The Role of VPNs in Protecting Professional Privacy

Businesses, professionals, freelancers, job seekers, and others rely on the Internet more than ever before. Digital spaces are used for networking, conducting business, and applying for jobs. All this activity, however, leaves a digital footprint that can leave professionals open to tracking, cyber security threats, and even risks to their reputations.

A Virtual Private Network or VPN is a valuable tool for securing your data, maintaining your privacy, and controlling your exposure online. Below, we’ll explore how you can use a VPN to protect your personal and professional information from events like data breaches or surveillance. You’ll find comfort in maintaining your professional privacy and ensuring you enjoy a secure digital presence.

Online Activity and Its Effect on Professionals

It is a well-known fact that your work experience in your resume isn’t the only thing your employer considers. They will also scrutinize your online presence before they finalize their hiring decision. Your browsing history, social media activity, and past interactions online can affect your future prospects.

You might find your online activity affecting you in the following ways:

• Job Seekers—Recruiters will almost certainly Google your name and examine your social media profiles and posts. If you have posted, commented, or otherwise interacted with inappropriate or inflammatory content, it can impact hiring decisions. Even advertising your political opinions can have an effect.
• Freelancers—Because freelancers rely on online platforms to facilitate their work, exposure of their IP address can result in biased treatment, such as being denied work due to their geographic location. Data breaches can also put client data at risk.
• Remote employees—Remote employees face the same challenges as freelancers. Additionally, they often use public Wi-Fi networks, which can make them victims of phishing schemes or other cyber attacks.
• Business leaders—Data leaks can damage reputations and lead to financial losses. Corporate espionage is also a growing threat, with hackers targeting leadership and the businesses they run.

What can you do to protect yourself from these risks? VPNs go a long way in protecting your data and privacy.

What You Can Do

VPNs allow you to connect securely to the internet while serving as a protective shield. They effectively encrypt IP addresses and internet traffic. This allows users to communicate privately and browse securely. In turn, sensitive data is protected from bad actors.

How, though, can each of these VPN features benefit you? Consider the following.

• Online traffic encryption—When you use a VPN, all transmitted data is encrypted. This prevents unauthorized access to data, including monitoring by third parties, hackers, internet service providers (ISPs), and even the government.
• Public wi-fi protection—When you log into a public wi-fi network, you’re entering the wild, wild West, where bad actors can intercept whatever you send. With a VPN, however, you can confidently work from an airport, coffee shop, or other coworking space, knowing your data is encrypted.
• IP address concealment—Various websites may behave differently depending on your geographic location. When you use a VPN, this is concealed. This is especially helpful for freelancers working with international clients
• Secure connection—If you need to access cloud storage, databases, or company networks on the go or from the home office, you can reduce the risk of cyberattacks by using a VPN. Many employers even require employees to use a VPN for these reasons.
• No tracking—Have you ever been followed around by an annoying ad? Search engines and websites use your browsing history to collect data and feature targeted advertisements. A VPN prevents tracking and provides a more secure browsing experience.
• Avoiding attacks—VPNs can add an extra layer of security, blocking unauthorized access and malicious sites that may be the source of malware or ransomware.

Choosing the Right VPN for Your Needs

To select a reliable VPN, you should make sure it uses advanced encryption protocols such as AES-256. It should provide a strict no-logs policy so as to prevent data storage. It should also have a kill switch feature so that the internet will be immediately disconnected if the VPN connection is lost.

Also, look for VPNs with high-speed servers. If you notice a slow connection, try a different VPN. You should be able to use your VPN across multiple devices.

Finally, look for VPNs with 24/7 customer support.

What does it cost to use a VPN? The above providers have subscription fees ranging from $1.26 to $9 per month for basic plans. You can’t buy peace of mind any cheaper than that.

Key Takeaways

Whether you’re a CEO, a freelancer, a job seeker, or something in between, your digital privacy is constantly under threat. Selecting a strong, reliable VPN can go a long way towards protecting your personal data and that of your company or clients. VPNs are no longer just a nice thing to have; they’re a necessity.