Rejoice in the Lord, O you [uncompromisingly]
righteous [you upright, in right standing with God]; for praise is
becoming and appropriate for those who are upright [in heart].
Psalm 33:1, The Amplified Bible
Praise. According to the Word of God, that’s the most appropriate, becoming thing that you as a believer can do. Let
me warn you though, God’s idea of “appropriate” praise and your idea of
appropriate praise may well be two very different things. The praise He
calls for is joyous and uninhibited. And, at times, it’s just plain
loud! If you don’t believe it, look in the Bible and see the kind
of praise that goes on in heaven. Read Isaiah 6 and find out how they
act in the throne room. The seraphim shout in there until the doorposts
shake! And when they do, the glory of the Lord fills the house. When
you get to heaven, you’re going to be praising like that too. You’re
going to be leaping and praising God with every part of your being. But
don’t wait until then to start. Begin now. Decide today that instead of praising God the way you like, you are going to start doing it the way He likes.
Begin to release those praises joyously, uninhibitedly. Don’t wait
until you get to heaven to praise God with all your being. Do it now. He
deserves it!
PG Jacob Shadders (Pittsford Mendon HS) highlights from the 2018-19
Section V Basketball Season. The Vikings reached the NYS championship
game for the first time in school history. Coaches and recruiters: Please refer to the contact information on the video. US Sports Net has little to no contact with any of the student-athlete's profiled.
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How To Play Off-The-Ball At A Young Age
By Brandon Ogle
Everyone wants to be the guy with the ball in the closing seconds.
However, after watching many great teams, I’ve realized that too many of these “players” can have a significant negative impact for the team overall. With this understanding, it’s not difficult to conclude that young players need to develop the ability to play basketball without the ball in their hands. There are so many situations throughout each game where this comes into play.
Always Ready
MMA athlete and current UFC star Conor McGregor once said, “I stay ready so I don’t have to get ready.” Although MMA is much different than basketball, this concept of always being ready doesn’t change. Both sports require you to make decisions quickly. This idea relates perfectly to being a better off the ball player. Even when you don’t have the ball in your hands, you need to constantly be moving and working. When players start standing around, the offense quickly becomes stagnant.
Unfortunately, this happens far too often at the youth level. Young players don’t see a need to move around if they don’t possess the basketball. Whether you’re an outside shooter, a rebounder or a mid-range player, keep working and stay ready!
Wings/Guards: Roll Off Screens
When I make the claim that players need to play better off-the-ball, this statement has different implications for various types of players. I’ll start off with wings and guards. One of the best actions they can do is run off screens. In doing so, make sure you run off the screen so there is no space between yourself and the screener. This will ensure you create enough space from the defender. Then immediately after running off the screen, get your head up and create an open passing option for the ball handler. As I mentioned earlier, stay ready! A second piece of advice is to cut at different speeds. You don’t want to create an environment where your defender knows where and how you’ll cut. This is easy to defend against! Always try faking them out by taking a step one way before sprinting off a screen. In the end, from each of these recommendations, the central interlocking element is this idea that you must be constantly be moving. Keep in mind that after you receive the pass, you’ll need to be thinking about getting a shot off if you manage to get open. This video from former NBA assistant coach, Hal Wissel teaches the basics on shooting off the catch.
Bigs: Set Screens
Due to the nature of the position, bigs are often asked to set screens for the wings and guards. Often times, it will result in opportunities for the cutters and not the screener. All of this goes back to the concept of doing actions for the greater good of the team. In the terms of the actual screening process, make sure you stand firm and avoid falling victim to a moving screen turnover. This will quickly draw the ire of your coach! Sometimes, the screening process will result in chances for the actual screener. In these, you may set a screen and then roll. Think of a pick-and-roll offense here. In order to be effective with this, bigs need to work on catching the ball, putting a dribble or two down and shooting the ball. Conversely, it can be useful to take a step back to the three-point line before executing a catch-and-shoot situation. Again, as was the case with the wings, you need to always be on the move and ready to make a play. Frequent Cuts As I alluded to earlier, one of the biggest downfall for teams can be too much stagnation. Players are just standing around and the ball handler doesn’t have any open passing lanes to find a teammate. Frequent cuts can eliminate this detriment. When cutting, keep in mind that the ball handler might not always see you when you get open. Don’t let this get in your head and affect your game, just keep working and fighting out there. This is particularly important at the youth level. Young players might start to get frustrated when the point guard fails to see them when they’re wide open. Rather than letting this frustration boil, go and tell your point guard where to look, in what might be a soft spot in the defense.
