Shopping online is a beauty, no doubt. Without a VPN though, you could find yourself on the other side of this beauty in no time. If you don’t know yet, let us be the first to tell you: that side isn’t pretty!
It is where you get charged exorbitant prices for goods ordered. It is also where you face a high risk of falling prey to internet scammers looking to steal your credit card details, among other things.
It is where you get charged exorbitant prices for goods ordered. It is also where you face a high risk of falling prey to internet scammers looking to steal your credit card details, among other things.
We are not telling you all these to ruin the online shopping experience for you. It is, rather, to help you understand how to get the best out of it for yourself, especially with the help of a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
How does a VPN work?
A VPN usually has a single mode of operation, but that works for multiple purposes. We could combine the extensive operation of these pieces of software into three steps. They are as outlined below:
- At the entry node (where you’re accessing the internet from), a VPN hides your identity by encapsulating your data.
- The VPN transfers the data through a middle node made up of a system of secure servers to prevent interception and risks of snooping.
- At the exit node (target website which is, in this case, the online store), the data is unpacked without having been interfered with in transit.
How does this help me?
That is yet another valid question. The principle of operation provided above ensures you get:
1) Secure payments
Your internet data could be monitored via different approaches. Network hacking, connecting to unsecured networks and browser fingerprinting are just some of the ways this could happen. When using online shopping platforms, these hackers could listen around and hijack your payment details, using that to their own advantage. Your data would be more secure with a VPN. Transfers would be made on secure servers which the hackers won’t be able to access, giving you a hitch-free shopping experience
2) Finding better deals
Location is a big factor in pricing. For those that have shopped online for long, and with different vendors, you must have noticed this trend too. Online retailers will set the price of some items and commodities higher to those accessing their pages for certain regions while keeping the price low for others. You can get around this by using a VPN to connect to different server locations from all around the world. From there, you can browse to get which location has the best pricing for you. This comes in handy when buying from local retailers, booking flights/ hotels online and so much more.
Everything we have been saying all along boils down to one thing. If you’d like to get the best shopping experience, it is time to use a VPN to find deals and secure your payments. In no time, this will become second nature, and you’ll actually love shopping online the more.
Disqus comments