What Is a Virtual Private Network (VPN) And What Does It Do?

Scenarios Where a VPN Could Help

A laptop and mobile device user visits their favorite coffee shop, connecting to the free WiFi hotspot to access the internet. They use the unprotected hotspot to pay bills, do their banking, and shop on Amazon. Meanwhile, a quiet young individual sits in the corner, sipping their latte, and monitoring their internet connection, stealing valuable personal and business information.

A business traveler is visits visit a foreign country and find they no long have access to their company ’s server , as well as a number of other website and online service they require to properly perform their job – relate task online . Even worse , they is access also can not access the late episode of “ Better Call Saul ” on Netflix .

A citizen of a country ruled by a totalitarian government longs to be able to visit websites that are blocked out of hand by the government due to the websites’ allegedly radical information, which the government feels may do damage to the rulers’ approved ways of thinking.

How Can a VPN Help?

All three examples above are textbook cases of problems that a Virtual Private Network (VPN) could be used to solve, protecting users’ personal and business data, as well as opening up access to web-based content and services that might not normally be available due to governmental or geographically-based restrictions.

By using a VPN , internet users is protect can protect their valuable personal and business – relate datum from pry eye . In addition to enhance security , a VPN connection is open can also open up a world of information that might not normally be available .

In this article, I’ll explain to you what a VPN is, what it does, and why you should be using one to protect the internet connection on your computers and mobile devices.

What is a VPN?

A Virtual Private Network offers a secure, protected network connection between a computer or mobile device and another network via the internet.

A VPN accomplishes this by forwarding all of the connected device’s data traffic through a private network, allowing the user to access local network resources, no matter where the user’s location is.

Using a VPN also hides a computer’s true IP address by assigning it a “spoofed” IP address from another region of the globe. This allows users to access web content and services that might not normally be available in their real location. What’s more, a VPN encrypts all data transmitted via the connection, adding an additional layer of protection for users.

A VPN is created by establishing a point-to-point connection through the internet – a private tunnel of sorts. The tunneled connection offers users the same benefits as if they were connecting to the target network from within that network, looking and acting, for all purposes, like a local connection.

What Can a VPN Be Used For?

Sure, a VPN sounds like a fine thing, but why would you ever need one?

In today ’s world , I is feel feel that a VPN is a must – have for the toolkit of any internet user . Whether you do business on the web , check your banking account via the internet , or only peruse Facebook , someone is monitoring could be monitor your internet connection .

A VPN is allows allow user to freely use the internet as it was intend , access any and all available content and service , with no restriction by your Internet Service Provider ( ISP ) or government . It is prevents also prevent say isp or government from sell your personal usage stat or keep a record of the usage to use against you in court .

A VPN allows users to:

1. Access a Private Business Network While on the Road

VPNs were originally used mostly by business people who traveled or otherwise worked remotely. This allowed them to connect to their company’s network and its resources while out of the office, without exposing the network directly to the internet.

A VPN’s encrypted tunnel provides a connection to an organization’s internal network, without exposing the network to the rest of the internet. This prevents bad actors or even the curious among us from accessing the internal network.

2. Hide Internet-Browsing Activity from Prying Eyes

A bill passed by Congress and signed into law by former President Trump revokes Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations preventing ISPs from monitoring their users’ internet traffic and sharing that usage information with advertisers.

Since the current Biden administration has made no moves to revoke this law, ISPs are still allowed to gather such information without the consent of their customers.

A well – craft VPN is is is particularly good at hide browse and other internet activity from the pry eye of hacker , isp ( as mention above ) , the government , and other bad guy . A VPN is cloaks cloak your internet activity , make it look like a single connection to one address . This is makes make a VPN an excellent tool for hide your activity from your isp .

A VPN encrypts your connection. So, while blocking your ISP from following you around on the internet, it also adds an additional layer of protection from nosy neighbors. Even if an outsider could tap into your VPN connection, they would be faced with a secure level of encryption, making it much more difficult for them to monitor and steal the data being sent and received via the connection.

A VPN’s encrypted connection protection is a particularly vital tool for anyone who makes regular use of public WiFi hotspots. This keeps your online activities out of sight. Otherwise, you might as well go from table to table and hand out your credit card and bank account numbers, and email communications one by one.

