Black Friday is right around the corner, and as we look forward to great deals and offers, hackers and scammers around the world are also waiting for their most profitable day of the year. Every year billions of dollars are lost due to online shopping scams and this number is rising steadily. Here we’ve compiled 6 tips for the best online security practices that are can protect you from online scammers. But first, let’s talk about why online shopping is still so risky.
We have made great advances in online security over the last decade, and a huge part of this progress has been educating people on online security and the types of fraudulent activities that take place online. But the hackers have also used this time to up their game, finding new ways to scam unassuming users. Identity theft, phishing scams, and account takeovers still happen all the time.
Online security is one of those areas of modern life, where the responsibility is equally shared between the user and whichever website or app you might be using. We’ve seen time and time again that even the biggest and most powerful websites often fall victim to online scams or hacker attacks. In a perfect world, all websites would be fully protected from all cyber crime, but the reality is you have to do your own part as well to protect your identity and personal data on the internet. The best way to get started is by using a VPN when you go online. BlufVPN has rock-solid encryption and the world’s best prices. BlufVPN also has a 30-day money-back guarantee policy, so there’s no reason not to try it out. Meanwhile, here are some of the best online security practices you can implement this Black Friday.
Whenever you visit a website, make sure that it uses HTTPS instead of just HTTP. This is the minimum requirement for secure online shopping. The S here stands for Secure Socket Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security(TLS) protocol. This is an authentication and security protocol that encrypts your details. Sadly, HTTPS alone is not enough to ensure secure online shopping but think of it as your starting point in online safety. If a website does not have HTTPS, then it’s probably time to find a new place to shop at. You can easily check whether or not a website uses HTTPS by looking at the URL bar. If the link begins with “HTTPS://”, then you know that the website is relatively safe.
Public Wi-Fi is a nightmare for anyone concerned with online security. Public Wi-Fis are the most vulnerable to attacks and they offer no security whatsoever. If you don’t want your personal information exposed, avoid shopping through public Wi-Fi at all costs.
Hackers can easily scan public networks for any weak connections and then they can easily get away with cybercrime. But we get it, sometimes you don’t really have a choice but to use public Wi-Fi. If it comes to that then do yourself a favor and use a VPN. Using a VPN will encrypt your connection and your data will be secure from nosy hackers and scammers even through public Wifi.
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Phishing is one of the oldest techniques scammers use to trick people online. It will usually happen over an email. In this case, you may receive a tempting Black Friday offer that looks professional enough to trick just about anyone. They will usually contain a spoofed URL or an odd request for personal information that most websites don’t ask for. If at any point you are being asked to share your password or financial information, you know that it’s a scam.
Spoofed URLs may be harder to spot because they tend to look very legitimate. A good rule of thumb is to not click any link before checking the URL. You can see the URL by hovering over the link or right-clicking on it. If it does not look right, it’s better to leave it alone.
Another popular way to scam people via emails is using popular company names like Paypal or eBay as the sender name. You have probably received a lot of emails from senders that look legit, but you always have to look at the actual email address. To use the Paypal example, if the email does not end with @paypal.com, it’s not actually from PayPal.
This might seem like an obvious tip, but you should only shop at legitimate online stores. There are plenty of cases of hackers and scammers creating and then directing you towards wrong websites, usually with the name that is supposed to mimic the famous online store but with small, barely-there changes. They are banking on customers who don’t pay extra attention to small details and just like that you could fall victim to online fraud. You can never be too careful when shopping online, so don’t lose focus and double-check the URL before you make a purchase.
Before you hand over your private information to any website, including your email, birthday or more importantly your financial information make sure that you are on the right website that is safe for customers to use. Generally, avoid sharing more than is necessary online.
While ideally, we want to prevent online scams from happening beforehand, sometimes it might slip under our radar, or we might make a small human error and expose our data to scammers. It happens to the best of us. If you have suspicions about the website you made a purchase from, you can check your debit card and credit card statements.
Actually, it’s a good practice to incorporate into your daily life in general. Debit and Credit card fraud is not exclusive to cyberspace and can happen even while you are walking down the street. The best way to prevent this is to regularly check your card statements so that you can report any suspicious activity right away. The sooner you catch the error higher the chances that you will manage to get your money back.
Another tip that will often slip people’s minds is to update their browsers. While some may not see any point in updates or just find them annoying, they actually serve a very important purpose, especially when it comes to security. With each and every update, the browsers are better equipped to handle any cyberattack attempt. As we’ve mentioned already, hackers are becoming more and more advanced every day, so our browsers are constantly being updated to be able to manage potential threats and attacks. So while the update notifications might get annoying, they do serve a purpose, so make sure to take advantage of all the updates and improvements in your favorite browser so you can enjoy online shopping safely.
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But there are still many misconceptions about VPNs that could be keeping people away from actually trying them. Since so much of our daily lives happen on the internet these days, keeping some privacy and protecting your data is crucial. VPNs are still the best way to ensure online security and privacy, even if some people are determined to spread misinformation about this tool.
In this article, we will discuss and disprove the most popular myths regarding VPNs.
One of the myths we hear most often is that when you browse using a VPN, your internet connection slows down. Here’s the truth: using a VPN might slow down the data flow but when you are using a good VPN, you should not be able to tell that your internet speed has dropped. The slow data flow will only become noticeable when you are using a VPN with an overloaded server. This usually happens with free VPNs, which we will discuss in more detail down below. On the other hand, when you use a solid VPN, their servers should cover all of their customers while maintaining the speed. So to conclude, with a good VPN, you won’t notice any change in your internet connection, so choose wisely.
These days there are many options for a free VPN, but unfortunately, they just aren’t nearly as effective as paid options. You might be tempted to save the money and just get a free VPN, but keep in mind - these companies are likely using you and your data to make money. These companies will sell your data to third parties, drown you in ads while providing no security online. These companies are banking on uneducated customers who will believe their false claims.
