10 Benefits of VPNs for Students in 2024

In a digital world rampant with cyber attacks and malicious actors waiting for the perfect opportunity to steal your sensitive and confidential data for fraudulent purposes, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is the ideal tool you'll need in your arsenal to keep your data safe and secure and conceal your online activities. VPNs encrypt your internet traffic and mask your IP address, making it challenging for malicious actors to intercept your data or gain unauthorised access. 

On the same note, there are various benefits of VPN for students. To safeguard their online activities, investing in a VPN becomes crucial. By ensuring privacy and security, VPNs empower students and educational institutions alike to protect sensitive information from potential threats. So buckle up, and let's explore the pros and cons of VPN for students together.

Fun Facts About VPNs

Here are some interesting facts and stats about VPNs that you probably didn't know:

• The global market for VPNs is expected to reach a staggering $137.7 billion by 2030.
• VPNs are limited or restricted in 19 countries. VPNs are illegal in Iraq, Belarus, North Korea, Oman, and Turkmenistan.
• 54% of VPN users are male.
• 2 in 5 personal VPN users are using a free VPN service.
• 72% of cybersecurity leaders are concerned about the security risks surrounding VPNs. Organisations know that VPNs can also be targets for cyber attacks, with the three biggest concerns being social engineering, ransomware, and malware attacks.

10 Benefits of VPN For Students In 2024

Curious about the benefits of using a VPN for students? Well, you've come to the right place. Let's dive into the various advantages of VPNs for students and how they can use them to uplevel their privacy and security and gain access to educational content or websites that may be geo-restricted. Here are the major benefits of using a VPN:

1. Privacy Protection

Since VPNs encrypt internet traffic, students' browsing activities and online sessions would be safeguarded from prying eyes. This is particularly important when students access public WiFi networks on the school campus or the library. With the added benefits of VPN, students can navigate the digital landscape confidently.

2. Bypassing Geolocation Restrictions

One key benefit of VPN technology is that it allows students to bypass geolocation restrictions. Students studying abroad may face issues when trying to access content from their home country, and that's when a VPN will come in handy. They may want to access certain educational content that may not be accessible from their region. They can easily connect to a VPN server in a location where they can access this educational content easily.

3. Enhanced Security

VPNs add an extra layer of online security, highlighting one of the significant benefits of VPN technology. Premium VPN providers like AstrillVPN offer a Kill Switch feature, Smart Mode, and robust encryption protocols like OpenVPN and Wireguard. A reliable VPN provider also has a strict No Logs Policy, so students can rest assured that their sensitive data remains safe and secure.

4. Browse Safely On Public WiFi

Public networks are the most vulnerable to cybercriminals' interception. When students use the public WiFi of their university or the library, they must be cautious when sharing personal and sensitive information. By using a VPN when connected to a public network, students can ensure that their sensitive and confidential data remains protected from interception, highlighting the crucial benefits of VPN technology.

5. Avoid Bandwidth Throttling

Sometimes, the ISP (Internet Service Provider) can stop the Internet connection if they feel that students are accessing websites consuming a lot of bandwidth. VPNs allow students to bypass ISP throttling while ensuring consistent performance for extracurricular activities and online coursework.

6. Protection Against Cyber Threats

VPNs allow students to protect themselves against various security threats and prevent malicious actors from intercepting their sensitive and confidential data, reducing the risk of cyberattacks like malware attacks and phishing scams. VPNs also offer protection against DNS leaks and Man In The Middle attacks, ensuring that students are protected when navigating the online world.

7. Secure Remote Access

With the rise of virtual learning platforms and online classes, VPNs allow students to access their school's network securely, even in a different location or studying off-campus or at home. The educational institution's resources are protected over a secure and encrypted VPN connection, highlighting the invaluable benefits of VPN technology for remote learning.

8. Smoother Online Experience

Premium VPN providers offer various cool features to give students an enhanced user experience and security. For example, some premium VPNs allow students to block unnecessary ads and prevent Malware attacks, phishing scams, and cookie pop-ups. These are all included in the standard plans of these providers, so you wouldn't have to pay extra money.

9. Hide Your Browsing History from ISPs and Hackers

When students invest in a VPN, all of the data shared between the device and the VPN server gets encrypted. This means malicious actors cannot decipher its contents if they gain unauthorised access to their data. When the encrypted data ultimately reaches its destination, it then gets unencrypted.

10. Reduce Costs For Educational Institutes

As educational institutions grow, so does the need to build dedicated private networks. Internet-based VPNs allow academic institutions to tap into network lines, allowing remote international locations better reach and service quality. With more instant access, no matter where students are, educational institutions can scale more efficiently and at a significantly lower cost.

What Are The Cons of Using A VPN?

While there are many benefits of VPNs that students can avail, there are also some disadvantages of VPNs that they need to be aware of:

• A VPN connection can sometimes lower your internet connection speed because the VPN reroutes and encrypts your internet connection. 
• Some countries have banned VPNs, so check the rules and regulations regarding VPNs in your home country.
• Not all VPNs are of the same quality. Free VPNs are often bombarded with unnecessary ads, contain adware and other forms of malware, and offer poor security and limited servers, which affects performance and usability.
• VPNs don't stop voluntary data practices. Services like Google and Meta still collect personal information about you, sometimes without your consent.
• Free VPNs also send your personal and confidential data online to make a profit and generate revenue.
• Some websites and apps can block you if they believe you're using a VPN. However, premium VPN providers offer a Smart Mode feature that prevents government agencies and ISPs from tracking your online activities or detecting that you're using a VPN.

How To Choose The Best VPN?

When you're choosing a VPN provider as a student and want to avail some of its benefits, there are various factors that you'll need to take into consideration before doing so:

• Ensure that the VPN for students has all the necessary security features. These include the benefits of a VPN that is a Kill Switch feature, a Smart Mode feature, robust encryption protocols like OpenVPN and Wireguard, a strict No Logs policy, and AES-256 encryption.
• The VPN provider should have an extensive range of server locations so students can easily bypass geolocation restrictions to access specific content.
• Opt for VPNs with fast dedicated servers and minimal latency for the smoothest online experience.
• The VPN provider should be compatible with multiple devices and operating systems so students can access online study materials on their phones and tablets.
• The VPN provider should have a user-friendly interface and an easy setup process, especially for students who aren't as tech-savvy.
• Be sure to check their customer support and ensure that it is top-notch and that they're available round the clock to answer any queries that the customers have.
• Also, check their market reviews and what users have been saying about them. This will give you a clear picture of whether it's worth investing in.

Students can take advantage of many benefits of VPN today. With security risks and wanting to access geo-restricted content, students can utilise VPNs to help keep their data safe and secure. They can also stay on top of their coursework since they can easily access geo-restricted content. 

Of course, there are pros and cons of VPNs, but the advantages outweigh the negatives, and therefore, it's beneficial for students to invest in one. Students can also check the most critical factors they'll need to consider when investing in a VPN, and they can quickly check these factors off from this guide.