Many people heralded the reelection of President Barack Obama as a victory for transparency in government and personal freedom, but some are beginning to question the administration’s commitment to liberty in the wake of revelations by snowden about how the NSA (National Security Agency) collects tons of data on Americans who use the Internet.
From asking Google to deliver logs of searches performed to demanding that Facebook provide access to user profiles, there can be no question that the US government is making an active effort to monitor online activities. Using a VPN for Internet browsing is a very effective way to thwart the efforts of those who want to spy on American citizens, and the NSA and President Obama know that using a VPN can hamper data collection practices.
Here, then, are a few reasons why Obama doesn’t want you to use a VPN.
A VPN helps erase your digital footprint
Every time that you sign on to the Internet, you leave behind a trail that is referred to as a digital footprint. In most cases, a digital footprint is easy to create and observe because many Internet users are using services that require a login, such as Gmail or Facebook. You can also leave a digital footprint simply by browsing if you do not take advantage of the extra security offered by a VPN
Your IP address has a lot in common with your fingerprint and your physical residence. First off, an IP address is unique. Just like a fingerprint, no two are the same. Secondly, each IP address leads back to a specific machine or server. Just like your physical address, your IP address serves to pinpoint your physical location.
By masking your IP address, a VPN helps to conceal who is on the other end of search strings and website visits. Anyone trying to determine the location of a user will only be able to see the location of the VPN server.
A VPN account encrypts your personal data
It isn’t just the websites you visit that the government is interested in. They also have a vested interest in reading the data you send back and forth across unsecured connections.
Whenever you use a VPN, your data is encrypted as it passes along the tunnel to and from the server. Those who try to “sniff” these packets of data will only be rewarded with an indecipherable, complex string of random characters. Breaking the sophisticated encryption a VPN offers is practically impossible, even for the mighty NSA. At VPNaccounts.com, we also stay up-to-date on the latest advances in encryption technology and upgrade the level of our protection often.
A VPN limits Google’s power
Do you realize how much of the Internet is directly affected by Google? Almost everyone uses Google to search on the Internet. Millions of people use Gmail as their email provider. YouTube is now a subsidiary of Google, and logging to watch a few videos can link right back to your Google account. Google wields tremendous power in Cyberspace, so it is no wonder that a majority of the NSA’s tracking efforts have centered on requesting data from Google.
If you ever doubt the insidious nature of Google when it comes to tracking the online activities of Web users, think for a moment about many of the ads you see when you visit a webpage. Did you ever notice that a large number of those ads relate to something you recently looked at on Amazon or searched for using Google? Google uses your browsing preferences to determine which advertisements display when you visit a webpage. If they have that information, you can be sure they have other data on your preferences also.
A VPN account gives you your freedom back
For all of the talk about freedom in the United States, many people believe that their personal liberty is being erased a little a time each day. Instead of being able to browse the Internet without worry, many people are constantly anxious over who is watching and what they can see. A large number of people feel as though they should be able to look at whatever they choose online without being questioned.
By creating an anonymous environment, VPN technology has returned freedom to these individuals who do not want to be restricted in the digital media they choose view. They can search freely, post on message boards and blogs without fear of reprisal, and preserve the legacy of an unfiltered Internet.
The choice is yours
All of the above are reasons that Obama and the NSA would prefer that you not use a VPN. It’s your choice. There is an added peace of mind for freedom-conscious individuals who use a VPN, and for many people personal freedom is something they choose to protect above all else. We sell many VPN accounts, come get yours!