While that is unfortunate, if you want to keep your online presence anonymous and your data safe, you are better off paying for a VPN. You don’t have to break the bank since there are great affordable options for VPNs these days. The paid services also offer way more features, way more servers, and can accommodate your needs better. So the next time you see a tempting ad for a free VPN, just know that you will be paying in one way or another, even if they don’t charge you for their services. It’s better to pay a small fee and know for a fact that you are protected online.
We all like to think that we have nothing to hide, and hence we don’t need a VPN but that is not something to be proud of. As a society we have become desensitized to privacy breaches, oftentimes forgetting that privacy is our right and there is nothing wrong with wanting online privacy. You don’t have to be a criminal and you don’t have to have something to hide in order to demand online privacy. Unfortunately, when browsing online a lot of times our data is being kept and used without our consent, sold to third parties or used by companies to better target clients with various ads. VPNs prevent just that - unlawful collection of data, nonconsensual collection of data that can later be used against you.
Having a VPN is not about having something to hide or doing something illegal, it’s about preserving your personal data and making sure it stays personal. It’s crucial to choose a VPN that actually does the job and does not keep logs on their customers. BlufVPN is a great example of a company that has a 100% transparent no-log policy.
Using VPN sounds a lot more complicated than it actually is. While you may not be familiar with these terms, all you really need to know is that there is nothing hard about downloading and connecting to a virtual private network. You can choose a VPN, download it and then choose from various servers which one you want to connect with, and that is it. Don’t let the unfamiliar world confuse or scare you, this is a simple tool that was designed for everyday use. It does not take a lot of time to set up, nor does it take special skills. If you have shied away from VPNs because you thought they are for tech-savvy only, feel free to go ahead and download one right now.
This myth is a bit more complicated to discuss or disprove. While VPNs really are illegal in some countries they are completely legal in others. It will depend on how liberal the government is and how seriously they take the issue of personal privacy. This myth is also a part of our perception of online privacy, thinking that we owe it to ISPs or even the government full access to our online browsing history which is not true. It will depend on the country you are located in, whether or not it is illegal to use a VPN. Before you download VPN make sure that it is legal to avoid unnecessary trouble.
While VPNs have been around for a while, for most people they are still relatively new. It is understandable that this tool can often be confusing if you’ve never heard of it before, but as soon as you learn the basics of VPNs, it becomes evident that virtual private networks are easy to use and provide the necessary protection from various online threats. As highlighted in the text above, not all VPNs are the same and not all of them are worth the money. Make sure to look at their policies and features in great detail, to make sure that you are getting your money’s worth back.
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In this article, we will discuss and disprove the most popular myths.","meta_title":"Myths about VPN | BlufVPN Blog","author":{"slug":"teezy","document":{"data":{"name":"Teezy","about":"BlufVPN Teezy","avatar":{"dimensions":{"width":256,"height":256},"url":"https://images.prismic.io/nitrovpn/a366ee08-3feb-483d-a20e-4138e11ca980_Frame2.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=38%2C0%2C810%2C810&w=256&h=256","alt":null,"localFile":{"relativePath":".cache/caches/gatsby-source-prismic/a2a2d35242c2c4f5f4d480d5ba8ae215/a366ee08-3feb-483d-a20e-4138e11ca980_Frame2.png","absolutePath":"/opt/build/repo/.cache/caches/gatsby-source-prismic/a2a2d35242c2c4f5f4d480d5ba8ae215/a366ee08-3feb-483d-a20e-4138e11ca980_Frame2.png","childImageSharp":{"fixed":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","width":96,"height":96,"src":"/static/21e1306a4d11ab984b802577d3581297/a2408/a366ee08-3feb-483d-a20e-4138e11ca980_Frame2.png","srcSet":"/static/21e1306a4d11ab984b802577d3581297/a2408/a366ee08-3feb-483d-a20e-4138e11ca980_Frame2.png 1x,\n/static/21e1306a4d11ab984b802577d3581297/82c1d/a366ee08-3feb-483d-a20e-4138e11ca980_Frame2.png 1.5x,\n/static/21e1306a4d11ab984b802577d3581297/0bdde/a366ee08-3feb-483d-a20e-4138e11ca980_Frame2.png 2x"}}}}}}},"category":{"slug":"security","document":{"data":{"name":"Security"}}}},"uid":"myths-about-vpn","type":"blog_post","last_publication_date":"2021-11-08T10:39:15+0000","first_publication_date":"2021-11-08T10:39:15+0000","lang":"en-us"},{"data":{"body":[{"__typename":"PrismicBlogPostBodyText","id":"6f64c73f-06c8-5ef0-99af-939ca6cf486d","primary":{"text":{"html":"Ever wondered what the big tech companies know about? Or even what your internet service provider knows about you based on your browsing history, internet habits, and online data? The real answer might actually scare you. Most companies that collect our data have an accurate picture of our beliefs, priorities, needs etc. They collect this data by observing our every move online, and yes that is true even if we don’t know about it or if we never consented to this process. But luckily we don’t have to put up with this. There are more and more tools geared towards increased online security and we are going to discuss a few of the outstanding examples down below. But first, let’s discuss why our online habits are even interesting to giant companies.
You might be thinking that as long as you’re not a famous or influential person, your online presence will largely go unnoticed. Actually, no matter your age, gender, or financial status, your data is extremely valuable to big companies, especially the ones that want to try and sell you things with targeted ads. The more information companies have about your digital footprint, habits, and preferences the better they can tailor their ads to you, increasing the chances of you falling for their tactic. In turn, these companies get to make a lot of money, even if their practices are extremely unethical.
