No one thought that Android would take the world by storm when it launched back in 2008. However, forward 13 years, and now that same OS reigns supreme over mobile platforms. With over 2.5 billion active users, Android has emerged as one of the key players in the tech sphere. It has changed the mobile industry into one of the leading sectors of the globe. Companies now market their products around Android. But so do cybercriminals. If you were not living under a rock for the last decade or so, you would know how the internet has evolved into a shady place where everyone is looking for your data and is very interested in your activities. The popularity of Android provides such individuals an extra avenue to pry into your privacy. It now brings us to the much-pondered question, should you use a VPN on Android?
Android phones are much more than mobiles that were supposed to be used for calling. They are full-fledged computers. An average Android user utilizes their smartphones for almost anything from Online gaming, streaming content, social media to simple internet browsing. Due to such diversity, Android developers have seen a demand in making this OS more secure. Because with an ever-increasing usage of Android in our daily lives, the amount of personal information our Android devices retain has increased several folds. However, it won’t be happening anytime soon. Being an open-source project makes it harder for Android to be secure (at least more than its uber-secure counterpart, iOS). And depending on Google for privacy is, well, foolish seems the right word. So what a concerned individual has to do for security and privacy? Yes, you guessed it, use a VPN on Android.
Do you need to use a VPN on Android?
To answer briefly, yes, you do. A VPN not only connects you to the internet via a remote server to maintain anonymity but, with end-to-end encryption, it provides a realistic solution to your safety affairs. Of course, you can safely make do without a VPN, as I guess you were doing up till now. But if you are an individual with concerns regarding privacy, safety, or if you require P2P, foreign content streaming, or are just tired of censorship, a VPN is the right tool for you. With the versatile Android, the number of malware attacks goes up. All because of its booming popularity. A VPN may be unable to guard against malware, but it certainly can ensure that no one can target you for such an attack.
Note – There are a lot of ‘FREE’ VPNs on the Play store. Do not use them.
Benefits of a VPN on Android
From the advantages of security and privacy to bypassing censorship and streaming Netflix, VPN is multi-facet enough to bring variety to the table. To know in detail the various benefits of a VPN on your Android device, kindly continue reading.
Enhances your privacy
Believe it or not, you are never alone when browsing the internet. Your ISP, along with any trackers your browser has, ads seemingly popping out of nowhere, sometimes even your government, there is no shortage of people snooping in and trying to steal your data. While it may sound ridiculous, it is not. Especially when you consider that data is one of the most valued commodities on the planet right now. That’s when you use a VPN. It ensures your privacy.
VPN providers have no shortage of servers under their control; when you use a VPN, it connects you to one of them. These servers are far away from your actual location. Therefore, when you are on the VPN network, the app on your Android device connects you to a server as if you are sharing a LAN. Then that particular server further connects you to the internet. If anyone tries to snoop on you, they would only find the location of the said remote server, making you anonymous in the process.
Total security of your online traffic
Even if it is idle, any device connected to the internet sends and receives data packets at fixed intervals. These packets contain information pertaining to you. On an unsecured connection, these can be easily intercepted and traced. A VPN provides end-to-end encryption for your device. Due to which any data sent over the internet, be it voluntarily or automatically, is made subject to encryption. Thus, ensuring security.
The VPN app on your Android encrypts any outgoing data and then sends it to a remote server. The server then decrypts the data and sends it along to the intended destination. After that, it receives a reply. Now the server encrypts the data and passes it to your VPN app, which decrypts it before presenting it before you.
Fighting Censorship
Internet is no longer free. With the growing influence it has on our daily lives, governments all over the globe try and censor the web. Some moderately, while some are heavy-handed. But is it beneficial for you? If you value freedom and speech, then no, it is not. By censoring anything, the government takes away your right to free speech. From foreign entertainment to social media. And even news. Censorship is an ugly beast who doesn’t know when to stop. However, a VPN can be very effective against censorship.
Governments usually enforce any censorship via your ISP. Now, a VPN is effective here, as it has no direct contact with the objectionable content while under your ISP. It routes your traffic to a remote server and then accesses the content from there. And your ISP will be none the wiser, as the traffic will only appear as if used by your VPN app.
There are many who feel persecuted under a government that openly or covertly encroaches upon our free speech. VPN can be a go send for them.
You can stream multimedia without worry
Android users love the Internet. With the ever-increasing entertainment library, most spend their time on smartphones streaming shows and movies. Sometimes illegally, too (which I do not recommend). However, sometimes you come across a message that some particular show/game/content isn’t available for your region. It happens because seldom some specific content is blocked; by the provider itself for certain areas. It is known as geo-restriction. A VPN helps you bypass the said restriction.
A VPN can allow you to view geo-blocked content easily. If you are a fan of a particular foreign show that is sadly unavailable for you, give VPN a try.
It can ensure your safety on a public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi is very popular and equally dangerous. Many do not know to what extent can free Wi-Fi harm them. I’ve detailed the issues pertaining to public Wi-Fi safety and how to overcome them in another article.
In simple terms, public Wi-Fi is not a secure network. As in, anyone can easily gain access to them. Suppose you are on such a network, and unbeknownst to you, a malicious individual is snooping around the same network. The said individual can initiate a man-in-the-middle attack to gain control of your data traffic.
Any data going to and from public Wi-Fi is insecure and thus easily accessible to capable users. With a VPN, your data ends up encrypted coming and going from your device, thus ensuring security.
Drawbacks of a VPN on Android
VPNs although useful are not invulnerable. There are actually a few drawbacks associated with a VPN service. Also, a VPN itself isn’t a fail-safe when it comes to your Android’s security. There are many ways a VPN can be circumvented, easily so. The thing going for the VPN is, that the internet is too large and the number of users on it, incalculable. Thus, with a growing database of users and limited resources of ahem*government*ahem, it is impractical for them to know each one of you out there.
Some drawbacks of VPNs are:
A decent VPN charges money
A free VPN is worth a lot of trouble than what it offers. Sure, there are exceptions like Windscribe and Proton VPN, but even they have certain limits to being free. Any decent VPN which does what it advertises is going to cost a user money.
It can lead to a reduction in speed
A VPN increases the time taken by your data to connect to the internet. Instead of going via your ISP, a VPN routes it first to a remote server, then access the internet and again via a remote server to gain the data back. All along, encrypting and decrypting it at every step of the process. It will for sure eat up your bandwidth.
Some websites ban access to VPN
Since VPNs can bypass blocks and make websites lose by targeting ads. Websites can do the same by blocking VPNs. Although any trackers or your ISP can’t see what a VPN sends or receives on your device, they can instead see your VPN operating. It can lead to an ISP throttling your VPN, or simply those trackers can mark your VPN and block their access to certain sites.
Conclusion
Relatively speaking, having a VPN when compared to not having one is certainly more advantageous. For sure, you end up paying a premium of around $ 7-8 per month, but in the face of security and privacy, that isn’t much. Even if you do not consider yourself a fan of security and do not need added privacy, a VPN still offers a specific range of services that may appeal to you. On the other hand, your Android devices without a VPN may not necessarily be a target for scammers and covert adverts. But it never fails to be safer than sorrier.
I would end this article by recommending that you get a VPN for your Android device.