With the shocking revelations by Edward Snowden of NSA’s frantic efforts over the years to crack into and to subvert the VPN encryption technologies, and with the latest news from China of complete interference with VPN, it is important to revisit the VPN discussion in the hope that you will interrogate just how well you are placed with securing your networks and your pertinent information. Another point to consider is the fact that most VPN technologies are certified and developed by the by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Let us now take a look at the available protocols and what they offer

PPTP

PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) has been for a long time the standard protocol used for internal businesses as VPN. This is because it was created for functioning as VPN over dialups by a consortium that was founded by Microsoft. It is easy to set-up as it is compatible with almost every platform and device capable of VPN, and it does not need any additional software for one to install.

VPN over PPTP is popular with businesses, people as well as VPN providers because of ease of use and the fact that it is quick as it needs low computational power. Although it is currently found only through 128-bit encryption, there are a number of vulnerabilities that have been found with it to the extent that Microsoft have recommended those using VPN should consider using L2TP/IP sec.
The knowledge that PPTP was not secure only serves to confirm the fears that NSA would almost certainly decrypt current and even historical information encrypted under this protocol.

This can still protect your identity online and change your IP especially if the proper security measures are set and active on the VPN server.

L2TP

Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol offers the highest level of encryption. It also checks the integrity of data before it encapsulates the data twice.

When properly implemented with the complementary use of IP Sec or the use of port forwarding as in the case of use behind a firewall, this protocol has the potential of being on the best protocol. It is however slightly slower than PPTP and it is available on almost all modern platforms. The speed is affected by the server and personal computers power, but the difference is not even noticeable by the eye making L2TP a great option to consider.

There are still concerns that this protocol would likely be compromised or weakened by NSA, but with proper and what we consider standard safety practices, as other protocols, this becomes a great protocol to use and be certain that your information is safe.

OpenVPN

Open VPN also has one of the highest encryption algorithms as it authenticates the data by way of digital certificates. This protocol is the most reliable, most compatible and most stable for all manner of environments. It is also fast, recording the highest performance levels of the three protocols.

All 3 are great for their own reasons and now you have more details about which one might be better for you depending what you use your RapidVPN account for.

Which one do you use?

Privacy transformation

Can you imagine that there were days when ‘privacy’ for the internet meant being in a room with no one else looking at what you are doing! This has totally been swallowed up into oblivion. In the current days, even your browser keeps track of what you do on the internet: the sites you visit, and the queries you key in. Setting your browser option to private does not even seem to work, certain sites will still be able to tell your IP address and even your zip code, city, ISP and so much more! Facebook and its ‘likes’ would often store up data on your online operations even before you click on the ‘like’. All this only points to one fact-it may not be private after all!

You need some privacy

The Snowden revelations have come in to open a new discussion on the safety of your information in the hands of such sites. For sure, your information in the hands of these sites/entities may not be safe-when opportunity presents itself since such information could easily be used for or against you.

In addition to sites which store your data, there are ‘eavesdroppers’ online who would hack into your accounts and get your information and use it to their advantage. You want to have some bit of privacy online? VPN is the way to go. In the wake of customer data theft as well as Snowden’s NSA revelations, you are better off guarding yourself with VPN.

How VPN can help you get privacy

Normally when you key in a query or visit a site, you communicate directly from your computer to the internet. This transmission of your data is in plain text so that anyone can read it in the normal way and if they have access to your network, they can easily intercept your communication or even take it over. They can easily see the sites you visited, what you keyed in the search boxes and even payment fields. Such information can then easily be traced back to your computer’s IP address.

When you use VPN, it works like a middle man in between your computer and the internet. The VPN controls this communication via servers so that in case of tracing any content back to your computer, the person will trace it to the VPN server. Further still, all such information is heavily encrypted and therefore illegible.

There are also many other companies which make use of the VPN servers and therefore so many of such communications would be traced to the same VPN server this also serves to diminish any possibility of tracing the contents back to you.. simply put – you are better off with a VPN.

VPN is a network security bridge between individuals and what they access on the internet. With VPN, an individual’s data on the internet is encrypted so that no one is able to read it, no one can control/influence it or even try to change it for their own good. There are so many advantages and benefits that come with using VPN. We however choose to focus on the fundamental advantages and benefits. We hope that you are able to see just how much VPN could be of help to your internet experience.

1. Change and hide your IP

An IP address is a critical component when it comes to internet operations. It is the address of each computer that is used to access the web. This means that content can be traced back to a certain IP and also content from a given IP can be intercepted and used to the disadvantage of the owner. VPN hides your identity so that it becomes hard for anyone to steal your identity, or to manipulate your online data. The other side of the coin is that with a hidden identity, one can access information from blocked sites. People engaging in sensitive practices like detective work could use VPN to block any threat of trace-back.

2. Privacy

There is so much that people do online. Privacy is almost a critical factor for anyone going online. With the prevailing circumstances, your ISP, the network administrator or even a hacker can be able to see what you did on the internet. With VPN, your online activity is encrypted so that no one can tell what you were doing online.

