In this article, we’ll explain what a VPN connection is, what it’s used for, and how it may benefit your online experience. Despite the fact that VPN connections have been around for a long time, they are just now gaining popularity with the general population. Traditionally, these connections were used primarily in the workplace, but their adaptability and many applications have made them more popular.
There is a lot of misconception regarding what VPNs are due to their rising association with “evil” (in quotation marks), since some of its uses include circumventing regional restrictions, enhancing online anonymity, and even blocking advertising content.
What is a virtual private network (VPN)?
Get the basics down first. VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, and unlike other more esoteric computer terms like DNS or HTTP, it gives us very clear hints as to what it is.
As we will see later, the need for a virtual private network (VPN) and the ability to use a VPN for a variety of purposes is based on this property.
Most of your devices communicate with a router or modem that connects your home’s Internet service to the Internet provider, either through cable or wirelessly. If you’re using your phone’s data connection (which includes its own modem and talks to the cell tower), the components are different, but the essence is the same: Your device connects to another, which connects it to the Internet.
The most common scenario is that you have multiple devices connected to the same router: phones, computers, consoles, etc. As a result, no one on the network will be able to see their actual Internet Protocol (IP) address. This is a local network, a collection of devices that can share files and printers without the need for an Internet connection.
It is possible to create a local network without the need for its members to be physically connected to each other, but rather through the Internet using a VPN connection. This is what we meant by the “virtual” component we discussed earlier. Because the connection is made over the Internet, it is possible to have it go from one end of the world to the other, giving you the benefits of a local network as well as some extras.
Data tunnels, however, are what have made VPN connections so popular in recent years. Typically, when you use the Internet, your device communicates with your Internet service provider, which connects to the various online sites to provide you with, for example, YouTube videos.
This changes when you connect to a VPN connection. All of your network traffic is still routed via your Internet service provider, but now it is going through a VPN server instead, and then it will be sent to its intended destination. Ideally, your Internet service provider (ISP) does not know what you’re accessing since the connection is encrypted. As long as you’re connected to the Internet via a VPN server, your IP address seems to be that of the VPN server.
What are the benefits of using a virtual private network?
You’ve probably already come up with a few scenarios in which a VPN connection may be beneficial, based on the descriptions above. Everyone knows how vital they are in the workplace, but that’s not the only place they come in handy. Using a VPN for these purposes is the most common.
Telecommuting
An obvious purpose of a virtual private network (VPN), such as when employees are out of the office or when a company has branches in other locations, is to provide access to a single private network.
Allowing arbitrary Internet access to a company’s own network is absurd from a security perspective. Public WiFi hotspots or a hostile observer might still get access to a password-protected account even if it is password-protected.
In fact, a VPN connection between the employee and the organization reduces security risks. As though he were physically there, access is safeguarded through an encrypted and secure connection.
Bypassing geo-blocking and censorship of material
The Internet’s popularity and the roguishness of content producers and consumers alike have led to additional, more entertaining applications of VPN connections, many of which are based on the basic premise of pretending to be somewhere else.
It is the VPN server that connects with the Internet when you use a virtual private network (VPN). VPN servers in the United States may fool web servers into thinking you’re accessing information exclusively accessible there, such as Netflix, even though you’re really in China.
It is also possible to view material that is restricted or forbidden in your country, but not in the VPN server’s location. Many Chinese nationals are able to access Facebook and other websites that are restricted in China by using this method.
Additional safety measures
VPN connections sometimes include encryption of the packets they broadcast, even if it isn’t required. As a result, the advice to use a VPN while connecting to a public Wi-Fi access point is rather widespread.
Because it is quite simple for a criminal to steal unencrypted data packets from a public WiFi network and get access to your bank accounts, it is generally not the greatest idea to log into your bank accounts while connected to such a network. This is where a VPN connection adds an added degree of protection since the packets are transmitted encrypted, making it unlikely that anybody listening could do anything with them.
On the other hand, although you may be wary about using public Wi-Fi, you are relying on a VPN server that has the ability to log everything you do and sell that information to the highest bidder. When it comes to a virtual private network (VPN), the provider is as important as the product. A virtual private network (VPN) provides an extra degree of protection but may also be used as a front for the adversary to monitor everything you do online.
P2P Torrenting
Another widespread application of VPN connections is for P2P downloads, which these days is often associated with downloading via BitTorrent. P2P downloading may benefit from VPN connections even if you are downloading legal torrents, so don’t put an eye patch on me and make me walk through the keel just yet!.
The reality is that Internet providers are increasingly deciding to pry into how we transmit and receive zeros and ones on the Internet, and although they love it when we view conventional websites, they do not like it when we download: too much traffic, and you are definitely downloading anything illicit.
