Running a business online is fun and rewarding. However, one thing that concerns me is security and privacy online. I don’t like to leave anything to chance or allow scammers, spammers, and hackers to ruin my experience on the web. That’s why I’ve started to use a reliable VPN. I recommend you should too.
One of the greatest satisfactions of managing a blog or online biz is that you can do so from almost anywhere on the planet.
Almost everywhere you go these days offer WiFi or internet hotspots.
But let me ask you something, do you feel safe using any of these public internet hotspots? You should feel safe, but you have to be super cautious.
Have you heard of a VPN?
In this post, I’ll share with you why I think every smart blogger should consider using a reliable VPN and share with you 5 of the best VPNs currently available for bloggers.
Let’s dive right in.
When I’m blogging, I like to do it comfortably and anywhere that takes my fancy. If I’m not at my desk in my home office, I’m either at a local coffee shop, library, or in a hotel if I’m traveling.
One of my favorite places to go is my local Starbucks coffee shop, which provides excellent WiFi and great coffee! However, recently doing this has started to worry me.
I’ve noticed many folks working from coffee shops, so naturally, I became worried about security and privacy. It seems to be a big issue these days.
Did you know that by the end of the year 2021, cybercrime will cost the world a jaw-dropping $6 trillion annually?
I imagine this figure is much higher since Covid-19 and more folks are working from home. I’ve certainly noticed a big increase in phishing and scam emails and texts.
And, according to this source, the biggest concern for cybercrime in the US is identity theft.
If you’re a blogger or run an online business, you should be somewhat concerned if you travel a lot, especially if your activities require you to access the public internet.
If you have any doubts about your privacy and security, then there is a solution.
Get yourself set up with a reliable and robust VPN provider.
If you’re new to all of this and don’t know what a VPN is or what it’s used for, let me explain briefly.
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network.
Using a VPN can help you protect your identity by hiding your IP and location from third parties, but most crucially, from potential hackers and cybercriminals.
If you run a business online, for instance, and need to send things like important documents, sensitive data, or log into financial accounts of any kind, it’s always best to do so over a private secured network when in a public place; right?
Luckily, there are quite a few good VPN service providers available right now; however, choosing the right one can be a bit of a challenge, especially if you’re not entirely sure what to look for.
So, the first thing you need to do is some good old research.
When you are online, usually, all of your activities, including what websites you visit, what data you enter or download, even your location, and so forth, can be monitored.
For instance, in public places, if a public WiFi becomes compromised, you can become at risk of cybercriminal activities without even knowing about it.
A VPN simply adds a multi-layer of security and encryption, using a tunnel system whenever you send or receive data from your computer to a website.
There are a variety of things to look for; however, the main things to keep in mind when searching for the best VPN service for your needs are –
OK, so below, I’ve outlined, what I believe to be, four of the best VPN providers for bloggers and online business owners for 2021.
Take a look at each one before deciding which to use.
Private Internet Access is one of the most popular VPN providers available. I used them myself back in 2018 before trying out NordVPN. PIA has over ten years of experience in the VPN industry and 15+ million users.
PIA provides blazing fast VPN solutions with a host of useful features, including –
PIA has more than 3,000 servers located worldwide, so accessibility is good. And, getting set up is instant. I was surprised how quickly I was able to have PIA set up on my MacBook Pro. I was ready to roll within just a few minutes.
Pricing
PIA offers some of the most affordable packages around.
At the time of writing this post, their yearly plan costs as little as $2.19 per month ($56.99 for two years), usually $210.34 for the two years.
Or, you can signup and pay monthly at $8.09 per month.
Click here to learn more or to signup for Private Internet Access.
NordVPN is the biggest name in the VPN industry. The company boasts more than 5,000 servers located in 56 different countries worldwide. I’ve been a user of NordVPN for the past year, and I can honestly say the service is amazing. I can connect to my VPN for my location in seconds if I’m working in a public place on my laptop or smartphone.
Like Private Internet Access, you get a host of great features with all plans, including –
Pricing
You can either pay £8.84 per month or save money by purchasing a two-year plan at £65 plus the VAT. This is correct at the time of updating this post and can change at any time.
Click here to learn more or to signup for NordVPN.
ExpressVPN is another trusted VPN provider, with over 1700 ultra-fast servers located across 148 cities in 94 countries. You get coverage on multiple devices, including iOS and Android.
Their list of features include –
Pricing
ExpressVPN’s plans are not the cheapest in the business.
They have three plans to choose from. $12.95 per month, paid monthly. $9.99 per month paid every six months.
Click here to learn more or to sign up for ExpressVPN.
IPVanish is yet another popular and reliable top-tier VPN service provider. In fact, their website goes as far as to say that they are the best in the business.
The list of features provided by IPVanish includes –
Pricing
Their pricing structure is plain and simple. You can pay for 1 year at $6.49 per month (Billed at $77.99 per year). Or, you can pay monthly at $11.99 per month. Or, you can pay for three months at $8.99 per month (Billed at $26.99 every three months).
Click here to learn more or to sign up for IPVanish.
Whoever you decided to use in the end, the main thing is that you actually consider using a VPN.
If you don’t feel that you need one just yet, I’m sure that you will consider signing up at some stage in the future.
The web is a wonderful place and offers incredible opportunities for folks smart enough to know how to use it.
That being said, concerns about privacy, security, identity theft, spam, and all the rest of it are growing issues for many folks.
If you run a blog or online business, my personal recommendation is to start using a reliable VPN as soon as you can.
The best of luck.
