2022 Mobile VPN Security Update
Contents
VPN for phones? What is that ?
VPNs add an extra layer of security to your internet, so it makes sense that you want one on your smartphone. After all, mobile devices have become our primary means of connecting to the world around us, whether through social media, email, or instant messaging.
The best VPNs let you share an account across 5 or more devices, including smartphones.
Can VPNs be used safely on a phone?
The short answer is yes – it’s even perfectly safe to use a Chrome VPN extension on your phone. As long as you choose a trustworthy app. A quality VPN application will allow you to change the server through which you connect to the internet, thus hiding your location. This may allow you to access content restricted to certain regions, or to maintain a certain degree of online confidentiality.
So if a VPN is designed to make your internet connection more secure, what risks can a VPN bring?
- VPNs that log your data
- VPNs that contain viruses
- VPNs that sell your browsing data to advertising partners
- Significantly reduced navigation speeds
Your main concern is simple: you have to trust the VPN provider to take care of your data properly. You should also be sure that the app you are using is a real VPN, and not a scam.
Ironically, many cybercriminals rely on the gullibility of those who go the extra mile to avoid scams. This means that consumers should be wary of free antivirus products that pop out of nowhere, but also of VPNs that show up in the Google Play Store.
Even legitimate VPNs can engage in rather shady practices, like monitoring your browsing data or selling it to advertising partners. You may be bombarded with unwanted advertisements when using the service, for example.
Plus, a poor quality VPN can cause horrendous slowdowns. By nature, a VPN has an impact on your browsing speeds. However, the best (inevitably paid) VPN services invest to ensure that this impact is minimized.
Always check and recheck a VPN provider before committing, and only use the ones you trust.
Are VPNs safe to use on a business smartphone?
VPNs have recently become very popular for personal use, but the reality is that this technology was mainly used for businesses until recently. The ability to secure your data is great for businesses looking to boost their security, especially in the context of a pandemic that sees a large percentage of employees working from home.
In other words, VPNs are safe for businesses even when you use them on your phone, but you need to make sure that you set them up correctly. You need to make sure that you set up VPNs with the help of your IT department, so that you have a centralized and focused security strategy.
Why should businesses use a VPN on a phone?
To be blunt, the average business won’t need VPNs on their employees’ phones. Corporate VPNs are generally more geared towards desktops and laptops, as this is often where users actually work.
However, if your business is very concerned about security and wants to ensure that every square inch of your data is protected, installing a VPN on your employees’ smartphones may be a good idea. In this way, they can protect their work email accounts against hackers and allow access to sensitive data when they are on the move.
