INTERNET PRIVACY & ANONYMITY

What should I look for when choosing a VPN to keep me safe on the internet?

George

Dear George, Great question, but for those who don’t know, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) provides a secure connection between you and the internet and gives you an extra layer of privacy and anonymity.

A VPN hides your browsing and search history and your location. It also uses advanced encryption to secure data, but it usually does not improve your internet speed. If you are searching for a specific product, it can save you money if location is a factor in a product’s pricing. Here are some tips to consider: n View and review a VPN service provider’s privacy policy to identify what data the VPN logs in and what they do with the stored data (like login info, email address, web searches). Regardless of what is advertised, VPNs do log data. It’s just a question of what data, how much, and what they do with it. Don’t rely just on advertisements or YouTube videos that tout certain VPNs. Many are paid by the vendor to advertise their product. n Stay away from “free” VPNs. If they’re not charging, they’re getting income by selling your personal data and promoting ads (the exact reasons why you are getting a VPN). Most subscriptions offer a monthly and a yearly rate. At the start, opt for a “free trial” or the monthly rate (about $5 to $10 a month) just in case you want to switch. An annual subscription does save you money. Some offer a lifetime contract but be wary (they can go out of business in a few years or decrease support because there’s no incentive of periodic payment). n Check for multi-device availability so the VPN can be used with your desktop/ laptop, smartphone/tablet, and any other devices your VPN service could protect in total and simultaneously. Make sure all your devices and operating systems are supported. n Make sure the VPN has a Kill Switch feature (a protective mechanism that helps keep your connection safe). It constantly monitors your connection to the remote VPN server. If the connection drops, the kill switch will cut off internet access to your device. This ensures that your device will automatically be disconnected from the internet until you’re able to reestablish a connection with the VPN. n Data encryption is a major reason for getting a VPN-both to and from your device to the remote VPN server. Currently, two of the best encryption protocols are IKEv2 (OpenVPN) and AES256. Check to make sure they are using 256-bit, not 128-bit because 256 is more secure. n Check if the VPN uses Two-Factor Authentication before logging in. It helps to prevent phishing attacks (where a hacker obtains access to someone’s login credentials). 2FA is a deterrent that prevents a hacker from logging into your account—even if they obtained the correct credentials—and it adds an extra layer of authentication by requiring the user to verify their identity with a one-time password, sent by email or text, valid for a short amount of time. Make sure your password is difficult to guess. n A VPN connects your device to a remote IP address (generally in another country or state). Most VPN providers will have server locations worldwide but where the headquarters are located is vital because the company must follow the rules and laws of the home country. In some countries, the VPN must collect, store, and provide data to the government of that country if requested. (The US, Canada, UK, US, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Australia can obtain your data if they request it from the VPN. Switzerland, Iceland, Panama, Romania, and the British Virgin Islands have no such agreements.) n You want your connection to be fast, so check where the servers are, how many, and how fast they are. The more servers a VPN provider has, the faster and more reliable your connection generally will be. When you use a different IP address other than the one that’s at your current location, expect

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Special thanks to Arlette and Mitch for sharing this photo of one year old Murphy and two-year-old Molly, both Borderdoodles, (a mix of Poodle and Border Collie). The two breeds are listed by the AKC as “the top intelligent dogs of all breeds.” a slight delay in speed but it is worthwhile from a standpoint of safety.

Practically, to set up a VPN, go to Settings of your device and search for VPN. You may be directed to enter log-in data and/ or to download the VPN’s app. When you are connected to the VPN, those letters will show rather than the wireless symbol or 5G, etc. Be aware that not all websites will allow VPN access, e.g., Hulu, Amazon, Netflix and BBC are known for blacklisting VPNs unless the IP address of the VPN is in the US. In other words, if you cannot connect to a site through your VPN, you need to evaluate your location, VPN server location, and the website you are attempting to access. Some banking sites or sites that deal with money (like Pay Pal) will not allow VPN usage for fear of money laundering.

Aly Cline Council Member

Bases and Brews Music Fest

Thank you to Steve LeVine Entertainment for putting on the City’s first music festival and to our incredible Sports and Tourism Department for their support. The three-day event featured national headlining music acts like Andy Grammar, Chris Lane, WALK THE MOON and lovelytheband; live entertainment; a carnival; artisan booths and so much more! What a great way to bring the community together and celebrate the end of the Spring Training season.

National Water Challenge

The Wyland National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation was held this April! Residents pledged to use water more efficiently, reduce pollution and save energy. In addition to participating in national and statewide water conservation campaigns, Surprise offers rebates to city-serviced water customers, landscape workshops, school presentations and more. To learn more about the Surprise water conservation program and resources for residents, visit surpriseaz.gov/ waterconservation.

City of Surprise Children’s Book

At State of the City on Thursday, March 30, we unveiled our very own City of Surprise children's book! Click the link to read about the adventures of the 'Surprisenstein Bears' as they start a business in our great city! comm.surpriseaz.gov/ED/book