Better Chemistry Amongst Teammates
Teams filled with players willing to play off-the-ball often possess great chemistry in the locker room. Even at the youth level, every team will probably have one or two players that are slightly more talented than the rest. However, not everyone will possess the skills to handle the ball a lot and distribute it amongst their teammates. This is why I sort-of consider great off-the-ball players to be terrific role players. They understand their role and are always willing to do whatever it takes to come out of a game with a win. Although, some great off-the-ball players are truly stars (think of Rip Hamilton, who will be discussed later), you need everyone on the court to be willing to be a great off-the-ball player. When players are playing for the greater good of the team, they start to enjoy playing with each other since there is a greater sense of equalityamongst their teammates.
Rip Hamilton Example
In all my years watching nearly every level of basketball, one player I’ve always loved evaluating is Richard “Rip” Hamilton. The former Detroit Piston NBA Champion was a dynamite scorer, amassing a 17.1 scoring average over his 14-year NBA career. A lot of these points came from the topics I’ve discussed above. When playing with the Pistons, he had a point guard in Chauncey Billups who had great vision of the court. Hamilton was always rolling off screens and creating passing opportunities for Billups. Upon receiving the pass, Hamilton wouldn’t hesitate to pull up mid-range for the jumper. You’ll likely never find a better mid-range shooter than Rip.
Keep Moving!
Playing off the ball ultimately boils down to always being on the move. Defenses are going to look to get in a rhythm to where they are always in the right place. Conversely, offenses want to disrupt this and keep them thinking. Whether you’re a forward, center or guard, there is always something to be doing. For young players, acquiring this skill and knowledge can pay serious dividends as you progress in your basketball career. Other recommended offensive courses: Fundamentals and Finishing by Dave Severns Great Pick and Roll Plays with Lason Perkins Guard/Wing Workout featuring Coach Rob Moxley
Are you the type of person who does whatever they
want in the colder months and then once spring is in full swing realize
you are nowhere close to being ready for summer? If that sounds like
you and you end up going in full-blown summer shredding mode, you're
going to want to pay close attention to the five things I have listed
below that can help speed up the process for you. First off, I would highly recommend you make health and
fitness a lifestyle choice. Eating whatever you want and letting
yourself go in the colder months isn't healthy and as you may be
experiencing right now, can cause a lot of stress when you realize that
summer vacation is coming up and you don't exactly fit into your
swimsuit anymore. But, don't worry, you aren't alone and I'm about to
show you some key things to focus on to help you with your summer
shredding.
1. Decrease your calories
The first thing you will want to do is get into a caloric
deficit. What this means is consuming fewer calories than what is
needed for you to maintain your weight. If 2,500 calories keeps your
body weight the same, lowering down to 2,000 calories each day will help
you lose around one pound of body weight each week. Once you start
making progress, you will need to make further changes to your calories
and possibly lower them again so that you continue to see the results
you desire. However, there are a few other things that I'm going to
touch on that will help you keep your calories up, yet allow you to burn
more each day so you can enjoy the meals you eat.
2. Cook your own meals
Cooking your own meals is key for summer shredding. You
want to know exactly what is in each of your meals and control how it is
prepared. When you eat out at restaurants or even fast food, you
really have no control over how they prepare your meals unless you give
them specifics (and even then, you have your fingers crossed that they
follow your wishes). Simplify things by meal prepping your meals so you
know exactly what you are consuming, in the exact portions you want,
and with the precise macronutrient breakdown you need to see results.
3. Increase cardio
Cardio should be a staple during your summer shredding
efforts. Cardio will help you burn calories throughout the day, as well
as allow you to keep your calories up higher than if you didn't do
cardio at all and were expecting to see the numbers dropping on the
scale. Doing as little as 30 minutes of cardio a few times a week to
start would definitely help. From there you can always increase the
duration of your cardio per session (say to around 45 minutes) or you
can add in an extra day or two of cardio per week.