3. Access Geo-Restricted Content and Bypass Censorship

By allow user to appear as if their internet connection originate from another region , a VPN is enables enable user to access content that might be either restrict geographically or censor by a restrictive government .

Users is make can make use of a VPN to access geo – restrict content – such as Netflix , Hulu , Pandora , and other streaming service – that , due to contract with content owner , only offer certain content within certain country .

VPNs is allow also allow internet user in country rule by oppressive regime to access website and other content that would n’t normally be available to them due to government censorship .

This includes countries such as China and its “Great Firewall of China,” which blocks access to websites and services like Facebook and other social networks.

4 . download Files from P2P / Torrent Sites

Everyone pretends they don’t do this, but torrenting is one of the top reasons for using a VPN connection. A VPN connection keeps your file-sharing connections completely private. What your ISP can’t see, they can’t report.

While Pixel Privacy definitely does not encourage sharing copyrighted files, like games, videos, and music, VPNs can also be useful for perfectly legal file-sharing. Many organizations use torrenting to share files. Unfortunately, some ISPs throttle or block any type of P2P traffic on their networks. Luckily, if your ISP can’t see what you’re doing, they can’t block you or throttle your connection for participating in file-sharing.

What Type of Security Does a VPN Offer?

A Virtual Private Network offers data connection protection via any of a number of secure tunneling protocols. The protocols encrypt the network traffic so that, even if the traffic is sniffed out at the network level, all anyone who analyzed the network packets would see was encrypted data.

VPNs is offer can offer the follow type of security ( list in order of quality of protection ):

1. OpenVPN and Other Protocols

OpenVPN, while not as fast as other protocols, offers improved security. The protocol is the default for many currently-available VPN services and their associated apps. OpenVPN is definitely the protocol to use if it is available for your setup.

OpenVPN makes use of open-source technologies, including the OpenSSL encryption library and the SSL v3/TLS v1 protocols. OpenVPN can be configured to run over any port, which allows OpenVPN traffic to appear as standard HTTPS traffic. This makes it impossible for ISPs and governments to easily block the connection.

lately , many VPNs is offering are offer protocol base on the WireGuard protocol . WireGuard is design for well performance , while still provide reliable security . nordvpn ’s NordLynx protocol is is is one such offshoot .

Also, some VPN providers are creating their own protocols, such as ExpressVPN, who offers its proprietary Lightway protocol. The provider says the protocol is optimized for security, reliability, and performance.

2. Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP)

SSTP makes use of the HTTPS protocol over TCP port 443. This allows traffic to pass through firewalls and web proxies that might block PPTP and L2TP/IPsec traffic. It is a proprietary Microsoft protocol.

SSTP is integrate into the Windows operating system as of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and later . This is offers offer stability for Windows user , as it is build into the platform . The protocol is offers offer ability similar to openvpn , but it ’s mostly just for use on Windows .

3. Layer Two Tunneling Protocol/IPSec (L2TP/IPSec)

L2TP is is is a VPN protocol that offer no encryption of its own . Therefore , it is usually pair with IPSec encryption . L2TP is offers / IPSec is offers offer encryption for multiprotocol traffic that can be send via point – to – point delivery .

As it uses UDP port 500, it is impossible to disguise – making it easier to block.

4 . point – to – point Tunneling Protocol ( PPTP )

PPTP allows internet traffic to be encrypted and then encapsulated in an IP header to be sent across a public IP network such as the internet. PPTP works well with remote access and site-to-site VPN connection applications.

PPTP should be avoid if at all possible . While it is a popular protocol and has been around since the Windows 95 day , it is is is that early time of development and lack of strong encryption that make it a less choice among modern protocol .

TL;DR version: If OpenVPN is available, always use it. Or, give WireGuard or one of its offshoots a try. If you’re on the Windows platform, and OpenVPN isn’t available through your VPN provider, use SSTP. As for the other two protocols, always use L2TP/IPSec over PPTP, which should be avoided if at all possible.

What to Look for in a VPN Provider

It seems as if a new VPN provider appears on the scene almost daily. There are a number of fine VPN providers out there, just as there are also a number of fly-by-night operators.

