VPN: these 3 misconceptions that you should absolutely forget – Frandroid

Long confidential, VPNs are now popular with Internet users. Despite this democratization, there are still many misconceptions about them. Today we suggest that you come back to three of them in order to refute them.

Total anonymity, data protection, impact on the internet connection, defense against online attacks, etc. There are many misconceptions and other myths circulating about VPNs. So much so that it is sometimes difficult to disentangle the true from the false about these services with their very useful features.

It must be said that the profusion of different offers does not help to form a final opinion on VPNs. Fortunately, there are players like Surfshark who offer a premium service that is easy to use. Especially since the subscription currently benefits froma promotion that drops its monthly price to 2.12 euros for 24 months.

To help you find your way around, we looked at the 3 most common VPN myths in order to debunk them.

Behind my VPN, I do what I want

This is arguably one of the most common VPN myths. Using this type of service does not make you anonymous on the internet in any way. Your browser will continue to save your data with cookies.

Each connection to a service (Google) or a social network (Twitter, Facebook) will leave a trace. It is therefore possible to follow your activity, even without knowing your physical position.

What your VPN does, however, is ensure the confidentiality of your activities and your data, in particular by encrypting the latter. Used in conjunction with a search engine that protects your personal data (Qwant, DuckDuckGo) and with good practices (use your browser’s private browsing mode, do not log into your various accounts), a VPN can however help you bring anonymity closer to the internet. In this way, you can override certain restrictions (such as geo-blocking for example) or even dodge targeted advertisements.

Using a VPN will slow down my internet connection

This misconception about VPNs can be considered half-true. Depending on the choice of VPN, it is possible to observe speed slowdowns, sometimes significant. This is especially true when using a free VPN whose server infrastructures are often weaker than their premium counterparts.

The distance from the chosen server as well as the protocol used (OpenVPN, L2TP, Smart DNS, etc.) greatly affect the speed and latency of your connection.

When using a VPN, be sure to always choose the right servers and protocols for your activity so as not to impact your connection too much. Example with connection tests carried out by us on the occasion of the Surfshark test.

With a VPN, I am fully protected against online attacks

Be careful not to confuse VPN and Antivirus. If a VPN allows you to secure your online life, by encrypting the data of your exchanges for example, it will not protect you against all external threats.

When it comes to cybersecurity, an old saying goes that often “the main risk is between the chair and the keyboard“. Understand by this that in most cases, the problem is the user.

Even with a VPN, all you have to do is open a scam email, go to a shady site, or click on the wrong link to find yourself a victim of phishing or the first virus.

Some Premium VPNs offer additional services to help you better protect your devices. This is the case of Surfshark with its Surfshark One formula, which now contains an Antivirus capable of countering attacks against you. A VPN is therefore not a blank check to do anything on the internet. Keeping good practices (filtering emails, activating the firewall, antivirus) will prevent you from unpleasant surprises.

To avoid as many problems as possible: opt for a Premium VPN

The Surfshark offer in brief

• Over 3,200 servers in 65 countries
• Efficient geo-blocking bypass
• 1 subscription for all your devices
• AES 256 data encryption
• Strict policy of non-logging of personal data
• CleanWeb and Kill Switch function

Ranked among the best performing VPNs on the market, Surfshark is a Premium VPN that stands out from the competition on many points. Particularly impressive are the speed of its servers and its strict policy on retaining user data, as highlighted in the test carried out by us.

Currently, Surfshark is offering its 24-month subscription for 2.12 euros per month, or a total of 50.98 euros, which undeniably ranks it among the best value for money on the market.