4. Hit the weights
Unfortunately, many people skip weight training and think it
doesn't do much when it comes to weight loss. Well, I'm here to tell
you that if you want to speed up your summer shredding results, you need
to hit the weights. Weight training not only burns calories, but it
helps build lean muscle mass. Now, you might be wondering why you would want to build
anything if you're trying to lose. The fact of the matter is that the
more muscle mass you have, the more calories you burn each day (even
while at rest). Muscle needs energy and because of that, it needs to
burn fuel from the foods you consume or body fat itself in order to not
only function but to maintain its size. Ladies, you especially need to understand that you will not
get HUGE lifting weights. You don't possess the same amount of
testosterone as men so it's naturally impossible to get big. That being
said, adding some quality lean mass will help the overall appearance of
your physique and will improve your strength as well.
5. Drink plenty of water
Water! Your body is made up of primarily
water and for that reason, it needs to constantly be replenished to
function optimally. Water helps all of the processes that take place in
your body. Everything from muscle function to cognitive thinking.
When you become dehydrated, you will find your physical and mental
performance will decline. It is recommended that you drink water throughout the day to
maintain proper levels as well as to maintain hydration. Those who
exercise (like you) need even more water during the day to replenish
what you lost during workouts. Therefore, I would recommend carrying
around a water bottle everywhere you go and when it is empty, fill it
back up.
Iodine has some pretty amazing and unique effects on the immune system. Here’s what you need to know.
Today we’re going to talk about iodine and immune system health. I’ve talked a lot about important nutrients like zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin C in relation to the immune system. But I haven’t talked about iodine. Iodine has a unique influence on the immune system.
You need about 150mcg of iodine per day. Many people, around 2 billion, are deficient in iodine. Sea kelp seems to be the best source of iodine, but there are other great iodine sources as well. The best iodine-rich foods are: • Sea kelp • Shellfish • Fish • Eggs • Dairy Iodine is needed for the thyroid. The thyroid is the gland that stores iodine and helps make thyroid hormones. If you’re deficient in iodine, your thyroid stimulating hormone can go up. Thyroid stimulating hormone has a few different functions. One would be that it causes the thyroid to get bigger. Another function is that it increases the release of the thyroid hormone T4, which can then be converted to T3.
Something else that messes with the thyroid is estrogen. It just so happens that iodine is a great mineral to help lower high levels of estrogen. Iodine and all of the trace minerals are very important for pregnant women. If a pregnant woman is deficient in iodine, there could be massive problems for the child, including: • Intellectual disabilities • Deafness • Stunted growth Iodine and the immune system: 1. Enhances dendritic cells 2. Supports B-cell development 3. Helps stimulate phagocytes 4. Enhances natural killer cells 5. Enhances cytokines 6. Good for memory cells DR. BERG'S SHOP: http://shop.drberg.com/
** (Disclaimer: This video content is intended for educational and informational purposes only) **
Modesto, California — Modesto police released body camera footage Friday from a deadly officer-involved shooting that happened on May 25th at approximately 9:39 pm at West Orangeburg Avenue and Enslen Avenue.
This officer involved shooting resulted in the death of 35-year-old, Reymar Gagarin of Modesto. On that evening. Officers were on their way to an unrelated call at Enslen Park. They were stopped at the intersection of Orangeburg and Elsen when Gagarin pulled up next to them and exited his car with a handgun.
Officers accelerated away from Gagarin and made a U-turn. As they got out of their patrol car, Gagarin began walking towards them, pointing a handgun at them. Officers fired multiple rounds at Gagarin, striking him. He was transported to the local hospital where he died of his wounds. The handgun found at the scene was later determined to be a fake handgun.
According to witnesses, Gagarin claimed that he wanted to be in a high speed police chase and to force the officers to shoot him using a fake handgun.
What is Bipolar Disorder? Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness. "bi" stands for two, so
as the name may suggest, a person with bipolar disorder has two moods.
These two moods shift from the extremes on both sides of the spectrum.
Sometimes, a person with bipolar disorder may experience episodes of
mania. In this state, a person has an extremely elevated mood. This very
person can experience extreme lows, or depression. Bipolar disorder often causes people to have trouble managing their
daily tasks such as working, going to school, and maintaining regular
relationships. The average age that someone develops bipolar disorder is
around 25 years old. Bipolar Disorder Types Bipolar disorder has several types and disorders related to it. Let’s review each type: Bipolar 1 Bipolar 1 disorder, or manic depressive disorder, is a mental illness
that involves at least one manic episode. This manic episode is an
extremely elevated mood and/or extremely high energy level, usually
followed by abnormal behavior that affects a person’s life. In addition,
a person with this type of bipolar disorder will suffer from episodes
of depression. These cycles of manic and depression will continue into
this person’s future. Bipolar II Like bipolar ! disorder, bipolar II disorder involves cycling moods
of highs and lows. The difference between the two is that a person with
bipolar II does not have mania levels of highs. However, like bipolar I,
a person with bipolar II still suffers from depression. Cyclothymic Disorder Comparing cyclothymic disorder to bipolar I and bipolar II disorders,
it is relatively mild. A person with this disorder will have moods of
mild depression and then moods of an elevate mood called hypomania.