3. Security

Protection on the internet is just as important as the protection people need in the conventional world outside of the internet. There are many hackers as well as government agencies looking to use your non secure data for their gain. Such details as passwords for online accounts as well as financial accounts need to be thoroughly protected through the use of VPN.

4. Torrent downloads

Those who are fun downloading torrents may want to check out VPN. If your ISP is not allowing the required ports to be opened having your torrent speeds either very slow or completely closed off, VPN can help go around it.
This way you can download the torrent files with ease and great speeds.

5. Unblock geo-restricted sites

Those who travel frequently outside their countries could consider the use of VPN. Take for instance if you are traveling outside of the US. You may not be able to access some media sites to follow some of your favorite TV shows/series, music channels or movies. One can however use VPN to change their IP address so that they access such sites and feel as if they are home – when they need to be.

The use of VPN (which is short of Virtual Private Network), has been around for a number of years now. It helps internet users become anonymous while browsing on the internet. It does this by encrypting your signal so that your content remains illegible to any eavesdroppers. In addition, VPN is able to manipulate your IP address so that you appear as though you come from a different region/country/location or that you are using a different machine. Here are some of the reasons why you should go anonymous.

1. Get USA restricted content while outside the country; Netflix and streaming content

There are geographic enforcements that are applicable to the use of certain streaming media providers like Netlflix, Pandora and Hulu. This is because of the copyright agreements entered into by those streaming media providers. By your IP address, the systems are able to tell the country of origin and therefore restrict access. But when you use US VPN, it is able to configure your IP address so that you seem as coming from within the US. This way you, well simply put – get hassle free access.

2. Use any Hotel or Public WI-FI securely

Most people are often elated by free WI-FI especially for those in countries where it is hard come by. But even in countries where WI-FI is predominantly available, there is great need to take caution when in public. These public offerings are insecure as your signals are broadcast for anyone interested enough to read through. It is not safe to write or read through your emails, or even make sensitive calls unless you enlist VPN protection for anonymity.

3. Navigate around country’s web censorship or content surveillance

This is especially true for countries that propagate inhumane activities and use such censorship and content surveillance to protect their evil practices. The use of VPN could be a great tool in helping you access the World Wide Web and explore available opportunities. One you connect, everything will seem as if you are using your own PC, but all doors will suddenly be opened.

4. VOIP Calls

VOIP has come in to empower businesses beyond their initial operations in communications. But if unguarded by VPN, these calls can easily be hacked into by an entry level hacker.
Once VOIP is made within the encrypted tunnel such as made by VPN, not even an experienced hacker would be able to know what you are doing.

5. Use VPN to avoid any reprisals and trace-back when researching on sensitive matters

Some of the situations that may call for anonymity include; researching on your competition, a reporter who is covering very sensitive topics, and investigations of dangerous crimes. In case of trace-back to your computer, there is a great likelihood of interference. The use of VPN would however greatly reduce the chances of being traced back.

The world already went online, and the coming years have already shown the green light for ‘anything and everything on the Internet’. Such business functions like business communications, accounting and finance, human resource, sales, and marketing are fully contained in the cloud and in specific software applications. Individual’s personal information that could be valuable is also contained online; talk of identification documents, professional documents even social information and the info about the smallest of details that you had included in your online searches.

But even with the world making major strides in going online, there have been major threats of security online and we are not talking about Heartbleed or Poodle vulnerabilities. All the above content that is present online forms a rich base for evil minded persons to propagate evil and cause havoc. They can easily tap into your phone conversations, your emails, and your company information and choose to alter or use such pertinent information for their own intended purposes. Businesses have lost quite a lot to hackers and other evil minded individuals. The threat of identity theft cannot be underestimated and the security of any online practice starts with each individual. It is important the individuals and organizations protect themselves.

One of the simplest yet effective ways of preventing such occurrences is to secure your network using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service. By using a VPN service, your signal is encrypted and cloaked so that your activity is illegible to anyone wanting to eavesdrop on your valuable information. In addition, the Virtual Private Network is able to manipulate your IP address so that you appear as though you come from a different country/location or that you are using a different machine from that which you are actually using.

Encrypting and cloaking your signal makes you anonymous and therefore safe to a larger extent from predators. The second aspect of what VPN does in manipulating your IP address has two advantages for businesses and even individuals. Businesses are able to access content which they would otherwise be barred from accessing. This advantage might be just what you need to have an advantage over your competition.

As we have seen, the use of VPN can offer businesses and individuals such great advantage as well as the necessary weaponry to fight back on those who want to pose security threats to business operations. If you as a person have had the security breach challenges in your online accounts, then it may just be the right time to consider the VPN option. Protect yourself by being anonymous and select the package that suites you the best.

Did you know that there is a mobile VPN?
Did you know that you can use this mobile VPN?
Did you know that it is very simple to use this type of VPN?

Well, yes, that is all true

Most people take mobile devices for granted today leading them exposed, as well as the data that they access over their mobile devices to anyone with a bad intent.

