Why Should You Use a VPN on Linux?

Updated October 6, 2023
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There are many reasons why people prefer Linux over other operating systems, and security is one of them. However, there are still reasons to use a VPN for your Linux machine.

It’s common knowledge that these tools protect your real IP address when browsing the internet. However, in this article, you’ll learn more reasons why a VPN for Linux is essential.

But first…

VPN or Linux

Photo by Petter Lagson on Unsplash

What Is a VPN?

A Virtual Private Network (aka VPN) is a method to add a layer of protection to your online activities.

When you connect to one from your Linux computer, your IP address gets masked with another one from a remote VPN server of your choosing.

Therefore, it appears as if you are browsing from the country hosting the server instead of your real location. This allows you to gain access to websites and services which are otherwise unavailable.

A VPN also secures the traffic between your Linux computer and the internet using military-grade encryption. This means that nobody can get their hands on your data, and even if they do, they won’t be able to decipher it.

Why Should You Use a VPN on Linux

There are tons of reasons to use a VPN on your Linux machine, and you’ll get to learn about them in this section.

Some of them are:

  • Protection When Using Public Wi-Fi
  • Evading Geographical Limitations
  • Privacy While Torrenting

Protection When Using Public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is always attractive to connect to as you can easily browse your favourite websites, download files, check social media, etc. at no cost. However, it can be at the price of your privacy.

These networks are usually unsecured and expose your personal information to data-hungry cybercriminals. Therefore, it’s advised that you not use public Wi-Fi without adequate security.

And there is much important information that you need to know, which you should keep in mind while surfing the net online. Because hackers do not let any opportunity go by hand, they are just waiting for one of your mistakes like you use any unsecured Wi-Fi.

So always use safe Wi-Fi internet only and never put your personal details on any such unknown and unsecured Wi-Fi connections. Because it can steal your credit card or bank related information, which you will not even know.

With a VPN on your Linux machine, you can use any public Wi-Fi network with complete peace of mind. After all, all the data sent to and from your computer is secured using top-of-the-line encryption.

Evading Geographical Limitations

More often than not, you’ll find that content available to citizens of a particular country isn’t accessible to outsiders. Take, for instance, you may want to stream the library of US Netflix rather than your own country.

With a VPN installed on your Linux machine, you’ll be able to get around censorship and geographical limitations to access your favourite media content from anywhere in the world.

All it takes is connecting to a VPN server where the content is accessible, and you’ll be able to stream it on your computer – it’s as simple as that!

Privacy While Torrenting

If you want to engage in peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, it’s best to do so with the privacy protection that a VPN provides. Besides, torrenting – though legal – is frowned upon by ISPs, especially if you’re downloading copyrighted files (you should do so at your own risk).

Interested third parties trying to monitor you will only see the IP address of your chosen VPN server and not your real one. As a result, your online activities cannot be traced back to you.

Conclusion

If you care about your privacy and security on the internet, getting a VPN for your Linux machine is a great idea. Don’t opt for free options though – they keep logs of your online activities and sell it for a profit.

 

That’s why it’s recommended that you stick to paid ones, such as PureVPN, which have a good reputation and are trusted in the VPN industry.

1 comment

  • Woytech

    I’m a linux fan, so I’ve installed the nordvpn app for linux, I’m currently running pop os. To be honest, I haven’t tried any other providers, so I can’t be 100 % objective, but nordvpns speeds are more than acceptable for me + it seems like a high level of provacy. Will continue using it.

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