« Older Entries

What is a VPN and How Does it Work?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It is an online privacy tool to make the internet safer, more secure, and definitely more private.

Not so long ago, VPNs were only used by Governments and Big Businesses to secure their data.

Since people were working remotely, a VPN was helpful in hiding sensitive information through a secure connection or otherwise, they were at risk of hacking or stealing important data.

Today, the VPN technology is available for all internet users and their usage frequency has increased gradually.

It helps people from all over the world to connect in a secure way.Your connection is encrypted, you become anonymous online, and traffic data remains private.

But how does a VPN work?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a service that lets you access the web safely and privately by routing your connection through a server and hiding your online actions.

Imagine if you’re sitting in an airport and using public Wi-Fi on your mobile device and want to access your bank account.

Someone using the same public Wi-Fi can easily hack your banking Passwords, Email, Pictures, and other information you have on your phone.

But if you use a VPN, they won’t be able to access any of your information.A VPN creates a tunnel that encrypts your information and assigns you with another IP from a different location that could be thousands of miles away.

So, what are the Benefits of Using a VPN?
There are 5 really cool things that you can do with a VPN

Number 1: Unblock Streaming Apps

Watch your favorite Movies and TV Shows on various streaming services.

According to research, the leading motivation for VPN usage worldwide is to access better entertainment content.

A lot of streaming websites such as Netflix and Hulu have restricted its media library based on geolocation.

For example, if you need to watch a movie that isn’t available in your country.

You can connect to any one of the VPN servers located in America. That server will send the command to the Netflix website.

Netflix then thinks you’re in America and grants you access to watch your favorite Movies and TV Shows.

Number 2: Unblock Websites

VPN is a useful tool to unblock websites and bypass filters.

Many countries including China have restricted social media websites in their region.

To unblock, you simply connect to a VPN server outside China to start using these websites.

It also helps you unblock geo-restricted add-ons within the Kodi media player. But that requires some special features which could be found in the best Kodi VPN.

Number 3: Improved Security

Once you connect to a VPN, all your data remains encrypted when surfing the internet.

Your real IP address is hidden and the original location is masked.

That means, all your internet traffic travels through an encrypted tunnel and are assigned codes that are impossible to decrypt.

Number 4: Buy Cheap Tickets or Reserve Hotels for Less

VPN is also helpful while buying cheap airplane tickets or booking a hotel.

Research has shown that the prices of tickets and hotels vary depending on your location.

A VPN can help you save a lot of money.

Number 5: Avoid ISP Throttling

Your internet service provider can sometimes throttle your internet speed due to various reasons.

With limited bandwidth, you are unable to download anything at a fast speed.

A VPN is an excellent choice for blocking your ISP from throttling your traffic, especially P2P/Torrenting traffic

Your ISP will be able to see that you’re sending and receiving data, but it won’t be able to tell what kind of traffic it is.

How to Use a VPN?
VPNs can seem complicated at first but are actually easy to use.

It is as easy as downloading an app on your computer or mobile device.

Just connect to any server location and your data will remain encrypted over the internet.

Tags:

Combining Savings and Investments in Your Investment ISA

Although often referred to as an ISA investment account, an Individual Savings Account (ISA) is not actually a type of investment itself. It is a means of protecting some of the investments you make every year from taxes.

While the annual ISA allowance for individuals may change on an annual basis, it is currently possible to invest or save a total of £11,520 in a combination of cash ISA and stocks and share ISA. Assuming that you have your finances in good order, you are typically advised to take advantage of as much of your annual allowance as possible – it doesn’t roll over, so you will lose any unspent allowance at the end of the year.

Cash ISAs

You can save up to half of your annual allowance in a cash ISA. This type of ISA is basically a savings account, but because it is wrapped up in an Individual Savings Account it means that you will not have to pay interest on the capital itself or on any interest that you earn.

You cannot use more than the £5,760 for a cash ISA, but you may choose to invest less than this, and use any remaining amount to invest in stocks and shares ISAs.

Why Choose Cash ISAs?

Cash ISAs are considered a stable and secure form of investment ISA. Whereas stocks can be volatile, offering the possibility of profit and the danger of loss, you should be able to choose a cash investment ISA that protects your capital.

Easy access cash ISAs enable you to access the money in your account whenever you need it. If you do not have cash savings held separately to your investment portfolio, then you should consider this type of account, although the interest you earn will be lower than with a fixed term cash ISA.

Stocks And Shares ISAs

Rather than saving your money, you can choose one of the many types of stocks and shares investment ISA that are on the market. These enable you to invest in one or more stocks, securities, and bonds.