On a completely different note, your online presence and the information companies can get on you can be used for political reasons as well, helping the candidates market themselves in a way that appeals to you personally. What’s even scarier is that so many people have no idea that they’re being watched online. Luckily there are ways to stop these companies or any other third party from seeing your online activity or data you store digitally. Here’s what you can do to prevent big companies from gathering your data.
A great first step towards more online security is knowing what these companies know about you so that you can protect yourself against any tactics or ads that might be used to sell you products or make a political candidate seem more appealing to you. One of the ways to figure out what data the big companies are using is to use the chrome extension called Data Selfie. This extension takes your Facebook activity and analyzes it to create a profile based on that data. It will then show you what the advertisers see, your preferences, your personality, and your intelligence as told through your Facebook engagement, profile, and public information. This can help you better determine which of the posts you see on your feed were tailored to you and you can avoid being influenced or swayed by these tactics.
In this day and age, if you do anything online, you should be using a VPN. Some people think that using an incognito mode is enough to shield their identity from internet service providers but that is a huge misconception. Unless you are using a VPN, everything you do online is being traced right back to you without any effort.
This isn’t just about safety either, having your data exposed online could mean serious security threats that could affect you online and in real life as well.
VPNs protect your identity, keeping you anonymous while you browse online. It’s important to choose the right VPN since there are many subpar options online. You might be tempted to get a free VPN, but just know that it will not do the job like it’s supposed to. Very often these very companies will sell your data to third parties, defeating the whole purpose of having a VPN.
Instead, opt for a fairly priced VPN that has all the necessary features. BlufVPN has over 500 servers in over 60 countries and ensures your safety online.
Another step you can take to increase your online security is to use anti-tracking extensions.
If you use a VPN but don’t clear your cookies on a regular basis, the trackers will still give out your personal details and habits. Clearing cookies manually on a regular basis can get pretty tedious so the next thing to do is to add some anti-tracker extension to your browser. Depending on which browser you use you might have more or fewer options for anti-tracking extensions. Some of our favorites are Privacy Badger and Ghostery but feel free to choose the one that works with your browser.
There are a lot of ways that our online service providers profit off of our negligence. We are so used to doing everything online that we rarely take the time to realistically assess all the risks and dangers of being unprotected online. You may believe that no company would be interested in your data, but as we mentioned above, there is always a third party that is more than willing to exploit you and your online data, for their own gain.
There will always be people who say that they have nothing to hide, so they won’t use any measures to ensure their digital security, but actually, these tools are just meant to provide the security that should have been granted to clients by all these big companies but sadly that’s just not the reality.
Protecting our online presence and data has become a personal responsibility, so the best thing to do is ensure you know about all the tools that can help you stay anonymous online while protecting your data. You can use all of these tools or a combination of some depending on your situation. But not having any protection when browsing online is the worst choice you can make for yourself and your safety since there are so many ways to attack and exploit our data when we don’t take those extra steps for security.
"}}}],"title":"What does the Internet know about you?","description":"Ever wondered what the big tech companies know about?","title_image":{"dimensions":{"width":1280,"height":720},"url":"https://images.prismic.io/nitrovpn/5e66f1a3-93af-4366-aad8-7d4b81f24f37_what-does-internet-know.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C1%2C1280%2C720&w=1280&h=720","alt":"What does the Internet know about you?","copyright":null,"localFile":{"relativePath":".cache/caches/gatsby-source-prismic/3c3915ccd8236ea4f0d58e57cc53a797/5e66f1a3-93af-4366-aad8-7d4b81f24f37_what-does-internet-know.jpg","absolutePath":"/opt/build/repo/.cache/caches/gatsby-source-prismic/3c3915ccd8236ea4f0d58e57cc53a797/5e66f1a3-93af-4366-aad8-7d4b81f24f37_what-does-internet-know.jpg","childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.7741935483870968,"src":"/static/cdf1acf25b5a0a0dc770db29c0a6ad57/68641/5e66f1a3-93af-4366-aad8-7d4b81f24f37_what-does-internet-know.jpg","srcSet":"/static/cdf1acf25b5a0a0dc770db29c0a6ad57/e7946/5e66f1a3-93af-4366-aad8-7d4b81f24f37_what-does-internet-know.jpg 275w,\n/static/cdf1acf25b5a0a0dc770db29c0a6ad57/4465c/5e66f1a3-93af-4366-aad8-7d4b81f24f37_what-does-internet-know.jpg 551w,\n/static/cdf1acf25b5a0a0dc770db29c0a6ad57/68641/5e66f1a3-93af-4366-aad8-7d4b81f24f37_what-does-internet-know.jpg 1101w,\n/static/cdf1acf25b5a0a0dc770db29c0a6ad57/cd2b2/5e66f1a3-93af-4366-aad8-7d4b81f24f37_what-does-internet-know.jpg 1280w","sizes":"(max-width: 1101px) 100vw, 1101px"}}}},"title_image_copyright":{"html":""},"meta_description":"Ever wondered what the big tech companies know about? Let’s discuss why our online habits are even interesting to giant companies by reading our blog article.","meta_title":"What does the Internet know about you? | BlufVPN Blog","author":{"slug":"slick","document":{"data":{"name":"Slick","about":null,"avatar":{"dimensions":{"width":256,"height":256},"url":"https://images.prismic.io/nitrovpn/8af9fdbf-cf1e-40f5-bb62-b1046c8050c2_slick-profile.