Do You Need a VPN?

There are actually 2 types of VPN’s; one connects you to your office data. The other connects your computer to a cloud-based VPN that helps protect your computer whenever you need to connect to a public WiFi network.

Due to the recent COVID-19 events, if you have data at your office you most likely already have the first type of VPN.

 

Private or Consumer VPN’s

The second type of VPN is one that connects your computer directly to a VPN service provider and it encrypts the data from your computer to the Internet. This does the following for you;

1.Protects you on public WiFi

Hackers are everywhere – Yes, you hear it all the time, but with the recent events of COVID=19 and WFH (Work From Home) hacking and malware attacks have increased more than 600% in just the last month. And you are extremely vulnerable on public WiFi connections. Here is just an example;

 

Not to long ago, I had a technician that was taking a CyberSecurity class one of the assignments for the class was to go to a local coffee shop, setup a hotspot with the same name as the coffee shops and see what data could be collected. Now they did not actually collect data just recorded what they could collect. He was able to get computer passwords, email passwords, banking login information and passwords all with very simple software that is readily available for anyone with a little knowledge on how to set it up. Scary right? So my advice is NEVER use a public WiFi but if you have to at the very least protect yourself with a VPN.

 

2.Security for banking and Online shopping

Even from Home you can use a VPN to stop hackers that may try and access your connection from other sources such as your internet provider or possibly even hacking into your home WiFi account in what we call drive by hacking. The use of a VPN will protect you as it encrypts the data from your PC to the internet so hackers can’t see what your doing.

 

3.Take control of your privacy

This may be more of a side benefit than a protection, but when you use a VPN companies like Google cannot track you who you are and where you are so it blocks them from sending you ads based on your browsing.

 

In all, a VPN is a very safe way to protect yourself when your not at the office and need to connect to any private information you don’t want falling into the wrong hands.

 

As always if you have any questions or are interested in a Private VPN (we do include them for our managed services clients for all of their out of office PC’s) I would be glad to help. Just contact me at;

greg@acaciait.com or call 520-751-0888

 

Request a FREE

Network Assessment

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Your Private Information

We are not in the business of sharing your data. We are in the business of protecting it. We will not share your information with others. Also, our network and systems are scanned in-house daily. We can help you get to that level of security. 

Gregheadshot3

Greg Durnan is the Owner/President of AcaciaIT and very active in the business community of Southern Arizona. One of the founding members of the Greater Vail Area Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce. He is very passionate about the needs of businesses in Arizona. He also strives to educate clients on Computer and Network Security through Lunch and Learns, articles, and webinars.

On the weekends he enjoys spending time with his wife and son at their ranch in Vail and working with horses.