Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are the newest trend among Internet users. With online safety intimidations increasing day by day; it is only logical that netizens would need to stay safe while working on the Internet. A VPN is arguably the most famous online safety solution these days. There are a few of inquiries that most VPN users question. For example, does a VPN use more data than normal? Or does a VPN assist you to get around the ISP’s data cap?
Does VPN Use More Data than Normal Usage?
What’s A VPN?
Simply stated, a VPN is a bit of code installed on your processor and the VPN server. This encrypts all the traffic that passes between your network and the server. Once the encryption is executed; the VPN server can transmit and receive data and encrypt them before transferring them to your computer. No third-party can snoop on the data transferred between the client and the server.
Good And Bad Of A VPN
VPN protects your data, keeps you safe on public networks, and also allows you to bypass geo-blocks in some cases. VPNs have existed for a long time, but their reputation has grown recently.
One general objection when using a VPN is that you must decide between speed and safety. Many users complain that employing a VPN affects the speed and results in a slow connection. What does a VPN have to do with speed? To get to the answer, we must first know how a VPN works.(Also see, Hotel WiFi Risks: Why It’s Risky to Use Hotel WiFi and How To Stay Safe?)
Does A VPN Use Data?
To make a long story short; yes it does use data; however, the traffic remains between your device and the VPN server. Still, it uses the internet connection. Hence, all the traffic flows through your internet service provider first; but he can’t read any of your data because of VPN encryption.
Does A VPN Use More Data Than Normal?
It’s true that a VPN use more data than normal usage; due to the encryption. A VPN protects your data round the clock by implementing high-level encryption that increases the data usage by around 10 percent more. It’s due to the reason that encrypted files occupy more space than unencrypted ones. This is known as encryption overhead. And this is the reason why does a VPN use more data than normal.
Usually, stronger encryption automatically increases the encryption overhead. If you use a superior VPN service with stronger encryption, it will use more data for the same file than weaker encryption. And when a VPN uses up more data than normal, it also affects speed. The stronger the encryption, the more it will take to load files.
Is VPN Useful For Bypassing ISP’s Data Cap?
It must be noticed here that a VPN cannot get around the data cap. It is still managed by your ISP. Even though they can’t see your data; they can detect the amount of data you are using. Hence, a VPN with strong encryption will always utilize more data and have a slower speed.
In some instances, however, a VPN can also improve speed. This usually occurs when an Internet service provider restricts defined data types to improve speed. For example, when you are employing a VPN, some Internet service providers will slow down HD videos to sub-HD quality to enhance speed. Although this affects video quality, it certainly increases speed.(Also check, ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost VPN-Which VPN Service is the Fastest?)
The downside here is that it is difficult for an ISP to distinguish between the types of data when you are using a VPN. Therefore, they cannot slow down only certain types of data without slowing down all data. Different VPN protocols have different encryption overhead. While VPNs that use 256-bit encryption have a higher encryption overhead, those that use 128-bit encryption have a lower overhead.
Conclusion -Does VPN Use More Data than Normal Usage?
However, a VPN is an incredible tool for assuring online security; there are several things it cannot do. Getting around your data cap is one of them. Unless your ISP uses selective throttling of data, it isn’t possible that your data will be slowed down to improve speed. The powerful encryption you use, the more data you will consume. This is one of the downsides that come with a VPN, but you cannot ignore the security it provides you with. The streaming benefits and the security are great features of a VPN, which are the main reasons why virtual private networks are used so widely.
