Editor TLN
21 Jul. (EDIZIONES/Portaltic) –
One in four Spaniards already uses a VPN to protect themselves when browsing online, according to a recent study by NordVPNwhich details that these figures are well above those of 2021 and that they remain relatively stable with respect to 2022.
The report considers that there is still a long way to go in terms of cybersecurity, but points out that these figures “invite optimism” in the face of the “great wave of hacking that is taking place throughout the Spanish geography.”
Likewise, the study details that the use of paid VPNs extends to 41.5 percent of VPN users in Spain, compared to 38.2 percent of free VPN users, and points to a trend in the increase in the contracting of payment solutions in the coming years.
NordVPN experts recall that when download vpn users are financing the VPN service with their subscription. This financing translates into the installation and maintenance of servers, the development of encryption technologies, the establishment of internal security controls, and even strict compliance with the national data protection laws and international.
Free VPNs do not receive any funding from their users and therefore have to look elsewhere for funding. This leads industry experts to doubt the security and privacy that offer these platforms to their users.
THE MAIN USES OF VPNS
The study also tries to clarify what are the main motivations among Spanish men and women when using a VPN. Privacy ranks first, with 43 percent of users turning on their VPN to be able to surf online anonymously. The increase in online tracking systems and the abusive use of cookies on the main websites encourage users to adopt cybersecurity measures accordingly.
In second place is security, mentioned by 38.2 percent of the people surveyed. The encryption of the VPN allows to protect the economic transactions carried out online, which It is especially useful when making digital purchases. Bank details and the credentials of payment managers such as PayPal or Neteller are kept more secure with a VPN, which contributes to enjoying a more secure experience on the Internet.
Third, 25.9 percent of the people surveyed mentioned the VPN’s ability to change their IP as one of the reasons for hiring them. By being able to browse from a different IP –and, above all, an IP located in another country–, these users can bypass geographic restrictions from online services like Netflix or Epic Games, so they can continue to use their accounts wherever they go.
GREATER USE IN POLITICALLY TENSIONED REGIONS
The increased control of information and communications in Hong Kong has resulted in a much more widespread use of VPNs in this territory. While the central government in Beijing maintains tight control over everything that happens digitally in mainland China – the so-called ‘Great Firewall’ – regions like Hong Kong still have access to YouTube or Twitter, but with increasing restrictions.
Mass arrests of dissidents, the voluntary exile of thousands of pro-democracy activists, media shutdowns, and an increasingly stifling police state are driving millions of Hong Kongers to use a VPN to protect their communications. Any digital comments that question the authority of Beijing it can have serious consequences for the civilian population, who see VPNs as an effective escape route.
Something similar occurs in Taiwan, where VPNs are also used more widely than in Spain. Unlike Hong Kong, however, Taiwan is not yet under the control of Beijing. However, the interception of communications continues being a cause for concern among the citizens of the island, who see how every day the military presence of China increases around its coasts.
In Spain, digital security does not go through the authoritarian control of the state so much, but it is closely related to the increase in hacking. In recent years there has been a very long succession of ransomware cyberattacks that have affected dozens of critical institutions for the country, as well as an endless number of small online scams against individuals. “Given this scenario, the protection of a VPN is increasingly necessary,” concludes the report.
