9 Reasons You Should Use a Ubuntu VPN

Ubuntu is a pretty safe operating system, and is generally considered more privacy-oriented than other OSs because of its open-source nature. As a result, many Ubuntu users (including you) probably never thought they’d need to use a VPN if they’re using this OS.

Well, the reality is there are actually plenty of good reasons to use a Ubuntu VPN, which we’ll discuss in this article. But before we get to that, here’s a quick definition of what a VPN actually is.

What Is a VPN?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a service you can use to protect your private data and online traffic on the Internet by encrypting it. Also, a VPN masks your real IP address, replacing it with the address of the VPN server you connect to. Normally, the VPN provider you sign up with offers you a VPN application that gives you access to everything.

Why Should You Use a Ubuntu VPN?

According to our research, what our users have said, and what other people have been saying online, here are the main 9 reasons you should use a VPN for Ubuntu:

1. A Ubuntu VPN Protects Your Online Freedom

Depending on where you live, there’s a chance you might have to put up with government censorship on the Internet - like not being able to access certain websites or having to commit self-censorship to avoid getting in trouble with the law.

What’s more, even if you don’t live in a country that restricts your online freedom, you might still have to put up with it if you end up travelling to such a place - either on vacation or for work. Plus, even the “freer” countries where you don’t need to worry about censorship, you still have to put up with some form of it - usually in the shape of hate speech laws. Don’t get us wrong - we see their point, but - at the same time - the authorities can easily exploit their vagueness to censor online speech.

A VPN can solve all of that by encrypting your online traffic. This way, nobody will know what you are doing online - what you browse for, what you say, and what files you share. Basically, you can fully enjoy your freedom of speech, and protect your identity at the same time since VPNs also hide your IP address.

2. With a Ubuntu VPN, Your Privacy Is Secured

While Ubuntu is pretty privacy-oriented (unless you partake in the optional data collection, of course), the Internet isn’t. For starters, your ISP sees everything you do online - yes, even the most private and sensitive of activities. And they’re not alone - government surveillance agencies can collect information about your online habits too through data retention laws.

What’s more, advertisers usually want a piece of the action too. They can get plenty of information on what you do online from the various websites you access, and - in the US at least - they can even buy your online info straight from your ISP. Of course, that’s not to say stuff like that might not happen in other countries, only on the down-low.

Don’t worry, though - a VPN can keep your private info safe by encrypting and making sure nobody can monitor your online traffic.

3. A Ubuntu VPN Keeps Your Data Safe

Sure, Ubuntu is a pretty safe operating system, so you don’t have to worry much about hacker threats and privacy breaches, right?

While that may be true, what about when you browse the web and use WiFi networks? Your Ubuntu OS won’t have much control over how safe the network is, unfortunately.

Basically, if you access an unsecured network (or even a WEP-secured network), any run-of-the-mill hacker will be able to monitor what you do online by eavesdropping on your connections. Simply put, that means a cybercriminal could easily steal your credit card info, login data, and other sensitive information.

And here’s the worst part - not even WPA2-secured WiFi networks are 100% safe since they are vulnerable to the KRACK attack. There’s still some time until WPA3 rolls around (which should solve the KRACK vulnerability), so using a VPN for Ubuntu when you’re online is much safer.

How does a VPN help? Well, it encrypts your personal data and Internet traffic when you’re online, ensuring that no hackers (no matter how “thorough” they are) can snoop on it - even on unsecured WiFi networks.

4. It Helps You Access Restricted Content

The Internet is full of amazing websites, shows, music, and other types of content. It’s just a shame you can’t always enjoy it all. You can thank geo-blocks for that.

What are geo-blocks, you ask? Think of them as technology that allows content providers to restrict access to their platforms or content to users based on geographical information. They have access to that kind of information since your IP address is exposed on the web, and it contains information about your geo-location.

An example of that is you trying to access Pandora Radio’s website from outside the US. You’ll likely get a message letting you know the service isn’t available in your country.

Even worse, this isn’t a problem only people living outside a certain country have to put up with. For instance, even if you live in the UK or the US, you might not be able to access your favorite websites and content if you’re outside the country - whether you’re on vacation or moving away for work for a period.

Fortunately, a VPN solves problems like that by simply hiding your IP address. All you need to do is connect to a VPN server located in the country the website or content is only available in, and you’ll be able to immediately bypass any geo-blocks that stand in your way.

“But what if I don’t have to worry about geo-restrictions?”

That’s good news for you, but there’s still a problem - if you’re at work or school, there’s a chance you might not be able to access all the online content you want if the network admin uses firewalls to block it. They usually do it to comply with workplace and school regulations, but that doesn’t make it fair for you. After all, maybe you work or study better while listening to your favorite music, or want to relax on your break with the latest shows.

