Monday, 18 May 2015 00:00

How A VPN Can Keep You Safe

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b2ap3_thumbnail_VPN.pngWhen you think of VPN, the first thing that usually comes to mind is work. Many big corporations use VPNs to provide access to confidential work documents, and to allow their employees to safely work remotely. What many people don’t realize is that VPNs are your #1 defense on the internet.

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. Much like physical private networks (ie your work’s intranet), VPNs keep the data you’re sending and receiving private. The majority of VPNs also encrypt your data, meaning that even if it were to be intercepted, it would not be useful.

Security Risks Online

The security risks that are present on the internet are nearly uncountable. From phishing scams that try to get your usernames and passwords or personal and financial information to sales scams to loan scams. If someone out there thinks they can benefit from making a victim out of you, they will try it at least once. We’d all like to think that we are smart enough to fall for a scam. Many people believe that they do not have enough money that anyone would want to target them for a scam. Unfortunately, neither of these are true.

If scammers can scam even $10 off of you, they will. Whether you have 6 credit cards or none, if there is a way that someone can get money or merchandise at your expense, there is someone out there trying to figure out how they will do that. No matter what your background is, or what sort of protections you have in place, always assume that you are not safe from criminals online.

A Great Example of How the Mighty

LifeLock's CEO Todd Davis put his social security on the ads for his company, in an attempt to prove that his company's service works. Unfortunately for him, his identity was stolen 13 times (Phoenix NewsTimes). Even though these identity thefts were small - a $500 loan, an account with AT&T, Swiss Colony, Gap Credit, and more - over time, these small things add up. If you do not have a service like LifeLock that will help you resolve these type of thefts, or if the service is unable to live up to its promises, you may end up with a negative impact on your credit score and even potentially paying the bills you didn't create.

Todd Davis didn’t even make it difficult for people to exploit his identity in their benefit. He believed that his company would keep this type of theft from occurring, and will often blame the companies that provide credit without verifying identity for the failure. Even so, if it can happen to LifeLock’s CEO, what’s to keep it from happening to you?

How to Protect Yourself

The best way to ensure that someone doesn’t steal your identity, is to ensure that your personal information is not available for anyone online to find. This starts with smart practices - don’t post your personal information, such as:

  • Current Address

  • Past Addresses

  • Mother’s Maiden Name

  • Name of your first pet

  • Details about your first car

  • Details about current loans or loan providers

  • Banking Info

  • Etc

If it is information that might be asked to verify your identity. The variety of questions that might be asked are not readily available online, and with good reason. Details that a government entity has access to that they assume only you should know should not be shared online, even if the details seem harmless. Don’t ever share information that you use as secret questions, and consider using answers to questions that seem nonsensical. For example, answer “what is your first pet’s name” with your favorite movie title. Of course, you have to make sure that you can remember the answer!

Aside from smart online practices, using a VPN when you connect to the internet will help ensure that you are as safe as possible online.

Picking a VPN Service

I’m not going to pretend to be a VPN expert. If you’re seriously considering using a VPN, there will be no shortage of providers you can chose from. It’s important to choose a service that gives you the features that are important to you at the right price. Some VPN providers do not keep logs, therefore protecting your privacy further. Some do. Some can help you access regionally restricted content, others do not. If you’re not sure where to start, Lifehacker has some great articles on VPNs: Five Best VPN Service Providers and Why You Should Start Using A VPN (and How To Choose the Best One for Your Needs). PCWorld also has a great article on VPNs: How (and why) to set up a VPN today.


If you’re concerned about online safety, a VPN is a great step to ensuring you’re safe. Don’t wait until you become the victim of on an online criminal. Keep yourself, and your personal information, safe now.

Last modified on Monday, 18 May 2015 14:42
Data Recovery Expert

Viktor S., Ph.D. (Electrical/Computer Engineering), was hired by DataRecoup, the international data recovery corporation, in 2012. Promoted to Engineering Senior Manager in 2010 and then to his current position, as C.I.O. of DataRecoup, in 2014. Responsible for the management of critical, high-priority RAID data recovery cases and the application of his expert, comprehensive knowledge in database data retrieval. He is also responsible for planning and implementing SEO/SEM and other internet-based marketing strategies. Currently, Viktor S., Ph.D., is focusing on the further development and expansion of DataRecoup’s major internet marketing campaign for their already successful proprietary software application “Data Recovery for Windows” (an application which he developed).

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