What does VPN stand for? Que es VPN?
The meaning of VPN is Virtual Private Network. It is a private network that allows the user to connect to the internet in a safe, secure and anonymous way. At a high level this means that the company that you use for your VPN services, like NordVPN, will connect you to the internet through the private server that you can chose rather than connecting to the internet using your internet service provider.
NordVPN: Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows you to connect to another network securely. I use NordVPN when I blog from a cafe using their WiFi, watch a YouTube video from a hotel room or watch my favorite show on Netflix when I am traveling overseas. Privacy and secure browsing when you are on the go is very important. Protect all your devices with NordVPN. Read my full review of NordVPN.
NordVPN has 15 server locations in the United States and 5300 servers worldwide. For example you can be in Italy, login to NordVPN, select one of their US servers and watch an American TV show as if you are in the United States. If you do not use a VPN like NordVPN, you will not be in most cases able to watch an American TV show, NFL games, Netflix, Amazon Prime or certain YouTube videos if you are not in the US. This should answer you “Que es VPN” question!
A lot of people are into blogging and e-commerce these days. VPN is an important tool for bloggers like me and also for small businesses. I have a lot of content including photographs, that I spent a lot of time and money creating and I do not want it to be hacked particularly when I am making updates from hotel rooms or cafes.
In February 2018, some of my friends who were traveling in India during that time, were able to use VPN and watch the Philadelphia Eagles beat the New England Patriots from a remote village in India. The game was broadcast live online but only to viewers in the United States. Fly Eagles Fly!!!
Advantages of using a VPN
Using a VPN comes with a lot of benefits for both, businesses and individual users. Some of the key benefits are listed below:
Anonymity
One of the main reasons people and businesses all over the world use a VPN service is because it hides their IP address and encrypts their online traffic. This means that the digital footprints cannot be tracked (clicked links, visited web pages, downloaded content, or research history cannot be tracked back to the user). Companies like NordVPN do not even log what their customers are doing online. So even if authorities legally request that information from NordVPN, they will be able to provide that information. Having a VPN will allow individual identity and the online activities to stay private.
Data protection
Besides identity protection, a VPN increases online safety in general when surfing the internet. When using a VPN, your ISP (Internet Service Providers like Verizon or Xfinity), will not able to access any data or information. The VPN server will only show encrypted statistics to them that will mask the user’s information. A lot of businesses use VPN to make sure that all the data they transfer is completely secured.
Bypass Geo-Blocking
Geographical Blocking is becoming increasingly common online. Content creators and providers can decide the geographic areas in which their content will be available. Your IP address and the end-to-end connection time can be used to identify your exact geographical location. Based on your location, the content that you see can be restricted or modified.
There are also whitelisted and blacklisted accounts, and the content that you see will depend on your status vis-a-vis these lists. With VPN like NordVPN hiding your real IP addresses, geo-blocks (geographical blocks) can be bypassed, therefore, unblocking the content from anywhere in the world.
Countries like China and North Korea are extreme cases of geo-blocking. But we should not assume that just because we live in the land of the free, that we can search for and view any content at any given time online. There are may entities, like your ISP or the search engine, that has a say in what you get to view online.
Price Discrimination.
Price discrimination is very common in certain industries and certain countries. The price you see on certain products can vary depending on geographical area. This is not very common in the United States yet but happens. Websites can also place cookies and track you all over the internet. A VPN can bypass geo-restrictions and prevent cookies from tracking you and displaying ads that you do not want to see.
How to select a VPN provider?
Choosing the right VPN provider is key for an optimum performance, safety and security. There are things to consider before paying for the service.
Performance, Features and Cost.
There are hundreds of VPN providers in the market. There are some of them that offer free VPN service. Some might prioritize speed while others focus on offering higher security and privacy levels. So you have to first decide whether you are looking for performance with a good feature sets, servers in many different countries or just cost. I would not recommend the free service providers. The cost of VPN service by some of the best providers in the world like NordVPN is inexpensive to begin with (NordVPN has a 3-year plan that costs only $3.49/month).
Operating System and number of devices.
