Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an absolute must if you care about your privacy. It can be a lifesaver when dealing with cryptocurrencies online. But what is a VPN and how exactly can it protect your privacy? In this article we will discuss how to better protect yourself online, using a VPN for privacy.
What Is a VPN?
A VPN is a service that masks your true online identity and location. This protection means that the end user (a website or an individual) can’t see your true location. Rather, they see the location of the VPN. Usually, when dealing with and stashing your cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, etc.) your wallet is susceptible to online attacks. A quick web search for “Bitcoin wallet stolen” shows many people who didn’t take the security of their crypto wallets seriously. Most lost a lot of money when they didn’t protect their activity with a VPN.
As long as you are connected to a VPN, everyone sees you as connected to it, but nothing else. This means that your privacy is protected, to a certain extent. If you commit crimes online while connected to the VPN, VPN services are required by law to keep a log of your activities. They must hand them over to the authorities upon official request. VPN services are still extremely useful for avoiding hacking attacks, though. As long as you are an honest citizen, you don’t have to worry about your privacy being looked into by others.
Choosing a VPN
How do you choose a good VPN? There are plenty of services available, and many offer their services for free. Be careful, though, because some of the free VPN services use your own IP as an exit node for other computers. This means that you are responsible for everything another user connected to your address does. If you are serious about masking your true identity, and if you value your privacy and your Bitcoin wallet, a paid VPN is a good choice.
Most paid VPN services ask for a small monthly subscription fee—a small investment given that it can save your cryptocurrency in the case of online attacks. Most paid services offer a free trial to determine if they suit your privacy protection needs.
An alternative to VPN services is a proxy. Proxies are split into two categories: HTTP and SOCKS. HTTP proxies only interpret browser activity. SOCKS proxies cover every activity, offering full privacy protection. As is the case with VPN, private paid proxies are the way to go as the public ones are generally unreliable and slow.
Summary
A VPN is a tool that helps users protect their privacy online. Veldt Gold encourages you to protect yourself when buying precious metals with BTC and other cryptocurrencies.