These highs and lows of a person with cyclothymic disorder never reach
full on mania or major depressive levels. Symptoms Symptoms of mania and hypomania Let’s discuss the symptoms of both mania and hypomania. Some symptoms of mania and hypomania include: Upbeat in energy or activity Energetic, or amped feelings Overconfidence, extreme sense of well-being Less sleep required Lots of talking Impulsive spending Decision making that lacks judgment Feelings of being distracted Higher than usual sex drive Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder Here are some symptoms of major depressive episodes: Feeling sad, hopeless, having a feeling of emptiness Lack of interest for once loved activities Low energy or low motivation Big changes in weight, such as weight gains and weight losses Sleeping too little or sleeping too much Feeling heavy guilt for little to no reason Lack of concentration, very indecisive behavior Thinking, planning, or attempting suicide Can I Be Cured of Bipolar Disorder? While there is no cure for bipolar disorder, there are treatment
options to manage the symptoms. Treatment options include psychotherapy,
also known as talk therapy. Most psychotherapy will focus on behavioral
strategies you can use to help keep your symptoms more under control.
These might include sleeping on a very regular schedule, eating
consistently, and identifying situations that might prompt a mood
episode. In addition, medications such as mood stabilizers and
antipsychotics, can be used to treat the highs and lows of bipolar
disorder.
“I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who
loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
We’re able to live
successful Christian lives through God’s grace operating through us, not
through our own ability. We can now receive God’s grace.
In a season of uncertainty, disappointments and loss, it can feel like you are left to figure out how to fend for yourself and your family. But today, we want you to know that more important than knowing what to do is knowing who you can turn to.
And you can run to your heavenly Father who isn't just a loving Father but is also your Provider and Protector. Beloved, you are not doing this alone, you are not left to fend for yourself.
Check out this compilation of videos we have curated for you and be encouraged, knowing that the Lord is your good Father whose heart is not out to get you but to love, to provide and to take care of you. 🤗 These clips are from: 1. Find Hope And Refuge In Dark Times (4 Sep 2016) & Jesus Our True Jubilee And Sabbath (30 Sep 2004) 2. Double Honor For Your Shame (16 Mar 2014) 3. The Four Gospels Unlocked For Your Blessings (9 Oct 2016) 4. Live Bold Without Guild And Fear (8 April 2018) 5. Feel Disqualified? God Can Use You! (25 Feb 2018) 6. Experience God’s Sure Kindness Toward You (19 June 2016)
–
The Way to Finding Purpose in Life
Author
Jimi Akanbi
Almost
every human on the earth does not grasp that he or she has a unique
God-given purpose in life given to them while in their mother’s womb,
including believers. Hence the convenient action they exercise is to
either get a university education, or copy what profession a successful
friend is doing in life or both. It follows suit that if you are unaware
that I gave you a gift, you are unlikely to unwrap it and start using
it. In the same manner, if you do not know that there is a unique
destiny deposited in you by God, you will unlikely search for it, let
alone fulfill it. The destiny of individuals is not ordained by chance but by divine
arrangement. Many people live as such that, what will be, will be, or if
it is mine, then it is mine. The latter is a key form of living by
chance and not by destiny. Anyone operating outside of his or her
God-given destiny may experience some measure of success but will not
live a fulfilled life; but when he or she finds destiny, a sense of
overflowing joy, peace, favor, victory and much success becomes the
person’s portion. Oftentimes, someone’s purpose in life is not realized through a
formal education, but through a divine revelation. There are many humans
who replace destiny with a formal education, and end up unhappy and
dissatisfied after graduating from college, and working a job which they
really hate and dread going to every morning. For example, statistics
shows that more than eighty-five percent of employees on the United
States of America hate their jobs. Note: It is only confirms that more
than eighty-five percent of employees in the USA have not discovered
their God-given destiny, because our Lord will not give you a destiny
that will allow you to struggle and become miserable. Some of the few people who understand that they have a high calling
or destiny given by God, go about looking for it in the wrong places,
and end up quitting and settling for the next best profession. In the
discovery of a God-given destiny, the Holy Spirit is the best helper.