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C940%2C940&w=256&h=256","alt":null,"localFile":{"relativePath":".cache/caches/gatsby-source-prismic/c1ed1a58daae9b4c1cae3c08a0f468b1/8af9fdbf-cf1e-40f5-bb62-b1046c8050c2_slick-profile.png","absolutePath":"/opt/build/repo/.cache/caches/gatsby-source-prismic/c1ed1a58daae9b4c1cae3c08a0f468b1/8af9fdbf-cf1e-40f5-bb62-b1046c8050c2_slick-profile.png","childImageSharp":{"fixed":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABQAAAAUCAYAAACNiR0NAAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAADTElEQVQ4y52VW2hUVxSG19r7XGYyTmYmJs4kNZl4TcrUNOBLvdKal1oUMaAIfRCVVmjVV6lVBCutQdsqiOiTD8beEBvFWoq0Qin6oERtSokY0bYUEUpqvDSmZ2b9svecmcxYsejDz9l7zjrf+ff69z5DQjQqRHkhCp6mPFFQeHqNYdwnMygQoSQJr/lQZhwQAaEqax6XED00wCCciFGBSPAE3SJHhknbcSGsrVTIGC0DC+GPxsVtcvAXafxGHu6Qxk3y8LLbjs9Uyt4PQpcVkv84DJ3hATHe1S1Y7bRig25Gj85gttsG5XXiqKqrAhb+D1hyeIM89HESa5wp6PRzSPuzEPc7sdKdau+X+lvRy2qgFN8qpmgshN4jjW7KYhpNRozakaAZSFA7PtGTqqChqoH5IkRKSf5LjFXUjMmNC7Fy6dvoaH0VczuWIJd9DZ7TgZ06U04dFc8WDDAgCsykV9XJt1yLQY5gu9MERTm8MrMLH7zfg7fe3Giv723ahgbvJbS4OXys0xglxk8cwybdLCY4GCCIgr9J4x3dIsudadij05jvtUPRi5jdsRSbt+zC4u712LxjH7reWAvfnYU5bhs+1Bls1S9gnZPFRzojJswy8ApHTaKyVTdhh260RYuc6ZjnzMCaXBe+iDXiQGsnTta3Yhll8bo7HWudLBa4bTjFCbtkKS05Hy75ASnpVXXYopuwwpmKEdL4hxTu2n2pMEAa58jHAEdtj7/nOIbIw141Cb9yRMKgxnt4jmMWaMY/c7Tc8Gsqgp26EYd0A3r1RBxU9TisJpbvm82/TTfJjcoejhGjR6flD3LxO7m4Th6+4YQtvmtdqqpUpTph41Z+4Pg40EAOq3oxR+5TlcZ+1YDjKoldOoPvuLZ8OgbZx5cqhfMcQ59K2GD+JBdHVJ1c5JpxoDm3u3VaHttbVpXurpKP01yLQ6oeJ1TC9nCYNC5wjXxebNe4w906I5c5ah39yBPQz1Fc4ih+4YgN4CzHrcMh8k0I6OcaOx/gCPaotJiXoTLlQfblK5US04/TnJCvVVJOqKQcVyk5w3Gz6e3YqE8l5aQq1hxTKRkiv5Sy/Xzl809Y6rMq/FiMGeB9c6gNPSB6+DzKF/9GxoRo5BEHUujpoIstYgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","width":96,"height":96,"src":"/static/b0071eea319dc2ba78cec63e74f850d7/a2408/8af9fdbf-cf1e-40f5-bb62-b1046c8050c2_slick-profile.png","srcSet":"/static/b0071eea319dc2ba78cec63e74f850d7/a2408/8af9fdbf-cf1e-40f5-bb62-b1046c8050c2_slick-profile.png 1x,\n/static/b0071eea319dc2ba78cec63e74f850d7/82c1d/8af9fdbf-cf1e-40f5-bb62-b1046c8050c2_slick-profile.png 1.5x,\n/static/b0071eea319dc2ba78cec63e74f850d7/0bdde/8af9fdbf-cf1e-40f5-bb62-b1046c8050c2_slick-profile.png 2x"}}}}}}},"category":{"slug":"security","document":{"data":{"name":"Security"}}}},"uid":"what-does-the-internet-know-about-you","type":"blog_post","last_publication_date":"2021-11-01T13:43:51+0000","first_publication_date":"2021-11-01T13:43:51+0000","lang":"en-us"},{"data":{"body":[{"__typename":"PrismicBlogPostBodyText","id":"c7951a17-541a-5f66-8c56-4ea86e5f7099","primary":{"text":{"html":"A perfectly normal question - and one with a perfectly simple answer. Yes.
Have you ever seen one of those videos which asks “what is something that feels like it should be illegal, but isn’t?” Most of the time they show you something that really doesn’t seem very illegal, like a website that lets you do surveys for barely any money, and it’s a huge let down.
Well - using a VPN really can feel like it should be illegal because it unlocks so much and can change the way you use the internet for the better. And guess what? It isn’t. In most countries on the planet, it’s completely legal.
Having a VPN on your side lets you do so much different cool stuff that you just can’t without one, so it’s kind of surprising that it’s absolutely legal to use one in the vast majority of countries in the world.
The advantages are pretty obvious.
Be where you want to be, when you want to be there. Unlock the world’s content without geography-based restrictions. Stop taking crazy risks with your data and leaving your personal information up for grabs. Stay anonymous online. You don’t get these kinds of features legally any other way.
The idea that it should be against the law to increase your online security is crazy, when you think about it. People have been using anti-virus software, avatars and pseudonyms online since the beginning of the internet, so why wouldn’t we want to protect ourselves as best we can when it comes to our data and location?
In countries like the UK and the US, it’s become more and more necessary to worry about whether your data is secure or not.
Their governments have passed laws in the last decade which have given them the power to snoop on what you’re doing online, and that is absolutely not cool.
Depending on where you are in the world, the protections your VPN can offer will vary with the law. It also depends where the VPN provider you’re using is based - if they’re based in the UK, or the US, they can be forced to hand over your details to the government because of regulatory powers that help these governments to track down criminals.
