A rise in VPN adoption has been inspired by growing public awareness of the harm that internet trackers pose to our fundamental right to privacy. This trend is being helped by individuals spending more time online as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Even though VPN usage is at an all-time high, a lot of people still think of the technology as being related to their laptops and desktops. This essay will look at why this is a concerning mistake in a world where mobile devices account for more than half of all internet usage (new window).
Therefore, when using a smartphone or tablet, it is essential to use a VPN to preserve your privacy.
The increase in mobile device internet usage
Smartphones accounted for 54.25 percent (new window) of all internet traffic worldwide in March 2021 (57.1 percent if tablets are included). This indicates a dramatic change in how individuals use and access the internet, as compared to fewer than 3 percent in 2010.
Two major variables are mostly to blame for this shift:
Individuals are using their mobile devices to browse the internet increasingly frequently.
According to a Pew Research poll, more than 30% of Americans claimed they were online “almost constantly” (new window), while another 48% said they were online multiple times a day. The ease and convenience of using a mobile device to browse the internet is the reason for this increase in internet usage.
Globally, more people are purchasing smartphones.
Smartphones and other internet-connected mobile devices are widely used worldwide because they are typically less expensive and simpler to use than laptops or desktop PCs. Worldwide, smartphones are sold in large quantities, especially in emerging nations like Vietnam, the Philippines, and India, where they accounted for 44.9 percent, 33.6 percent, and 25.3 percent of the market in 2019 (new window), respectively.
VPNs and internet access on mobile devices
Using a VPN app on your tablet or smartphone is the same as it is on a desktop computer:
- opens blocked content
- stops your cell service provider and/or internet service provider from keeping an eye on your online activities.
- stops your government from keeping an eye on your internet behavior.
- stops websites from discovering the true IP address of your device.
- enables you to unblock streaming videos and other media.
- enables secure torrenting
- protects your connection when you use public WiFi hotspots.
Therefore, using a VPN on your mobile device is just as critical as using one on your desktop computer, if not more so. Your privacy is at risk for the large bulk of your online life if you don’t.
In summary, make use of a VPN on your mobile devices
It’s likely that you use your mobile device to access the internet more often than you do your desktop or laptop computer, assuming you have one at all. Therefore, using a VPN program on your mobile device is just as crucial as using one on your desktop computer, if not more so.