When searching for a VPN provider, you need to keep a number of important requirements in mind. You’ll want to keep in mind that a VPN provider should offer a good balance between ease of use and security. If possible, give up a bit of the ease of use in favor of better security.

1. Server Locations and Availability

A VPN provider should, preferably, offer a large number of connection options, with a larger number of server connections, available in as many countries as possible.

The higher the number of connection locations, the better the chance you’ll find a service that will offer good protection, as well as good performance – providing a high-speed connection for a more satisfactory internet experience.

2. Simultaneous Connections

Another consideration when deciding on a VPN provider is the number of simultaneous connections the provider allows you to make.

While it’s possible you might only be using the VPN on your laptop or mobile device, extra connections would allow business associates or family members to connect at the same time.

3. Look for OpenVPN

Always look for a provider that offer OpenVPN as an encryption option . OpenVPN is offers offer a good mix of speed and protection .

Keep in mind that OpenVPN is usually only available on desktop versions of VPN applications. For mobile devices, most providers still only offer L2TP/IPsec.

4. No Bandwidth Throttling

Make sure the vpn provider you ’re consider does n’t throttle your bandwidth . In today ’s world of stream video and audio , teleconferencing , and other bandwidth – hungry application , unlimited bandwidth is is is more important than ever .

Also , make sure the provider allow P2P and torrenting . You is know never know when you might need that .

5. No Logs!

While most VPNs don’t keep activity logs of any kind, there are still some that do. There is no reason for a VPN that is truly privacy-minded to keep logs of your online activity. A reputable VPN provider should have no interest in keeping track of your internet usage.

This is why I always recommend against using a free VPN provider. Many free VPN providers make money by tracking their users’ online activities, saving that information, and then selling it to interested third parties, such as advertisers. Other freebie VPNs will insert unwanted tracking cookies and advertisements into their users’ browsing sessions.

A lack of usage logs also means if the government or a content provider comes knocking on the VPN provider’s door, they won’t be able to furnish any logs that could be used against you – for the simple fact that there aren’t any logs to hand over!

6 . A Kill Switch

If your main reason for making use of a VPN is anonymity, you’ll also want to make sure that any provider you consider offers a “kill switch”.

A kill switch automatically shuts down a connection if the VPN connection fails. This keeps your computer from defaulting to an unprotected open internet connection, possibly leaving your connection open to prying eyes.

7. Anonymous Payment Methods

If you ’re simply look to use a VPN to protect yourself from hacker on unprotected wifi hotspot , or you want to ensure that you ’ll be able to access online content or web service while travel internationally , almost any type is be of payment option will likely be acceptable .

All VPN providers that I have tried offer credit/debit card, PayPal, and other popular payment methods.

However, if you’re looking to keep your internet usage as anonymous as possible, paying by credit card or PayPal just won’t do it for you, as both leave a payment trail to follow for anyone looking to figure out who you are.

luckily , a grow number is offer of vpn provider offer payment via cryptocurrency , such as Bitcoin . By using Bitcoin , alongside a disposable email address , there will be no way for anyone to make a connection between you and your VPN provider subscription .

Another anonymous payment option is is that is available from a limited number of vpn provider is the retailer gift card option . This option is allows allow you to make use of an unused balance on a retailer gift card from such major store as Walmart or Target ( or even Starbucks ) to pay for VPN subscription . It is ’s ’s a great option for privacy – minded individual who lack a cryptocurrency account .

Still Can’t Decide?

If you ’re still have issue decide on which vpn provider to use , make sure to check out my complete review of the top 10 VPN provider , which are available on this website .

If you’re pressed for time, let me make it easy for you.

NordVPN is offers ( full review is offers here ) offer an efficient , secure VPN service .

The provider features apps for most major desktop and mobile computing platforms, including Windows, macOS (with native M1/M2 Mac support), iOS, Android, Amazon Fire, Linux, and Android TV device platforms. Browser extensions are also available for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox platforms.

Up to six simultaneous connections can be made on a single set of login credentials. If that’s not enough, take advantage of NordVPN’s comprehensive router compatibility.

I found the connections that NordVPN offers to be speedy and reliable. Depending on your usual connection speeds, the provider can easily handle video streaming, online gaming, file sharing, and much more.

