The more things change, the more they stay the same. At least, those used to be words to live by. In 2020, things are changing so quickly; it seems like we are living in a different world with every month that passes. However, there is one thing that hasn’t changed.
As it has been for the past three decades, cybersecurity is one of the most important industries on the planet. With more of our data online with each year that passes, the risk of attacks only grows. And since in 2020, we are online all the time, doing things we would have otherwise done in person, we are more vulnerable than ever.
Also read: Best Paid VPNs for 2020
As such, a VPN is still crucial to keep you secure. Without having your VPN on at all times, you are putting your very identity at risk.
Of course, there are plenty more uses for a VPN than security from hackers. You can click here to read more about how a VPN can help you get gaming freebies, along with early access to games. You can also use a VPN to access more content on streaming services.
But in 2020, more uses for a VPN are emerging.
1. Get unbiased news
If you have learned anything from the discourse surrounding online media, you will know that we each live in an echo chamber. The nature of journalism has changed, with news outlets relying on advertising more than ever.
For this purpose, more money is made by targeting people directly. Sensationalism works, but anger works better. News that riles you up is news that makes money, and so the discourse becomes increasingly divisive. There is less space for other opinions, and simply by virtue of your internet history, you are led to fixate on some news while completely missing other news.
In 2020 we have learned just how dangerous this is. People are getting information about a deadly virus from news outlets and political commentators rather than doctors and scientists. In the US, the consequences are stark. Views on the virus are largely divided based on politics.
With a VPN, you can get news without the bias of your online history. You can break out of an echo chamber, which is becoming increasingly claustrophobic.
2. Freedom of expression
We generally associate censorship with countries like Russia and China. The idea that a government might profile you based on what you say online is something only their citizens have to deal with.
However, in 2020 that is no longer true. Fear of consequences simply for expressing oneself has spread to countries like India, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. But, most shockingly, it is weighing on people in the US as well.
Regardless of what you think about Black Lives Matter protests, tracking protestors using facial recognition and their online data is frightening. A VPN won’t prevent you from what you express in your own name on social media, but it can help you engage in discussions without disclosing exactly who you are.
3. Freedom of access
This extends to freedom of information as well. While both India and the US governments may want to ban TikTok for fear of Chinese surveillance, this does bring up difficult questions about censorship. These bans can prevent people from receiving information. It’s a slippery slope to more stringent censorship like what is practiced in countries like China and Russia.
Also read: Best Free VPNs for 2020
A VPN ensures you have access to any information, whether or not your government wants you to see it. It also keeps you safe from surveillance, so you can counter the potential to be tracked by foreign governments.
A VPN is more important than ever before in 2020. The world is changing every day, but the need for cybersecurity is not going away.
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