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Private Browsing and VPN – How Safe Are They

If you run your business online, you’ll know that browsing the Internet opens your operations up to risks. When online, you expose your business to hackers and data miners who can tap into sensitive information and payment data. 

When it comes to protecting your business, you might be familiar with these two options: private browsing and VPN. Find out which option suits you best.

What is Private Browsing?

Nowadays, many contemporary browsers will allow users to browse privately. For instance: 

• Google Chrome’s Incognito Mode
• Microsoft Edge’s InPrivate Browsing
• Safari and Firefox’s Private Browsing
• Opera’s private, built-in tabs

Your browser doesn’t save your search history or local data (such as cookies) when private. 

How Safe is Private Browsing?

While private browsing, your local device won’t store any online information. However, it won’t necessarily protect your device from sharing information with your Internet service provider (ISP). 

A few intelligent third parties might detect traces of activity on your private browsing session, which can exploit entryways into your operating system. Contrary to popular belief, private browsing does not protect against:

• Viruses and malware
• Hacking attempts
• Fraud and theft

Private browsing still relies on an Internet protocol (IP) address from your ISP. If you run across a software bug, employ HTML5 API, or download a browser extension, they can allow third parties to access your search history. 

What is a VPN?

The best way to protect your Internet browsing is with a VPN. A VPN is a virtual private network that encrypts Internet traffic and your online identity. 

To better understand how a VPN works, let’s take a closer look at what happens when you go online. 

How Does a VPN Protect Your Data?

When you surf the web, you connect via your ISP. Then, it’ll keep track of your activity with an IP address. Web traffic passes through ISP servers, where providers can hand off your information to advertisers, law enforcement, the government, and other third parties. 

With your provider, your ISP becomes open to breaches. If your server gets hacked, your device and private data also become compromised. If you regularly connect to public  Wi-Fi networks, you never know who is spying on your information—and what third parties can take from you. 

What Makes a Good VPN?

A VPN keeps you safe from compromises, though it also serves other purposes. These include: 

• IP Address Encryption: A VPN’s primary responsibility is to hide your IP address from third parties, allowing you to send and receive information without any risks. 

• Log Encryption: VPNs keep you from leaving online trails in the form of Internet history and cookies. By encrypting cookies, third parties have no access to your personal information, financial details, and other data you submit to websites. 

• Kill Switch: An efficient VPN will detect sporadic downtime and quit pre-selected programs as necessary. 

• Multi-author Authentication: Strong VPNs will verify anyone else trying to log into your accounts via two-factor authentication, making it harder for third parties to access your secure connection. 

Conclusion

With the right VPN solutions, you can protect your business from losing vital information. If incorporating a VPN for personal use, you can rest assured your sensitive information will stay where it should—with you. 

Download secure VPN solutions from Radio IP. We make sure to cover an extended geographical footprint over multiple networks and devices.