The best VPN services (virtual private networks) keep your IP address, online activity, and personal data encrypted and private They also allow access to geo-restricted content and reduce streaming buffering issues So it's no surprise that the most secure VPNs are popular choices when it comes to online anonymity, security, and access

However, one might wonder if there are drawbacks to having a VPN on all the time, or if it is even necessary This article will discuss situations in which a VPN should be turned on and situations in which it would be more beneficial to turn it off

Leaving your VPN on means that your browsing will always be encrypted and your privacy will be maintained This is especially important if your online activities often involve sharing sensitive information, connecting to public Wi-Fi hotspots, or accessing websites that are not fully encrypted

If you frequently use public Wi-Fi (eg, cafes, airport terminals, hotels), it is essential to keep your VPN turned on This is because these networks tend to be insecure and hackers and snoopers can easily access your online data and activities The same is true for sharing personal information (eg, entering your online shopping details), online banking, and browsing websites that are not fully encrypted with a secure HTTPS extension

In all of these scenarios, the VPN keeps you safe by making your presence less likely to be detected and by encrypting your data In addition, be sure to use a VPN with a kill switch feature that immediately turns off your network connection if the VPN stops working

First, by keeping your VPN on, you are much less likely to experience bandwidth throttling by your Internet Service Provider (ISP)

Typically, ISPs will limit your bandwidth if you are streaming content that is deemed to be taking up too much network space; with a VPN, you can virtually hide from your ISP, making the chances of your favorite movie or TV show being continually interrupted Your favorite movies and TV shows are much less likely to be continually interrupted

Second, most decent streaming VPN services allow access to geo-blocked content (content that is blocked in a particular region/country) if the VPN is not always turned on, the IP address location will be detected and access will be blocked If not, the location of the IP address will be detected and access will be blocked

VPNs can improve issues such as bandwidth throttling, but they can also cause slow Internet connections This is because the VPN redirects data to a remote server, which can sometimes cause delays

If you are working on a task that requires high speed communication and you experience significant delays (eg, downloading large files), it may be effective to turn off the VPN for a while However, it may be a simpler solution to first make sure you are connected to a reliable private Wi-Fi network (eg, home network) and use a fast VPN from the start

Keeping the VPN on all the time may also drain the device's battery faster If this seems to be a problem, it may be a good idea to temporarily turn off the VPN However, if you are connected to a public Wi-Fi network, turning off the VPN may not be the best option

In most situations, leaving the VPN on will protect you from eavesdroppers and hackers - especially if you perform online activities such as sharing sensitive information or sending money while connected to a public Wi-Fi hotspot

In addition, if you enjoy frequent streaming, turning VPNs on continuously will allow you to access better (and wider) content by avoiding irritating limitations such as bandwidth restrictions and geo-blocked content

If your Internet browsing is significantly slower, you may want to temporarily turn off the VPN, but always consider the potential security risks before doing so