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Do I need a VPN for 2018?

With a growing concern for privacy on the internet – many users are asking the question, “Do I need a…

Published 6 years ago in
Do I need a VPN for 2018?

With a growing concern for privacy on the internet – many users are asking the question, “Do I need a VPN for 2018?”. In this article we aim to give you some basic knowledge of VPNs in relation to your privacy and security online.

 

What is a VPN?

VPN is an acronym for Virtual Private Network.

A VPN creates a secure network connection over a public network such as the internet.

Corporations, Government agencies and Schools use VPNs to create a secure network over the internet to allow users access to resources as if they were physically at the main office location.

As it is a Private network, users need to authenticate with a unique identity and password for extra security.

In the context of this article a VPN is a 3rd party provider that allows you access to their network to appear as if you are accessing the internet from their location.

 

So why do I need a VPN?

There are many reasons why an average user should make use of a VPN.

The most common reason is people who simply want the privacy of knowing their ISP is unable to see what they are doing online. By using a VPN for everything they do online, this user knows that no one is able to pry into their communications.

Bit torrent users are big advocates of VPN usage. Whether they are downloading legal or illegal content (such as moves/tv shows) many Bit torrent users don’t want to become part of an ISPs list just because they have a bit torrent client active.

Another reason would be if you are making extensive use of free/paid wifi locations around the world. By making use of a VPN you are ensuring that any data that you transmit is securely encrypted and can’t be accessed by unscrupulous hotspot operators.

An increasingly more common use for VPNs is spoofing your location for geo-locked content. Many Netflix users are using VPNs to access content from other countries, e.g. a UK user spoofing their location as the US to access a much larger content library.

Some VPN users do so because it allows them to evade censorship by networks, such as schools, work or even your ISPs. Using a VPN allows the user to bypass any restrictions that these networks may have with standard content filters.

 

What are the advantages/disadvantages of a VPN?

Simply put, instead of accessing the internet directly through your ISP, you access the internet through an encrypted/secure VPN tunnel.

Without a VPN, when you access any information online it goes through your ISPs servers. This allows your ISP to see anything and everything that you do online.

With a VPN, you connect to a server run by the VPN provider. This is done through an encrypted connection. By doing so the only information your ISP can see is fully encrypted. This makes it impossible for them to monitor any of your activity.

When connected to a VPN server, your web browsing/activities all appear to be done from the IP address of that VPN server. As mentioned previously, this means that your physical location is also hidden as well as any data you access.

A major disadvantage of using a VPN is that your internet speeds will slow down due to the encrypting/decrypting of all the information you access online. This does use some extra processing power but nothing too noticeable on modern technology.

Using a VPN also adds extra hops on your data’s journey through the internet, this simply means your data has to travel further and therefore slows down your connection slightly.

Probably the biggest concern for users who sign up for a VPN service is that the VPN provider can access their internet activity instead. This moves the privacy concern away from their ISP to another company. This is why users should be very careful when selecting a VPN provider as we detail further on in this article.

 

Is using a VPN legal?

The vast majority of countries have laws in place that mean users have the legal right to privacy. Therefore VPN services are very much legal in these countries.

Very few countries, such as China and Iraq, have banned usage of VPN services.  Some countries such as Iran have made it a requirement that the only legal VPNs are those registered and approved by the government, therefore making them virtually useless.

 

Free or Paid?

It is widely believed that using a free VPN is a bad idea for security. Running a VPN service is not free and therefore most free services will not be as secure as a well-reviewed paid service. A free VPN service has to pay their bills somehow and this is likely through handing off users browsing data for a price!

Just because a VPN provider offers a paid service does not automatically mean they are secure and trustworthy.

 

How do I choose a VPN for 2018?

Choosing a VPN means considering all the things a VPN service can offer. As always, doing your own research on all of these subjects is highly recommended, there is no such thing as a perfect VPN that does it all!

Below are some topics to consider when choosing a VPN for 2018.

  • Price – How much do you want to spend?
  • Speed – Many VPNs offer a free trial where you can speed test the connection.
  • Privacy – Does the VPN provider keep logs?
  • Support – Is the customer support quick to respond, do they provide good answers?
  • Software – Do they offer a VPN client for all platforms (Windows, OS X, Android, iOS)?
  • Servers – Is there a large geographical selection of servers to choose from?

 

Recommendations for a VPN for 2018

Here are some recommendations for reputable VPN providers. As mentioned above you should always do your own research with your specific needs to find the most suitable VPN!

