The more you stream, the more compromised your online security—which is the primary reason why you need a VPN. Let us explain why.
Video Streaming and Online Privacy
Watching a video seems quite simple. But the truth is that whenever you stream video online, your device sends information to the video hosting server. Unless your connection is properly protected, anyone can access your data and spy on your activity.
Once someone has access to your connection, they may also get their hands on your passwords and other sensitive data.
Not good, right?
Using a VPN: The Advantages
Using a VPN has several advantages.
For one, it covers your online activity in a cloak of anonymity. Much like a personal bodyguard, a VPN whisks your sensitive information away from unsecure public servers, rerouting it through its own servers. This protects your data from prying eyes. Think of it as a virtual armored limo with heavily tinted windows.
A VPN also enhances your security. VPN servers are encrypted. This means that even if someone were to get sight of the information being exchanged between your device and the VPN server, all they could see would be a mass of incomprehensible characters. Good luck trying to decipher that, hackers!
VPNs are especially great if you travel at all. Some countries have geographical restrictions, so you may not be able to watch your favorite movies or TV shows online. In some places - like China's 'Great Firewall of China', for instance - even Facebook and YouTube are blocked.
A VPN replaces your IP address with one of your choice or one that is randomly generated. This makes it look like you’re in a country where the geographical restrictions don’t apply. In other words, you can keep streaming your favorite content wherever you are—as if you never even left your couch.
How to Deal with a Slow Connection
Some users complain that VPNs slow down their internet connection. This can put a damper on your online streaming experience—or even bring movie night to a premature end. There are various reasons why this can happen, including:
- Your internet speed is slow
- Busy VPN servers
- Too much distance between the VPN server and your location
If your internet speed is slow, check whether your internet service provider (ISP) is having technical issues.
Your ISP might also have a traffic management policy. Streaming video uses a lot of bandwidth. Your ISP may decide to slow you down so other users’ experience won’t be affected. If this is the case, consider switching to another provider. Alternatively, some VPNs have paid add-ons that can bypass ISP restrictions and even boost your connection speed.
Why Is VPN Quality Important?
VPN servers are much like online highways. The more users on a server, the slower data transfers will be. What’s more, the further the VPN server is from your physical location, the longer it takes for your data to reach it, which also slows your connection.
The best VPNs have hundreds of servers. ExpressVPN, for instance, has more than 2,000. It’s unlikely that servers will be so busy they affect your connection speed. And if you do connect to an overloaded server, it’s easy to find another one with a lower load.
Similarly, top VPNs like PureVPN have servers in dozens of cities worldwide. Unless you live on a desert island, resolving speed issues caused by distance is as easy as switching to a nearer server.
To enhance your online security and speed up your streaming, choosing a top VPN is well worth its price.
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