Good Lifestyle

From shopping and banking to travel booking and take -out order, technology has made our daily life more practical to almost all ways. But as everything has moved online, Take cybersecurity seriously has never been so critical. Fortunately, there are tools that can protect you and keep your life in safety, including using a virtual private network (VPN). Read the rest to learn how to create a VPN to stay safe online, according to experts.

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The protection of your sensitive online information is common sense. But it is also important to know that everything you do on the Internet can follow you from one website to another. According to Lucas Ochoa , a software expert and CEO and founder Automat, many people do not only realize without VPN, their online activities can be followed by their internet service provider - or pirates who seek to steal personal data for identity theft.

"A VPN masks the IP address of your computer and configures a encrypted connection between your device and a VPN server, ensuring that all the data sent to the VPN server is secure," he explains. "This means that no one can spy on your activities online if you use one."

Merrill cache , founder of software company Zibtek, says there is a historical example that can help show how a VPN works.

"If you think back to the Second World War, we wrote messages and they could only be deciphered if you had the right encoder. Basically, a VPN does it in real time while surfing the Internet. This allows you to keep your Safety messages and identity online, "he said.

Of course, this can be useful for daily navigation. But the additional safety layer can be critical if you travel or use the Internet on the go.

"WiFi in public spaces such as airports, conferences, hotels and cafes may have a security risk, especially when buying online," said Shawn Waldman , CEO and founder of the cybersecurity consulting company Secure cyberfense . "I have personally attended many hotel Wi-Fi networks which are also linked to point of sale terminals, showing that they are indeed not connected networks separately."

As the need for increased personal cybersecurity has increased, the number of VPN options on the market also has the number of VPNs. However, this does not mean that they are necessarily all created equal.

"Make sure you choose someone famous, or you essentially give them all your information," suggests Merrill. "And also make sure they have a policy that does not say journalization, so that they do not store your information. NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Cyberghost are all larger VPN suppliers."

The right choice for you can also depend on your device. "VPN can be configured on your PC, Mac, Android / iOS or router, each with different methods," explains Ochoa. For each device, you can check your respective app or marketplace to see what is available.

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Once you have done the search and found the VPN you want to use on one of your Apple devices, you can start the configuration process by checking that it is compatible, says Ochoa. You can do this by clicking on the prompt "about this Mac" in the Apple menu.

"If compatible, go to the VPN website, create an account, choose a plan, a username and a password, then download the application on the Mac App Store," he said. "If the application is not available, download it directly from the VPN website. Follow the prompts to install the application, connect, choose a server and connect-it's also easy ! "

Do not worry if you are confused at a given time along the way: VPN generally include configuration guides and troubleshooting for macOS if necessary, says Ochoa.

Although it is not much more complicated, things are slightly different when you configure a VPN on a Android PC or device. In this case, Merrill says that you can sometimes use an application or an extension of a browser downloaded from the company's market or website.

"They will guide you through the necessary steps for each individual product, and you can switch between the use of your VPN or turn it off," he said Better life . "It should be really obvious if you are on the VPN application, because it will show you a green light or something similar to it clearly."

However, installing one on a router can be more technically difficult. "You can either install a VPN manually or flash the router with third -party firmware," explains Ochoa. "The two methods have drawbacks: the manual installation of a VPN can be complex and timing, and the flashing of a router has the risk of making it inoperable." For this reason, it is better to consult an expert if you are not sure.

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The implementation of a VPN can help solve certain immediate problems and keep your digital life safer of prying eyes. However, it has some drawbacks that could affect your web browsing experience.

"All VPNs can reduce Internet speeds and not protect against malware or viruses, so you will always need antivirus software," explains Ochoa. "Premium VPNs are also delivered with potentially heavy subscription fees, while free VPNs have limits like less servers, lower speeds and limited device connections."

There are a few other things to keep in mind when making your decision on the VPN to use. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

"It may seem countertop, but free VPNs can steal your data," warns Subbu Sthanu , commercial director at IPVanish VPN . "These services will often bury the details of their journalization practices in the depths of their privacy policy. Make sure you choose a VPN service with good privacy policy that promises a zero Loking."

Even if you are looking for a paid VNP, pay attention to what is included when you register.

"Many VPN solutions have a ton of extras that you can add," says Waldman. "Be very careful with this because it can easily double or triple the cost of the original solution. Functionalities such as dark web monitoring and password management are often managed by other solutions that you already have . " He also always suggests looking for double features and note when your subscription is renewed in your calendar so that you are not surprised by automatic renewal.