 

PrivateInternetAccess (PIA) – https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/

  • No logs
  • Accepts Bitcoin payment for anonymity focused users
  • Kill switch and DNS leak protection

 

ExpressVPN – https://www.expressvpn.com/

  • Offers 94 geographical locations
  • 256bit encryption
  • Excellent rated support

 

NordVPN – https://nordvpn.com/

  • 61 countries
  • Excellent rated support
  • No logs policy

 

PrivateVPN – https://privatevpn.com/

  • 30-day money back guarantee
  • 6 simultaneous connections
  • Well rated mobile apps

 

That One Privacy Site (www.thatoneprivacysite.net) offers a tool that allows you to compare a massive selection of VPN providers – https://thatoneprivacysite.net/simple-vpn-comparison-chart/

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Cet article est aussi disponible en français First published 07 April, 2024 African nations’ data protection laws are, to some extent, weaker compared to Europe’s. This is because the European Union’s (EU’s) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sets a high standard for digital data protection. We can think of the GDPR as a benchmark for

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Next Wave: African data protection laws need more oomph to match GDPR

Cet article est aussi disponible en français

First published 07 April, 2024

African nations’ data protection laws are, to some extent, weaker compared to Europe’s. This is because the European Union’s (EU’s) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sets a high standard for digital data protection. We can think of the GDPR as a benchmark for strong data protection laws. Moreover, African countries have varying levels of success in putting their data protection policies into practice. Digital governance policies in Africa can shape the continent’s progress as digital advancements grow alongside economic development.

This is why current data governance across African states must be assessed, particularly paying attention to their trends and differences. While South Africa, Kenya, and Botswana have seen rapid growth in data protection policies, they still need to catch up to the GDPR standards of the EU.


But why is this important?

Between 2020 and 2023, over 30 African countries implemented data protection laws. As expected, each new regulation brings fresh compliance obligations and penalties for non-compliance.

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This, therefore, means that organisations with operations or customers in Africa must understand the applicable laws fully. Many internet-based businesses operate or use cloud services in multiple African nations; this sometimes calls for transferring personal data across borders. This movement often occurs between African countries and regions such as the EU, UK, US, and Australia, which can pose various data protection challenges.

Understanding the importance of data privacy rules in each African country, especially limitations on data transfer, cannot be stressed enough. Organisations must also check if local laws limit using service providers within African nations and their related requirements. A grasp of the legal framework for transferring personal data from African countries is essential for compliance.


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Considering Europe’s stringent directive that international players adhere to its data protection standards, we must ask whether European companies maintain the same standards when handling personal data from Africans as they do with Europeans.

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This research revealed disparities in digital rights granted by subsidiaries of European telecom giants Orange and Vodafone in Senegal and Kenya compared to their European counterparts. The discrepancies included lack of transparency in publishing terms of use for prepaid services, minimal disclosure regarding data collection practices, third-party access, and security measures.

This highlights how, despite the principles underpinning the European data protection regime, companies may exploit regulatory gaps in countries to their advantage, compromising data privacy standards.

Many Western tech companies are notorious for disregarding user data privacy, offering convenience at the expense of the vast amounts of personal data they harvest. This trend is due to the absence of markets where individuals can understand the value of their data, leading them to exchange it for minimal gains. This issue is common in Africa and less so in Europe, where the GDPR exists.

Consider the case of Worldcoin, supported by OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, which uses blockchain technology to store biometrically derived tokens. It retains personal data indefinitely without allowing users to delete their information.

When Worldcoin launched its services in Kenya, it incentivised people with around $50 to get them to scan their irises. Despite concerns about data protection, Kenya initially licensed Worldcoin’s operations. Before its suspension in August 2023, Worldcoin had become very popular, scanning the irises of up to 350,000 Kenyans, most attracted by the monetary incentive. While these funds may temporarily alleviate financial constraints for locals participating in the exercise, there is a compelling argument that Worldcoin’s model is exploitative.

The other day, Worldcoin was temporarily banned in Portugal, following similar restrictions in Spain, leaving Germany as its sole European market for biometric data collection. Portugal’s data protection office imposed the ban after complaints about scanning children’s irises.

This case underscores Europe’s stringent stance on digital data protection. EU data protection laws afford individuals rights over their data, including the ability to edit or delete it. This was an obvious legal conflict with Worldcoin’s approach, highlighting the split in digital privacy standards between Africa and Europe.

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Bottom line

African nations must tailor data protection laws to their needs and enforce them consistently.

While directly copying the GDPR may not work, Africa can learn from the EU’s approach to demand global compliance. Despite initial uncertainties, harsh fines on non-comp

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