When you stream content via a VPN, you have access to a greater amount of content that might be unavailable to you otherwise. And, perhaps surprisingly, you also can speed up your connection times. (As an added bonus: Yes, a VPN vastly increases your privacy and security online.) 

Take a look at some benefits of streaming with a VPN that you may be unaware of.

Certain countries censor Internet access or restrict the transmission of content. Among these are China, Cuba, and Saudi Arabia. If you spend time in these countries, having a VPN will allow you to access streaming sites that you otherwise couldn't reach. If you're traveling in these countries, you can also use your encrypted VPN to check up on news and streaming from your home. 

Fair warning: countries that impose censorship may also track your online activity through spyware pre-installed on hardware bought within that country.

If you live outside your home country, or if you have deep ties to the country your ancestors came from, a VPN can let you watch TV shows and movies from any country your provider houses a server in. It can be difficult to access content in foreign languages, especially in the United States, but a VPN eliminates obstacles and allows you to watch content from any region.

No matter where you are in the world, you can access your favorite streaming services by using a VPN. Some video streaming services, such as BBC and Netflix, restrict access depending on where you're located. With a VPN, you can access any blocked content with no problem.

It can be difficult to see all the sports events you want due to regional restrictions. With a VPN, all those restrictions melt away. Whether it's football in the United States that's been blocked for certain cities or niche sports competitions in other countries, using a VPN means you never have to miss a game again.

When you don't use a VPN, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can see and track every website you visit. But sometimes you'd like to keep your viewing history private (and out of the hands of pesky advertisers). A VPN does just that by encrypting every piece of data that flows in and out of your computer or mobile device. 

Now if you're streaming something unofficially, your ISP has no idea what you're doing. Keep in mind that it’s always legal to stream content. As long as you aren’t downloading and sharing files, you aren’t breaching any copyright laws.

Using public Wi-Fi always comes with a risk. You might feel at home sitting comfortably in your favorite coffee place while streaming a YouTube video over your earbuds, but snoopers and hackers sitting nearby have full access to all the data on your mobile device. You might even have unwittingly logged on to a fake hotspot, allowing cybercriminals to intercept every piece of data flows through your mobile device.

Using a VPN protects your identity and transmissions from all eavesdroppers and network intruders. Your VPN encrypts all the information you enter into your device, including passwords, so those snoopers can't find a way in.

If you're traveling on business or using your employer's network infrastructure on your down time, you may find yourself restricted by measures your employer takes to track your online activity. These measures may include watching you through the webcams in your devices, keylogging to see every word you type, or opening documents on your devices.

VPNs restore your privacy when conducting online activity, regardless of whether you are connected to a restrictive network. You can perform whatever online activity you choose, including streaming video content, without a sense that Big Brother is constantly looking over your shoulder.

With a VPN, you can take advantage of the extreme privacy and security measures provided by data encryption. Use a VPN on your computers and mobile devices to enjoy unrestricted access to streaming movies, shows and music from around the world.