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Do you have the feeling that somebody is always behind your back when using the internet? Sometimes you want to use a specific website but it is not available in your country or you want to unlock it. If so, you are among the millions of people who take advantage of the fast food restaurants around them. Such problems affect many individuals, and that is why using a virtual private network or VPN can be helpful.

A VPN is like an encoded path over the Web that ensures your security and helps to unblock the desired sites that are limited in a certain country. These are still the strongest features of the app, helping to keep personal details secure and providing more liberty over internet usage. In this article, we’ll explain what a VPN is and how you access the internet with one, plus why they really come in handy.

What Exactly Is a VPN?

A VPN is a connection service that permits the use of a public network while maintaining the privileges of a private network. Voice seems like having a secret passage where one conducts his/her activities in secrecy from other people. When you are using a VPN, your connection to the sites you visit passes through a tunnel to make sure no one can easily spy on you.

Purpose of Using VPN

There are several reasons why people use VPNs:

Privacy: 

A VPN offers an added layer of security in the information you share online and your activities from hackers, service providers, or other unauthorized individuals.

Security: 

Even if you joined a local coffee shop Wi-Fi, or an airport, your data is more open to hackers and cyber criminals. A VPN actually secures your connection, so any person trying to spy on your activities online will not be able to get your credit card number, your username and password, and other such information.

Access to Restricted Content: 

Some websites or online services are either restricted or banned in or from certain geographic locations or jurisdictions. By doing this using proxy IPs, one can gain access to the intended content despite the restrictions imposed by your location.

Online Freedom: 

Some countries have very limited internet access, and the existing freedom of speech in online networks is often regulated. A VPN enables individuals in these parts of the world to browse the internet more freely with new freedoms and no government spying.

How Does a VPN Work?

Now that we know what a VPN is and why it is beneficial let me explain how it functions.

Encryption Process

Another significant purpose of using a VPN is to securely wrap your internet connection so that even if anyone tries to spy or eavesdrop on your connection, they will not be able to understand anything.

• Secure Tunneling

This means that when you are accessing a VPN server for the purpose of protecting your internet traffic, there is an establishment of a safe and secure channel between your network and the VPN server. This tunnel also helps in disguising the information as it moves from one specific location to another on the internet. 

• Data Encryption

Apart from when the secure tunnel is initially set up, every packet of data that is communicated over the tunnel is encrypted with some mathematical set of rules. This encryption process effectively transforms an individual’s information, making it difficult for anyone to comprehend as it is merely a group of characters similar to noise.

If you have ever wanted to send a secret message to someone, then imagine writing a note in a secret language, where the only way the other person can understand the note is if they also have the book of codes (the decryption key).

IP Address Masking

There is also something known as IP address masking that is useful in understanding how a VPN works.

• Hide Real IP Address

The internet protocol address is unique to any device, and it is easily identifiable to give out one’s location and the internet service provider. My IP address is therefore masked when I am connected to the VPN server and this in effect reduces the chances of anyone monitoring my activities or deciding where I am coming from.

• Set a temporary IP address 

It is a temporary address that can be assigned to a network or a device for a certain period of time.

Rather than connecting you directly to the internet, the Virtual Private Network provides you with what is known as a VPN IP address which is tied to the country of the VPN server. This means that if you subscribe to a VPN server in a particular country, you are actually surfing the internet as if you are in the said country, although in actuality you might be in a different physical location.

Connection Protocols

VPN’S employ various forms of connection protocols with the intention of creating secure connection channels. Two of the most common protocols are:

• OpenVPN

OpenVPN is one of the most popular and secure protocols for VPN connections which is also free of any restrictions in terms of use. It has a fast connection speed and can be used with different operating systems and devices.

• L2TP/IPsec

Another Internet protocol that is widely used is L2TP/IPsec, which utilizes L2TP as a tunneling protocol, and IPsec – as an encryption protocol. It is often found in workplaces and is compatible with most operating systems.

Why You Need a VPN: Top Benefits Explained

In the previous section, you have learned about how a VPN functions, and in the following section, some of the benefits of having a VPN will be explained.

Security

Among the above-discussed benefits, the most important benefit of using a VPN is that it provides more security.

• Protection from Hackers

A VPN helps prevent hackers and cyber criminals from intercepting your data or hacking into your devices because your internet traffic and your IP address is hidden. So, what is a VPN used for? It’s crucial for protection against cyber threats.

• Data Privacy

VPN guarantees that your identity, your account information, your trade data, and private communications are protected from unauthorized access when using the public internet or connecting to an unsafe network. What is the purpose of a VPN in maintaining data privacy?

Privacy

Besides security, using a VPN also provides the advantage of privacy whereby your activities and identity on the internet are hidden.

• Anonymity Online

A VPN hides your IP address and encodes your web connection which makes it almost impossible for other people, or organizations to monitor you or correlate your activities with your existence.

• Bypass Geo-restrictions

They help you to unblock websites that may be unavailable or filtered under the current geographic location. There are online services such as movie streaming, social media, and websites that may not be accessible due to geographical restrictions.

Access to Blocked Content

A web filter is needed in many organizations like schools, workplaces as well as governments since they may implement policies against some websites or online services. A VPN can be helpful in some of these areas as it assists you in getting past these limitations and enables you to access blocked files.

• Streaming Services

Some use cases of the VPN are to watch Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video, for instance, from any country of the world and thus enjoy more content from the services that are restricted in the given country.