Sometimes you want to do things without anyone watching. Like clipping your toenails, or inspecting your Pokémon cards. And that’s fine. No one needs to see how weird you are in your everyday life.
If you’ve got a VPN already, don’t be dumb.
Much like wearing tights on your head doesn’t make it legal for you to rob your local café, using a VPN does not make it legal to do illegal stuff online, even though using a VPN is entirely legal in most countries.
If you’re doing illegal things online, you should probably stop that. You might get caught. Also depending on what kind of illegal stuff you’re doing online, you are probably not a very nice person. We hope your parents are proud.
Most governments will still try and track you down if you engage in illegal activity online, and even though a VPN will protect your anonymity - there are other ways for them to find out who you are and what you’re up to. So - in conclusion - stop doing illegal stuff. Be nice.
Only a tiny number of countries actually ban the use of VPNs, or only let you use them with restrictions on their use.
China’s national firewall strictly controls the data that it is possible to access when you’re inside the country’s borders. Think of it as the Great Firewall of China. That’s why it’s very difficult to get your VPN working when you’re there - businesses can, but individual’s VPNs probably won’t work.
Shocker, the most censorship heavy country in the world doesn’t let their citizens circumvent geoblocking and find out about the rest of the planet.
Many sites and services are blocked but usually not as effectively as in China or North Korea. Still, if you’re there, best stay off your VPN. Iraqi prison is not a joke.
VPNs have been banned in the European country since 2015.
Russian bans VPNs outright, but not VPN traffic, yet.
As you can see, it’s a list of all the real cool guys with totally normal governments. Sorry if you’re from any of these countries, we’re sure you’re super great if you’re reading this. But your government is mean and won’t let you use something which pretty much everyone else on the planet can, so maybe it’s time to consider moving.
It is still possible to download and use a VPN in those countries of course, but we certainly wouldn’t recommend doing so. Most of those places don’t mess around when it comes to punishing those they believe to have broken the law.
Confused?
That’s understandable - VPNs are still pretty new technology and they’re seriously powerful too.
It’s not every day you can virtually transport yourself to an entirely different part of the world completely anonymously!
There’s one thing that isn’t confusing though: in the majority of places you’ll be in the world, it’s totally legal and legit to use a VPN and you’re welcome to do so.
So what are you still here for? Download BlufVPN today and start legally taking advantage of the best the internet has to offer.
"}}}],"title":"Is using a VPN legal?","description":"A perfectly normal question - and one with a perfectly simple answer. Yes.","title_image":{"dimensions":{"width":1280,"height":720},"url":"https://images.prismic.io/nitrovpn/4b7f8bb6-d14f-4293-acec-36dbd025f5cc_vpn_legal.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C1%2C1280%2C720&w=1280&h=720","alt":"Is using a VPN legal?","copyright":null,"localFile":{"relativePath":".cache/caches/gatsby-source-prismic/123345517b6d612e44473dfac33e2680/4b7f8bb6-d14f-4293-acec-36dbd025f5cc_vpn_legal.jpg","absolutePath":"/opt/build/repo/.cache/caches/gatsby-source-prismic/123345517b6d612e44473dfac33e2680/4b7f8bb6-d14f-4293-acec-36dbd025f5cc_vpn_legal.jpg","childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.7741935483870968,"src":"/static/42a4745e799b495724e44d0bb1793af7/68641/4b7f8bb6-d14f-4293-acec-36dbd025f5cc_vpn_legal.jpg","srcSet":"/static/42a4745e799b495724e44d0bb1793af7/e7946/4b7f8bb6-d14f-4293-acec-36dbd025f5cc_vpn_legal.jpg 275w,\n/static/42a4745e799b495724e44d0bb1793af7/4465c/4b7f8bb6-d14f-4293-acec-36dbd025f5cc_vpn_legal.jpg 551w,\n/static/42a4745e799b495724e44d0bb1793af7/68641/4b7f8bb6-d14f-4293-acec-36dbd025f5cc_vpn_legal.jpg 1101w,\n/static/42a4745e799b495724e44d0bb1793af7/cd2b2/4b7f8bb6-d14f-4293-acec-36dbd025f5cc_vpn_legal.jpg 1280w","sizes":"(max-width: 1101px) 100vw, 1101px"}}}},"title_image_copyright":{"html":""},"meta_description":"Is using a VPN legal? A perfectly normal question - and one with a perfectly simple answer. Yes, it's perfectly acceptable to use a virtual private network.","meta_title":"Is using a VPN legal | Where Are They Illegal? | BlufVPN Blog","author":{"slug":"slick","document":{"data":{"name":"Slick","about":null,"avatar":{"dimensions":{"width":256,"height":256},"url":"https://images.prismic.io/nitrovpn/8af9fdbf-cf1e-40f5-bb62-b1046c8050c2_slick-profile.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C940%2C940&w=256&h=256","alt":null,"localFile":{"relativePath":".cache/caches/gatsby-source-prismic/c1ed1a58daae9b4c1cae3c08a0f468b1/8af9fdbf-cf1e-40f5-bb62-b1046c8050c2_slick-profile.png","absolutePath":"/opt/build/repo/.cache/caches/gatsby-source-prismic/c1ed1a58daae9b4c1cae3c08a0f468b1/8af9fdbf-cf1e-40f5-bb62-b1046c8050c2_slick-profile.png","childImageSharp":{"fixed":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","width":96,"height":96,"src":"/static/b0071eea319dc2ba78cec63e74f850d7/a2408/8af9fdbf-cf1e-40f5-bb62-b1046c8050c2_slick-profile.png","srcSet":"/static/b0071eea319dc2ba78cec63e74f850d7/a2408/8af9fdbf-cf1e-40f5-bb62-b1046c8050c2_slick-profile.png 1x,\n/static/b0071eea319dc2ba78cec63e74f850d7/82c1d/8af9fdbf-cf1e-40f5-bb62-b1046c8050c2_slick-profile.png 1.5x,\n/static/b0071eea319dc2ba78cec63e74f850d7/0bdde/8af9fdbf-cf1e-40f5-bb62-b1046c8050c2_slick-profile.png 2x"}}}}}}},"category":{"slug":"security","document":{"data":{"name":"Security"}}}},"uid":"is-using-a-vpn-legal","type":"blog_post","last_publication_date":"2021-10-21T14:16:17+0000","first_publication_date":"2021-10-21T14:16:17+0000","lang":"en-us"},{"data":{"body":[{"__typename":"PrismicBlogPostBodyText","id":"348b84e4-8366-59c1-9ed0-2f2b322f573a","primary":{"text":{"html":"If there was ever a time to prioritize online privacy - it is now. As we do more and more of our daily tasks online, it is increasingly important to ensure your online security as well. Whether that be the pictures on your Cloud, passwords for important accounts, or other personal data, if you’re not taking extra steps to protect your identity online, then you are always at risk. What most people don’t realize is that at any moment, there might be a big corporation or just one single hacker looking at your data, trying to find a way to use it for their own benefit. This is why the first step towards ensuring online safety is choosing a secure online browser.
