What is geofencing?

Geofencing can affect you in more ways than you realize, so it’s a good idea to learn what you can about it.

It doesn’t sound exciting, but geofencing is all around us. It’s one of those things that you may not even realize, because it has become so integrated into our modern lives that we don’t think about it much. However, it is important to understand geofencing, so that you are aware of how your location data is used.

So, what is geofencing?

Geofencing occurs when someone (whether it’s you, a company, or something else) uses GPS to create an invisible virtual border. Then, depending on which service or app you’re geofencing, you’ll be able to—or even won’t—access certain features. Essentially, you are “fenced” in the digital sense.

It’s a straightforward definition, but it can be difficult to envision how geofencing would work in the real world.

How often are geofencing used?

If you have a smart home ecosystem, there’s a good chance geofencing can help you use some of its features. For example, if you set up a command that automatically opens your garage door when you’re inside a residential building, this uses geofencing to trigger the setting.

Essentially, geolocation uses your location data and applies specific conditions or task-dependent criteria to determine what enters or exits the specified area. This can be especially useful for those with an in-depth smart home setup. Some apps let you set these geofences yourself, although they’re not generally called that.

But more than anything else, companies use geofencing to send you targeted ads. The company’s app can detect when you’re physically in a certain area, and when you’re there, they can push notifications or text messages related to your whereabouts.

For example, if you use Google Opinion Rewards, most of your surveys will be related to whether you’ve been to a store in a particular area. Google uses geofencing to create surveys by seeing businesses in that specific area and filling out a list for you. It’s a step beyond GPS because Opinion Rewards asks you about more than just where you’ve been – it asks about places within the geofence you’ve been at maybe He was.

The last common use of geofencing relates to territorial restrictions, and may be the one you are most familiar with.

Why are some services not available in my area?

credit:

Lucas Gouveia/obsessed with how to | My neighbor/shutterstock

When it comes to geofencing, many people have encountered situations where they were unable to use a certain service in their area. Since geofencing and GPS can track where you are, something that’s only available in another country or region is unlikely to be something you can easily access.

However, this type of regional restriction has its own term – geo-blocking. Geo-blocking, as the name suggests, uses your GPS location to determine what Internet content you can view. So, if you’re in the US and want to watch something on a UK-only streaming service, you’ll face geo-blocking and won’t be able to use the service.

There are several reasons why companies use geo-blocking. The main reason is to adhere to specific rules and regulations that they have to adhere to, especially those related to licensing agreements or other copyright laws. Since these laws vary greatly from country to country, many companies restrict access to their apps to ensure that the laws are not unintentionally violated.

It is a frustrating situation for a consumer, when they are geo-blocked by a service they want to use. Fortunately, there is one good way to bypass geo-blocking.

How to bypass geo-blocking

The easiest way to bypass geo-blocking is to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). VPNs have the ability to spoof your location, making it appear as if you are in another region or country.

If you connect to a server in the UK, the previously inaccessible streaming service is now available for you to use – although you’ll likely need to switch back to a US server if you want to get your regular Netflix viewing back.

VPNs also have some other benefits, the most important of which is their ability to keep your data secure and private. So, not only can you bypass geoblocking, but you can also prevent services from using geofencing to try to push ads to you.

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NordVPN is one of the fastest VPN options available. It is also easy to use and compatible with a variety of devices. For Black Friday, you can get the Basic plan for just $2.99 ​​per month if you sign up for two years, and you’ll get an additional three months free.