Why the HP and ExpressVPN Partnership Is Good News for Privacy
Hewlett Packard (HP) – a leading hardware OEM specializing in desktop and laptop computers – made one of their many silent moves in partnering up with ExpressVPN. This can be seen in the way of their launch of a recent Spectre x360 13 laptop which comes with a VPN from the above-named company on board.
Of course, this is not the first time that a company has linked up with another to make products mutually available to consumers. However, this is not just any move by the company, but one dedicated towards better security and safety of the users.
What makes the laptop special?
Before we go into the specifics of this partnership, the HP Spectre x360 13 has already laid the groundwork for the inclusion of this VPN. We are not interested in talking about the specs here – of which the laptop is nothing short of impressive – but the added features which make this one a great choice for people who care about their privacy.
The first in line is the physical webcam kill switch which is designed to remove the webcam from all other electrical components on the laptop whenever engaged. This beats just turning the webcam off when not in use as it can still be remotely turned on by a hacker.
Of course, webcam hacking and spying has been a problem for a long Time now. Besides hackers, government agencies and even your employer could be doing it.
So concerning is this issue that even Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, was once photographed with a tape over his webcam. Now that the physical button from HP is there, you no longer have to resort to such crude measures.
There is likewise a dedicated LED button on the keyboard to mute the microphone. This will solve the problem of having others listening in on your conversations.
Already, all of Amazon and Google – all big names in the home assistant game – have been rightly accused of listening in on user conversations even when the assistants have not been voice-activated at all. It needs no telling that a hardware mic can also be hacked for the same purposes.
With these in tow, the HP Spectre x360 13 is dedicated to privacy as much as it can be.
The place of a VPN
We have seen numerous computers come with a preinstalled antivirus to help fight against malware attacks which could threaten user data privacy. If this partnership between HP and ExpressVPN shows anything, though, it is how important VPNs are becoming in the same fight.
In fact, they handle the blind spots of antivirus software, and they do it well.
ExpressVPN will help protect users against the many dangers of public Wi-Fi networks which users might have been unknowingly exposed to. This includes all of man in the middle attacks, possible unauthorized malware installations, data snooping and monitoring.
This, the VPN does by layering and encrypting your internet connection via the multiple servers it ships with, making it impossible for anyone to follow your data trail or even identify your internet traffic.
Don’t worry about getting the encryption hacked either. With their 256-bit, FBI-grade encryption level, the hackers will need a few hundred years to make that happen.
Speaking of multiple servers, you can also use the VPN to take advantage of faster internet speeds in other locations, escape geo-blocking attempts by content creators and beat censorship, among other things.
In short, including a VPN into the pre-installed software build promises customers and users of the HP Spectre x360 13 a lot in the utilities department – and we can’t wait to see what enthusiasts think of it.
Source: NASA[/caption]