You need to go to a quiet place, be conscious of His indwelling presence
in you, and continually praise and worship God for an hour each day to
activate the Holy Spirit, ask Him to reveal your destiny to you, listen
for the voice of the Holy Spirit or the voice of your spirit, and act
accordingly. There are times an individual’s destiny may seem menial, but at the
end of the day, he or she will be elevated and begin to dine with Kings,
princes and rulers of nations. This is a key reason our Lord mentioned
in His Word: "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD
rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s
hand". Also, when athletes run a sprint race, no one cares about how
fast they take off, but how fast they finish the race. It is said that the greater an individual’s destiny, the greater his
or her challenges. This is a major reason the Generals of God such as;
Jesus, Moses, David, Joseph, Job, Daniel, Abraham went through the great
storms of life, after which they began to enjoy life to the fullest. Everyone has at least one gift or talent, which should be used to
fulfill his or her purpose in life; put it to use and not waste it.
Note: God does not like wastage of any benefits He endows to man. Begin
to seek after and find your God-given destiny, and not a duplicate of
another human’s destiny.
Learn more: www.amazon.com/author/jimiakanbi My name is Jimi Akanbi. I am a Christian Author based in Atlanta,
Georgia, USA. I obtained an MBA in Finance in year 2004. I have been
through the greatest storms of life. That is any and everything that can
make a man commit suicide. Upon all, I am still standing. Perhaps this
is the major reason God gave me the gift of writing for His Kingdom. Who
better to counsel His people, than one who has experienced challenges
and victory?
Sophomore highlights of De Smet's (MO) TJ Woodley. Get the MaxPreps app for iPhone and iPad! Click HERE: http://t.maxpreps.com/1KQHiFj
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How It Started
Game Planner Pro was built by long-time, highly successful high
school offensive coaches in 2008. The two founding coaches then
circulated the application, originally in an Excel spreadsheet, among a
group of coaching friends (from different regions, of course). The small
group of coaches realized that the application made the full game plan
implementation process simpler and much more efficient.
How it works
After scouting the upcoming opponent and discussing the game plan
objectives in the weekly planning meeting, the coach enters the game
plan in Game Planner Pro at the start of the week. Plays, scenarios,
personnel packages, formations, field position and everything else that
needs to be considered for play calling and the opponent are all managed
with one simple entry of the plays at the beginning of the week.
Changes throughout the week are easily made.
Once the plays are entered, the coach is finished with his computer
time, and there is no need to enter anything for the remainder of the
week. The application will break down the volume of plays into practice
scripts (watch the practice scripts video), which
organize the offensive practice schedule for the two primary days of the
week where the team practices the game plan. Practice scripts are
easily printed and shared with anyone.
| Ready for Anything Volume 1: Beginner Kettlebell Workouts | You'll alternate strength and conditioning workouts three times a week, along with some simple active recovery like walking on two other days. No matter how much you have going on, you can do these workouts! Use this plan for quick and effective total-body training and find a new level of fitness!
| Premium Workout App | In the BodyFit app, you can track your workouts and the weights you use, as well as time your rest periods. Not sure how to do some of the exercises? Don't worry; each one comes with an in-depth demonstration and explanation video showing how to perform it correctly!
Quarantine? Training in small spaces never more important
Author
Alexandre Sato
Quarantine? Training in small spaces never so important With the loss of our physical training routines - social situations
of a regular exercise class, walking, running and training with friends -
the lack of these, has been one of the stresses imposed by the
restrictions of COVID-19. However, maintaining, or possibly increasing,
your level of physical activity seems even more important than usual in
the face of this new corona virus. Even though we don't know how
training and exercise can affect the fight against this particular
virus, we know that regular physical activity stimulates the immune
system in a moderate way. There are studies that show that a moderate to
high daily training can strengthen the immune system. Therefore, a
strong immune system can help combat the effects of viral diseases. So, exercising daily brings several benefits to all systems of the
body, from bones, muscles, heart and lungs to the brain. It is worth
mentioning that it increases insulin sensitivity and decreases stress
hormones, which further helps the body to fight diseases. Exercise helps
people manage anxiety and depression. Even a single exercise can help
to remove concerns, fears, anxieties and boredom due to quarantine. But how can you train in a confined space and without access to your usual machines or exercise classes? Be flexible and less rigid Moving your exercise to your home in a trusted space may require some
frustration for not being able to maintain the same pace of training
as: weight training, aerobic, functional and other sports. In this age
of Corona virus, be more flexible in your choice of exercise and less
rigid in maintaining previous habits. Keep in mind that: The change can be good for the body. Perhaps your usual activity is
weight training, yoga, Pilate's, indoor cycling or functional training
ground. Your body is used to the muscles worked and the intensity of
this activity. Varying your choice of exercise reduces boredom and
decreases your chance of miscalculate injury due to repetitive
movements. You can also develop new muscle groups. Your muscles are indifferent. Muscles don't know and don't even care
what kind of workout clothes you're wearing, what space you're in, or
what kind of music you're playing. Your muscles are highly adaptable.