Some service providers prevent you from downloading P2P files at all, while others just boycott it, causing your download to fail and you to give up hope. Just as you may use a VPN connection to escape restrictions in your country, you can also sometimes prevent your Internet provider from boycotting your P2P downloads.
Benefits of Using a VPN
Now that we’ve established what a virtual private network (VPN) is and what it’s used for, let’s take a look at the positives and negatives of implementing one. In the beginning, the good news:
- Unlike proxy servers, which you can only use in the online browser, and a few other programs that enable you to configure sophisticated connection settings, it works in all apps since it directs all internet traffic.
- Connects and disconnects with ease. The connection may be turned on and off at any time once it has been set up.
- As long as the WiFi connection is encrypted, further security may be added to WiFi access points.
- Use a virtual private network (VPN) to mask your location, as we saw in the previous section, this may help you circumvent content filtering and access material restricted by area.
- It’s impossible for your Internet service provider to know what you’re doing online. What if your internet service provider knows that you spend hours on YouTube watching cat videos? They won’t know what you’re up to if you use a VPN, but the VPN provider will.
At this point, it seems that utilizing a VPN connection has a lot of advantages: increased security and privacy, circumvention of geographic restrictions… There are a few parts to go through before you purchase or join up for a free VPN service. The following are important considerations to bear in mind:
Create your own server or use a third-party VPN
When it comes to using a virtual private network, signing up with a service provider is the most common and easiest method to get started. This may cost you as little as two euros per month up to more than 10 euros per month for the privilege of using their service, which frequently comes with an official VPN software that makes things even simpler for you.
However, if you want complete control over your connection or don’t trust anybody, you may adopt the “if you want things done well, you should do it yourself” mindset. Having access to a PC in another nation, where you can take use of some of the benefits we discussed before, is an uncommon occurrence (avoid censorship, geographical blocks).
One notable exception is for regular travelers who use their home PC to set up a VPN so that they may access their files from any location and use services like Netflix or Spotify that were previously only accessible in their home country.
OpenVPN is the ideal solution if you want to set up a VPN server on your Windows PC or a distant server under your control. Download it here, but know that setting up a VPN server isn’t as straightforward as clicking “Next” and “Next” and “Next.”
Setting up a virtual private network (VPN) and connecting to it
Nowadays, you may connect to a VPN connection without installing any extra software on almost any operating system, regardless of version. It’s all you need is the VPN provider’s login information, such as the server address, the kind of VPN, and your user credentials. You don’t need any other information.
Windows
A VPN connection with Windows XP is available without the need for extra software, but the support for the various methods of encryption is more limited the older your version of Windows.
VPN networks may be accessed by following these steps:
Launch the Network and Sharing Center
Tap Connect to a fresh source of information.
Choose Connect to a company network.
Enter the server location, type of VPN, and your user name.
With the Modern UI in Windows 10, you may also utilize the following mode:
Open the PC settings.
Go to the Internet and the Network.
Begin by clicking on “VPN.”
Tap Connect to a virtual private network (VPN).
On a Mac, enter the server information, the VPN type, and the credentials of your user.
In order for Mac OSX to have VPN support, it would have to be included by default. Follow these steps on your Mac to establish a VPN connection:
Select Network in System Preferences from the Apple menu.
At the bottom of the list of network services, tap the Add (+) button.
You may choose VPN from the Interface drop-down menu.
Set the remaining options, such as connection type and authentication, on Linux.
The network-manager-vpnc package, which is not installed by default in Ubuntu, is required to connect to a VPN server on Linux. You may either use the program manager that comes with your operating system or the command line to install it.
The following command installs the Network Manager VPN Client for Linux: sudo apt-get install
Then, take the following actions:
Simply click the network symbol (the two arrows) on the top bar of Ubuntu to access the network.
Navigate to the dropdown menu and choose Setup a VPN Connection
Click on “Add” to include that information (or import, if you have a config file)
Fill out the remaining fields, such as the encryption type and your login credentials, by following the on-screen directions.
Android
Depending on the version of Android you have installed and the modifications made to the menus by your manufacturer, Android has its own VPN client. A good place to start is with:
To access Settings, click on the gear icon.
Navigate to the area titled “Wireless networks” or something similar on your computer.
Other or More Networks is where you’ll find VPN connections.
To establish a VPN connection, go to the VPN area and hit the Plus (+) button.
Fill in the name, type of VPN, server location, and encryption method.
iOS
Compared to Android, the procedure on iOS is a lot more straightforward. Follow these steps to establish a VPN connection on your iPhone or iPad:
Open the Settings.
Take a look at the General tab.
Make your way to the VPN area by swiping left or right.
Add a VPN setup by pressing the Add button.
Enter your server’s IP address and username in the appropriate fields for the kind of VPN service you’re using.