Author Archives: Justas Markus

Why More People Should Use Virtual Private Networks

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If you were to look for a VPN service, you might stumble upon free virtual private networks and be compelled to use them. However, free VPNs are a liability. Since a reliable virtual private network service costs a couple of dollars per month, it should not be a problem to pay for one, given how much it provides.

Those who are on the fence about investing in a VPN should change their mind after reading what the service has to offer.

Security

The first thing that stands out about VPNs is the security, particularly if you plan to use public Wi-Fi. The internet at cafes or libraries is convenient to use because it is free and sometimes does not even require a password to join.

However, this convenience comes at the expense of security. When you are surfing the internet or chatting with your friends on social media, someone might be tracking your activities because public Wi-Fi lacks security protocols and makes it easy for potential hackers to access your banking information, passwords, browsing history, and other information. 

VPNs eliminate the threat by encrypting your data and changing your IP address. Ill-intentioned internet strangers will struggle to take advantage of security holes in public Wi-Fi if you rely on a virtual private network.

Data Privacy

Data privacy is another significant element, and it is not just about exposing your device via the public internet. 

Overall, the internet network at your home is more secure than public Wi-Fi, but there are still some threats. For example, if you have a MacBook and use Wi-Fi instead of an ethernet cable, the wireless connection still gives your ISP the opportunity to see your browsing history.

Using Mac VPN software or VPN for other devices when you connect to home internet will leave internet providers without opportunities to breach your data. Since a VPN changes your IP address, it limits how much information your ISP can collect. 

It is also worth mentioning applications and services that we rely on. Some of them collect user data and sell it to advertisers. 

A company that works with a lot of confidential information would benefit from a VPN as well. An advantage of a VPN is data security. Data encryption obscures the meaning because of a coded format. If someone were to gain access to encrypted files, they would not make sense of it and would likely abandon their attempts to breach sensitive data.

Some governments also have policies to spy on their citizens. In fact, even if a government claims that they respect people’s privacy, it is too difficult to determine whether they are telling the truth or not. Those who do not trust authorities in their country should invest in VPNs to protect personal data.

Saving Money

Spending money on a virtual private network might actually save you money in the long run. If you were to take a bit of time researching available VPN services and testing them, you would find that location spoofing could lead to cheaper purchases, particularly when it comes to various services.

Many online businesses offer different prices depending on customer location. Steam is a great example of this. If you live in the United States, Canada, or Australia, switching your location to India or Russia would lead to Steam showing lower game prices. 

Subscription services, hotel bookings, and plane tickets might turn out cheaper as well since these businesses try to attract international customers and adjust prices according to their location.

Adaptability

Adaptability might not seem like that big of a deal, but most VPN providers offer a service that works on multiple devices. If you want to use virtual private networks not just on your computer but also on your smartphone or tablet, you can expect to find virtual private networks that function on different devices.

Sure, you might need to pay extra or spend money on a package plan that includes support for multiple devices, but the overall costs are more than fair for the most part. Keep adaptability in mind when choosing a service for yourself.

Blocked Content Access

Blocked content access comes in handy on different occasions. You might want to watch a movie or TV series on Netflix, but it is not available in your country. If you do not wish to pirate the media, enabling a virtual private network and giving yourself a different IP address and location would allow you to watch restricted media.

Virtual private networks also unblock websites you cannot visit because of their location. For instance, if you live in Europe, your internet browser is unlikely to load certain pages that are hosted in China or the United States.

Methods to Protect a Mac From Cybersecurity Threats

Posted on by Justas Markus
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MacOS is reliable, and you can even find articles about how Macbooks do not need any protection. Well, there are no ideal systems, and despite what some users may claim, your computer still needs a way to prevent cybersecurity threats from running rampant.

Read the following methods and create a Macbook maintenance routine that will help you avoid any potential threats and keep the computer in top shape.

Method #1 – Install a Reliable Anti-Malware Tool

A reliable anti-malware tool should be the first thing on the list. There are a lot of options, even if you are looking for a free anti-virus.

If your Macbook starts to behave erratically, like crashing applications, and suddenly drops in performance, you will likely have a malware or virus problem. 

Performing a virus scan for mac should be a regular thing, though, not just when you are experiencing difficulties. Do it at least once every week. Also, keep the anti-virus running in the background all the time. This way, if you encounter any threats, they are detected and deleted immediately.

Method #2 – Clear Browser Caches

More often than not, malware comes from browsing websites. If that happens to you, make sure to clear the browser caches. You do not want any traces left on the computer after you got rid of the malware.

Method #3 – Avoid Shady Websites

Speaking of browsing, you should try to avoid fishy websites because things can get out of hand pretty quickly. If someone sends you a questionable link that you have never seen before, it would be better to ignore the link.

You do not want to end up with annoying banners and add-ons that get installed and significantly slow down the computer. 

Another point to note is that you may stumble upon websites that have an aggressive pop-up ad strategy. Do not click on such ads or banners as they could also lead to questionable landing pages. In fact, you are better off using an ad-blocker as a browser extension.

Method #4 – Use a Virtual Private Network

Virtual private networks have a lot of advantages besides allowing users to access geo-restricted content. 

If you have to use public Wi-Fi, a VPN is more or less a must at this point. You can never be certain whether someone is not trying to get hold of your personal information. Since everyone can connect to public Wi-Fi, it is highly likely that there are some traps set up for more gullible users.

Do not take a risk. Create a secure tunnel between the Macbook and the internet using a virtual private network so that you are not prone to cyber security threats.

Method #5 – Turn on the Firewall

The Firewall is not always switched on by default. As it is another layer of security, you should look to have it enabled all the time.

Go to the System Preferences and select the Security and Privacy tab. Click on the “Firewall” at the top of the window. If you see a green circle next to the word “Firewall,” it means that the feature is enabled. If the circle is red, switch the Firewall on and save the changes so that it is present all the time.

Method #6 – Update the System

A lot of users associate system updates with performance improvements and new features. However, there are a lot of patches, even small ones, that focus entirely on the security of the Macbook.

It is imperative to have your system up to date. Installing the most recent version will further improve the overall safety of the computer.

Method #7 – Secure Personal Data

Even if you take all the necessary measures and precautions, it would still be in your best interest to secure personal data by backing it up using Time Machine or other tools, like clouds.

At the end of the day, nobody can be absolutely guaranteed about the safety of the information on their computer. And there is no shame in having it protected.

Method #8 – Create Strong Passwords

Being smart about your passwords is another method to guard the computer against potential hackers. Of course, there are users who even enable automatic login, but this course of action is not recommended if you are worried about the security of your computer.

Never use the same password for different platforms, especially ones that are important, like your bank. Also, when creating a password, use a generator that will give you a strong option. Avoid random words with a few numbers or symbols at the end of it.

Method #9 – Reinstall the OS

If you feel like the Macbook is not secure, and it needs a new start, reinstall the operating system. While the process itself is complicated and not something that a lot of people want to go through with, it will delete all the junk that has accumulated over the years and remove threats, giving the Macbook a fresh start.