VPN（虚拟专用网络(virtual private network)）是一种加密您的互联网流量以在您上网时提供安全和隐私的服务。当您使用公共Wi-Fi时，它们是保护自己免受黑客攻击的好方法。
但是，您真的需要VPN吗，尤其是在您只使用家庭互联网连接的情况下？
在讨论VPN(VPNs)是否对家庭使用有用之前，您应该知道VPN本身并不是(not)广告或跟踪器拦截器。尽管某些VPN(VPNs)确实带有阻止工具，但它们本身并不能保护您免受试图收集您数据的广告商的侵害。
使用公共 Wi-Fi(Public Wi-Fi)时您真的需要VPN吗？
当您想使用公共Wi-Fi网络时，无法确定哪个网络是安全的。这主要是猜测，因此您永远无法判断坏人正在使用哪个网络来窥探您的在线活动。
他们使用类似于附近咖啡店或零售店的名称来诱骗您连接到网络。连接后，他们会使用中间人攻击来监控您的互联网流量。这意味着如果您使用信用卡或网上银行账户，黑客可能会窃取该信息。
更老练的攻击者更进一步，配置接入点，使其根据设备正在搜索的SSID更改其(SSID)SSID 。
在这种情况下，VPN服务可以通过创建任何人（包括网络管理员）都无法监控的加密隧道来防止数据泄露。VPN提供商的加密级别不同，但AES-256现在几乎是一个标准。
您真的需要在家中使用 VPN 吗？
攻击者不太可能在家庭网络上执行中间人攻击，因为闯入和更换某人的路由器需要付出更多努力。这不是您需要担心家庭网络的黑客；这是您的ISP（互联网服务提供商(Internet Service Provider)）。
美国国会在 2017 年决定撤销 FCC 的保护措施，此后(roll back the FCC protections)ISP(ISPs)已经能够合法地出售客户数据。ISP(ISPs)需要提供退出条款，但客户需要手动禁止数据收集 默认情况下，ISP(ISPs)有权收集数据。
因此，即使您在家庭网络上，投资一个好的VPN也不是完全徒劳的。(VPN)请记住，即使您使用VPN(VPN) ，仍有一些方法可以在线跟踪您，但它不会是您的ISP收集您的数据。
您真的需要用于流媒体服务的VPN吗？(VPN)
VPN(VPNs)不仅有助于保护个人数据和在线隐私；当您想要访问受地理限制的内容时，它们也很有用。
例如，想想Netflix。Netflix将根据您的位置(based on your location)及其对特定内容的分发权提供不同的内容库。因此，如果您从美国访问 Netflix，您将自动访问美国图书馆，其中可能没有您最喜欢的一些意大利或印度情景喜剧。
Amazon Prime Video、Hulu和大多数其他服务也是如此。
简单的解决方案？VPN。
当您连接到VPN服务器时，您将被分配一个不同的 IP 地址。当您使用VPN访问网站时，该网站将读取服务器的 IP 地址并将其假定为您的物理位置，即使它可能不是。
您还可以使用VPN(VPNs)解锁您根本无法访问的服务。例如，如果您想访问目前在美国不可用的国外流媒体服务（如Hotstar ），您可以使用(Hotstar)VPN获取英国或印度 IP 地址来访问它。
最佳 VPN
即使是像ExpressVPN(ExpressVPNs)这样的高级VPN(VPNs)，每年的成本也不会超过几美元。虽然那里也有免费的VPN(VPNs)，但其中许多都有可疑的日志记录政策。以下是您可以选择的一些最佳VPN 。(VPNs)
ExpressVPN是目前最好的 VPN 之一。它很昂贵，但附带所有的花里胡哨，包括终止开关(kill switch)和应用内拆分隧道。
终止开关可确保在VPN连接中断时不会暴露您的 IP 地址。应用内拆分隧道允许您将加密的VPN隧道用于特定的应用程序，而您可以将未加密的隧道用于其他应用程序。
它具有易于使用的界面、几乎所有操作系统的客户端，并提供无限带宽。但是，它不提供专用IP(IPs)。
如果您正在寻找可以提供一流流媒体体验的VPN ， ExpressVPN可能是一个不错的选择。它可以轻松绕过Netflix(Netflix)和Amazon Prime Video等网站上的地理限制。但是，如果您想要一个用于种子下载的VPN ，请考虑NordVPN。
2.NordVPN _(NordVPN)
如果您热衷于洪流，NordVPN是您最好的选择。它拥有定制的P2P服务器，使NordVPN更有能力支持种子下载并提供更好的保护。此外，NordVPN还提供双跳服务器（即使用两台服务器而不是一台服务器），增加了另一层安全性。
NordVPN提供出色的速度，并拥有任何(NordVPN)VPN中最大的服务器网络之一（超过 5,000 台服务器）。
它还具有出色的浏览器扩展，这意味着您无需安装应用程序即可从Chrome、Firefox或任何其他浏览器使用VPN 。或者，您可以选择在 Windows、Mac、Android或 iOS 设备上安装桌面或移动客户端。
NordVPN还带有恶意软件拦截器——ExpressVPN 缺少的东西——但(ExpressVPN—but)它不能完全取代你的防病毒软件。它的价格也远低于ExpressVPN。
当Tor存在时，你真的需要VPN吗？(VPN)
Tor（洋葱路由器(Onion Router)的缩写）是一个免费的接入点网络，称为节点。您可以使用Tor浏览器连接到网络并匿名上网。您可以通过从Tor 网站(Tor website)下载浏览器来亲自试用Tor。
通过Tor网络的流量是加密的，因此它提供了在线安全性，但它仍然是一个免费网络，由有权访问您的流量的志愿者运行。Tor也一直受到政府的关注，因为它是网络犯罪分子的热门选择。
