Chances are you’ve heard of VPNs even if you haven’t used one before, or aren’t quite sure what they do. What’s more, you may even think they’re only for nefarious purposes, thanks to chest-beating politicians grandstanding about foreign threats, cyber criminals and child protection – a false representation which all too often gets parroted by lazy mainstream media.
So, what is a VPN? Did you know you might have already used one? And, whether you’re an experienced VPN user or a novice, here’s why should you consider using Avast SecureLine PC VPN.
What is a VPN and why should you need one?
Saying that VPN stands for Virtual Private Network isn’t much help when it comes to clarification and understanding. So, let’s start with the basics. If you’re reading this article, you’re likely reading it on your phone or computer which is connected to a network. Well, the people who run that network can see what you’re looking at. Worried yet? They may also sell that information for (usually) marketing purposes. Do any of these entities secure your data using security practices once they’ve acquired it? Do they on-sell it to other people? You’re not alone in not knowing and there are few enforceable laws in this area.
A VPN blocks your network’s operators from snooping on you and logging all your data, by creating a new network connection (secured-with-encryption) between your computer (or mobile device) and a remote, anonymous server. This connection is defined by software (rather than networking hardware, cables or radio waves) and so that’s why it’s called, ‘Virtual.’ Your main network operator will be able to see there’s some data flowing between you and the server, but there’s no way for them to know what it is because of the secure encryption.
The remote server then passes all of your internet requests on to where you wanted to go in the first place, but anyone snooping at that end will also get blocked should they try and trace those requests back to you. Ultimately, if you use a VPN, there’ll be no more tracking and tracing you on the internet.
VPNs like Avast SecureLine have servers all around the world. The local ones can often be faster, but there are often benefits to appearing in other countries. For instance, you might want to sign-up for a service or watch a sporting event that’s otherwise region blocked. Or you might want to make your online interactions appear like they’re from a completely different legislature.
While this might sound like a useful tool for nefarious purposes, it’s worth remembering that VPNs are also the backbone of working remotely. During (and after) Covid, many companies relied upon VPNs to provide a secure connection to their office network when working at home or remotely. The financial sector also relies upon them for day-to-day money-movements.
What does Avast SecureLine VPN offer?
Not all VPNs are created equal, and many are very complex to operate properly. A major benefit of Avast SecureLine PC VPN is its intuitive nature and simplicity. Once launched, just one tap will encrypt and secure your online activity with Avast automatically choosing the fastest and most reliable connection for you.
If you want to connect to another country, just click on the relevant national flag and that’s where your computer will appear to be operating from.
If constantly turning your VPN on still sounds like a chore, you can make use of Avast SecureLine’s SmartVPN mode. This will automatically protect you and your data whenever you connect to the internet using configurable settings. For instance, you can set it to only activate when on untrusted Public networks. Or, you can set it to activate when visiting particular websites, banking sites or when streaming videos.
You can choose specific sites where it needs to be activated and Avast will choose the optimal location for the connection. You can also exclude sites from using a VPN by adding them to the Trusted Sites list. Once activated, it’s all fire and forget from then on.
Other features include the ability to remain connected to local network entities like printers and shared drives. You can also set-up a virtual ‘Kill Switch’ which will stop any unencrypted internet activity should the VPN fail for any reason.
If you’re technically skilled then you can manually choose which VPN protocols to use, but if you’re that experienced, you’ll probably know that letting your VPN automatically choose the best protocol is usually the best option.
All of these functions are also available on the Avast SecureLine VPN mobile app which you can quickly activate by pairing with your PC (or vice versa). This also includes a Wi-Fi Threat Shield setting which checks that you’re visiting genuine sites when connected to strange Wi-Fi networks (it can also be set to connect automatically whenever you connect to one).
Whether you’re a VPN expert, novice or haven’t properly used one since the days when they were laggy and slow (Avast isn’t, by the way), you should check out Avast SecureLine VPN and find out just how beneficial a VPN can be. And once you’ve discovered the delights of completely private internet use, take a look at the excellent value on offer for an ongoing subscription.
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