That is, if you apply a new series of exercises, increase the repetition
in doing squats, your muscles will become stronger to allow you to meet
the new requirement. And you can do this even in a very small area.
Less weight and more repetitions, concentrating the maximum each
repetition of each exercise, will make your muscle expand differently. Do exercises using your body weight as: push-ups, barbells, squats, yoga poses, Pilate's among many others. It is also very valid to practice balance training, try to challenge
your standing balance and perform a balance work and develop new muscle
groups Make a new exercise routine at home Here are four ways to change your exercise routine during the COVID-19 pandemic: Use on-line exercises, if possible in a group with friends. After
all, it is important to socialize while training and doing new types of
exercises. Look for different types of exercises to perform at home that
are available on the Internet Consider taking live exercise classes on-line, if your gym and / or
personal is teaching on-line. This adds a little social connection (ask a
friend to join, so you can see him in class). In addition, for many of
us, making an appointment for a live class will improve compliance
compared to on-demand videos, which can be watched - or avoided - at any
time of the day. Get out. One of the few excuses for leaving home, besides getting
food and medicine, is to exercise. Exposure to nature is particularly
beneficial in combating the depression of relying on the home. Try something new, at home, have fun. If you have never felt
comfortable taking part in a Zumba or dance class, this may be your
opportunity to try it out at home with no one around. You can choose to
turn off your camera (at least until you get the moves). Do not worry, if you are not going to the gym to lose strength or
muscle volume, because muscles have "memory" and very soon everything
will be back to normal. Keep a healthy diet, as in this difficult time it is risky to go on
crazy diets to lose weight. Always consult a nutritionist and check if
you need food supplements and / or vitamins if necessary. Health is the
most important thing now.
I am graduated in Administration and Marketing, I live in the State of São Paulo and I am 42 years old. V Taper Suplementos
Charlene interviews the Whistleblower of the year, Zach Vorhies! Zach has done what few others have dared to do, tell the truth about Google and Big Tech and their attack on our freedoms and assault on the truth.
Because of Zach, we now have proof that Google has been hiding the truth about cancer and vaccines and so much more from us in their search results. He also brings proof that Google is using their platform to shape shift our elections! What can we do about this? Join Zach and Charlene and learn more!
Global VPN Use Is Booming But So Is Cyber-Censorship
Author
Joanne Jordan
Net-savvy
users consider VPNs a necessity these days. Can you afford to connect
to the internet without using a Virtual Private Network? In restrictive
countries like Russia, the UAE, and China the government imposes bans on
certain types of content which they deem subversive or not in the
nation's interest. Whether you're there for business or pleasure, in
both cases you may experience difficulties accessing a staggering number
of websites. VoIP services like Skype and WhatsApp are blocked, along
with gambling sites, Netflix US, Twitter, Instagram, Xing, and Wikipedia
pages, to name but a few. There are numerous reasons why netizens have
started to use VPNs. The most basic thing a VPN does is that it protects
your system from spam, malware, viruses, and other digital threats. In
addition to that
VPNs provide a certain level of anonymity. The user can exercise
their inalienable right to voice an opinion without dreading a backlash
from government agencies or corporations. Secure servers keep
communication private.
Instead of your own unique identifier, the IP address of the VPN
server is provided. This prevents websites and applications from knowing
your geographic location and from sending you targeted advertisements.
VPNs protect the identity of the user and prohibit unauthorized access to the user’s personal information and transactions.
VPNs hide sensitive data like bank details, passwords, and credit card numbers.
VPNs provide companies a secure network which can be used by all employees.
Why VPN censorship is increasing all over the world As VPN use expands around the globe, governments have started to
realize that this technology aims to impede control over their citizens.
