In 2014, the US saw a myriad of cyber-attacks and a string of data breaches. Government officials are trying their best to ensure the cyber world and our data are reinforced to prevent hacking and subsequently damaging businesses. The Internet was birthed two decades ago, and presently, over 2.5 billion people have subscribed to it with over half of them having one or multiple online presences.
The internet has its claws in many aspects of our lives; government, corporate, and most notably, personal.
The Internet of Things and More Data
Most of the present data swarming the Internet (about 90%) was created within the past three years, imagine how the statistics will look like in the next coming five years? You don’t have to be a technocrat to understand how the amount of data stored will balloon leading to the demand for more storage capacities and advanced data analysis infrastructure altogether. Therefore, the security and privacy protection of this ocean of data will be prudent.
Unfortunately, Internet security and privacy companies today provide network solution that is complex and cumbersome, requiring only skilled and tech savvy individuals to handle. This is a significant problem considering most people have smartphones and mobile devices that demand data security and protection. For instance, a child can comfortably use an iPad or smartphone, but they don’t know jack about security and data protection.
The primary challenge presented to security companies is creating security solutions that can be adopted by everyone easily. Governments as well, need to play their part in providing support infrastructures and formulate Internet policies that protect the end-user and ensure restricted access and privacy to their data.
Internet security and privacy must be ubiquitous, simple, and easily comprehended by all.
5 Best USA VPN
The US government collects information about you as part of National Security despite your civil right to privacy. Therefore, to ensure big brother is not watching you or tailing your online movements, you don’t have to get off the grid, instead invest in a secure and reliable VPN. Here are the best VPN USA citizens can use:
| Rank | Provider | Price/Month | Go To Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  NordVPN Review | $4.92 |  |
| 2 |  PureVPN Website | $3.33 | |
| 3 |  Expressvpn Review | $8.32 | |
| 4 |  Vyprvpn Review | $1.66 | |
| 5 |  PIA Review | $2.69 | |
Selecting the Best VPN
There are many VPN servers spread across the internet. Most are free. However, the best ones that offer the best privacy and security require subscriptions. Before settling down on your VPN, consider the following factors:
• Cost – VPNs prices vary from vendor to vendor.
• Reliability – Select a reliable VPN that’ll provide sufficient online privacy.
• High security – Ensure our VPN offers 128-bit encryption, anonymous and secure DNS servers and doesn’t store online connection logs.
• Bandwidth limits.
• Check if they have mobile versions, i.e., Android, iOS phones and Blackberry OS.
Why Do You Need a VPN in the US?
Since internet privacy and security is the bone of contention here, we are lucky an invention that strives to offer them, Virtual Private Networks (or VPNs). VPNs allow users to access a private network securely and moreover, share data remotely and anonymously in public networks.
In the US a VPN is a convenient tool, here is why:
• Privacy
If you are a staunch believer in personal privacy and an advocate of the right to broadcast and receive without your content being monitored by authorities, then a VPN is for you. While a VPN connection may relatively slow down your bandwidth, it will encrypt your data transfers and your actual IP address. Authorities will have a hard time tracking and identifying you, the privacy and protection from surveillance provided by VPNs are indeed wanting.
• Bypassing Internet Blackouts
Similar to how ‘Acceptable Use’ policies are enforced in institutions and workplaces, some nations choose actively censor their internet and media. Governments in oppressive regimes, tend to suppress internet freedoms by creating internet blackouts preventing internet access. Sometimes, the government may also restrict the internet because of reasons not deemed political. Connecting to a VPN server enables you to bypass the restriction by effectively ‘tunneling out’ of the censorship and giving you access to the Internet.
Simultaneously the VPN will conceal your internet activity from any government authority monitoring.
• Anonymous Torrenting
Anonymous Torrenting is ideal for Peer-to-Peer data and file sharing. The MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) and similar associations detest P2P file sharing, for apparent reasons of profit and copyright. Users are often forbidden from sharing copyright-protected movies and music online. However, with a VPN installed, you can upload, download and share your files without worry. The VPN gives you anonymity reducing the risks of copyright persecution or civil lawsuits presented to you.
• Accessing Blocked Channels
As noted in schools and workplaces, where specific sites, usually, social sites and file sharing and transfer sites are blocked from the central server. With a VPN hiding your IP address, you can bypass the protocols and access the blocked sites with ease.
• Avoiding Hackers
Finally, a VPN adds a layer of security against hackers. With your IP address hidden and surfing anonymously, hackers will have a hard time trying to ‘piggy-back’ or remotely accessing your device.
Mechanism of VPNs
How a VPN works have been considered akin to a Firewall, which protects your data on your devices. VPNs however, protect your data online with the front end (layout and design) retaining the original functionality, appearance, and security of a private network.
Many VPNs have been designed with security protocols that provide different security levels and features. The most common being:
• IP security (IPSec): as the name suggests, IPSec is used to secure Internet communications and operates in two modes. The Transport mode, and the Tunneling mode. The former encrypts the data packet message only while the latter encrypts the entire data packet, including the IP address, respectively.
• Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP)/IPsec: These two protocols work in tandem to create a highly secure VPN client. L2TP is incapable of data encryption. Thus it creates the tunnel while IPSec handles data encryption, integrity, and channel security.
• Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS): These two are used extensively in the online retail and service providing business where sensitive financial information is shared. SSL and TLS operate using a ‘handshake’ method.
• Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP): One of the pioneers of VPN protocols that have been used since the mid-1990s. Like L2TP, it doesn’t support data packet encryption, it merely tunnels and encapsulates. Thus, it must be used with a second protocol to encrypt the data packets.
• Secure Shell (SSH): SSH, like the IPSec, creates both a tunnel and supports the encryption that protects it.
What are the Dangers of Using an iPhone Without a VPN in the US?
When Apple launched its devices with the updated iOS ver.11, it was a huge step by Apple in attempting to secure their operating system actively. However, certain security loopholes abound, more so, when data leaves your phone and traverses the public internet space.
Public Wi-Fi hotspots are an entry point for hackers or even authorities who can easily view everything you send online via that Wi-Fi. Moreover, your ISP may gather non-personal information and share it without your knowledge. An iPhone VPN targets these loopholes and seals the gaps, data sent to public networks first passes through the VPNs server for encryption. By doing this, your real location and online identity are secured.
Should You Use a Free VPN?
Free VPN services are numerous, some are genuine, while others are rogue services offering free “protection” while they steal your data or browsing information in the background. With the growing need for anonymity and online privacy and security, scammers are using the opportunity to cash in by stealing your data.
Here are some highlights of the risks involved when using a free VPN service:
• Malware Attacks
• Tracking
• Third parties can access data
• Bandwidth can be stolen
• Browser can be hijacked
• IP leaks
• Fraudulent activities
Conclusion
To secure your identity from hacker. We recommend to use vpn. Don’t have to use it all time. We recommend you to use vpn on public network. Such as Hotel wifi and public wifi. You can go with lowest vpn price plan to test first.
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