It puts your system in lock down

Here’s what happens whenever you access a website without using a VPN:

You first connect to your internet service provider (ISP), and they redirect you to the website you’ve chosen. Everything you do online passes through your ISP’s servers, so they know all about you. They can also log everything you do—and hand this over to third parties like advertisers or even government agencies. 

And here is what happens when you use VPN:

Your internet traffic is redirected through a remote server, which hides your IP address (your device’s unique identifier) and encrypts all your internet traffic. VPN is essentially a secure, private tunnel through which all your communications run. 

No one can get their hands on your private information, and thanks to high-level encryption, they can’t read it even if they do find it! With a VPN, you’re an online phantom. You’re invisible, so none of your activities can be traced back to you, your device, or your location. That’s bad news for hackers, advertisers, and snoops, but great for your online safety and privacy. 

Online risks you avoid

The internet is full of scams, and in particular, using public WiFi without a VPN makes you vulnerable. Here are 4 popular methods used to gain access to your data, including passwords and banking details.

Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks occur when a malicious third party intercepts your communication.

Using packet sniffing software, hackers can intercept and log data traveling over a free WiFi network. These streams of data, or packets, can be downloaded and saved.

Session hijacking exploits a vulnerability with cookies, which are small data files saved by your browser on your device. By hijacking your browser session over a public WiFi network, hackers can easily capture this data and log in to a website as you.

Malicious hotspots are quick to be set up and can look like legitimate WiFi networks. They can easily trick you into logging in and, with your device connected to their networks, hackers can steal your personal information.