You might think that all the browsers are made equal, but some of them provide higher levels of protection, while others have absolutely no mechanism aimed at protecting the client and their data. What’s even worse, is that most people browse the internet all day without any protection, thinking that they are protected, when in reality they are risking their privacy on a daily basis.
If you want to keep your privacy on the internet, the best way to go about it is to switch to a safer browser.
Here’s the list of browsers you can try for enhanced online security and privacy.
This Chromium-based browser has an extensive list of privacy features aimed at maximizing your security on the web. The browser blocks third-party cookies by default, purges data at the end of each browsing session, does not support autofill, password storage, or telemetry, which is pretty impressive.
Since it is Chromium-based, it is also compatible with most Chrome extensions, which is extremely convenient if you are thinking of transitioning from Google Chrome to a more secure browser - you can keep your beloved extensions.
But Iridium is still far from perfect. While its offer for security is definitely better than many other more popular browsers, the updates are somewhat rare, and when it comes to security, frequent updates are necessary to protect users from newly emerged online security threats. Apart from the infrequent updates, users may also run into compatibility issues with different plug-ins.
Waterfox is based on Mozilla Firefox code. There are a couple of browsers that use Firefox code, but Waterfox has gotten the most attention so far.
Waterfox does not send any data to Mozilla and guarantees enhanced security and privacy. Not only that but it is also convenient to use since you can add all the Firefox extensions and add-ons to the browser. On top of that, Waterfox also offers better speed than Firefox.
Waterfox wants to provide a balance between security, privacy, and simplicity of use. Another perk of using Waterfox is that it is highly customizable and you can adjust it to your liking.
One of the cons of this browser is that its updates in security happen sporadically. Because the browser is based on Firefox code, it only updates the security system after Mozilla. Sometimes it can even take weeks for them to catch up. But if you don’t infrequent updates, definitely consider looking into Waterfox.
Pale moon in Waterfox’s sister browser and is also a Firefox fork.
While Waterfox has speed and security, Pale moon focuses on customization and simplicity. Its primary purpose is to make browsing the web as personalized and hassle-free as possible. But this does not mean that you can’t incorporate your favorite add-ons or personalize the browser, including its security settings. As a Firefox fork, it is compatible with the add-ons and themes that are currently available for Firefox or were available for Firefox in the past. One of the reasons for Pale Moon’s creation was to incorporate add-ons that were no longer supported by Firefox but were well-liked by its users.
With high customizability and simplicity of use, this can be a great add-on browser. The reason why this may not be the perfect candidate for a primary browser is that you might find yourself running into compatibility issues somewhat often. Plus, the updates are not frequent enough, increasing the security risks.
Opera is one of the more popular open-source browsers that have put privacy as their top priority. The browser has a built-in ad blocker and mostly uses Chromium’s code, meaning that transition from Chrome to Opera can easily be made seamless. Not only does Opera ad-blocker prevent the ads from running, but it also prevents the advertisers and websites from collecting data about users.
When it comes to security, you can customize a lot when using Opera. While the default settings may not be perfect, the browser does allow you to make changes to privacy and security settings to adjust them to your liking. Opera has a built-in VPN, which might sound like a great perk, but can also be a drawback for some, since this specific VPN tracks bandwidth and logs usage. Ideally, your VPN should give you complete privacy, and should not track your data, ever. Opera has a lot of advantages and some disadvantages so if you decide to use it make sure to make necessary adjustments.
Vivaldi is another chromium-based browser you can try for increased security. It was co-founded by the co-creator of Opera, which we just discussed above. Founders of Vivaldi wanted to “fix” some of the mishaps that left a part of the Opera users unhappy.
Vivaldi automatically blocks ads and trackers and allows users to customize the browsing in great detail. The fact that it is Chromium-based means that you will be able to use Chrome extensions in Vivaldi as well.
While their security and customization are definitely good, there are some things to look out for, specifically the way the browser handles your IP address. When you start using Vivaldi, Your IP Address gets a user ID in Vivaldi’s system, and while they claim that they do remove parts of your IP Address, specifically the last octet, to increase anonymity, the system is far from perfect.
We have mentioned a couple of Chromium-based browsers, now it’s time to talk about Chromium itself. When it comes to fully open-source browsers, Chromium is definitely one of the best web browser options out there. It is free and was originally developed by Google. Despite that, the browser does not rely on any of Google’s web services. For a lot of Google Chrome users, Google is the main “culprit” when it comes to privacy issues. With Chromium, you don’t have to worry about third parties accessing your personal data. As a nice added feature, Chromium also blocks all trackers.
