Administrators on college campuses all over the country use proxy firewalls to censor which websites students can visit while they are connected to the school’s network. The problem with this is that students end up being restricted from some useful resources on the Internet, which contradicts the philosophy that universities are places to share ideas, promote independence, and prepare students to enter the workforce. According to eHow.com, GoTrusted’s VPN service is one way that students can bypass proxy walls so their Internet use is not monitored or restricted.
The eHow article gives three suggestions for bypassing proxy firewalls, including downloading and installing a free VPN service. It is important for you to understand why these programs are “free,” and how they could end up costing you in the long run. In reality, the company wants to use you to sell advertisements, make a commission from tracking your online buying habits, or steal your personal information by installing malware on your computer. As you can see, choosing a free VPN service is a risky decision to say the least.
On the other hand, there is no question where a VPN service generates its profit if they charge a low monthly fee. This allows the company to focus on providing a reliable service as opposed to co-opting users’ personal information in order to make money. In short, a small monthly investment in a dependable VPN service is the best way for students to protect their personal identities and use the Internet freely throughout their college careers and well into their future.
