To start with, a VPN is short for “Virtual Private Network” and the main purpose of a VPN is to establish a protected and encrypted private connection on networks. VPNs will hide online identity and encrypt internet traffic to make it harder for third parties to track activities online or even data. The encryption takes place in real-time as the user is active on the network and using a VPN.
A VPN works by hiding the user’s IP address by letting the network redirect it through a remote server operated by the VPN host. By doing this, when surfing online the VPN server becomes the source of the user’s data and the user’s ISP (Internet Service Provider) cannot track website visits or what data is sent and received. VPNs are helpful to a user as they protect and disguise data traffic online and keep it away from external risks. Although a user ISP sets up the connection when connected to the internet the ISP tracks the user via IP address. The user’s network is routed through ISP servers and can log and display many of the things the user does online. ISPs may seem trustworthy but data can be shared unwillingly with third parties such as the government, police, and even advertisers. ISPs also have the chance of being victims to hackers and attacks that may expose personal data collected through ISP servers. VPNs will help mitigate this, especially for users who are consistently connected to public wifi.
Some common uses for VPNs are:
Streaming:
Unlock certain region-based content platforms such as Netflix. VPN’s will hide IP address and replace it with one that makes the platform believe the user is trying to stream from its available countries.
Traveling:
Have the ability to use home country services such as banking apps or local news providers.
Online Shopping:
Find better prices or deals (hotels, clothes, and services etc.) by appearing to browse from different regions. This is a similar strategy as streaming.
Gaming:
May reduce lag and may protect from attacks by routing connection through secure servers.
Overall, VPNs are a great way to protect and secure online activity. Whether protecting personal data/activity, accessing region-based services, or simply browsing without the fear of data compromisation a VPN will allow its user to freely use the vast internet.