• Social Media Platforms

In many countries today, a number of social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram may be banned or prohibited. Most websites have put restrictions that prevent users from accessing them, especially from certain regions; however, with the aid of a VPN; you will be able to communicate with friends and relatives no matter where they are.

VPN Varieties: Finding the Right Fit for Your Needs

It is crucial to enunciate that VPNs exist in different forms, and each is suitable for certain specific uses and arrangements.

Remote Access VPN

A remote access VPN is very popular in the market, especially with individuals or working-from-home professionals to connect to a private network, whether company or organizational network from the comfort of their home or other remote location.

This type of VPN enables users to have the same access to resources and services they would have regardless of geological location.

Site-to-Site VPN

A site-to-site VPN is commonly employed by any company to create an encrypted connection between two or more LANs that are situated at geographically different premises but are connected over the internet.

This type of VPN creates a virtual Private Network connection between multiple sites to ensure constructive communication while keeping them isolated from the external network.

Client-to-Client VPN

An example of a client-to-client VPN is a type of VPN that is more specific where two or more end users, gadgets/devices such as computers or Smartphones, and more can complete a secure connection on the internet directly from the VPN server all by themselves.

Its use is necessary when users require that their information is transmitted securely from one location to another, or when a merger between two leading organizations is being worked on from two different locations.

Choosing a VPN Service: Paid or Free? Top Options Explained

Although it is quite easy to manually configure a VPN connection, most users and businesses are simply accustomed to using commercial VPN services providing more convenient client resolution and additional options.

Paid vs. Free VPNs

The services of a VPN can be obtained for free or by investing in a paid service. Here’s a comparison:

Despite the usage of free VPNs may appear to be very attractive, they are sometimes limited by restrictions and it is unknown that they can pose threats to security. To be more precise, the meaning of the pay-to-use VPNs is a wider range of functions, more significant security characteristics, and better customer service.

It’s estimated that around 23% of VPN users globally opt for paid VPN services, while the remaining 77% use free VPN options.

Differences in Features

As for paid VPN services, they offer many more opportunities and advantages including having a better connection speed, more choices of servers, and the ability to contact the support service whenever you want. third, they generally have longer sanction policies and are less likely to retain or resell users’ data.

Security Concerns

Free VPN services provide security threats or act in ways that are dangerous to the users in terms of privacy since most free VPNs have been found to log users’ data or even inject advertisements. Generally, it is always safest to avoid free VPN services with the same advice mentioned about checking their privacy policy and security features.

Popular VPN Providers

When it comes to VPN services, there are lots of companies out there offering different options. But some stand out from the crowd. Let’s take a look at a few popular and trustworthy VPN providers:

NordVPN

However, there are two unique features that sets NordVPN apart and these include advanced encryption which is unlike the normal key for your data, and a no logs policy where they do not retain any information concerning your browsing activities.

This also includes split tunneling that allows you to decide which of your connections are under the VPN and the kill switch which stops you from accessing the internet if the VPN goes down.

ExpressVPN

But speed isn’t everything. However, like any other service provider, ExpressVPN also adheres to higher standards of safety and security for its users.

It utilizes military-grade encryption (think armored safe for your data) and no logs policy (they do not keep records of your activity online). The applications they use are quite easy to handle and do not require to be linked to a geek.

Surfshark

However, Surfshark is not just a provider that aims to have hundreds of servers; it also provides quality. Apart from being cybersecurity-focused, it has even higher-grade encryption than the military and no-logs policy. And it also has features and add-ons such as split tunneling and a kill switch just like some of the most comprehensive VPNs.

Private Internet Access

One of the cool things about PIA is that it has a huge server network, spanning over 84 countries. And while it doesn’t offer unlimited device connections like Surfshark, it still allows up to 10 simultaneous connections, which is pretty generous.

This table gives you a quick peek at some of the key features offered by these popular VPN services, making it easier for you to choose the one that suits your needs best.

Managing Risks and Limitations of Using a VPN

Despite all the advantages that can be obtained while using a VPN, it is vital to know about some possible drawbacks and disadvantages of the technology.

Slower Internet Connection Speed as a Result

Using a VPN might hinder overall connection speed as it depends on the type of the VPN and the server from which the connection is being established. This is because, in the encryption and routing of a connection, other parameters are also considered to ensure secure communication.

Here’s an example of how a VPN can affect internet speeds:

As you can see from the graph, the internet speed tends to decrease when connected to a VPN, especially if the VPN server is located far away from your physical location.

Legal Implications in Some Countries

In certain countries or regions, the use of VPNs may be restricted or illegal. It’s crucial to research and understand the legal implications of using a VPN in your specific location to avoid potential legal issues. What is a VPN and how does it work within legal boundaries?

For example, the following map shows the level of VPN restrictions in different countries:

As you can see, some countries like China and Russia have strict VPN regulations, while others like the United States and most European countries have fewer restrictions.

Malware and Phishing Risks

 Of course, serious VPN services try as much as possible to protect their services from such attacks as malware or phishing but when using the open or unknown VPN servers, one may easily land into a wrong prize. Understanding what is a VPN and how does it work can help you avoid such risks.

Although VPN services are helpful in providing safer connections and a sense of privacy on a public network, extreme precautions should be taken, and VPN services that are recommended and have high ratings should only be used.