As impressive as Chromium is, it is also pretty simple. While the installation process can be a little more time-consuming than other browsers, the results make it worth it.
This is another open-sourced Firefox fork that deserves your attention. Librewold’s primary focus is security and privacy, but we can easily say that simplicity is also one of their top priorities. This is a great browser for anyone who wants to up their privacy on the internet since LibreWolf basically checks all the boxes for privacy-focused browsers. It has no telemetry, blocks all ads, and has a firewall. Default search engines when using LibreWolf are DuckDuckGo, Qwants, and Searx,- all of which are known for prioritizing online security and privacy. If you want to increase your online security, definitely give LibreWolf a try.
It’s finally time to talk about Firefox itself. This is a completely open-source, customizable browser that most people have already heard about. Firefox was developed by Mozilla, a nonprofit organization, and is a much safer alternative to more mainstream browsers.
Mozilla Firefox has scheduled, although somewhat infrequent updates.
Mozilla offers phishing and malware protection, gives a heads-up to users when a website is trying to install add-ons and blocks reported attacks and trackers. What’s even more impressive, is that when using Mozilla, you can also choose to compartmentalize the browser, preventing various platforms from tracking your online activity outside of their website.
When using Mozilla you can be pretty confident that your security and privacy settings are safe but in case you have any specific preferences, as mentioned above the browser is highly customizable, including its security system.
The best browser you can use to ensure maximum security online is Tor. Tor is also based on Firefox browser and follows its updates and bug fixes.
The browser was created back in 2002, with a focus on anonymity. Unlike most of the browsers mentioned in this list, Tor encrypts your traffic by bouncing your activity around a distributed network of relays. This makes it impossible for someone to identify you by looking at your connections. Tor also cleans all cookies after each session by default. The only real flaw Tor has is its speed since the connection has to go through relays in order to be anonymous. But for those concerned with online privacy, this is a small price to pay.
The most popular browsers are oftentimes the least secure. Chances are you, the reader, are using one of those browsers right now. Clearly, there isn’t a perfect, all-in-one solution, all of the browsers have their strong features and drawbacks.
But there are other ways to increase online security that don’t involve switching up your go-to browser. The most fool-proof way to ensure that you are not being tracked is to use VPN. This way you don't even have to switch browsers or get used to the new layout, you can just turn on the VPN and start browsing more securely right away.
While some of these browsers can definitely provide sufficient security, they might not be so easy to set up for regular internet users. Many of them were designed with very experienced users in mind, which is definitely not the majority of people on the internet. VPNs make this whole process much easier.
Whether you decide to switch up your browser or get a VPN, every action that increases your online security is a step in the right direction.
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Let’s take a look at the best browsers for online safety and security.","meta_title":"Best browsers for online security in 2021 | BlufVPN Blog","author":{"slug":"dhard","document":{"data":{"name":"DHard","about":"D Hard description","avatar":{"dimensions":{"width":256,"height":256},"url":"https://images.prismic.io/nitrovpn/1a8fc7f8-c5b8-4978-946d-9a27e2f762e6_dhard-prodile-test.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C940%2C940&w=256&h=256","alt":null,"localFile":{"relativePath":".cache/caches/gatsby-source-prismic/611843cb0da6e38dd8aee556f3387b28/1a8fc7f8-c5b8-4978-946d-9a27e2f762e6_dhard-prodile-test.png","absolutePath":"/opt/build/repo/.cache/caches/gatsby-source-prismic/611843cb0da6e38dd8aee556f3387b28/1a8fc7f8-c5b8-4978-946d-9a27e2f762e6_dhard-prodile-test.png","childImageSharp":{"fixed":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","width":96,"height":96,"src":"/static/ee321875d0a571a62aa77ccde70db205/a2408/1a8fc7f8-c5b8-4978-946d-9a27e2f762e6_dhard-prodile-test.png","srcSet":"/static/ee321875d0a571a62aa77ccde70db205/a2408/1a8fc7f8-c5b8-4978-946d-9a27e2f762e6_dhard-prodile-test.png 1x,\n/static/ee321875d0a571a62aa77ccde70db205/82c1d/1a8fc7f8-c5b8-4978-946d-9a27e2f762e6_dhard-prodile-test.png 1.5x,\n/static/ee321875d0a571a62aa77ccde70db205/0bdde/1a8fc7f8-c5b8-4978-946d-9a27e2f762e6_dhard-prodile-test.png 2x"}}}}}}},"category":{"slug":"security","document":{"data":{"name":"Security"}}}},"uid":"best-browsers-for-online-security","type":"blog_post","last_publication_date":"2021-10-21T08:13:12+0000","first_publication_date":"2021-10-20T09:34:44+0000","lang":"en-us"},{"data":{"body":[{"__typename":"PrismicBlogPostBodyText","id":"57cf668c-973d-5690-8fbc-4053011c6a44","primary":{"text":{"html":"The Internet is an essential part of the daily lives of billions of people worldwide. We are increasingly incorporating the internet into every aspect of living, including personal and work affairs. While we might think that modern technology is not susceptible to exploitation and that our rights are well-defined when it comes to Internet Freedom, the majority of the countries do not meet those standards. Global Internet Freedom has been declining for 11 years straight. This might sound incorrect if we consider how much progress we’ve made over the last decade but the fact is that governments all across the world are trying to impose more and more restrictions on users, meanwhile, our user rights are often ill-defined or nonexistent.
Governments are trying to control all major online platforms and in some cases are even trying to conduct surveillance on businesses or even people who use the internet for personal reasons. This is an alarming statistic and one that more people should be talking about.
