VPN stands for “Virtual Private Network”. Its core function is to establish a protected network connection. VPNs encrypt your Internet traffic and disguise your online identity. This makes it more difficult for third parties to follow your tracks on the Internet and steal your data. The encryption takes place in real-time.
How does VPN work?
A VPN hides your IP address by having the network redirect it through a specially configured remote server run by a VPN host. So, when you browse online with a VPN, you do it with the help of the VPN server. This makes it impossible for your Internet Service Provider or other third parties to see what websites you visit or what information you look for on the Internet. A VPN works like a filter that turns all the data you send and receive into “gibberish”. Even if someone were to get their hands on this data, it would be impossible.
What are the advantages of a VPN connection?
With a VPN connection, your data traffic on the Internet is protected from outside access. Unencrypted data can be viewed by anyone who has network access and wants to see it. With a VPN, hackers and cybercriminals can no longer decipher this data.
Secure encryption: To be able to read the data, you need an encryption key. Without it, a computer would take millions of years to decrypt the code, as in a brute force attack. With the help of the best VPN, your activities on the Internet are hidden and protected, even if you use public networks.
Concealment of your location: VPN servers act as your representatives on the Internet. Since the demographic location data comes from the server in another country, your actual location cannot be determined. Moreover, most VPN services do not store logs of your activities. However, some providers log your behavior but do not share this information with third parties. Thus, any potential record of your usage remains permanently hidden.
Access to restricted content: Regional web content is not always enabled for access from anywhere. Services and websites sometimes contain content that can only be accessed from certain parts of the world. Standard connections use local servers in the country to determine your location. This means that you can’t access the needed content at home when traveling, and you can’t access international content from home. With VPN location spoofing, you can switch to a server in other countries and effectively “change” your location.
Secure data transfer: When working outside your company’s internal network, you may need to access important information. These files require a secure connection for security reasons. To gain access to the data, a VPN connection is often required. VPN services connect to private servers and use encryption methods to reduce the risk of data leaks.
Why should you use a VPN?
When you connect to the Internet, your ISP usually provides your connection. It tracks you via an IP address. Your traffic on the network is routed through your ISP’s servers, which can log back and view everything you do online.
Your ISP may seem trustworthy, but it could share your browsing history with advertisers, the police or the government, and other third parties. ISPs can also fall victim to attacks from cybercriminals. If they get hacked, your personal and private data can be compromised.
This is especially important to keep in mind if you regularly connect to public Wi-Fi networks. You never know who could be watching your Internet traffic from the other side and what they could potentially steal from you – passwords, personal data, payment information, or even your entire identity.