Last updated on : July 7th, 2021 by R Yadav
According to stats, there are around 6,378 billion smartphone users worldwide, and the number is said to keep rising to an estimate of 7,516 billion by the year 2026. With the countless of hours we spend online, surfing the wide web using smartphones, connecting to random WiFi security sources while traveling, how safe is it really?
With the rise in mobile users always comes the rise in cybersecurity threats. But, what has that got to do with using a smartphone? Every piece of technology always comes with certain flaws or vulnerabilities. This is regardless of whether your smartphone advertises the best in-built security features.
Sure, the smartphone you use might come with a couple of features like a malware scanner, Smart lock, safe browsing, two-factor authentication, lockdown mode, but, is that truly enough?
Plus, it also highly depends on the phone you use. Every company offers a different set of features on various smartphones. Some might have app-management security, while others do not. Android OS devices are fairly secure, but lacks proper security protection.It is a similar case where iOS smartphones are concerned, with systems not invulnerable to malware attacks.
What happens when you connect to an unsecure WiFi when you travel? In most cases the connection might be the reason why you’re now experiencing downtime, glitches, or other vulnerabilities. On another note, there are other reasons why a smartphone’s security features alone won’t help you.
For starters, if you’re traveling abroad, and would like to access your bank accounts through an online app, it could possibly leave the door for vulnerabilities open.
You will never know what the laws are in various countries. You’re basically traveling from one country with internet freedom to another country that enforces the harshest surveillance and data retention laws. So, how will a smartphone help you out entirely?
Taking a look at the above mentioned points, instead of matching up various security apps on your phone to handle different tasks, why not just invest in a top VPN service? Yes, it’s true that no security software is a 100% safe nor is reliable, but matched with a smartphone’s security, it could help increase the overall effectiveness.
The key is to choose a VPN that is safe to use, and one that can help. Most VPNs are falsely advertised, and claim to offer the best security. However, it’s a fact that there are only a couple providers that can help. For those of you who aren’t aware of what a VPN is, let’s first go back to the basics.
A VPN, short for Virtual Private Network, is a security software that helps encrypt all traffic or data that passes through its secure tunnel and then to the internet. It allows safe passage when browsing the internet, scans for malware or other viruses that may have entered your device, and prevents any DNS, webRTC, or IP leaks while connected to one of its many secure servers.
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When a VPN is paired with a smartphone, it strengthens the overall security system. However, there are other areas a Virtual Private Network can help with. Here is a list of VPN features that will make your experience with smartphones a whole lot better and safer:
This encryption is considered one of the best and most recommended when choosing a VPN for your smartphone. There are countless of apps we use, and many websites we visit that often log user data. With connecting to a VPN, all your data traffic is passed through this encryption tunnel, and anonymizing, and securing it.
To add to data protection, make sure you choose a VPN that doesn’t log user data. Many providers store user information like name, emails, and payment details, selling them to third parties.
Have you ever wondered why your speeds slow down drastically even though you paid for a fast internet connection? There are many circumstances where your internet service provider throttles your speed and bandwidth, controlling how you use the internet. It doesn’t only happen on smartphones but on any device you use to connect to the internet. A VPN can help bypass these issues.
Traveling outside your country, or trying to access local bank accounts on your phone from back home? Can’t get into the app or service? This is probably due to geo-restrictions. With a VPN on your smartphone, you will be able to change your geo-location and access any service worldwide.
Other than streaming, if you’re using your phone for torrenting platforms, make sure you connect to a VPN. It will allow safe access.
Most people use more than one device. A VPN allows you to extend the connection to more than one device. If you’re lucky, you’ll settle with one VPN provider that allows up to 5 to unlimited device connections.
Sometimes ads do much more than just interrupt your screen time. There are certain ads that spread malware or viruses when you click on it. You could use just an ad-blocker, but why not get more features in one with a VPN?
If ever you’re trying to access a streaming service using your phone or surf a website without getting detected, the VPN’s Kill Switch works great! It stops your internet as soon as the VPN connection fails, protecting your physical IP address or location from being scouted.
As mentioned above, if you’re planning on accessing a geo-restricted service or any website anonymously, a VPN’s server can help with this. It allows you to bypass restrictions, and at the same time shield your IP.
Have a specific task in mind that you’d like to access on your smartphone? If a VPN offers a Split-Tunneling feature, you will be able to secure one particular website or app and pass it through the VPNs encrypted tunnel, while the rest of the traffic appears as regular.
There are many more perks of using a VPN with your smartphone. Overall, it does help improve the performance and security aspects of your mobile device, but again not a 100% bullet-proof. Make sure you do your research and look for a provider that is worth your investments. A good VPN will allow you to test the app before making any payments. So, why not look into that first?
Author Bio: Jade Nazareth is a writer at topvpnservice. She takes a keen interest in writing how-to guides and awareness blogs related to cybersecurity measures and software. To instill a little cyber-knowledge in her readers using layman’s terms is what she aims to do.
