When you use a VPN, your activities are hidden from the ISP but the people running the VPN could potentially still see them. That is why it’s very important to get a reliable VPN that doesn’t log your activities. Make sure you read their privacy policy before you subscribe to their services. Also, make sure you stay away from free VPNs because they are generally not reliable and many include tracking scripts and malware.