As the internet seeps deeper into our daily routines, we might find that it is used as a means of control or censorship, and in some cases, it might also violate our privacy.
The most prominent yearly report, covering the state of Internet Freedom in 70 countries, is the Freedom House’s Freedom of The Net. The organization looks at obstacles to internet access, limits on the content people can consume, and any records of violation of user rights.
Here’s what we can learn about Internet freedom from the top 3 countries on Freedom House’s 2021 Freedom of The Net report.
Iceland has been on the top of this list for the third year in a row. The country is said to have the best environment for internet freedom. Out of 100 points of internet freedom, Iceland gathered 96. Iceland has virtually no obstacles to access, minimal limits on content, and very infrequent violations of user rights. People of Iceland have a “near-universal connectivity” according to the Freedom House report. This year’s ranking is especially important, because of COVID-19, since the pandemic pointed out so many gaps that still exist within and between states.
In Iceland, the government made the most of its great online resources and infrastructure and launched a voluntary contact tracing app that did not abuse the user’s personal data. While many countries issued similar apps, the majority of them faced severe backlash over incidents of abusing their user’s personal data. Meanwhile, Iceland’s app managed to stay clear of such incidents for the most part.
Iceland has done a great job of respecting the privacy of its people and ensuring that there are minimal loopholes for accessing private data over the internet. This does not mean that Iceland is completely perfect when it comes to handling online safety and security. There are still cases of misinformation and controversy over the issue of privacy. In addition to that, even against the government’s best efforts, Iceland’s COVID-19 app had some flaws and room for exploitation of users’ privacy. On the other hand, the Media and the government institutions which are both highly digitized, have not been at the receiving end of cyberattacks in years. There’s a lot we can learn from the case of Iceland, but sadly not that many countries are willing to change their ways to allow more privacy and easier access to the internet for their people.
The second country on the list, when it comes to Internet Freedom, is Estonia. Estonia has long been known as one of the most digitized countries in the world. This small nation has become one of the leaders in cyber security as well as in incorporating digital aspects into its governing bodies. Estonia scored 94 points out of 100.
According to the report, Estonia has one of the most advanced digital societies. Just like Iceland, the Estonian people enjoy good connectivity, with high rates of access, limited state-imposed restrictions on online content as wells ad well-defined and extensive safeguards for human rights online.
The pandemic only highlighted the well-organized and highly accessible nature of the country’s online environment. People were able to use digital public services that were in place well before the pandemic, while also maintaining its reputation as a leader in digital security.
Estonia takes online privacy very seriously and has done so for many years now. One of the best ways that Estonian people ensure their online safety is by using a VPN. BlufVPN from Estonia provides anonymity to all its users while also offering various payment options to increase its accessibility.
Estonia continues to work to improve its current digital climate, even as one of the top-ranking countries for Internet Freedom. Currently, the Estonian parliament is currently working on improving the Electronic Communications Act, which would require telecommunications companies to disclose their software and equipment unless in cases where it could distort free competition. Estonia is a great example of a country that takes digital security very seriously and continuously works on improving it.
Canada ranked third on the list of countries with the best overall score for Internet Freedom. Canada has few obstacles to access, has very few limits on content, and rare violations of user rights. Overall Canada scored 87 out of 100. Internet Access is affordable and easily accessible for the majority of people, but the country also has some flaws when it comes to internet freedom and privacy. For example, its rural areas are often pushed aside and are underserved. But unlike Estonia and Iceland, the state institutions do have a recent history of cyberattacks, which is also why Canada did not rank higher than third place.
This just goes to show that even the best-ranking countries have trouble checking all the boxes when it comes to internet freedom since there are so many obstacles that need to be dealt with. No country is perfect when it comes to digital access and protection of users’ rights.
According to the assessment published by Freedom House, Canada has always had respect for political rights and civil liberties, but it seems like there might be a trend of increased government surveillance laws and contested privacy rights. This falls in line with the general trend we’ve seen all over the world, with decreased internet freedom and increased control over the content we consume. On the other hand, the Canadian government does not exercise technical or legal control over internet infrastructure with the aim of restricting connectivity. All things considered, Canada is still a great example of a country with high levels of internet freedom.
The Freedom House list of Freedom by The Net countries also showcases the worst countries for Internet freedom. According to the latest results, China is the worst abuser of internet freedom among the 70 countries that were examined within the framework of this report. China has maintained the title for over 7 years now and has by far the worst results when it comes to the violation of user’s rights on the internet. China can be used as a great example of what not to do when it comes to protecting the rights of citizens online. Other countries that have the lowest scores are Iran, Syria, Vietnam, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela. All of these countries have recorded obstacles to access, have put extensive limits on content that citizens can consume, and have recorded violations of user rights. The number of countries that have less than favorable results when it comes to Net Freedom is increasing at an alarming rate.
The increased importance of digital spaces in our lives means that more people are going to want to control them. As highlighted above, we’ve seen this exact dynamic unfold in front of our eyes with Internet Freedom declining each year, even as countries like Iceland and Estonia try their best to maintain some privacy and security for the users. It looks like citizens are going to have to put more and more effort into ensuring their own safety online, including the use of VPNs and constantly adjusting their privacy settings. While this might seem like a daunting task, it looks like people in countries where digital privacy is not a top priority will not have that many options.
People around the world might feel like they have increasingly more access to the internet, but in reality, their overall internet freedom is declining at a rapid pace, even in the developed countries. While there are many efforts to reverse this trend, some of them coming from governments themselves, it seems like people will have to take matters into their own hands, if they want to retain at least some digital privacy and security. One of the best ways to ensure that this happens is to increase awareness around this topic, in order to get more people to rethink their online privacy and user rights.
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