When you pick a VPN service, you have to make sure it is compatible with your Operating System (OS). Some VPN’s will work only with certain operating systems. NordVPN will work on almost all systems including Android, macOS, Windows, iOS and Linux.
With one NordVPN account, you can secure six devices (all devices need not have the same OS).
Coverage (Server locations and number of servers).
Are you primarily concerned about your data security? Are you concerned about the companies tracking you and enforcing geographical restrictions? Do you travel a lot to different countries? Are you planning to travel to India or Africa but still want to keep up with your favorite shows on Netflix?
The decision is not complicated. NordVPN has hundreds of servers in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. You can be in most places on this planet and still continue to do things online exactly the same way as you would from home (with much higher safety, security and anonymity).
User Interface.
An easy and quick setup along with a user-friendly interface is an important factor to consider, especially for people installing a VPN for the first time. An easy to use platform will enhance the experience given by the VPN provider.
NordVPN user interface is simple. It is very easy to login and immediately start using it.
Free VPN Service.
There are many companies that offer free VPN service. Companies like NordVPN have to constantly make investments to keep up with technology and the new rules and regulations. Companies that offer Free VPN’s sell advertising. Many of them display advertisement banners or slide-ins when you browse. This can be annoying.
Free VPN’s tend to have limited features and services. They can have performance and connectivity issues. Get a paid service if you can afford it.
Which country should I connect to for privacy?
Every country has its own data and privacy laws. United States and the European Union has its own laws. Spain, which is part of the EU has its own requirements on top of the EU requirements. On the other hand a country like Romania, which is part of the EU, does not comply with certain EU laws like the 2006 Data Retention Directive.
Switzerland has some of the best privacy laws. Switzerland is a Western nation that is not part of the EU, which is important. For those of us in the US, using NordVPN and connecting to a server in Switzerland and browsing the internet is something to think about!!
NordVPN Review.
NordVPN was founded in 2012 and is one of the best companies when it comes to Virtual Private Networks (VPN). NordVPN has 5386 servers in 59 countries. More servers means less load. This translates to fast VPN experience. NordVPN offers a 30-day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. There are many plans to choose from. This includes a three year plan at $3.49/month or a 1 year plan at $6.99/month.
Key features offered by NordVPN.
There are several great features offered by NordVPN. I would like to highlight a few:
Next-Generation Data Encryption: When you connect to the internet you are basically opening a door. Government agencies, your internet service providers and hackers can either obtain the data legally or illegally in the case of hackers. Many internet service providers sell your data to advertisers. When you use NordVPN, your data is encrypted and the data is not logged anywhere.
Fast VPN experience: NordVPN service is fast because they have so many servers all over the world. There is no buffering, throttling or bandwidth limits. Internet service providers are known for throttling.
VPN for mobile devices: VPN can and should be used when you are online using your mobile phone or other mobile devices. Many people use local unsecured wi-fi connections to browse when they are in a coffee shop or other locations that offer free wi-fi. Your data will get exposed to cyber criminals. All you have to do is to install the NordVPN app from the App Store or Google Play store, login and then click on the quick connection option. You will be connected to the best NordVPN server based on your personal configurations.
Block Malware Advertisements: NordVPN has a feature called CyberSec. It offers advanced security and privacy features. If you turn this feature on, it will block websites known for phishing scams or for hosting malware. This feature will also block annoying pop ups and auto play videos.
NordVPN is easy to setup and Use: You can join and install in three easy steps. First your would download and install the application, then you will pick the plan that you like and then open the application and select the country you like.
One account for one family: For most families all you need is one NordVPN account. You can protect up to six devices using a single NordVPN account. NordVPN supports all the major operating systems including iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and macOS. All the six devices do not have to be using the same operating system.
NordVPN Kill Switch: Kill switch is a feature that NordVPN offers to protect you when you are using the Internet without VPN. Based on which OS you are using, NordVPN will either disconnect the internet connection or terminate the applications you specify and prevent them from sending unprotected traffic to the internet.
Surfing the internet safely, securely and in an anonymous fashion is important. VPN plays an important role. When it comes to VPN, you cannot go wrong with NordVPN.
Do you use a VPN? Please comment below.
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