14 Dec VPN: Everything You Need to Know Before 2023

If you haven’t lived under a rock these past few years, then you’ve heard about VPNs. However, you may be wondering what exactly VPN does, how can you use it, and can you even use it? All those questions, and more, will be answered in this article. So, without further ado, let’s jump straight into it!

First of all, VPN stands for  “virtual private network”, a service that protects your internet connection and privacy online. It works in a way that creates an encrypted tunnel for your data, and protects your identity and personal information by hiding your IP address. That way, you can safely access public Wi-Fi connections, platforms, and websites that you couldn’t otherwise, and much more. You can even download VPN app for free, and enjoy unrestricted browsing!

Without a VPN, you are unknowingly offering your information to various parties on the web. That information includes your real IP address, browsing history, operating system info, etc. Of course, you don’t want to give prying eyes and hackers any data, let alone precious, personal information. VPN comes to the rescue!

As I’ve already mentioned, VPN assigns you a new, anonymous IP address, reroutes your internet connection, and encrypts your data. By doing so, it disguises your identity and online traffic from your internet service provider, government authorities, hackers, and other malicious parties.

Still don’t understand how that actually works, and how does it really protects you from hackers? Let me explain it in a few steps. First you have to subscribe to a VPN provider of your choice, and download and install the software. After that, the software will encrypt your data traffic, and send it to the VPN server through a safe connection.

Once the encrypted data is sent to the server, it will then be decrypted by the VPN. The next step is sending the data to the internet and receiving a reply meant for the user, which is you. Finally, the data is then again encrypted and decrypted. Don’t worry, all of that is done in the background, meaning you will not even realize anything is happening at all.

VPN Advantages

Now that we’ve covered the technical part of the whole process, you may be wondering why should you go that extra mile and install a VPN? Well, there are several reasons why one might commit to a VPN, and we will go over them now.

Firstly, there is security and anonymity, which are, in this day and age, one of the crucial needs while surfing the web. Your location and identity can be easily traced if you don’t have a VPN installed. Not only that, but it also connects your online behavior and activity back to you. So, if you don’t want to be exposed to malicious parties, maybe think about implementing a VPN like Surfshark or NordVPN.

VPN, for example, can be quite useful in gaming, as well. For example, since Fortnite is currently one of the most popular games on the globe, using a VPN while playing it can be a lifesaver. Fortnite VPN can improve your gaming experience by providing a more stable and secure connection, lowering latency, and preventing any potential DDoS assaults. Fortnite users can bypass geographical limitations and access special in-game content or participate in tournaments that are restricted to specific regions by connecting to a VPN server in a different region.

Moreover, a VPN will protect you from hackers and any potential threats. It scrambles your data traffic through encryption protocols, ensuring that intercepting and reading your data is almost impossible. So, whoever is interested in your traffic and data will have a pretty hard time trying to access anything you don’t want them to see.

Other advantages that are especially appealing are accessing blocked websites, surpassing censorship in certain countries, bypassing geographical restrictions, and anonymous downloading.

As you may know, some countries enforce a strong case of censorship, meaning some websites can’t be accessed without a special tool. What tool may that be? Well, a VPN of course. Some websites are often blocked because they pose a threat to the government, but some are blocked because of illegal content on them. Whatever the case, thanks to a VPN, you can connect to a server in a different country and access whatever you want, as if you were there.

Similiar to that is bypassing geographical restrictions, and accessing platforms and streaming websites you otherwise wouldn’t have been able to. For example, when you go on a vacation to a country with some restrictions, it may be a good idea to have a VPN handy to watch Netflix and other streaming services. Last, but not least, you can also use VPN to safely access public networks, and have secure access to your company’s network.

Types of VPNs

Essentially, there are two types of VPN that we will focus on. Those are Remote Access VPN, and Site to Site VPN. The former one permits a user to connect to a private network and access all its services and resources remotely.

In that way, the connection between the user and the private network occurs through the internet and the connection is secure and private. This kind of VPN is suitable for both private users and business users.

On the other hand, Site to Site VPN is commonly used in company environments and is suitable for large businesses. Moreover, it is usually used in organizations that have several branch offices in different locations to connect network of one office location to the network at another office location.

Things to Consider when Choosing a VPN

Once you decide you are ready for a VPN, there are some factors you need to keep in mind when choosing. You want your server to be fast, you want security to be at the top of the priority list of the provider, and you want it to be easy to use.

VPNs are meant to make your life and business easier, not cause you complications. So, when you think you’ve found the provider for you, check for these factors:

• speed
• security
• accessibility
• usabillity
• reliable encryption
• tech support

Conclusion

In the age of technology, a VPN is something you really shouldn’t overlook. That’ why I’ve explained the basics of VPN and why should you get one.

I hope it helped you and provided you with some insight and valuable information to all things virtual private network!