Virtual Private Network 101 - What Is A VPN?

Virtual Private Networks, also known as VPNs, help you claim your digital privacy back. As VPNs continue to be more and more popular, some people are still left considering whether or not they need a VPN. This guide will offer you a complete insight into what a VPN is and how to use it to gain benefits from your digital presence.

What Is a VPN?

Virtual Private Networks or VPNs offer a secure and private way to connect between different computers over the internet. So, while a person is using the internet, others can observe the usage. But, while a person uses the internet on a Virtual Private Network, their usage data is not visible. What VPN does is create a private tunnel for your internet usage, which only you get access to. So, nobody can see your data or what you are doing.
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So, VPNs help keep your personal data safe and secure.
VPNs come highly useful for:
  • Enhancing digital privacy
  • Streaming without any geographical restrictions
  • Thwarting cyber criminal activities
  • Preventing identity theft issues
  • It helps avoid ISP tracking as well as throttling
  • Boosts your P2P file sharing performance

Significance of VPN

Virtual Private Networks are extremely helpful in the kind of services they offer. Here’s why:
Nobody likes being watched in real life. The same goes for people’s digital lives today - nobody loves being tracked online, even when they do not have anything to hide. This is exactly why people need to step up their privacy games with a VPN. When browsing the internet via a VPN, your digital traffic gets encrypted because others are not able to see what you are doing online.
Here are a few other reasons why VPN is so important:
You are using public WiFi regularly.
VPNs are used to secure one’s connection on public networks so that people can use these public WiFis with full confidence and privacy. Hackers have multiple ways to steal your personal data on public WiFi networks. VPNs help make your digital traffic invisible to others.
You want access to your home content
VPNs come in handy when people are looking forward to accessing their home content, no matter where they are around the globe. Installing a great VPN on your device will help you get access to your data, even when you are in a different country.
You want to be safe online
Anyone can reach you anywhere simply by tracking your personal information. Government organizations, internet service providers, and marketers are capable of collecting your private data, browsing history, and messages. You can hide all your personal information by encrypting your traffic through a VPN. VPNs help you hide your IP address and cover all your traces and tracks in the digital world. You can use it anywhere in the world, home, offices, or on the go to enjoy non-stop safety.

What do VPNs do?

When trying to access a website, your Internet Service Provider will typically receive a request and redirect you to a particular destination. But, when someone is connecting to a VPN, VPNs will redirect your internet traffic through VPN servers before it is sent to the destination.
Here’s exactly what happens when someone connects to VPNs:
VPNs change your IP address and mask your browsing location
People who are remotely working from a different country may have limited freedom of speech because of Government restrictions and regulations. So, people need to rely on private internet connections for their work as well. Often, people’s lives depend on such privacy. VPNs come helpful in order to hide one’s IP addresses and make sure people get that extra security for their personal information.
VPNs help encrypt your data
VPNs are great while you are browsing the internet from your home. VPNs help encrypt your data, which is important to protect your online presence and traffic and minimize your digital footprints in the broadest way possible. This way, your ISP will not be able to send your data and browsing history to third-party bidders.
VPNs help protect your devices
VPNs are loaded with features that prevent you from accidentally landing on any malicious websites. They block all forms of malware, ads, and trackers so that they do not harm you, your data, and your device. VPNs guard your devices round the clock, even when you are not connected to their servers.

Different Types of VPN

There are three different types of VPNs:
Remote access VPN
Remote-access VPNs allow their users to connect to remote networks with the help of special software. If you need to log in to your office network, remote-access VPNs will come in handy. It ensures working away from offices is more secure and safe. It gets easy for all employees to access their data and resources from anywhere worldwide.
Personal VPN
Today’s consumer-grade VPNs are classified as personal VPNs. They are pretty similar in terms of features and functionality to the remote-access VPNs. The only difference is that a personal VPN can connect to a proprietary restricted network, like someone’s workplace. One can connect to their VPN servers to gain protection and privacy while exploring and browsing the internet.
Site-to-site VPN
Businesses and corporations use Site-to-site VPNs. This kind of VPN allows users in different locations to access their coworkers’ networks in a secure way. It is an amazing way to connect all coworkers, ensure all the branches are working safely and securely, and share all information and resources together.

Should you choose a paid VPN or a free VPN?

Price is the biggest factor when it comes to choosing the right VPN. As far as free VPNs are concerned, people tend to be extensively interested. However, one should try to stay away from free VPNs. You will be looking at speed, security as well as privacy with free VPNs. You are unlikely to get any of them. Free VPN service providers do not really invest in their server networks, so their connectivity can be unstable and possibly leak your data.
Instead of looking for free, cheaper options, invest in a qualitative VPN.