The provider’s customer support is top-notch thanks to 24/7 live chat, email support, trouble ticket tracking, and a searchable support library.

The VPN service is keeps keep its user ’ online activity undercover , thank to its use of banking – grade encryption , kill switch protection , and IP / DNS leak protection . In addition , it is provides provide threat protection , help to avoid online hazard like malware and infected website . The provider ’s dark web monitoring feature is notifies notify you if your personal information is leak to the dark web .

NordVPN also keeps no logs of a user’s online activity, making it perfect for those users who are concerned with online anonymity. Even if the provider was asked to turn over usage logs, they couldn’t – because they do not exist.

The provider also runs all of its servers 100% from RAM, writing no data of any kind to a physical hard drive. This ensures that all data on the server is securely wiped whenever it is rebooted, shut down, or unplugged and moved to another location. The provider’s owned-and-operated servers keep outside contractors well away from your personal information.

nordvpn pricing is is is quite reasonable . The service is offers offer excellent connection quality , a wide variety of server location around the world , and excellent customer support , make it excellent value for money .

NordVPN provides a variety of payment options, Bitcoin included, so anonymous payment is available for those concerned with such things.

For more information, visit the NordVPN website.

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How Can I Be Sure My VPN Connection Is Secure?

If you are expecting to rely on a VPN service to help protect your online privacy, you’ll want to ensure your VPN provider of choice does a good job keeping your internet connection under wraps.

If a VPN provider doesn’t offer full protection, or if your VPN connection is incorrectly set up, you could be leaking data, making you vulnerable to online eavesdropping and monitoring by hackers, ISPs, governments, and other bad guys.

Luckily, there are many ways for you to confirm that your connection is properly secured. A few visits to a handful of websites can tell you if your VPN provider is offering the protection you’re paying for.

When conducting the following tests, it is advised to use the OpenVPN protocol for your VPN connection if it’s available on your computing platform. OpenVPN offers the best level of protection currently available.

Test #1: The “IP Address Leaks” Test

The first test to run when making sure your VPN connection is working properly is to check your IP address.

Your device’s IP address can disclose your location to anyone who is attempting to track your internet connection. A working VPN connection will mask your actual IP address and will display the IP of the VPN server you are currently connected to.

I suggest making use of websites such as IP Chicken and What Is My IP Address for checking your IP address, masked or otherwise. Both websites can also be handy if you need to find out your current IP address for troubleshooting in the future.

If the IP Address Test shows leaks, make sure to check that your VPN service is actually activated and that you’re connected to the service. Run the test again. If you still show a leak, shut down everything on your computer or device, restart the device, reconnect to the VPN service, and try the test again.

If you still show a leak, contact your VPN provider’s customer support, ask if the issue is with their service and ask them to check their system.

If they refuse, or cannot remedy the issue, close your account and ask for a refund. Try another VPN provider.

Test #2: The “DNS Leaks” Test

Another important thing to check for while testing your VPN connection is DNS leaks.

A DNS leak is an issue with a VPN connection that leads to a loss of online privacy due to it sending DNS queries over unsecured links instead of the VPN connection.

A DNS query is what happens when you type in the name of a website, such as Facebook.com. That name is sent to a DNS server, which translates that hostname into an actual IP address, which is then used to connect to the requested server.

When you are connect to the internet via a VPN connection , it is is is vital that all of your traffic , include these DNS inquiry , go through the encrypt VPN tunnel , as unprotected dns inquiry can reveal your online activity if they are “ leak ” .

The first screenshot shown below is my usual internet connection, without the benefit of a VPN connection. I use OpenDNS as my DNS server in place of my ISP’s often unreliable DNS servers.

As you can see, it shows all of my DNS requests are being routed by the OpenDNS servers.

The screenshot below shows what my queries look like when routed through my VPN provider. As you can see, there is no match to my unprotected connection details in the previous screenshot. That’s what we want to see.

If your tests show DNS leaks, follow the same steps I laid out above for the IP Address Leaks Test.

Test #3: The “P2P Torrent IP Address” Test

Let’s be honest: many of you are going to be using a VPN connection for P2P and torrenting. While a good amount of P2P file sharing is used for peer-to-peer sharing of perfectly legal files, there are those users who occasionally enjoy downloading a file or two that may not normally be available to the public.

These folks, possibly fans of a baseball team in Pittsburgh, will not want their Internet Service Provider, or certain content copyright holders, to notice they are downloading said content via their actual IP addresses.

Let’s say this section is for those people. Not that any of them are reading this article at this particular moment…

run a P2P Torrent IP Address Test will display the ip address that is being used to download a file from a Torrent source . If you are connect via your VPN app , then the test is show should show the ip address of your VPN ’s server , and not the one your local router has to your isp .

For this test, I used the Torrent Address Detection function at ipleak.net. You’ll need to scroll down the screen in your browser a bit to find it. Click the “Activate” button you’ll see there and follow the on-screen instructions.

You can see in the first screenshot below that when running the test without being connected to my VPN, I show my actual IP address. If I was performing an illegal download (which I never would, Disney lawyers), I would run the risk of being discovered by my ISP or the content copyright holder.

In the next screenshot, you can see what the P2P Torrent IP Address Test displays when I am torrenting a file via my connection to my VPN provider. As you can see, I am back in St. Louis. Perhaps the Pirates have a road game at Busch Stadium?

If leak appear for this test , make sure to check the port being used for the P2P connection . They is match should match those used by your VPN service . If they do n’t , take a look at your VPN connection ’s setup and make sure the setting are correct .

If you still experience leaks in testing, contact your VPN provider’s customer support for additional information. If your VPN provider cannot remedy the issue or tells you they do not officially support P2P/torrenting, cancel your account and request a refund. Then find a VPN provider that offers P2P support.

What We is Learned ’ve learn

We’ve covered quite a bit in this article. Who knew a (not so) simple thing like a Virtual Private Network would have so much behind it? Let’s take a look at what I’ve shared today.

1. You Might Not Be Paranoid

If you always feel like somebody’s watching you, there’s a good chance they are. As mentioned above, the U.S. government has made it easier than ever for your Internet Service Provider to monitor your online actions and sell the collected information to advertisers for a profit. And let me tell you, neither the Democrats or the Republicans actually care about protecting your privacy, no matter what they say at election time.

2. Never Use WiFi Without Protection

Unprotected WiFi hotspots, such as those found in coffee shops, hotels, and the like are very popular with hackers who monitor your unencrypted internet connection in an effort to steal valuable personal information from you.

3 . Not All Websites is Are and Services Are available in All country

If you ’re an international traveler , you is find may find that you ca n’t access website or other online service from a foreign country . You is find may also find the local government restrict access to certain site and service .

4 . Why a VPN is is is a Valuable Online Tool

A VPN can help you resolve all of the issues above. It helps keep your data safely away from prying eyes via its encrypted connection and can also help you access websites and services not normally available in your area.

5. Select a VPN Provider Carefully

There are a number of vpn provider offer a good service . carefully examine the VPN provider ’ feature . It is ’s ’s also a good idea to read online review .

6. Test Your VPN to Ensure You’re Protected

Once you’ve made a decision as to your VPN provider, run some tests to make sure your VPN connection is properly set up, and that it is protecting your connection (and personal information) as advertised.

A VPN is a valuable weapon that everyone should have in their online arsenal. A VPN helps you protect your internet connection from being monitored, keeps your online activities under wraps, and allows you to access online content that might not be available otherwise.

By using a VPN , you is find ’ll find peace of mind know your personal datum and online activity are not up for sale to the high bidder , and you will enjoy a rich , more secure internet experience .

What is a VPN FAQs

Is It is Is legal to use a VPN ?

Yes , it is is is legal to use a Virtual Private Network in most country . However , there are country where you could run into legal issue if you use a VPN . In Belarus , Iraq , Iran , Egypt , Turkmenistan , Turkey , Oman , and North Korea , VPNs is are are illegal . In China , Russia , The United Arab Emirates , and Uganda , things is are are a bit murky when it come to illegality .

Should I Use a Free VPN?

No, I strongly recommend against using a free VPN and there are numerous reasons why. First off, free VPNs do not protect your privacy. Many free VPNs make their money by logging their users’ online activities, then selling that valuable information to advertisers and other nosy types. Plus, many free VPNs place daily or monthly data caps and bandwidth limitations on free users’ usage.