VPN if set up and used correctly can be a great data protection tool says experts. Let us know how VPN works and how to set it up?
From the time of the invention of the internet, there has been a need to protect and encrypt internet browser data. If you want to get more privacy using the internet, using a VPN is a great idea
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It is transmitted and encrypts data when it travels from one place to another on the internet. Using a VPN to connect to the internet allows you to surf websites privately and securely as well as gain access to restricted websites and overcome censorship blocks. VPNs are not just for desktops or laptops — you can use VPN on your iPhone, Android phone, and iPod too.
When using public networks helps to protect your network connection. It not only helps to encrypt your internet traffic but also hides your online identity making it very difficult for third parties to track your activities online and steal your data. All the encryption takes place in real-time.
How does a VPN Function?
To understand how a VPN functions we will first have to understand how our internet connection works without a VPN
Without VPN:
When we access a website through an internet connection without a VPN, we are being connected to that site through our internet service provider or ISP. This ISP provides us with a unique OP address that is used to identify us to the website. All the websites that we surf can be seen by ISP as it handles and directs all our traffic. All our activity are linked by this unique IP
With VPN:
When we connect to the internet with a VPN, establishes a secure connection with a VPN server. Although our traffic will still pass through our ISP, it would no longer be able to read or see its final destination.
It means that if we surf online with a VPN, the VPN server becomes the source of our data. This means that our Internet Service Provider (ISP) and other third parties cannot see which websites which we visit or data that we send and receive online. A VPN is just like a filter that turns all our data into “gibberish”. Even if someone gets their hands on our data, it would be useless for them.
Advantages of having a VPN connection?
A VPN connection disguises our data traffic online and protects it from external access. Unencrypted data can be viewed by anyone who wants to see it and has network access. With a VPN, this data cannot be hacked.
Why should we use a VPN connection in First Place?
Our ISP usually sets up our connection when we connect to the internet. It tracks us via an IP address. All our network traffic is routed through our ISP’s servers, which can log and display everything that we do online.
Although our ISP may seem trustworthy, still it may share our browsing history with police, advertisers, the government, or other third parties. ISPs can also become prey to cybercriminals: If they are hacked, all our personal and private data can be compromised. If you regularly connect to public Wi-Fi networks then this is very important to you as you don’t know as there might be someone who could be monitoring your internet traffic and might steal from your passwords, personal data, or even payment information.
Different Types of VPN:
Commercial VPN
A commercial VPN is also called a personal VPN or a consumer VPN. A commercial VPN is a private service offered directly to individuals. It is usually free of cost. Express VPN is an example of a Commercial VPN service because it directly caters to the privacy needs of its customers
Corporate VPN
A corporate VPN is also called a Business VPN. It allows the employees of an organization who are working remotely to connect securely to the internet as if they were physically present in the office.
The difference between Commercial and Corporate VPN is that unlike commercial VPNs, corporate VPNs are usually meant to protect the privacy of the company and not individual privacy
Self-setup VPN
Some tech experts and people who like to do things by their hands choose to set up their VPN using their equipment. Self-setup VPNs never protect shared IP addresses.
Steps to setup a VPN
- Select the VPN provider of your choice. Some given below:
- Visit the subscription page of the chosen VPN provider.
- You can create the account form the subscription package provided by the VPN provider. Some provide great offers on logn tern subscriptions.
- Download the VPN client from the downloads page of the VPN provider site.
- Install the VPN client once downloaded.
- Once installed, login with the details you used for creating the account in step3
- Once logged in you will be asked to choose the server location.
- And you are connected to VPN
Alternatives to VPN
A VPN isn’t the only tool that can increase your privacy, security, and online freedom. Tor
Tor is generally a free network of servers that randomly route internet traffic between each other to complicate the origin of the data. However, the biggest drawback of Tor is its speed. As our traffic is relayed through several hops, it is not convenient to stream or download with Tor.
Proxy services
A proxy server acts as an intermediate between our device and the internet. However, unlike a VPN, most “proxy services” are quite slow and they don’t offer any privacy or security benefits.
