3rd May 2022 – (Hong Kong) One of its most popular purposes of using VPN is avoiding geographical restrictions on websites. However, did you know that VPN can do much more than that? Many argue every user should take advantage of VPNs for many reasons. VPN stands for “virtual private network.” It’s a method used to secure your browsing activity, mask your location, unlock internet restrictions, and more. Under the “One Country, Two Systems” policy, Hong Kong has different digital privacy laws. At the moment, VPNs are perfectly legal in Hong Kong, and freely available on major app marketplaces.
The first and the most important reason people use VPN is its safety feature. It provides an encrypted tunnel for transferring data to and from your device and the host site. This removes all chances of spying and snooping on your data. Even your own internet service provider (ISP) can’t access your data or track your activities. Whether you are surfing the internet for the purpose of mere entertainment or using it for share important files and information, everything is end-to-end encrypted with VPN. Another crucial reason that people choose to use a VPN is because it respects and preserves your anonymity. VPN allows its users to explore the internet from different location servers.
If your goal is to protect your data and stay safe online, you’ll need a VPN service you know you can trust. Before signing up with a service, search the internet for its name and “reviews,” and try to find out about peoples’ personal experiences with the product. Reddit is a great place to search for honest reviews. You may want to check out VPN services that don’t log your activity—the problem is, it’s hard to know which providers are really telling the truth.
While we’re on the topic of money, this is another essential factor to consider. There are some free services out there, but they are limited in one way or another. These can be slow, less protected, have bandwidth restrictions, and more. If you want free access to your services, you’ll want to pay up. Prices vary depending on the features and needs you require, but a fair price for consumers is usually around US$3 to US$10 a month. Some provides like Surfshark offer 30-day risk-free subscription services. Users can get the benefits of a premium subscription without needing to commit.
When using a VPN, the user’s internet-connected device will connect to a remote server supplied by the VPN provider. In turn, this server will reroute all activities on the internet from its end. The same will happen the other way around. Everything coming from the internet will reach the VPN’s servers before being sent to user’s device. VPNs are also used to access networks that are normally inaccessible when connected through your regular ISP, such as your work or school network. If you’re not using a VPN for work or school, you can select from a variety of paid and free VPN providers, most of which can be run on your computer, phone, or tablet. This wikiHow teaches you how to get started with a VPN.
Another situation where a VPN is useful is on public Wi-Fi. A lot of the free Wi-Fi hotspots that you find in cafes, hotels, airports and shopping malls are ‘open’ which means you can connect without entering a password. That’s convenient, but it also means there’s no encryption for that connection: you’re relying on the encryption offered by the websites and apps you use. Using a VPN adds that all-important encryption and removes much of the risk.
Sign up for an account. Once you choose a service, you’ll generally need to sign up for an account and make your first payment (if using a paid service). Once you’re signed up, you can download the VPN provider’s software onto your computer, phone, and/or tablet.
Install your VPN software. Go to the website for the VPN service you’re using and follow their instructions for installing their software. If the service you’re using supports smartphones and/or tablets, you can download their app from the Play Store (Android) or App Store (iPhone/iPad).
- If you’re using a PC, double-click the file you download from the website (usually ends in .exe), and then follow the on-screen instructions to install the software. Once you have installed your VPN, launch the application from your Start menu.
- On a Mac, you will typically launch the .dmg file and be asked to drag the application into your Applications folder. If your computer is password-protected, you will be asked to input your password upon first launching.
- On your smartphone, launch the app from your home screen. You will be asked to log in with your account or create one if you don’t have an account already.