If a user is familiar with the usage of VPN and its benefits, then that user has asked themselves this question, ‘Do I need a VPN for Firestick?’
A short answer is a definite ‘Yes’. Streaming online does have its benefits and drawbacks. If a user is watching or streaming free content over the web or is trying to watch a geo-restricted movie/TV show, then the usage of VPN becomes a necessity.
Also, issues like ISP throttling can cause real-time frustration among streamers as online streaming requires high bandwidth speeds. Even though streaming content over Firestick works effectively well in addition to its other flawless services, however streaming content online has always been a challenging factor.
How can a Firestick VPN Benefit You?
The primary objective of using a VPN is to establish security and privacy over the internet. VPN protects your data, identity, and helps you become completely anonymous while surfing online.
Induction of malware and server-side attacks are a common practice among cybercriminals. The tech of Virtual Private Network ensures the safety of your data and privacy whenever you are using streaming services like Firestick. It encrypts your online internet traffic, making it impossible for anyone to launch a cyber-attack against you.
A Firestick VPN can benefit you in:
Unblocking Geo-restricted Content: Streaming sites like Netflix or Disney Plus only shows you those streaming libraries which are available in your region alone. It’s because of the legal copyright licensing agreements they make with each region. For instance, you cannot access the USA Netflix library while being India.
A VPN helps you get over that region-locked restriction and helps you access the libraries of your choosing. It connects the user to a server that is placed in a region they are trying to access.
Masking IP-address & Encryption: VPNs masks the identity of their user by hiding their IP address from everyone. They assign a new IP address to their clients and makes it seem like they are surfing the web via that particular IP (instead of their original). Masked IP addresses help the users keep their online activities hidden from anyone who is looking to track or spy on them.
Further, VPNs use encryption technologies like AES-256 bit encryption to cypher the internet traffic of their users. Online activities like streaming, browsing, or surfing are completely encrypted, thus ensuring that no hacker can trace or decipher your web traffic. Even your local ISP (internet service provider) cannot comprehend your internet usage. This is how VPN technologies make you completely anonymous over the internet.
Beat ISP Throttling: ISPs practice a technique called ‘ISP Throttling.’ It’s a technique used to throttle (decrease) the internet speed of those particular users who are consuming a greater amount of bandwidth in comparison to others.
Since VPNs work to make their client’s online activity hidden and their identity entirely anonymous, local ISPs are not able to pinpoint or track that user’s encrypted internet traffic. As ISPs require this information/data to perform ‘ISP Throttling,’ users’ internet speed never drops, even when they are streaming 4K UHD content.
Using a VPN while Travelling with Firestick
VPN is a great investment for users who travel abroad and has to connect to several public Wi-Fi in hotels, restaurants, or various café.
As VPNs encrypt all your online data, an anonymous hacker sitting on that public Wi-Fi cannot inject tracking software and extract all your personal information. All your usernames, passwords, cookies, and financial information (like credit cards) remain protected.
No matter where you go in the world, you can use a VPN to unblock streaming libraries that are not available in the region you are travelling to. For instance, you are a British national travelling to Australia and want to watch content that is strictly available in the UK. You can simply turn on your VPN, select a UK based server, and connect to it to access the UK libraries on the streaming service of your choice.
The selection of the right VPN is crucial, as the majority of the VPNs fail in unblocking streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, Hulu, etc.
Best VPNs for Firestick
Amazon Fire TV devices have proved themselves to be a seamless machine for streaming your favourite TV shows and movies online. If you care about your online privacy, data protecting, getting access to region-locked content, and not getting your data sold to advertisers, then using a Fire TV Stick VPN is what your need right now.
Our ISPs don’t need to know about our weekend binge-watching nights. Here’s a list of some of the best Amazon Firestick VPN.
Does a VPN Slow Down Streaming?
When a user is connected to a server locally without a VPN shield in place, the user gets to experience a speedy internet connection while streaming movies and videos online. However, if you are located in China and are trying to connect to a server placed in the USA, the distance of that server from your original location will have an impact on your internet speed.
Furthermore, the main function of a VPN is to make you completely anonymous over the internet. It performs this duty via strong encryptions and masking your IP addresses. All of this requires bandwidth and data, that’s why using a VPN slows down your internet speed when it is turned ON.
There’s just one thing that must be kept in mind is a reliable VPN will never dramatically decrease your internet speeds. What you can do is, check the internet speeds online before and after you connect your VPN. If the speed decrease is by more than 30%, then the VPN of your choice is sadly not suitable for your streaming needs. But, if the internet speed does not fall by 30%, then you are in the green zone.
Conclusion
Is a VPN worth it for Firestick? If you are one of those people who travel a lot, watch free content online, or have the desire to watch region-locked content, then surely a Firestick VPN will bring your great satisfaction.
FAQs
Never use a Free VPN as they are full of false claims and promises. They do not provide the security and privacy a premium VPN does, also they store data of their users to sell to interested third parties which can cause a lot of distress to you if you have something to hide.
Free VPNs eat up the data of your device and require the user to give them a lot of permissions to operate. By pressing ‘allow,’ you sign a contract with them where they get access to your device’s data and install malware tracking software to keep a check on your activities online & offline.
Free streaming applications are not legal in any sort or form. These websites contain unlicensed or copyrighted content which is illegal and can cause a problem for anyone who is using it or streaming videos on it.
To protect your identity, using a premium VPN can certainly help you out & keep you anonymous.
