In Nigeria, the World's most populous Black Nation, one of the most searched terms on Google over the past few weeks remains 'Download free VPN.' And this is because a lot of Nigerians are trying to access the giant social media platform, Twitter, following a ban that was placed on the microblogging platform early in June.

VPNs which simply means, Virtual Private Network, is an internet hacktool that gives users access to geo-blocked platforms. When users browse the internet using a VPN set to a specific location, it gives them access to contents and services specific to said location.

However, while this sound really cool - I mean, Nigerians are in Nigerians but tweeting from New York - there are advantages and disadvantages that come with using a VPN and we are going to discuss them here.

Pros of Using a VPN

Unlimited access to content: Access Blocked Content from Anywhere

Imagine if you are in South Africa and want to get access to contents specific to Nigeria, VPN can make that happen. Also, if you are in a censorship-heavy country and need to access blocked websites, a VPN can give you back your online freedom.

A VPN allows you to change your IP address and appear as though you’re in a different country, and this can open up a whole new world of possibilities for you.

VPN Keeps You Safe

Most VPN software encrypts your data and keeps your private activity really private, whether you’re browsing the web at home, at the office or through public wi-fi. You always remain anonymous and nobody – from hackers to government officials – can see what you’re doing online.

VPN Can Save You Money

Once you use a VPN to change your IP address, you’ll soon discover that free access to content from all over the globe isn’t the only perk. Imagine having access to content that you may be required to pay extra for from your original location cheaper.

This goes to save money for people who shop online as most e-commerce websites display different prices to shoppers from different countries – for instance, a product that may seem very expensive if you’re accessing a site from Sweden may suddenly drop in price if you access the same site through a server in India.

Most VPNs Are Affordable

At no more than a few bucks a month, a premium VPN service can unblock any website you want and keep your connection anonymous and secure. VPNs are significantly cheaper than other types of security plans. There’s no hardware to install and no technicians to deal with, and your VPN can be up and running within minutes.

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Cons of Using a VPN

VPNs Can Slow Down Your Connection Speed

VPNs can keep your connection secure by encrypting all your online activity, however, this comes at the price of a very slow connection – and honestly, no one likes to wait around a slow connection.

Anti-VPN Software Is Getting Stronger

Major streaming services like Netflix and a host of others are trying to combat VPN connections with VPN blockers, so you might wake up one morning and suddenly find that your trusted VPN can no longer access the content you want. Sad!

VPN Connection Can Drop

With a reliable VPN service, you shouldn’t experience connection drops very often – but it does happen from time to time. The main problem with this isn’t just the inconvenience of having to reconnect. It’s that the moment your encrypted connection drops, your real IP address is exposed, and you are no longer anonymous.

Configuration Can Be Difficult If You Don’t Know What You’re Doing

Servers and protocols and encryption, oh my! If your VPN isn’t configured properly, you could experience IP and DNS leaks which make your private data vulnerable to hackers and other online threats.

Also, if you new to VPN and all these terminologies is like a foreign language to you, you can always start out with one of the more user-friendly providers, such as CyberGhost or TunnelBear.

In Conclusion

While most VPN providers have their downsides, we can clearly see that the pros somewhat outweigh the cons.