Are you concerned about your files and data’s security and privacy when using your iPhone to surf the internet? If so, then you need to deploy a mobile VPN. This Surfshark VPN for iPhone essential guide will show you how. A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, routes your web traffic through a safe and encrypted connection. This makes it challenging for anyone to trace your online activities and IP address. Essentially, a VPN works as an extra security layer to safeguard the privacy and integrity of your online activities.
Table of Contents
Setting up a VPN on iPhone
Creating an Account and Logging In:
- Go to the App Store and locate the VPN you have settled on. Download and install it.
- Once the installation is complete, open the VPN app.
- Read the Privacy Policy and click on Agree & Continue.
- If you have an active subscription, you will log in as an Existing User. If not, you’ll have to create a new account. Most service providers like Surfshark VPN will give you a free trial period of about seven days.
- Use your registered email and password to log in.
Connecting your iPhone to the VPN:
- On the app, click on the Connect button.
- Choose your Default Location. This can be either to the Nearest Server or the Fastest Server.
- If it’s your first time connecting to the network, you will have to Allow it to add VPN configurations to your gadget.
Why is VPN Protection Essential for iPhone?
These days, we use our phones for almost everything–from chatting to shopping, banking, research, sales, name it. As we do all these things, we share our personal and sensitive credentials over several networks, hoping they are private and secure. They could be safe, or maybe not. What if they aren’t? I’m sure this isn’t a gamble you’d want to take with your delicate information like bank account details. Here are 5 reasons why you should use a VPN.
1. VPN Ensures Safe Internet Connection
The first and foremost reason you need a VPN for your iPhone is to secure your online traffic. How many times have you used your phone to log in to free Wi-Fi? Maybe you had a weak cell signal or just wanted to save the data in your mobile plan. It happens to the best of us; the problem is that you cannot be so sure about the security of such public Wi-Fi hotspots. Not even those with password protection — if you can get the passcodes, even bad cyber actors can. With these logins, a knowledgeable cyberattacker can easily mine from anyone connected to public Wi-Fi, including you. A secure VPN acts as an intermediary between your phone and the Hotspot’s router, making it impossible for third parties to access any information you send through the connection.
Closely connected to this is safeguarding the privacy of your online traffic. Have you ever used the private/incognito browsing feature to evade the prying eyes of ISP, Google, and other websites that might track and record your browsing habits? Well, then a VPN is right up your alley. The last thing you want is several targeted spam ads after surfing the web for related products or services. With a secure VPN connection in place, your phone is by default in a private browsing mode. So, nobody else can see that you were on the internet or trace and analyze your traffic.
2. Access Restricted Online Content
If you’re traveling across borders, your iPhone may not be able to access some social media platforms or news sites because of censorship barriers. Most subscription-based contents are also often limited to specific locations. You can use a VPN to bypass these location blocks by setting your home server location to the area you are traveling to.
How to Look out for a Good VPN
Now that you understand why you need a VPN for your iPhone, the next step is to find a reliable provider. A quick internet search for VPNs will give you a plethora of options; some are ‘free,’ while others have service charges. First, we need to clarify that there is no such thing as a ‘Free VPN.’ Setting up and maintaining VPN software is so expensive and time-consuming. It’s, therefore, not sensible to have very many sites claiming to offer free VPN services. Here’s the thing — if you are not paying willingly, then you’re paying unknowingly.
There are many reasons why you must not use a free VPN. Most free VPN service providers will harvest your browsing data and sell it to different companies. Alternatively, they will be continually spamming you with targeted online ads — which is what you’re using a VPN to avoid in the first place. Other providers will give you free access and then gradually frustrate your connection to coax you into their paid plans. One way or the other, you will have to pay for a VPN service. And to be honest, it’s better to pay knowingly. However, if you still want to enjoy VPN for free, here is a list of the 6 best VPN services for Windows 10.
Here are a few questions to guide you in finding the right VPN service provider:
- How Secure Is the Connection? — A reliable VPN will most likely implement 256-bit encryption and a more robust protocol like OpenVPN. Most free VPNs use less effective protection measures; some don’t even deploy encryption.
- Does the VPN Provider Record Your Online Traffic? — A good VPN will not log your online activity. In any case, the primary reason you’re using a VPN is to browse anonymously. Check out the provider’s privacy policy before engaging
their services. - What’s the VPN Company’s Source of Income? — For a subscription-based VPN company, you know that they’re relying on service charges. How about free VPNs? As we said earlier, they could be secretly using your data to make
money. - How Fast Is the VPN Connection? — It depends on the number of servers the provider has in your locality. Fewer servers mean you’ll be sharing bandwidth with several users, hence slower connections. Sometimes, you may not even be able to access the VPN due to traffic overload.
- Does the Service Provider Limit Your Usage? — Usage caps are a common trick used by free VPNs to lure users into
their paid alternatives.
We are living in the digital age of information. Your data can be used to shape the decisions you make and the actions you take. Be careful about who accesses your online activities and logs. The first step in protecting your web traffic is by using a secure, reliable VPN.
