People generally consider an iPhone to be hacker-proof. While this may be true to a certain extent, the fact remains that no device is entirely immune to cyber attacks. There may be fewer possibilities of malware corrupting your iPhone devices, but your data is still vulnerable when you surf the internet. Therefore to protect your data and device from hackers, it is essential to install a VPN on your iPhone.
Before learning about how to set up a VPN on your iPhone, let us first briefly look at the importance of installing a VPN and the factors to consider while choosing a VPN provider.
Why must a VPN be installed on your iPhone?
In today’s world, people spend most of their time on their phones instead of their laptops. We accomplish a variety of tasks such as paying bills, making purchases, searching for information, watching our favorite series, etc. on our phones. To do these, we provide sensitive information such as a username and password over a network we assume to be safe. Your assumption may or may not be true.
The most important reason for installing a VPN on your phone is to ensure your internet connection is secure. It does not matter if you connect to the internet using your mobile’s data plan or through a public WiFi service, a VPN will ensure that all traffic from your phone is encrypted and safe.
Apart from this a VPN will give you access to geo-blocked content, cloak your IP address, protect you from snooping, override censorship issues, hide your location, and keep your browsing history private
How to choose a VPN provider?
Now that we have seen the need for a VPN let us look at some of the important points while selecting a VPN provider.
1. Encryption
Choose a VPN provider that has a strong protocol and uses 256-bit encryption.
2. Privacy
Read the privacy policies of the VPN provider to ensure they do not keep a log of your online activities.
3. Speed
If a VPN provider has few servers in a few locations, then you will have to share the bandwidth with several users. this may slow your internet experience.
Test the speed by opting for a VPN provider that offers a free trial.
4. Caps
If you opt for a free service, then there will be a cap on your daily and monthly usage. If you opt for a subscription, you can enjoy unlimited use.
How to configure a VPN on your iPhone?
There are a couple of ways to install a VPN on your iPhone. You can either install an iOS VPN app or use in-built settings to install a VPN on your iPhone manually. Let us look at both these options closely.
1. Install an iOS VPN app
This is the most straightforward and easy option for installing a VPN on your iPhone. Setting up these applications is easy, even for novices. Maintaining these apps are also simple as users can set up and save their preferences.
While doing your research, you will come across several VPN providers. Select one that is compatible with iOS platforms and follow the below steps:
- Go to iTunes and search for the VPN provider’s app.
- Install the app that pops up in the search results.
- Wait for the app to get installed on your iPhone. It usually takes less than a minute.
- Once done, open the app and establish a connection with the VPN provider.
You can select any location of your choice or stick to the default option. By following the above steps, you can install a VPN on your iPhone and ensure its safety.
2. Manually install a VPN
If the VPN provider does not have a custom app, you can still install the VPN by using your iPhone’s in-built settings by following the below steps.
- Click on the settings button that can be found on your home screen.
- Select general and click on VPN
- Choose the option with the label Add VPN Configuration
- Press on Type and choose the VPN protocol
- Next, select Add Configuration and provide information such as User ID, server, etc. These details can be obtained from the VPN provider.
- Finally, click on Done.
Once your VPN is configured, you must go to Status and enable it. Users must also ensure that the option, Send all Traffic, is turned on. Enabling this option will send your traffic through a secure encrypted tunnel.
Conclusion
If you’re not a tech person, you can opt for a VPN provider that has a customized app for iPhone devices. This way, you can save yourself the trouble of following several steps for installing the VPN manually. All that you will have to do is select and click on the install icon.
Whatever may be the case, if your iPhone is an indispensable part of your life, then having a VPN installed on your device is a necessity. It will not only provide you with an open internet but also safeguard your data and privacy.
