In the News
Establishing a secure remote connection may just have gotten a bit easier. In Mozilla is going to sell VPN subscriptions within Firefox, Dani Deahl at The Verge discusses Mozilla’s plan to provide ads for a VPN (Virtual Private Network) subscription service to certain individuals running the most recent version of Firefox. Deahl explains that Mozilla and the VPN service ProtonVPN will profit from these ads, while users will be able to create more secure online network connections.
Our Take
Although there are many VPN subscription available, including some that run through Firefox, many users may find that it is more convenient to purchase such a service directly through their web browser when presented the option in an advertisement. VPN’s are incredibly beneficial in ensuring that your online habits and transactions remain secure regardless of your location. VPN’s provide additional protection to users operating on public Wi-Fi networks or through other open connections. Northwestern does provide those with a NetID and password access to a university VPN network, but this access is only recommended when one is conducting Northwestern related business. Month to month costs of VPN subscription services are not very expensive and the added benefit and protection that they provide, the costs definitely seem worth it.
Recommendations
How can you protect your personal information online?
- Consider signing up for a VPN subscription service to make your online practices more secure
- Access Northwestern’s VPN service when handling Northwestern business while off campus
- Practice safe online practices by:
- Understanding the risks of putting your personal information into the world, and only share what you have to
- Not clicking directly on links, whether in email or social media – always search through your search engine to verify legitimacy and find the appropriate site
- Staying up to date on news regarding recent fraud and phishing attacks to see if you may have been affected
- Not reusing your account passwords, and take advantage of multi-factor authentication where possible.