As the popularity of cryptocurrencies continues to rise, some have started to pay close attention to the field, particularly with regards to security and long-term stability. As it stands now, there are various security-related issues that one needs to be aware of when deciding to invest any amount of money into a cryptocurrency, and scams are still widespread. Using a VPN for Mac is a great step up from what most people are doing, and it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the concept as early as possible.
Thankfully, most security issues boil down to personal carelessness. So long as you’re aware of what to be on the lookout for, you should be able to keep your accounts – and all the money associated with them – safe.
The Issue with Lack of Regulation
Many people praise cryptocurrencies for doing away with government regulations and the need for constant intervention by third-parties. However, this usually stops looking like such a great idea to people who get hit by scams. If somebody takes money out of your bank account without authorization, you’ve got the full support of the police, government, and the bank itself.
On the other hand, if you get involved in a cryptocurrency scam, chances are you’re on your own. You won’t be able to get the support of any official government body or institution, and that’s how things are going to stay until we introduce some regulation into the market. And at that point, we’ll be moving away from the original idea of cryptocurrencies.
New Cryptocurrencies Pop Up All the Time
Another issue is that the market is flooded with new cryptocurrencies fresh out the oven. And they often come with numerous attractive offers, claiming to be the next big thing in the crypto market. The ultimate goal is to get people to invest in their ICO (Initial Coin Offering), enticing them with the potential of being rich in the future if the platform takes off.
But more often than not, these new currencies either fail or get buried along with their hundreds of competitors. It’s hard to attain relevance in the current state of the cryptocurrency market, and most of the big players have already established their names and aren’t letting anyone new in. You have to be careful when choosing to invest in an ICO. Generally, it’s a good idea to avoid them altogether.
Keeping Your Connection Secure with a VPN for Mac
Cryptocurrencies have also attracted many malicious operators looking to exploit the situation, often targeting naïve users who aren’t very tech savvy. Social engineering is a big thing in the cryptocurrency market right now, but what most people don’t realize is that it relies on a technological foundation.
This is especially true for desktop users. If you’re always on your Mac, watching the latest price trends and looking up news about interesting upcoming cryptocurrencies, you might want to look into a VPN service to keep things safe. It won’t stop someone determined, as they can still target your device/accounts, but for 99.9% of people’s cases, this should be enough to keep most attackers at bay. Plus, there are plenty of VPNs for Mac these days, so finding one shouldn’t be difficult.
Recent Major Events
If you’re not convinced that the crypto market is linked to scams and other similar issues, take a quick look online – there is no shortage of examples that prove this point. Just a few weeks ago, yet another cryptocurrency was revealed to be a scam. Named “Oyster”, many people suspected that something shady was going on with the platform, but those voices were silenced in discussions, especially in the company’s main forum.
Or, if you want an even more dramatic example, look up Mt. Gox. It used to be the primary exchange for Bitcoin transactions, until one fateful day in early 2014 when the site abruptly ceased operation and filed for bankruptcy. Those who had invested significant amounts of money into the platform found themselves in a terrible position.
Purchasing a VPN subscription and setting up a client on your computer is the best thing you could do to improve your security, as we described above. It doesn’t take a lot of expertise to get it done, there are plenty of options for a VPN for Mac, and it’s something that can improve the safety of your work with cryptocurrencies and browsing in general.
Getting started is as simple as checking what VPN services are popular, which support Mac computers (hint: every proper one should!), and ensuring that you’re aware of the reasonable security practices when using a VPN for your browsing. Other than that, you should be prepared with a lot of common sense and the ability to sniff out made-up stories.