What is a VPN?
A VPN is a Virtual Private Network, a service that protects your data and privacy online. It creates an encrypted tunnel to keep you anonymous, by masking your IP address, while connecting to public WiFi hotspots.
A VPN is a Virtual Private Network, a service that protects your data and privacy online. It creates an encrypted tunnel to keep you anonymous, by masking your IP address, while connecting to public WiFi hotspots.
Some of the most important benefits of a VPN are increased security on public connections and increased protection of your private information. A VPN can help keep your sensitive personal information including financial data, passwords, and browsing history hidden from both hackers and websites. When you use a VPN, your data is effectively scrambled and hidden to anyone outside your VPN tunnel, thus making your private information difficult to collect. This not only helps to make it difficult for cybercriminals to read your data, but also keeps companies from trying to share your browsing habits and information with 3rd parties.
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If you want to download a VPN to your smartphone, you can do so from the Google Play store and the App Store, which are available for Android and Apple devices respectively. For the more comprehensive solution, it's recommended that you download McAfee Mobile Security, which will allow you to use the VPN while also being able to protect your data and prevent intrusions from various cyber threats. If you decide to go with McAfee Safe Connect, you'll be provided with a great solution if you're solely looking for a VPN and don't require additional security for your phone.
One of the most important factors to consider when selecting a VPN service is accessibility to certain server locations. The location that you choose depends entirely on your needs. For instance, one location may be able to provide you with better internet speeds than another location, which makes for a stress-free user experience. On the other hand, choosing another location may allow you to access geo-restricted content like local news.
The location that you select can also play a part in being able to browse the internet securely. When you want to have the ideal browsing experience, the exact server location that you choose can make a difference in how satisfied you are with the overall experience. By choosing a McAfee VPN, you will have the ability to choose an IP address in nearly two dozen different countries.
Australia
Brazil
Canada
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
India
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Romania
Singapore
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States
Using a VPN is a great start, but it isn’t the only way to protect yourself from hackers online. Try these top tips to help keep your data and devices secure:
Pick password-protected Wi-Fi. When connecting to Wi-Fi, choose networks that have WPA or WP2 passwords for protected access. If the network doesn’t require a password, the connection could be open to hackers and other threats.
Look for the lock icon. Make sure that the web pages you visit are “HTTPS” encrypted whenever possible and contain a lock icon in the address bar. Do this by looking at the beginning of the URL you are accessing – if the URL starts with “HTTP”, log out – particularly if you’re doing something sensitive.
Watch for warning signs. SSL and TLS warnings are the messages that pop up in your browser when you come across an insecure connection – and it’s likely that you’ve clicked through the notification without a second thought. Take a moment to think about what you’re agreeing to before moving past the notifications next time because it could mean you’re putting your devices and data in danger.
Don’t set it and forget it. Don’t set your device to automatically connect to Wi-Fi networks, especially public ones. Rather, make sure your laptops, tablets or smartphones will “forget” certain networks when you disconnect, and that they’ll only reconnect when you choose to do so manually.
By following these top tips, and using a trusted VPN provider, you’ll be well on your way to securing your data and devices from hackers, ISPs and other 3rd parties looking to profit from your lack of privacy.