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Cybercriminals were quick to exploit the disruption to daily life caused by the global Covid pandemic. In the past few years, they have launched more cyber-attacks and online scams than ever, which is why many users have started using a VPN (opens in new tab) to protect themselves online.
A VPN, or virtual private network, is an increasingly popular tool that secures your Internet connection and allows you to surf the Internet anonymously. This is because a VPN allows you to use a different IP address than the one your internet service provider (ISP) provided online. Plus, by changing server locations while connected to a VPN, you can make it seem like you’re in a different state or even country.
While many users stay connected to their VPN at all times for added security online, this can also have negative effects, as this illustrates report (opens in new tab) from New York WHY.
When do you not use a VPN?
The state of New York has long been trying to crack down on scammers trying to collect unemployment benefits they are not entitled to. Unemployment insurance fraud is a very serious matter and unfortunately several innocent New Yorkers are now unable to receive their benefits after logging into the state’s Department of Labor (DOL) website while connected to a VPN.
WHY spoke to Elena Rodriguez who tried to re-certify her benefits online, but eventually had her payments stopped because DOL thought she was out of the country. Rodriguez gave more details about the situation, saying:
“That evening I got something that said ‘we see you are in Romania’. I was like wait what are you talking about… and then I realized my VPN was on. I just had the VPN for added security as I heard cyber threats are on the rise more in this day and age so I thought I was being proactive and smart and doing all of this. Not for a second did I think it would show that I’m not in the country.
Using a VPN while working from home (opens in new tab) is an extra step people can take to secure their connections and protect their privacy, but in this case it did more harm than good. Although Rodriguez should have turned off her VPN when visiting NYSDOL’s website, she wouldn’t have had any problems connecting to a server in New York instead of one in Romania. As a general rule of thumb, you’ll usually see better speeds and less latency when you connect to a VPN server that’s closer to your actual location than to one further away or in a different country.
Other New Yorkers have also run into this problem in recent years. Therefore, a spokesperson for NYSDOL explained in a statement that users should turn off their VPN when visiting the site, saying:
“During this crisis, we’ve disrupted thousands of fraudulent jobless claims — and one of our best tools is flagging claims that appear to be coming from the United States for further review. We continue to remind New Yorkers who use VPNs or other ‘internet anonymization’ systems to disable those services before applying for benefits or submitting weekly certifications.”
Choose the right VPN
Of course, as well as following this advice, it’s also vital to make sure you sign up for a decent VPN in the first place. If you’re subscribed to a reputable package, you’ll invariably find it much easier to get in and out of VPN connectivity as and when it suits you. The good quality VPNs out there are also much easier to set up and configure. If you’re migrating from a free plan, you’ll probably notice the difference is huge.
When it comes to choosing the right VPN package, your options are many and varied. As always, it’s a good idea to stick with the more well-known names. They have a proven track record and can offer much more for the money. In that regard, go to ExpressVPN (opens in new tab)NordVPN (opens in new tab) or Surfshark (opens in new tab) just to name three of the major players in the VPN market.
Selecting the software of your choice is pretty straightforward too, although it’s really worth thinking about what you need your VPN for before you sign up for a subscription. This really revolves around what you spend most of your time doing, such as streaming content or gaming. You may want to keep yourself safe while online along with covering your tracks and thereby improving your online security profile.
Core VPN requirements
There are some important things worth thinking about if you’re considering signing up for a VPN. You want to consider a provider with many locations that can help you connect to platforms using a variety of devices. You’ll also want to select one that offers more than one connection if you have a multi-device household. Similarly, anyone with a penchant for streaming movies or TV will want a VPN that can unblock access to the likes of Netflix or iPlayer.
Next, review the support options that come with the VPN packages you’re considering. All the reputable, bigger names have support services to back up the software themselves. Even if you’re a seasoned VPN user, there can be the occasional technical glitch. Knowing that your VPN provider has your back when or if the outage occurs can provide valuable peace of mind.
Finally, while everyone is looking for value these days, it’s always worth comparing different VPNs based on their price versus features. If you’re eager to switch on and just want everything to work, it’s always wise to spend a little more on your VPN, just like everything else. Pick the right package, though, and you’ll also get the reassurance of that customer support, in case getting connected doesn’t turn out to be as easy as you’d hoped.
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