You are able to use the whole of your ISA allowance on stocks and shares bonds, if you wish, and you can choose whether you want to invest in a single company, a small number, or hundreds of organisations. As well as choosing stocks individually, you are able to choose funds and managed investment accounts.

Why Choose Stocks And Shares ISAs?

Stocks and shares are more volatile than cash. You should be aware that there is the possibility of losing money, as well as the potential for gaining money when you invest in company stock. Your investment will be guided by the performance of the companies you invest in.

As well as increased risk, however, stocks and shares also offer improved potential for profits. You could see your investment increase considerably, especially if you are able to leave your investment in place for a number of years. Generally, stocks and shares are less likely to lose money over a longer period of time, so long term investments should yield the greatest returns.

Types Of Stocks And Shares ISA

The most secure form of stocks and shares are securities or bonds. Companies and organisations offer a fixed amount of interest for people that buy the bonds. These are usually fixed term, and you should ensure that the interest you are set to receive is likely to be an improvement over inflation, otherwise you could be losing out on potential profits.

You can invest in stock in a single company, choose your own portfolio consisting of a number of companies, or invest in managed funds that have their own investment portfolio. The latter offers greater diversification in your investment ISA portfolio.

Creating A Diverse Investment ISA Portfolio

Creating a diverse portfolio is important, because it enables you to control the level of risk that you face. You can combine cash and investment ISAs, as well as investing in a broad selection of companies. Choosing a fund that has dozens of companies as part of its portfolio will certainly help to spread the risk, and there are many of these accounts. Some funds invest in specific types of stock, while others use the expertise of their fund managers simply to look for the highest returns.

Tags:

Ghee vs Butter Nutritional Facts; which one is better

What are the differences between ghee and butter? What makes ghee or clarified butter different from regular butter? What exactly does ghee have to offer? If you are looking to add a unique flavor to your cooking or baking recipes, then it would be very helpful if you could understand what ghee is, and what it is made of. This article will focus on the benefits of ghee vs. butter.

What is ghee?Ghee is produced by the process of heating raw butterfat in the oven until it becomes smoky and then removing it from the heat, leaving behind the fat that is light and pale, similar to that of butter. During the clarification process, it is heated for an extended period of time, allowing the milk solids to crystallize and become liquid, giving ghee its nutty, neutral taste. Nowadays, you can also find ghee infused with other spices and herbs, including cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, and ginger; as well as with a variety of fruits.

What is butter?We all know about butter due to its delicious flavor and creamy texture. To make buttermilk is boiled and allowed to cool down. Then the milk fat is collected and churned until the butter forms. But the regular ghee that comes ready-made has some salt added to give it a salty texture. Here are the differences between ghee vs. butter nutrition facts.

Ghee vs. Butter

The difference in taste: The regular butter that we use has a salty flavor and creamy texture but ghee has a granular texture. The difference between ghee vs. butter gets more intensified with this point. Ghee is versatile as it can adopt the taste of every dish.
The difference in color: Ghee and butter have differences in color as well. Butter is yellow in color but clarified butter is slightly golden in color. The regular ghee has a brown granular texture.
The difference in calories: In 100 grams of butter you will get roughly 700 calories with 51% saturated fats while the same amount of ghee will serve you 900 calories with 60% saturated fats. But the fats present in ghee are a type of monounsaturated fat that is very beneficial for our body and mind.
Ghee vs. butter nutrition: The nutritional profile of ghee is much higher than butter. The form of clarification makes it a safer choice for people of all ages. Ghee vs. butter nutrition facts differs a lot.
Ghee or butter for cooking: Chefs all over the world prefer using ghee in dishes. It is true that butter is also a popular cooking agent but ghee is much more versatile than butter. Ghee has a nutty flavor that keeps intact the taste of spices in the dishes.
The difference in smoke point: Ghee has a higher smoke point than butter. Ghee offers 250 °C (482 °F) smoke point while butter offers a 150 °C smoke point. This is why ghee is safe for all sorts of high heat cooking.
The difference in Nutrition: The health benefits of ghee vs. butter, don’t end here. Ghee is packed with vitamin A, D, E, and K, antioxidants, micronutrients, and butyrate. But butter has sodium, carbs, and Trans fats that are not suitable for good health. In terms of nutrition, ghee is a better and safer option.
Ghee is a healthy alternative to butter, because it is not saturated, trans-fatty, or hydrogenated, and contains no preservatives. Ghee is also an excellent substitute for shortening, canola oil, peanut butter, sunflower oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil.

Tags: