A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel for all data that travels from a device to a network. It enables users to keep search history and other online recreational activities untraceable by masking their internet protocol (IP) address.
VPNs can be used to protect sensitive information on public networks, access geo-blocked content, and more. But how do they work?
Security
Whether you’re growing your business, managing your home network or working from a public location, VPN services protect your online data. They create encrypted tunnels to keep your connection private and hide your IP address to facilitate anonymous browsing. In addition, they can help you avoid price discrimination when shopping online.
Security is the main reason that businesses and individuals use VPNs. Cybercriminals can intercept unsecured traffic to steal sensitive information, or to launch ransomware attacks against your organization. Using a VPN prevents these types of attacks and keeps your communications safe.
In addition, a VPN will encrypt all of the data that goes through it, from the initial authentication process to your ISP. This will prevent hackers from intercepting and decrypting your data and will stop your ISP from snooping on what you’re browsing. Ensure that you choose a VPN with the latest encryption protocols (such as L2TP or IPSec) and strong passwords, to limit the number of breaches. Adding 2FA or MFA to your VPN can further secure your account.
When using a VPN, you should also be aware of WebRTC leaks. WebRTC, which is used by video chat apps like Skype, can transmit data outside of the VPN’s encrypted tunnel. This can expose your location, IP address and other details about your network connection. You can test for WebRTC leaks by turning off your VPN and visiting a website that uses this technology. If you can see your real-time connection info on the page, then you’re experiencing a WebRTC leak.
VPNs are becoming more popular in general, but there is a specific spike in demand during the pandemic. Many employees are being asked to work from home, and they need to connect to corporate resources from their personal devices. This is why it’s important for businesses to understand the security benefits of a VPN and to implement best practices to ensure their employees stay safe while working remotely. This includes ensuring that employees are only using company-issued hardware, not personal devices and that they are not loading any organizational software onto their own devices without approval from an admin.
Privacy
VPNs use encryption protocols to funnel data packets through an encrypted tunnel between your device and the server. This keeps your data private, preventing unwanted third parties from intercepting your information.
Without a VPN connection, all your internet traffic is visible to anyone with the proper software or know-how, including your ISP, advertisers, and government agencies. A good VPN will employ military-grade encryption standards such as AES-128 or 256, which are nearly impossible to crack.
In addition to protecting your privacy, VPNs also help you avoid geolocation-blocked content. The technology encrypts your data to create the appearance that you’re logging on from somewhere else, which is useful when you want to access a website or app that’s not available in your country.
You can also use a VPN to bypass restrictions placed on your network, such as those put in place by your school or workplace. This is especially important if you frequently connect to public Wi-Fi, which is susceptible to attacks by hackers looking to steal your personal information. A VPN can also protect your online shopping, as it prevents websites from using location to determine which price you should pay for a product.
If you work remotely, a VPN can also help you keep your company data secure. This is because it connects your private devices to your corporate network as if they were on the same local area network (LAN). It’s important to choose a VPN that supports Zero Trust security, which is an approach to security that replaces traditional castle-and-moat defenses with a more secure framework in which no user is trusted by default.
The best VPNs come with a wide range of features, such as a kill switch that shuts off your internet connection if the VPN disconnects, a remote configuration option to enable you to set up and modify your VPN settings from any computer or mobile device, and a range of encryption protocols to choose from, including OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, IKEv2, SSTP, and PPTP. In some cases, a VPN may require you to download additional software to configure it properly, but this will vary between providers.
Speed
Should you be using a vpn? When using a VPN, data is encrypted before it leaves your device. This turns all of your online activities into gibberish that can’t be read even if it was intercepted. This makes it much harder for third parties to track your activity online and steal your personal information.
But the process of encryption does slow down your connection speeds somewhat. That’s because the data that your VPN sends through its tunneling network must also be decrypted at the other end of your connection. This takes up bandwidth and can slow down internet speeds, especially if there are lots of other people using VPNs at the same time you are.
One way to help mitigate this issue is by choosing a VPN service that uses strong encryption protocols and has a large server network. The best VPNs offer minimal slowdowns compared to the speed of your regular internet connection.
Another benefit of VPNs is that they can help you bypass restrictions on content and services that are only available in certain locations. Many video streaming services, for example, only allow access from certain countries. This kind of restriction can be frustrating if you want to enjoy your favorite show while traveling abroad.
Fortunately, most modern VPNs can hide your location from sites that track your activity and use your IP address to determine your geolocation. This means that when you connect to a VPN, your device will appear to be logging on from a different country—even though you’re actually still at home or at work.
VPNs are becoming more and more popular for everyday users. They’re an excellent choice for anyone who uses public Wi-Fi to work or browse the web, or for those worried about their privacy on unsecured networks. They’re like digital bodyguards that keep you safe from prying eyes, whether you’re at the library or your local coffee shop.
Accessibility
VPNs encrypt your data and obscure your IP address, making it hard for third parties to see your internet activity. This security feature is particularly helpful when using public Wi-Fi, as it helps prevent hackers from spying on your activities and intercepting personal information.
When you connect to a VPN server, it acts as a virtual tunnel between your device and the VPN’s server. This means there’s no physical cable connecting you to the VPN server, and it’s impossible for anyone to physically tap this line. However, that doesn’t mean you’re completely safe from attackers. Your data still travels across public Internet infrastructure, such as an intermediate Internet Exchange Point (IXP), which can be compromised to eavesdrop on your communication.
In addition, VPNs encrypt all of your communications with the server so that any criminal who is trying to tap your connection will only get scrambled data. This doesn’t mean that you’re totally safe from cyberthreats, but it does help reduce the likelihood of them impacting your business in a negative way.
With so many cyberthreats and privacy concerns, it’s important for companies to take all the necessary steps to protect their networks. Fortunately, VPNs are an affordable and effective option for boosting your network’s security.
As more employees work from home or other remote locations, ensuring the security of their remote connections becomes even more important. VPNs provide a cost-effective solution to this challenge, allowing employees to securely access corporate networks from anywhere in the world.
However, it can be difficult to scale VPNs to a large number of users. For example, if one employee needs access to the codebase and content management system but doesn’t need access to the marketing automation platform, it would be impractical for IT teams to set up separate VPNs for each individual user.