In this fast-paced and evolving landscape of the digital age, technological advancements are shaping the way we lead our online lives. A majority of the world’s population is now more engrossed in their online presence than their real one.
Due to this phenomenon, concerns about online security and privacy have also become more prominent than ever. With the rise of cyber threats to both businesses and individuals, the ever-growing technology is also providing them with strategies to strengthen their digital presence. One such strategy has given rise to the widespread adoption of Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs.
What is a VPN?
A VPN allows you to connect to a VPN server of your choice. It acts as an intermediary, routing your online traffic through a remote server that is located at a different location than your actual one. A VPN effectively disguises your identity and location from prying eyes. The most common uses of VPNs are to protect internet privacy, permit secure data transmission, and gain access to geo-restricted material.
VPN Extensions
While VPN software is still a safe bet, the rise of VPN extensions has added a new level to online anonymity. VPN extensions are little add-ons that integrate directly into web browsers, seamlessly expanding end users’ online security. This transition provides various benefits that are in line with the changing demands and tastes of today’s digital users.
How To Set Up a VPN for Chrome?
Today, we will walk you through some simple steps that would allow you to set up a VPN for Chrome.
Step 1: Choosing the Right VPN
The first and most important step in setting up a VPN extension on your Chrome browser is choosing a VPN that fits your needs. Of the countless VPN extensions that you could find on the internet, however, you must always choose a reputable VPN. If you don’t know which ones are reputable, you can always read user reviews and do a little bit of research. Reputable VPNs are usually paid ones so you can choose a plan that does not break your bank, a few things that your VPN must-have include string encryption protocols, servers in different countries, and a user-friendly interface.
Step 2: Get the VPN Extension
After choosing the VPN the next step would be to either sign up for the VPN or directly download the extension on your browser. If you choose a paid VPN service then you must carefully analyze the subscription plan because VPN services offer different subscription lengths at different prices, so choose one that is the most reasonable.
Step 3: Connect to the VPN
After installing the VPN on your browser, the next step is to connect to the VPN, you might have to log in with the credentials that you provided during the signup process.
Step 4: Choose a Server
This is one of the most important steps in setting up a VPN which is choosing a VPN server. The reason why selecting a server location is crucial is because the activity that you want to perform on the internet mainly depends on it. While selecting a VPN server you must also make sure that the server you choose is fast enough to fulfill your needs. Most VPN extensions allow you to see a list of servers along with information about their ping times and server load.
Step 5: Check Your IP Address
After establishing a VPN connection and setting up the server, it is always a good idea to verify your IP address that whether it has changed or not. You can do this either by checking your internet settings or simply searching something like “What is my IP address?” on the internet.
Step 6: Browse the Web Securely
After all this, now you’re good to surf the internet freely. The VPN extension would encrypt all the traffic going from your computer to the internet, making it impossible for third parties to monitor your activities online. You can freely access websites without worrying about being identified or being a victim of cyber-attacks.
You can also use a VPN to bypass any restrictions you face online. You just have to connect to the server that is in the country allowed to access the content.
Things To Remember
Disconnect when not needed – It is always a best practice to disconnect the VPN when you’re not using it as it saves your internet data and allows you to surf faster on the internet.
Always Update your VPN – One mistake that a lot of people make is they don’t update their VPN extension. Updates are crucial as they make the safety features even stronger, mostly developers push out updates when there are vulnerabilities in the software however, these updates fix all potential vulnerabilities.