Free VPN alert issued to all UK homes as strict new rules confirmed - don't ignore it

The way millions of UK homes access the web has just changed. New rules are now in place that are aimed at stopping people under the age of 18 from accessing adult content, with blocks popping up until proof of ID is confirmed.

The latest update has been implemented by UK regulator Ofcom due to concerns about the rise in youngsters visiting X-rated sites.

Explaining more, Ofcom said: "This is a significant change to how adults in the UK access pornography, and is a key step in helping to protect children from harmful content when they’re online."

The new update now means anyone clicking on certain web pages will need to enter credit card or personal details before access is granted.

It's clearly important to stop children from seeing inappropriate content but some experts have warned that the new verification system could put people at risk of cyber attacks, with scammers almost certainly looking for easy ways to cash in on the new system.

"There are still details of the act that are missing that could even pose significant privacy and security risks by collecting data such as ID uploads and financial information," Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor, ESET, explained.

With this in mind, many have now decided to install a VPN (Virtual Private Network) in a bid to get around the new ban. A VPN will hide your IP address and make the web think you accessing websites from another country.

One VPN provider says it has seen a huge spike in UK downloads, and these applications are currently top of the charts on official app stores.

Although this may seem like a quick fix, downloading free VPNs does come with a risk.

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The internet is full of websites that promise VPNs without any payment but these are often too good be true.

"One of the primary concerns with free VPNs online is that they may not have robust security features," the EC-Council University explained.

"Many free VPN providers lack the resources to develop and maintain strong security protocols, leaving their users vulnerable to cyber threats such as malware, hacking, and phishing.

"Free VPNs need to generate revenue, and they often do this by logging and selling users’ data to third-party advertisers. These VPN providers may log your browsing history, online activity, and personal information and then sell it to advertisers, compromising your online privacy."

If you are considering installing a VPN then make sure you do your research first and don't install anything unless you know the product is totally safe.

Free VPNs might sound tempting, but are fraught with risks, so you will almost certainly need to pay to get a secure experience.

"We understand the temptation of having a secure online connection for free," explained the team at Mozilla.

"It’s important that you know, however, that the risks of free VPNs may make you think twice about that free price tag. When VPNs are offered to users for free, that means that providers have to gain revenue in another way."