Tor也存在一些可用性问题。它不支持P2P连接并且速度非常慢，这意味着它无法提供良好的流媒体体验。
虽然Tor可以提供比未受保护的互联网连接更好的网络安全性，但它无法与 VPN 的安全性相媲美。您还可以结合使用Tor 和 VPN(Tor and VPN)来获得两全其美的效果。
最后的想法：你真的需要VPN吗？
你真的需要(need )VPN吗(VPN)？好吧(Well)，在大多数情况下，没有VPN也可以，特别是如果您只连接到您的家庭网络。但是，这并不是说它们不能为家庭使用提供价值。
安全的VPN可在您在线时保护您的私人数据安全，并帮助您访问您所在地区无法访问的内容。如果您连接到许多公共Wi-Fi热点，VPN连接将确保黑客无法窃取您的信息。
当您比较成本效益时，投资VPN(VPN)并使用安全连接确实很有意义，尤其是当您使用公共网络或从外国网站流式传输大量内容时。
Do You Really Need a VPN While Browsing the Internet?
A VPN (virtual private network) is a service that encrypts your internet traffic to provide security and privacy when you surf the internet. They’re a great way to protect yourself against hackers when you use public Wi-Fi.
However, do you really need a VPN, especially if you’re only using your home internet connection?
Before discussing if VPNs are useful for at-home use or otherwise, you should know that a VPN is not an ad or tracker blocker by itself. While some VPNs do come with a blocking tool, they can’t, by themselves, protect you from advertisers trying to collect your data.
Do You Really Need a VPN When Using Public Wi-Fi?
When you want to use a public Wi-Fi network, there’s no way to determine which network is safe. It’s mostly guesswork, so you can never tell which network the bad guys are using to snoop on your online activity.
They use a name that’s similar to a coffee shop or retail store nearby to trick you into connecting to a network. Once you’re connected, they use man-in-the-middle attacks to monitor your internet traffic. This means if you use your credit card or online banking account, a hacker might be able to steal that information.
More sophisticated attackers go a step further and configure the access point such that it will change its SSID based on an SSID that the device is searching for.
In such instances, a VPN service can provide protection against data breaches by creating an encrypted tunnel that no one, including the network administrator, will be able to monitor. The level of encryption differs among VPN providers, but AES-256 is pretty much a standard now.
Do You Really Need a VPN at Home?
An attacker is far less likely to execute a man-in-the-middle attack on a home network because it’s a lot more effort to break in and replace someone’s router. It’s not a hacker you need to worry about with your home network; it’s your ISP (Internet Service Provider).
The U.S. Congress decided to roll back the FCC protections in 2017, and ISPs have since been able to legally sell customer data. ISPs need to provide an opt-out clause, but a customer needs to disallow data collection manually By default, the ISPs have permission to collect data.
For this reason, investing in a good VPN isn’t entirely futile, even if you’re on a home network. Remember that there are still ways you can be tracked online even if you use a VPN, but it won’t be your ISP collecting your data.
Do You Really Need a VPN for Streaming Services?
VPNs aren’t just helpful for the security of personal data and online privacy; they’re also useful when you want to access geo-blocked content.
For instance, think about Netflix. Netflix will offer a different library of content based on your location and the distribution rights it has for specific content. So, if you’re accessing Netflix from the U.S., you’ll automatically have access to the U.S. library, which might not have some of your favorite Italian or Indian sitcoms.
The same is the case with Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and most other services.
The easy solution? VPNs.
When you connect to a VPN server, you’ll be allocated a different IP address. When you access a website using a VPN, the website will read the server’s IP address and assume that as your physical location, even though it might not be.
You can also use VPNs to unblock services you can’t access at all. For instance, if you want to access a foreign streaming service like Hotstar that isn’t currently available in the U.S., you can use a VPN to acquire a British or Indian IP address to access it.
Best VPNs
Even premium VPNs like ExpressVPNs don’t cost more than a few dollars each year. While there are free VPNs out there, too, many of them have questionable logging policies. The following are some of the best VPNs you can choose.
ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs out there. It’s expensive but comes with all the bells and whistles, including a kill switch and in-app split tunneling.
A kill switch makes sure that your IP address isn’t exposed should the VPN connection be interrupted. In-app split tunneling allows you to use the encrypted VPN tunnel for specific apps, while you can use the unencrypted tunnel for other apps.
It has an easy-to-use interface, a client for almost all operating systems, and offers unlimited bandwidth. However, it doesn’t offer dedicated IPs.
If you’re looking for a VPN that can deliver a top-notch streaming experience, ExpressVPN might be a good choice. It can bypass geo-blocks on websites like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video with ease. However, if you want a VPN for torrenting, consider NordVPN.
If you’re big on torrenting, NordVPN is your best bet. It has custom P2P servers that make NordVPN more equipped to support torrenting and offer better protection. Plus, NordVPN also offers double-hop servers (i.e., using two servers instead of one) that add another layer of security.
NordVPN offers excellent speeds and has one of the largest server networks (more than 5,000 servers) of any VPN out there.
It also has an excellent browser extension, which means you can use the VPN from Chrome, Firefox, or any other browser without installing the app. Alternatively, you choose to install the desktop or mobile client on your Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS device.
NordVPN also comes with a malware blocker—something that’s missing from ExpressVPN—but it can’t replace your antivirus entirely. It’s also priced significantly lower than ExpressVPN.
Do You Really Need a VPN When Tor Exists?
Tor (short for The Onion Router) is a free network of access points referred to as nodes. You can use the Tor browser to connect to the network and surf the internet anonymously. You can try Tor yourself by downloading the browser from the Tor website.
Traffic that passes through the Tor network is encrypted, so it offers online security, but it’s still a free network that’s run by volunteers who have access to your traffic. Tor has also been under the government’s radar because it’s a popular choice among cybercriminals.
There are some usability concerns with Tor as well. It doesn’t support P2P connections and is painfully slow, which means it can’t deliver a good streaming experience.
While Tor can offer better cybersecurity than an unprotected internet connection, it can’t match a VPN’s security. You can also combine Tor and VPN use to get the best of both worlds.
Final Thoughts: Do You Really Need a VPN?
Do you really need a VPN? Well, in most cases, you’ll do fine without a VPN, especially if you only connect to your home network. However, that’s not to say that they can’t offer value for at-home use.
A secure VPN keeps your private data safe when you’re online and helps you access content that’s otherwise unavailable in your region. If you connect to a lot of public Wi-Fi hotspots, a VPN connection will make sure a hacker can’t steal your information.
When you compare the cost benefits, it does make sense to invest in a VPN and use a secure connection, especially if you use public networks or stream a lot of content from foreign websites.