It may come a time where you would no longer need to think about how to approach someone and ask them out. For those that know how to do this today can easily access the required details that are transmitted over the network while you tweet or send Facebook messages, see what they need and (ab)use them ‘to be’ what you are looking for.

Well, that is true if you are not using VPN.

What happens if you use VPN?

Well if you do not use VPN someone listening in would be seeing a message such as this:

POST: author=”Sarah”;message=”I just saw him again, he looks so cute behind his laptop, working on something as usually. If he was only a bit more man like and told me that ‘I must go with him to the dance and that he is not taking a no for an answer’ I bet he would look so quite saying so… Oh well, Wayne will come soon, I know he will ask for sure”;to=”Jenny”;

With VPN the person listening in would see something like this instead:

$1$sX5.F52.$.NRva9f4WKDAi6is0UpWh/ sfdpoPO#rjwpgASfm-23tjGsgslfma;sldfpdgowp9qu19-2jrfkKF.,cvnkNAisf0a9uq0r13nkwgnsdfnalfnSdnkfI@1094
02wnskdnafknliiajf023qpjAJFKdakjsdasjfkLNfnafksp91prrqQ)#R)IfkvnksdnfskflafP)!@_$#OQFJa
kasndlDF(Q_!Fkfnnaksd)@!F%(&#ksghkfhaksdas #@($_#@ akjdakdn a@(-sdasnda asjfletoOQLJ!L@RNQLWFNAsao)!_@#jotwnsalksdlasnl $1$AU4.JJ0.$/FVy6LOuTUbaKHLUK0AUN/

If you can read some of the above, do let us know, you would probably have a very successful future in a very short amount of time.

What? You say that you would like to have someone cute, who you really like to know that you do so and approach you? But what if you do not like them? What if this is not about some cute boy or a girl or about a dance? Just what if this is your company data? Were you working on something new, revolutionary? - Well if so, not any more! You have most likely just made someone’s day as well.

So start protecting yourself, get a tunnel with your name on it and an armor with ours and follow these simple steps to get your VPN provider to help you achieve what we all want – PRIVACY.

iOS devices such as iPhone, iPad and iPod:
L2TP setup for iOS devices
PPTP setup for iOS devices

Android based devices:
L2TP setup for Android devices
PPTP setup for Android devices

Do let us know if you have any trouble setting it up, we will be happy to assist if you do

Everyone likes to go to their family for Christmas and New Years, which is great no matter how old you are. There are times however when you do that, only to end up realizing that this would be the last thing you should have done.

Based on chats and emails that we have received we know that there are many of you that had this happened and were looking for fast yet safe way to get back to what you thought you would have without any extra steps.

What we are talking about here are IP lockouts!

Did you get locked out of some system because you suddenly found yourself in Mexico visiting your family away from your busy life in New York or maybe exploring beautiful flora and fauna in some African country away from your desk job in Italy?

People that travel often, surely know what we mean when we say locked out. Do you know what is the best way to make sure that you do not fall a victim of the same thing once again? You have guessed it – VPN IP.

Dedicated and static IP will ensure that you are logging in from an IP that is reserved just for you, while in the same time, it will not suddenly change on you!

Purchasing an IP plan that is in the same country of your usual residence, or of a country that would not be blacklisted or suspicious to the system is the easiest way to ensure that you can log in and do your work.

Are IP plans only good for IP lockout related to work?

No, they are good for any IP lockout. Lets take a last years example. Mathew contacted us to ask us for help on setting up the connection because of the PayPal account he had for his business was not possible to be accessed any more. He decided to went away for the holidays, only to realize that people had issues with the payments and he was not able to log into his PayPal account and set it all straight.

All he was able to do is to send them an email saying that it would be OK. Needles to say that by the time he considered VPN package for himself as a requirement he had quite a few disputes raised, but as soon as he got access to PayPal he was able to (in some time) resolve all issues.

We are glad for your experience that was shared with us Mat and we are glad to know that you are prepared for this holiday season

We have another example, which might not seem as important to many of you, but to Joan it was the most important thing based on her messages and we were happy to have been able to help her.

Her story is of love and her inability to contact her special person over POF (PlentyOfFish) as she got to Uganda. The thing is that she was chatting with a special person for 2 and a half years and on impulse decided to go over and meet someone she so adores to see what he would be like in person.

Once she got over she wanted to drive the address out of him without letting him know that she is right there, 20 miles from him, just outside of the airport. The issue began on second login as her account got disabled. Luckily for us and her, she heard of us before as her colleague “used you for work of his” and she was able to set her iPhone to Canada IP, reactivate account on POF and just in time to learn that she was in his town just a moment ago.

Well we hope you are doing great Joan, both you and your lucky guy

Well we know that we are not going anywhere without our VPN account setup and in use for various reasons – reasons that you can find on our blog, but what about you?

Did you have any exciting revelations of how a simple thing as IP can change what you are used to and disable something for you in just a second? Do let us know as we are really glad to hear things like above – with a happy ending.

There are many different reasons why you may need or want the VPN connection and the only way to get what you really want and need is as the title suggests, a free trial.

With us you can get your free trial, but not just any kind.

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