Thursday, April 21, 2011

The Government and Internet Privacy: Is Canada the next China?

Canada was recently called into an election, which means any pending bills are dead on paper. The winning party can decide to reintroduce legislation from parliament’s last session – or not. One such piece of legislation is a bill which grants Canada’s federal police force permission to demand a person’s Internet activity – including emails and instant messages – without a court order. If this bill is passed, Canadians will face unprecedented privacy concerns. The short-term solution? A VPN service for your computer and/or mobile device.

As technology evolves and the Internet continues to change the way we communicate, governments all over the world are faced with the difficult task of regulating online activity without overstepping the boundaries of their constitutions. When it comes to digital issues, governments need to find a balance between protecting citizens and preserving their rights to privacy.

One of the concerns of this bill is the potential for abuse. If the federal police force can access an individual’s Internet activity without a court order then who is preventing this law from being abused? Without some form of oversight, Canadians will have to live in fear that their privacy could be violated at any given time. So, if the constitution isn’t enough to uphold their privacy, Canadian citizens will have to look elsewhere.

A VPN service makes all Internet use completely private and secure. Canadians who value privacy should consider using this Internet security solution if they aren’t already. Only time will tell who wins the election and whether or not this legislation will be supported by the winning party. No matter where you live in the world: instead of waiting for the government to determine Internet privacy laws, be proactive with a VPN service for your private browsing needs.

Friday, April 8, 2011

New Study Shows Majority of Men Want Private Browsing

According to a recent online poll in the U.K., more men welcome private browsing than women. More than half of the men polled said they have enabled a private browsing feature so their partner could not see their browsing history. The results of this poll might have British women asking what their husbands are hiding, but it has us asking "why are only 52% of men enabling private browsing"? Everyone should use a VPN service on their computers for privacy and security purposes.

Of the men and women who responded to the poll, 62% of them said the reason they like private browsing is because this feature makes them feel safer when purchasing things online. It’s true – if you make online payments or use your credit card to shop online without a VPN service then you are vulnerable to hackers who can easily steal your information. These software packages are especially important for people who connect to public WiFi on their computers or mobile devices.

Another reason why poll respondents said they like private browsing is because they can shop online without their families knowing what they bought. Online shopping is a modern convenience that many people take advantage of, especially during the holidays. However, the element of surprise can be easily spoiled if family members simply check the browsing history to see which websites were recently visited on that computer. The use of the private browsing feature of a web browser helps protect against this, but the addition of a VPN service ensures that the purchase is truly anonymous.

eHow Recommends GoTrusted’s VPN Service

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. 

Monday, April 4, 2011

Is Your Browser’s "Private Browsing" Really Private?

Modern web browsers include "private browsing" features that allow you to erase your URL history with the click of a button. However, you need to know that using this feature does not create total anonymity while you perform online searches. Many of the sites you visit capture your personal information through your computer’s IP address, which means that your browsing isn’t very "private" at all.


In order to grasp the scope of this security and privacy issue, it is important to understand how much of your personal information websites can access simply by tracking your IP address. The way that it works is this – in order for computers to communicate with each other, they need to know where the computer on the other end is located so they know where to send the reply. Your IP address serves as a locator in order for successful communication. This means that based on your IP address, it is possible to track your general geographical location. Scary, right?


A VPN service makes all Internet use completely private and secure because it hides your IP address. This type of program blocks online activity from being linked to an IP address for the ultimate private browsing experience. Always remember that the private browsing features on web browsers only erase information from the computer you are using, they do not make your browsing private to the websites that you're actually browsing - nor your ISP which sees these websites being browsed as well.


You probably don’t want your personal information freely available to any website you visit, so it is important to use a VPN service in addition to your browser’s private browsing feature. Protecting your privacy is a crucial part of surfing the Web anonymously and ultimately with a sense of peace of mind.

The Cost of Using a Free VPN Service

If you are looking for a VPN service, you will find that there are many different options available online. Like most people, you might be tempted to go with a "free" VPN software program. However, it is probably best to listen to that voice in the back of your head reminding you that "nothing in life is free." What is the cost of using one of these programs? Here are a few common complaints from people who have made this mistake.


Free VPN services support themselves by running advertisements within the web pages that are being viewed. In some cases, these ads appear in a banner across the top of the browser 24/7. The goal of this adware is to generate revenue to make up for the fact that there is no monthly subscription. For many people, these advertisements are extremely annoying and in some cases offensive. Sometimes adware contains viruses, which is one of the risks of installing a free VPN service.


The connection speed of many of these free services is slow because they are used by so many people. Unless you do the majority of your searching late at night then this can be a nuisance. Many of us turn to the Internet for fast, up-to-the-minute news and information, and a slow connection speed defeats this purpose and wastes people’s valuable time.


The concept of a free VPN account is great, but that does not mean they are practical. Many of them impose restrictions on users that are inconvenient and sometimes dangerous. As it turns out, the true cost of these programs is your valuable time and peace of mind. When it comes to free private browsing services, you need to ask yourself if the price of these problems is really worth it.


A more practical private browsing solution is a paid service. There are reliable VPN service options at competitive prices that will allow you to search quickly and without interruptions. In a world where "time is money," this choice is less costly than a free VPN connection.