Virtual private networks have become invaluable tools in our digital age, protecting our privacy and keeping us safe from tracking. According to the latest data, over 1.6 billion individuals around the globe use this technology in their daily lives. Below, we give you five VPN tips many casual users do not know about.
1. Dodging Bandwidth Throttling
Bandwidth throttling is a practice that Internet Service Providers implement to limit users’ communication speed for various reasons. One of the most common ones is ISPs detecting high data traffic stemming from P2P file sharing, upon whose detection they usually deliberately slow down a user’s bandwidth to manage congestion more efficiently. Avoiding this is possible with VPN use when one engages in high-quality streaming, long gaming sessions, or robust file-sharing. It is also super wise. The activation of a VPN encrypts/masks online activities and does not allow ISPs to view transmitted data. Thus, they can’t throttle a connection, leading to premium speed consistency.
For this to be possible, VPN users must pick services that implement top encryption protocols, like OpenVPN, IKEv2, or WireGuard. For better IP masking, choosing a lesser-known/less-used server is necessary, hopefully close to a user’s physical location and switch ports.
2. Bypass Geo-Locked Content
For many, accessing geo-restricted sites or services is a no-no. Yet, sometimes, this can be super justified, as in the case of utilizing gambling sites that are legal in one’s own country but are illegal in a visiting region. So, a game-of-chance enthusiast can sign up with a platform that accepts players from his territory, but when he travels abroad, his visiting country may be on his chosen site’s restricted list. To circumvent this, while enjoying slots and live tables there, a gambler should select his country from the list of offered VPN choices before accessing his favorite casino with a restricted jurisdictions list with which he has an account while in a foreign land.
To maintain the illusion he is at home, a gambler wishing to bypass geo-restrictions should deposit and withdraw with cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, whose transfers do not go through financial institutions, keeping a player’s location a secret. OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos.com presents a list of safe and tested Bitcoin casinos that everyone curious about anonymous gaming should consider.
3. Use Split Tunneling
Here, we have a network configuration feature that permits users to route traffic selectively from different apps/services through a VPN or their regular internet connection. That flexibility comes super handy; for most, all data doesn’t need to get rerouted via a VPN server. For instance, there is no need for access to local network resources like file sharers and printers to go through a Virtual Private Network, as that is a waste of time. Overall, split tunneling is an effective resource management tool, delivering a nifty balance between security and performance. By allowing some data to go through one’s standard connection, Internet speeds can get massively improved, and most premium VPN services, like NordVPN, ProtonVPN, and ExpressVPN, have this option, which lets users tailor their VPN usage based on their privacy/performance needs.
4. Avoid Dynamic Pricing
It is no secret that travel websites utilize algorithms to adjust prices depending on a customer’s accessing device/location, browsing history, and more. Moreover, these business entities too often run promotional campaigns for specific country/region residents. When using a VPN service, a person can appear to be from one of these areas and snag a desirable deal or avoid the dynamic pricing we just discussed.
Unfortunately, many airlines may, and do, modify the prices they offer once they notice that customers’ credit/debit card billing addresses do not match their Internet ones. They are savvy like that. Therefore, putting Virtual Private Networks to use when looking for the best airplane tickets is not a guarantee due to the complexities of airline software. Nonetheless, it is a good idea to incorporate this strategy when searching for the best airfares. Without question, sometimes, it can yield positive results. So, it is worth a try.
5. Activate Kill Switch
Sadly, few VPN users know about this crucial feature, one created to enhance their security/privacy when engaging in IP masking. The primary function of the Kill Switch is to terminate an internet connection when the VPN stream becomes unstable or drops. That prevents a user’s device from reverting to an unsecured connection, which can expose the user’s activities publicly.
Say someone is browsing the Web secretly without the Kill Switch feature active, and their connection drops. Their device is likely to (automatically) connect to the Internet using their standard connection, and the data transmitted in this period will get intercepted by the ISP or unauthorized third parties. That can be massively risky when sensitive info such as passwords or banking details get transmitted over the Web. Top services can activate a Kill Switch only when Internet access gets cut in scenarios when critical apps are active, meaning messaging ones or email clients, which many find very beneficial.
