7 misconceptions about VPNs that are often misunderstood

Have you ever heard about VPN and immediately imagine a tool that can make you 100% anonymous on the internet? Or maybe you think that VPN can protect from all cyber threats? If so, you are not alone!

Many people are still wrong about what VPN can actually do. In fact, even though VPN is very useful for protecting privacy, there are some things that are often misunderstood.

Well, in this article, Jakarta Studio will discuss several general misconceptions about VPN which often makes people misunderstand. Maybe you are also one of those who still trust the following myth.

What is VPN?

VPN (Virtual Private Network) is not new, but there are still many people who do not fully understand what VPN is and how it works.

Simply put, VPN is a service that allows you to access the internet through a safer connection by encrypting data and hiding your original IP address.

In other words, VPN makes your online activities more protected from spies on the internet, such as hackers who want to access your personal data.

In addition, VPN also allows you to access content that is limited by regions, such as watching movies or series that can only be accessed in certain countries.

So, with VPN, you can feel more free and safer when exploring cyberspace. But, despite the many benefits, there are still many people who do not really understand how VPN works and what can and cannot be done by this tool.

General misunderstanding about VPN

Now even though you already know what VPN is and its functions and work, there are still many people who do not fully understand VPN. There are so many misconceptions that we still encounter among the people about this one service. What are you?

100% Anonymous on the Internet with VPN

Many people think that using VPN means you can dive in cyberspace without traces, aka 100% anonymous. This is one of the most common misconceptions.

It is true, VPN disguises your IP address and encrypts internet connections, which makes it more difficult for outsiders to track your online activities. However, this does not mean you are completely anonymous.

For example, VPN service providers themselves can still see your original IP address, although they usually do not store your activity data (depending on their policies).

In addition, the website that you visit can still track you through cookies or other techniques such as the fingerprinting browser. So, even though VPN helps maintain privacy, it is not a total anonymous guarantee.

Protect from all cyber threats

VPN is indeed very effective in securing your data, especially when using unsafe public Wi-Fi. With VPN, your data is encrypted, so it is not easily tapped by a third party. However, unfortunately, VPN is not a protector of all types of cyber threats.

For example, phishing or malware attacks can still penetrate VPN protection if you are not careful. So, don’t think that VPN can replace antivirus or firewall.

VPN only protects your data when communicating on the internet, but other threats such as viruses or online fraud can still target you if they are not vigilant.

All VPNs are the same

This is also one of the big mistakes that is often made by VPN users. Many think that all VPNs provide the same level of security.

In fact, the reality varies greatly. Free VPN, for example, often has an unclear policy about user data. Some can even store the activity log and sell your data to third parties, which are actually at risk for your privacy.

Conversely, trusted paid VPNs usually provide better encryption, policies without logs, and additional features such as the Kill Switch that break your internet connection if the VPN is cut off.

VPN makes the internet slow

It is true that VPN can make the internet connection a little slower. This happens because the data you send and receive must pass the VPN server first and encrypted.

However, this decrease in speed is not always felt, especially if you use VPN that is fast and stable.

If you feel the internet is often buffering or loading for a long time, it could be a problem from the VPN server that you use. Maybe the server is being used too much or the location is too far from where you are.

VPN Can Open All Content Blocked

VPN is often used to access streaming content that is limited in certain countries, such as films or series that can only be watched abroad.

Indeed, VPN can help you “deceive” streaming platforms by changing your IP address to look like you are in another country. However, in reality, not all VPNs can penetrate this block.

Streaming platforms, such as Netflix or upstream, continue to update their system to detect the use of VPN. So, even though VPN can access content that is limited to the area, sometimes this access is not always successful.

VPN is only needed on a public network

Many people think that VPN is only important when using public Wi-Fi that is prone to be attacked by hackers. Actually, VPN is also useful at home, in the office, or even when using cellular data.

With VPN, you can hide your IP address and protect online activities from ISP or hacker supervision that might try to peek.

In addition, VPN can also help you avoid targeted advertisements or different product prices just because of your location. So, there is no harm in using VPN regularly, not only when connected to the Public Wi-Fi network.

VPN can replace antivirus

This is another assumption that often arises, namely thinking that VPN can replace antivirus or firewall. In fact, each has a different function.

VPN helps protect data and hide your online identity, while antivirus functions to detect and delete malware from your device. Firewall, on the other hand, is tasked with preventing illegal access to your device.

So, even though VPN provides protection, you still need to use antivirus and firewall to ensure maximum security. Don’t assume VPN can do everything.

Conclusion

So, even though VPN can help maintain privacy and security when we are surfing online, it does not mean it can protect you from all threats.

You must know what can and can not be done by VPN and complete it with a firewall and antivirus for maximum protection. Hopefully the information above can help and be useful.