What is a VPN? đ
A VPN allows the user to remotely access a private network for privacy and security purposes.
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It is a tool for enhancing security on the Internet. It allows users to access the Internet normally, but routes all communication through a private network. This provides greater encryption and also offers a high level of anonymity. Some of the most common reasons people use VPNs include protection against âsnoopersâ on public Wi-Fi, bypassing internet censorship, or connecting to a companyâs internal network for remote work.
How does a VPN work?
Ordinarily, most internet traffic is not encrypted and is quite public. When a user connects to the internet, such as when visiting a website in a browser, the userâs device will connect to their Internet Service Provider (ISP), and the ISP will then connect to the internet to find the appropriate web server to communicate with and retrieve the requested site.
Information about the user is exposed at each stage of the site request. Since the userâs IP is exposed throughout the process, the ISP and any other intermediary can keep logs of the userâs browsing habits. Additionally, the data flow between the userâs device and the web server is not encrypted; this creates opportunities for malicious actors to spy on the data or carry out attacks on the user, such as a MITM attack.
On the other hand, a user connecting to the internet using a VPN service has a greater level of security and privacy. A VPN connection involves the following four steps:
The VPN client, which is typically a program installed on a device, connects to the ISP using an encrypted connection.
The ISP connects the VPN client to the VPN server, maintaining the encrypted connection.
The VPN server decrypts the userâs device data and then connects to the internet to access the web server through an unencrypted communication.
The VPN server creates an encrypted connection with the client, known as the VPN tunnel.
The VPN tunnel between the VPN client and the VPN server passes through the ISP, but since all data is encrypted, the ISP cannot see the userâs activity. The VPN serverâs communications with the internet are not encrypted, but the web servers will only record the VPN serverâs IP address, which does not provide any information about the user.
Is a VPN only for people who have something to hide?
Like any other Internet privacy service, VPNs are sometimes categorized as tools for illegal or illicit activities. The truth is, there are a number of valid and legitimate reasons to use a VPN. Here are some of the most common:
Protection on public Wi-Fi: Users who use public Wi-Fi networks without a VPN are putting themselves at risk. Their internet traffic is not encrypted, and other users on the same network can easily monitor their activities using accessible tools. This is a common way attackers steal login credentials and other sensitive data. If a user is connected through a VPN, a âsnooperâ will only be able to see encrypted data, which wonât reveal any sensitive information.
Remote work: Many companies allow their employees to work remotely using a VPN. This can allow the employee to access the companyâs internal network, as well as provide encryption to protect the company from attackers or spies.
Freedom from censorship in oppressive states: In some parts of the world, expressing or even reading viewpoints critical of the government is prohibited. Many of these states also provide their citizens with a suppressed version of the internet that blocks significant amounts of domains. People accessing the internet in these states can use VPNs to access content blocked in their country, as well as to speak freely online, since VPN encryption shields their activity from state monitoring.
Location anonymity: Some web services will restrict or filter content based on a userâs location. A VPN can be used to anonymize a userâs location and bypass these restrictions.
The right to online privacy: ISPs are known for selling their usersâ private data. Similarly, some websites also sell data about their visitors. The privacy provided by VPN services allows consumers to opt out of having their data collected.
What are the downsides of a VPN?
A VPN service does not guarantee a higher level of security. Users can feel secure with a VPN if they trust the VPN provider. A dishonest VPN provider can sell its usersâ information or expose them to attacks. It is also important to mention that most VPN services are offered with a monthly cost. Some VPN users may also experience performance issues.
How does a VPN affect performance?
Some users will experience performance degradation with a VPN, and this largely depends on which VPN service they are using. Not all VPNs are created equally, and if a VPN service does not have the server capacity to handle the load created by its users, those users will experience a slowdown in their internet connection. Additionally, if a VPN is located far away from the user and the server they are trying to access, the resulting route time may cause latency. For example, if a user in SĂŁo Paulo is trying to access a website where the servers are also located in SĂŁo Paulo, but the userâs VPN service is located in Tokyo, the userâs request will have to travel around the world twice before connecting to a server that is actually just a few kilometers away.
I hope this article has provided you with some useful information about VPNs and how they work. I hope youâll also read my other articles! See you soon đ