VPN

Virtual Private Network is one of the best features that helps you surf the internet without fearing your information being hacked or your activity being traced. It hides your IP address, thus creating a tunnel by a system using encryptions, which hides all your activities on the web. It is very beneficial to use public systems or log into your system in public places using the wi-fi present there. VPN masks your identity and makes it difficult for hackers to look into your information or activity. It is widely used at various corporate houses and business firms because of its high data security features. It is basically like using public wires to connect to a private network.

How VPN Works

Connecting to a Virtual Private Network server while using the internet changes your IP address and disguises your location. It would show the VPN server’s location as your location. To somebody outside, it would seem you are accessing the web from some different location. Therefore, systems use encryptions to create an encrypted tunnel, hiding all your activity, what you’re surfing through, the entire browsing history is hidden. The tunnel is connected between you and the destination, with all the data in between being secure in it. Therefore, all your activity is associated with the false IP address provided by the Virtual Private Network server.

Uses of VPN

VPN helps you hide all the data and information that is private 

• Streaming from  a different location

Certain streaming platforms do not provide services when you’re out of the country because of their terms and conditions. In such a case, VPN helps by changing the IP address of the user to somewhere inside their country, which again gives access to those streaming platforms.

• Hides browsing history

Most common people use VPNs because of this major reason. The information you search on the internet is associated with your IP address. Many browsers track your online activity, which means invading your privacy. Sometimes, one has to look up sensitive information related to personal matters on the web, which they can’t afford to get leaked. In such cases, Virtual Private Network comes in handy.

• Access censored websites 

In many countries, certain websites and platforms are not available due to the restrictions put by the government. VPN helps in this case by changing the IP address of the user to one where these websites are available.

• Protects your devices

When you surf through the web, as your activity, the devices are equally in danger. Hackers can attack them to extract information. The devices are more unsafe if you’re working on public wi-fi.  

How to choose a VPN

Though Virtual Private Network(VPN) itself is amazing, some factors need to be considered before choosing a VPN

• Servers

Considering the performance, more servers prove to be good as they serve better browsing. The more servers, the less the load on each server, thus providing better performance. Your distance from the server also determines the performance.

• Speed

Speed is a very important feature to be taken into consideration because many Virtual Private networks reduce the speed to a very low extent, making it difficult to work.

• Location

Choose the VPN carefully after ensuring that the server is in your country and preferably near your location.

• Reviews from Customers

Despite all these factors, customer reviews play a major role in determining which one is best in the market currently and which one lives up to the user’s expectations and demands.

Types of VPN

There are many types of Virtual Private Networks,  but these three are major.

• Site-to-site VPN

Large-scale companies and firms usually use this with different branches at diverse locations. With the help of a site-to-site VPN, they can connect to different branches.

• Client-to-server VPN

This can be used by employees who want to work from home. This connects our device to the company server.

• SSL-VPN

It allows users to access a company’s network, software, and applications without much hindrance.

Conclusion

A VPN organises a secure connection between you and the browser, which keeps all the data safe. The systems use encryptions to create a  tunnel between the user and the destination where all the user activity is stored. This tunnel is not accessible to anyone besides the user. Its feature of changing the IP address of the user to some other, associates the activity on that false IP address. This prevents external attackers from attacking the system, accessing any user information, or making any changes to that information. The use of public wires to connect to a private network helps secure data. Besides security, the other benefits add to its utility as well.