China alone cannot be blamed for a ‘Rise of Digital Authoritarianism’:
according to a report by the nonprofit group Freedom House (which
surveyed over sixty countries), roughly 40 percent of those nations
experienced crackdowns on digital freedoms. But even with the
deterioration of internet freedom suffered in countries like Cambodia,
Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Venezuela, the
report found that with its 'Great Firewall' model of digital control,
"China reached new extremes with the implementation of extensive
Cybersecurity Laws and upgraded surveillance technology." - Usually, a
government will only ban foreign VPN service providers as they typically
do not conform to the prevailing law of that nation. They generally
allow local VPN providers to function and provide their services.
However, local VPNs cannot offer the same quality and level of security
as international providers and more often than not will monitor the
internet activity of their clients. How to use VPNs to keep yourself safe online Let's take China as an example which has threatened to ban all VPNs
back in 2018 and has already clamped down on services such as Dropbox,
Gmail, Facebook, and YouTube. There are just a few VPN companies that
are able to bypass this ban. If you enter China, you may not be able to
access any VPN sites there. The best thing to do is to have a VPN
pre-installed before you cross the border. While governments try to keep
people from using VPNs, tech-savvy users come up with ways to bypass
restrictions and stay connected. If you live in a country where it’s
legal to use a VPN, make sure you compare some well-reviewed VPNs and
get the best one. While there are free VPNs out there, it’s hard to
trust them. Most free VPNs either provide low service quality or keep
track of your data. Reasons why using free proxies is a bad idea. As with free VPNs, the operators of an open proxy web server need to
recover their costs. They can do this by injecting ads into your traffic
or by selling your data to advertisers. Either way, there is no
incentive for online proxy sites to keep your browsing fast, secure, and
anonymous. A VPN server needs more permissions on the local device than
a simple web proxy and as a result, usually requires users to install a
separate app. However, to use a proxy, every single application might
need to be configured separately, and changing the desired proxy server
location might require a complete reconfiguration. Not all proxy servers
are malicious by nature, but it can be tough to separate the dangerous
from the harmless.
Speed issues
Thousands of people are using the same proxies. In all likelihood,
the proxy-relay is choked with connections. Therefore it cannot give you
the reliable connectivity you expect. If you're dealing with e-commerce
platforms or online streaming websites like Netflix, then you might as
well call it a day. What you need are high-quality proxies which are not
flooded with free connections.
Server trouble
It is not uncommon for proxies to operate on a single server. This
means that each choked proxy is on an overloaded server, which is
basically getting strangled by connections. Expect to experience
throttled bandwidth when routing your connection through them.
Lack of access to specific websites
Many of the free proxies have spammers exploiting them, and
frequently they end up on blacklists. This means that even if you just
want to do some shopping, you will get blacklisted by the website. When
using a very common proxy address, you are likely to fail to connect.
The Hackers
Cybersecurity threats are growing like weeds. Nowadays, no one is
surprised to hear that several million social security numbers ended up
on the Darkweb. Sure, software companies are always trying to patch
loopholes, but they're usually one step behind the skilled
cybercriminal. Sooner or later you will fall prey to a phishing scam or
malware when using a free proxy. In fact, by opening the communication
between you and the proxy, you are basically inviting anyone on the
other side on to your device. This can result in significant privacy
breaches such as keystroke loggers.
Breached privacy
Quite possibly the worst thing is the free personal data that you are
delivering to the proxy provider. While you are relaying your
connection through the proxy site, they will see all your device
information along with whatever you are up to online. It should be
evident that this is a critical security compromise. There is a reason why cybersecurity experts recommend using only
trusted proxies with reliable 'no logging' policies. This means that the
company does not observe or record your online activity. At the same
time, it will not access your device or record any device particulars.
We all need to be more conscious of our online footprints. From casual
internet user to business executive, a VPN can make a tremendous
difference when it comes to online safety. Make sure you stay protected
and secure across all of your devices.
Jo Jordan is the Marketer Extraordinaire with Payment Solution Provider, MobiusPay. With over 2 decades of experience in marketing and business
development, Jo Jordan has helped a multitude of businesses world-wide,
reach new milestones of success. Jo’s business ethics are of the utmost quality with dedication and customer satisfaction being her primary foundation. To learn more about Jo Jordan and how www.MobiusPay.com can assist
your business with reaching new milestones, contact kiwi@mobiuspay.com
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