Why you should protect your iOS with a VPN
Apple markets iPhones as a secure, private choice when compared to other smartphones. Indeed, its messaging app is end-to-end encrypted. Apple has an excellent track record for protecting user privacy, and iPhones are noted for their robust built-in security and resistance to malware.
But your data on an Apple iPhone can still be compromised.
The shocker is that your ISP and mobile server carrier can still intercept and sell your data for profit. Even scarier: Many of your trusted apps are so poorly configured that they continuously leak unsecured data.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates a secure, private tunnel between your iOS and a private server. All the data that gets past to and from your phone travels via this secure, encrypted passage, safe from snoopers and data thieves.
Let’s look at some excellent reasons to use a quality VPN to secure your iPhone.
Your mobile carrier sells your data
Mobile service carriers (like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile) can see your internet activity. They know what you look at, what apps you use, and how you use them. They use that information to classify you into a marketing category, and then they sell the data to marketers for advertising purposes.
Think again if you think that mobile carriers wouldn’t abuse your data. For example, in 2020, the FTC levied over $200 million in fines against Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile for selling user data.
It’s just wrong that your mobile service carrier is allowed to make extra bucks out of you without your consent or knowledge.
A secure iPhone VPN connection will hide all your activities inside a private tunnel. Your mobile carrier and ISP stay outside the VPN tunnel and can’t spy on you.
The apps on your iPhone leak data like a sieve
Your iPhone apps stay connected to the internet around the clock. They check for updates and notifications and keep sending and receiving cloud-based data. You are almost certainly unaware of the activity because none of it happens via a browser.
Criminals and marketers of all stripes just love these little tidbits of data.
Many apps are not built with a security-first mindset, while others are simply poorly configured. Hackers keep finding flaws or weaknesses in encryption. Unfortunately, there is no way for ordinary people to tell the difference between good apps and bad apps. Your only defense is to use a VPN that will keep all your data inside a private tunnel.
Even iPhones need malware protection
iOS is famously immune to a lot of malware. It’s possible that you could download a malicious file without it affecting your iPhone. But what happens if you pass that file along to a Windows user without noticing?
VPNs with malware protection act the same way as antivirus endpoint protection software on other devices. It should be able to stop you from downloading a malicious file, and it should also protect you from malicious or phishing links.
Oh, and everybody knows these reasons for using a VPN
Apart from the genuine dangers of data harvesting and data leaking, there are many other good reasons to use a VPN:
- The need for speed: Lag can be deadly for iOS gamers. If your ISP uses bandwidth throttling, your opponents could get ahead of you. The fastest VPN is one that has servers all over the world. Pick a high-speed optimized server close to your gaming server to reduce lag and optimize reaction times.
- In some countries like China, Russia, or UAE, government censorship may block access to social networks like Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. You’ll need a top-notch VPN to defeat such tight restrictions.
- There’s not much point in watching Netflix if you only have access to regional libraries in languages you don’t understand. A good VPN must be strong enough to beat geo-restrictions, so you’ll be able to connect to libraries in your home country. It must also be fast and sufficient for uninterrupted viewing.
- Some shopping websites use your IP location, cookies, and trackers to inflate prices artificially to get you to buy. Use a VPN that blocks trackers and changes your location before triggering a buy to ensure you get the best deal.
- Public Wi-Fi in airports, cafés, hotels, and malls are free, but they are a honeypot for cybercriminals. Hackers steam around gathering logins, stealing data, and monitoring your online activities. Never connect to free Wi-Fi without a VPN.
All VPNs are not created equal
The fastest VPN will have servers worldwide, not just in the US. Use a test account or a VPN provider with a money-back guarantee to test server speeds. Also, choose a server optimized for heavy usage because low-quality providers cannot give you a good speed. Besides, if a VPN is free, they’re selling your data. Hey, who did you think was paying for the free service?
Don’t rely on others to protect yourself
Just like the web, there is only so much that Apple can do to protect you from apps that communicate insecurely. A VPN can protect where Apple cannot so keep your cell phone carrier and ISP on the outside of the VPN’s
