Online shopping is a modern marvel. With just a few clicks, you can access almost everything you need from the comfort of your home. Unfortunately, this convenience also has some drawbacks. Not only do you have to worry about companies using sneaky tactics like price discrimination to take more money from you, but you also have to be wary of scammers and hackers trying to steal your data.
One of the best ways to overcome both of these concerns is to use a virtual private network (VPN). It’s an essential tool for online shopping, helping you find better deals while keeping your data safe and private. This guide will show you how to use a VPN to maximize your savings and secure your online shopping.
If you’re considering a VPN, check out my list of the best VPNs to make the right choice for your online shopping.
Price comparison between servers
Using a VPN to compare prices of services and products across different server locations can save you some serious money. But before we go any further, my colleague Anders Lundberg has already written a very detailed article on this specific topic on how to use a VPN to save a lot of money while shopping online. I am writing.
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It would be pointless to summarize all of his advice, but suffice it to say that the same service can cost different prices in different countries. For example, a company cannot expect to charge customers in both the United States and Pakistan the same rate. Knowing this, you can use a VPN to get the same subscriptions and services in other countries for a lower price.
If you use a VPN to connect to locations in different countries and shop online from there, you may be able to find better prices on everything from airline tickets to your favorite streaming services.
Take advantage of dynamic pricing
If you do a lot of online shopping, you may have noticed that websites tend to change the price of certain products depending on how long you view the product. This is one aspect of a deceptive trend in online shopping called “dynamic pricing.”
Airlines are also known for dynamic pricing, and you can potentially save big by connecting to a VPN server in another country before purchasing your ticket.
Airlines are also known for dynamic pricing, and you can potentially save big by connecting to a VPN server in another country before purchasing your ticket.
Sam Singleton
Airlines are also known for dynamic pricing, and you can potentially save big by connecting to a VPN server in another country before purchasing your ticket.
Sam Singleton
Sam Singleton
In recent years, companies like Amazon, Walmart, and Target have been known to not only track users based on their IP address location (or where they physically stand), but also to change the prices of their products accordingly. I am.
Therefore, the price of an item may increase without you knowing and remain at that price on your next visit. This is a shady practice that sounds like it’s illegal, but somehow it’s not.
The best way to avoid this while shopping online is to use a VPN to hide your true location from sellers. By connecting to different VPN server locations at different times of the day, you can find the best time and place to buy the products you need. You should also clear your cache after each visit to avoid tracking cookies.
Always use a VPN on public Wi-Fi
Did you know that connecting to a public Wi-Fi hotspot is one of the easiest ways for hackers to access your data? These open networks are typically unencrypted, so no data sent over the network can be accessed. All data that is sent is at risk.
This is especially true if you shop online while connected to public Wi-Fi. To access your account or pay for items online, you typically have to enter sensitive login credentials, credit card or bank details, and other personal information.
You should prioritize enabling a VPN before connecting to public Wi-Fi. This way, even if a hacker lurks or lures you to a fake hotspot, they won’t be able to see your data. The very nature of a VPN means that all your data is rerouted through an encrypted tunnel that hides everything from the outside world.
Turn on VPN threat protection
Most VPNs these days, especially the top services, offer a ton of additional privacy and security features bundled with their subscriptions. The most common of these are built-in ad blockers and tracker blockers, but these days services like NordVPN and Surfshark go a step further.
NordVPN’s threat protection features provide a number of great security tools to use.
NordVPN’s threat protection features provide a number of great security tools to use.
Sam Singleton
NordVPN’s threat protection features provide a number of great security tools to use.
Sam Singleton
Sam Singleton
For certain subscription tiers, NordVPN includes Threat Protection Pro service with web and file protection and dangerous application detection to monitor for vulnerabilities and keep you safe. Surfshark, on the other hand, aims to increase privacy with an alternative ID tool that allows users to mask their name and contact information by creating a fake email to use while shopping online. This helps prevent real personal data from falling into the hands of data brokers and other malicious parties.
Other VPN providers may offer similar features to keep you safe while shopping online. We recommend keeping these additional features turned on at all times, but they’re especially useful when shopping online when your sensitive data is particularly vulnerable. Taking a few minutes to properly configure and enable these features can save you a lot of trouble in the future.
