In March 2020, leading provider NordVPN released figures that showed Canada VPN usage had grown by 206% as the COVID-19 pandemic had pushed many people to adapt to working from home. However, that rise is also aided by the growth in the number of people becoming concerned with the online security of their devices and personal data.
But this isn’t the only reason people are seeking out the best VPN providers, and in this article, we’ll discuss some of the most common VPN uses for those living in and traveling to Canada.
Personal identity and data protection
This was, and for many still is, the primary use of a VPN. It’s one of the most efficient ways of both enhancing your online security and keeping your internet activity hidden from the prying eyes of internet service providers (ISPs), hackers, and government agencies.
As part of the Five Eyes alliance, Canada is one of five countries (alongside the USA, UK, Australia, and New Zealand) that openly shares the data they collect on their citizens with each other. With that in mind, it’s no wonder VPNs are on the rise in Canada – and UK VPN and US VPN services are also booming, too.
Unblocking worldwide content
Have you exhausted the list of things you want to watch on your favorite streaming service? By spoofing your IP address, VPNs can fool content providers into thinking you’re in a different country. Whether you use Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon Prime Video, the best streaming VPN will help you unlock a plethora of additional content from all over the world.
It’s worth noting that using a VPN to access additional content goes against the Ts&Cs of most content providers, and if they catch you in the act they may cancel your subscription. That said, it very rarely happens (as they want your custom) and it’s more likely that they’ll only block you from streaming content whilst connected to a VPN. However, a good Netflix VPN will usually go undetected.
Protect yourself from cybercrime
All over the world, cybercrime of all kinds is growing at an alarming rate. In fact, in August 2020, the Canadian Center for Cyber Security said: “Ransomware is one of the most common forms of cybercrime and is one of the cyber threats most likely to affect Canadians.”
Ransomware is a type of malware attack that prevents the users of a device or network from accessing their device, network, or data until a ransom fee has been paid. This isn’t the only threat out there, and there are plenty of ways that unsavory people may look to exploit your data.
Whilst a VPN alone won’t make you invincible to cyber-attacks, hackers have a tendency to target users with the most vulnerable systems. So by employing a VPN, you will significantly enhance the security of your device and data, thus making you less of a target to hackers.
Ditch the trackers
Unsurprisingly, the government isn't the only organization that has a vested interest in keeping tabs on your internet activity. Your ISP will monitor everything you do on the internet, as will most search engines (especially Google) and social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube).
Why do these sites care about what you do online? Because by building up a portfolio of your online activity, these companies can get a clear picture of your likes and dislikes. In doing so, each one is able to personalize advertising to suit your tastes, making a lot of money out of it. In essence, if you’re not paying for the product (and in some cases even if you are paying), then you are the product.
Using a VPN is only one step to avoiding trackers. If you want to avoid them altogether, then you’ll need to stop using social media and opt for more privacy-centric search engines like DuckDuckGo, but as a first step towards protecting yourself online, using a secure VPN is a great start.
Which VPN do we recommend for users in Canada?
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