How VPN Works? And, How it protects user’s privacy? The major Concern to all the people who are using Internet. Well, we’ll get to know about it with detailed explanation in this article.
Are you concerned about your online security when using public WiFi? Or did someone tell you that if you use an insecure connection you could be hacked and someone would steal all your data?
Well, you may also have heard that you should use a VPN to protect your privacy online. But do you have any idea what it is and how it works?
Don’t worry – this article covers everything you need to know about what and when to use a VPN, and when to avoid it. So without further confusion let’s get started.
What is a VPN? And, How VPN Works?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It is a kind of network that you can connect to protect your security and privacy online.
A VPN works like a tunnel that takes all your data from where you are to its destination. Everything is properly encrypted and protected so no one on the outside can see what data you are sending.
Using a VPN offers many advantages, including:
- Privacy
- Anonymity
- Security
- Encryption
- Hide or change your source IP address so others can’t track you
We’ll cover these benefits and more later in this article, but first you need to understand how a VPN works in order to use it properly.
How Does a VPN Works?
A VPN works by routing / forwarding all your data from your laptop or phone to the internet through your VPN instead of directly through your ISP.
When you use a VPN, it encrypts all your data on the client side. Once the data is encrypted, it passes through a VPN tunnel that others cannot access and then reaches the internet.
But before going through the VPN tunnel, the request is first sent to your ISP, but since it’s encrypted, the ISP can’t figure out what you’re trying to access. Thus, it forwards your request to your VPN server. The VPN then forwards the request to your desired IP address or website.
Advantages of Using a VPN
1. Unblock Websites and Bypass Filters
There may be situations where you cannot access certain websites that are blocked by your office, school, or university department, but you still want or need to access them.
These websites may include social networking websites, movie download websites, or any type of media streaming website.
In these cases, a VPN will help you bypass all blocking filters and allow you to access the websites you want to access unaided and others will not know what you are accessing.
2. Bypass Regional Restrictions
People from certain countries cannot access websites outside of their country, such as Like YouTube or Google because their government doesn’t want them to use other websites.
If you are in one of these locations and still want to access these blocked websites, a VPN can help bypass any regional restrictions. You can access any restricted or blocked content without informing the government of your activity.
3. Access Regional-blocked Websites
There are various websites, special offers and services available for specific countries or regions. But what if you want to use this option too, but it’s not available in your area?
A VPN can help you by changing your IP address, which changes your location on the internet. So you appear to be a user from that country and you can also enjoy all the benefits enjoyed by people in that particular region.
4. Easily Change IP Address
Your ISP tracks your every move on the Internet: which websites you visit, how much time you spend there, and when you log in and out of a website.
But sometimes you may need to hide your browsing history/activity from your local network/ISP. In this case, using a VPN can help you keep all your logs encrypted and your ISP will have no idea what you’re doing you do with your internet. All your internet browsing activities are masked by the VPN.
5. Online Invisibility and Privacy
Everything on the internet is following you. The website and web servers you use or visit know your IP address and location. This can be used to their advantage and every time you visit the same website, they know it’s you and they will track your usage and behavior. This is not necessarily a good thing as you are giving them a lot of information without knowing what.
A VPN can help you keep your identity anonymous so you don’t have to worry about identity leaks or tracking activity of any kind.
6. Enhanced Security
As mentioned above, using VPN can protect your identity and also keep your data encrypted while browsing the internet. This improves security and reduces the chance of someone hacking.
Therefore, using VPN protects you when you use public WiFi or browse unsecured websites.
Disadvantages of Using a VPN
1. Slow-down Your Connection
VPNs tend to slow down your internet connection. Because VPN servers may be far away from you (they may be in a different geographic location or in a different country), your data must continue to travel over the internet and slow down the speed of your connection.
2. VPNs record your activities
VPNs keep logs of your activity. You heard well. Regardless of what policy they have, even if they say they don’t keep logs, they do. Governments crack down on VPNs, and VPN companies tend to release all of a user’s activity logs in cases of international crime, terrorist activity, or hacking.
3. Costly for Advanced Safety
Although there are many free VPN services you can use, you may need to purchase a paid version if you plan to use VPN regularly. Free VPNs do not offer good speeds and the amount of data usage is also limited on a daily basis. VPNs cost around $10-$15 per month for premium services.
Conclusion:
VPNs definitely have their pros and cons. Organizations use them to protect their networks and private information. You can also use one to access blocked content and protect your privacy, anonymity, and security. Using a VPN for legitimate activities is beneficial and adds extra security.
One of the safest and most popular VPN that I suggest to use is Nord VPN. However, you can also use other popular and free VPNs like Turbo VPN, Express VPN, IP Vanish, and many more.
If you are unsure about using or accessing an unknown Wi-Fi network (public/private) or an untrustworthy insecure website, you should always use a VPN (free/paid). While paid VPNs have their benefits, using free VPNs occasionally won’t hurt you and still serve your purpose.
And remember: never try to use a VPN for illegal activities.