Luckily, a Ubuntu VPN can help you in this case too. Since it masks your real IP address, it can help you bypass annoying firewall restrictions, ensuring you get to enjoy all the Internet content you want at work or school.

5. A VPN for Ubuntu Prevents Bandwidth Throttling

Did you ever experience a sudden, out of the blue slowdown when you were gaming online, streaming your favorite shows, or downloading some files, and did it happen regularly?

If the answer is “yes,” we’ve got bad news for you - it’s likely your ISP is intentionally throttling your bandwidth, resulting in slower speeds. Basically, they noticed you were using “too much data” doing something online, and they slowed down your speeds to reduce data consumption.

Why would your ISP do that? Usually, because they need to combat network congestions, and bandwidth throttling helps them do that at peak times. However, a lot of the time, ISPs engage in bandwidth throttling for profit - basically, they use it as a way to “convince” you to upgrade to a pricier subscription plan or pay for a more expensive data plan.

Well, a Ubuntu VPN can help in this situation by masking your online traffic. Since it’s encrypted, your ISP won’t be able to see what you are doing online. So, they won’t know if you’re using a lot of data to play online games, download files, or stream movies and shows. Consequently, they won’t manage to cap your bandwidth.

6. With a VPN, Torrents Are No Longer Unsafe and Risky

“Wait, torrenting is not safe?”

It isn’t if you happen to live in a country where this kind of activity can land you in legal trouble - like the US or Canada. Don’t forget - your ISP sees what you do online, so they know if you are breaking the law by downloading an “illegal” movie, file, or video game. Sometimes, they might send you a warning, but - in more severe situations - they might forward your information to copyright agencies. If that happens, you might receive DMCA notices or - even worse - end up in court, having to pay huge fines or facing potential jail time.

“Okay, but what if I live in a country where torrenting isn’t an issue?”

You might be safe from a legal point of view, but here’s something you might not know - all members of the Swarm (the total number of seeders/leechers uploading/downloading a torrent) can see your real IP address. Why is that a problem? Because, with your IP address, random people from the web can find out the following:

• What country you are from
• What city you live in
• Who your ISP is

How does a Ubuntu VPN help with all that? Pretty simple - it encrypts your online traffic and hides your IP address, making sure nobody knows you are engaging in torrenting, and that no Swarm users know what your geo-location is.

As a clear disclaimer, we don’t encourage intentional copyright infringement and illegal piracy, but we are aware some people can only get access to the things they need (entertainment, school materials, work files and software) through torrenting.

7. A VPN for Ubuntu Makes Travel More Enjoyable

Going on vacation feels amazing, but it’d probably feel better if you didn’t have to worry about foreign governments and ISPs limiting the content you can access, logging your data, and geo-restrictions preventing you from accessing your favorite shows, movies, and music. Not to mention all the cybercriminals just waiting for you to use an unsecured network so that they can steal your personal data.

Well, using a VPN when traveling can help you have a better time on your trip by:

• Unblocking geo-restricted and government-censored content for you.
• Protecting your data from hackers, ISPs, and government agencies - even on public WiFi.
• Making sure you don’t get kicked off hotel WiFi if you download torrents.

Plus, here’s another thing you should know - you can actually use a Ubuntu VPN to try and get cheaper plane tickets since airline websites tend to display different prices based on users’ geographical locations and recurring visits (information gained from their IPs). It’s not guaranteed to work all the time, but in our own personal experience, we did manage to save up to $450 on a flight by using a VPN.

8. A VPN Comes in Handy at Work

Whether you’re self-employed or work at a company (as an employee or an employer), a VPN for Ubuntu can do wonders for you:

• It lets your bypass geo-restrictions which can get in the way of market research.
• It lets you try out various SEO strategies.
• A VPN encrypts your VoIP traffic, giving you an extra layer of security.
• A VPN prevents bandwidth throttling if you happen to consume a lot of data sharing files and taking VoIP calls.
• Lastly, a VPN secures your employees’ connections to the office servers, letting them safely work remotely without having to worry about hackers exploiting network vulnerabilities to steal company data.

9. A Ubuntu VPN Offers a Better Gaming Experience

While Ubuntu might not be a gamer’s first choice, there are still plenty of video games you can enjoy on the OS - especially with Steam. So, why would you use a VPN for gaming? Well, here’s a list outlining the main benefits:

• Protection from DDoS attacks
• The ability to play banned games
• The ability to bypass IP bans
• The chance to play new games earlier
• The ability to play in any region you want
• The potential to reduce ping time and lag

Conclusion

Ubuntu might be a more secure OS than its counterpart, but it unfortunately can’t really do much to keep you safe online and help you bypass Internet content restrictions. That’s why you should use a Ubuntu VPN to improve your online experience by getting rid of geo-blocks, hiding your digital footprint, protecting your data from hackers, and preventing ISP bandwidth throttling from ruining your entertainment - just to name a few highlights.

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