A VPN (virtual private network) is a service that creates a secure and encrypted online connection. Internet users can use a VPN to ensure more privacy and anonymity online or to avoid blocking and censorship based on geographic location. VPNs essentially extend a private network across a public network, which should allow a user to securely send and receive data over the Internet.
Typically, a VPN is used on a less secure network, such as the public Internet. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) typically have a large amount of information about a customer’s activities. Additionally, some unsecured Wi-Fi access points (APs) can be a convenient avenue for attackers to gain access to a user’s personal data. A person surfing the Internet might use a VPN simply to protect themselves from intrusions into their privacy.
VPNs can be used to hide a user’s browser history, Internet Protocol (IP) address and geographic location, web activity, or the devices being used. Anyone on the same network will not be able to see what a VPN user is doing. This makes VPNs a go-to tool for online privacy.
A VPN uses tunneling protocols to encrypt data at the sending end and decrypt it at the receiving end. The originating and receiving network addresses are also encrypted to provide greater security for online activities.
VPN apps are often used to protect data transmissions on mobile devices. They can also be used to visit location-restricted websites. However, secure access through a mobile VPN should not be confused with private browsing. Private browsing does not necessarily imply encryption; it is just an optional browser setting that prevents user-identifiable data such as preferences from being captured.
Uses of the virtual private network
Both ordinary Internet users and organizations use VPNs for virtual privacy. Organizations can use a VPN to ensure that any external users accessing their data center are authorized, using encrypted channels. They can also use a VPN to connect to a database of the same organization located in a different area.
VPNs can also be used to provide remote employees, gig economy freelancers, and business travelers with access to software applications hosted on proprietary networks. To gain access to a restricted resource through a VPN, the user must be authorized to use the virtual private network application. They must provide one or more authentication factors. They can be passwords, security tokens or biometric data.
While browsing the web, an Internet user could have information, including browsing habits or IP address, that an attacker accesses. If privacy is a concern, then a VPN can give the user peace of mind. Encryption, anonymity, and the ability to bypass geo-blocked content is what most people find valuable in a VPN.
How does a VPN work?
Basically, VPN tunneling creates a point-to-point connection so that unauthorized users cannot access it in any way. To actually create the tunnel, a tunneling protocol is used on existing networks. Different VPNs will use different tunneling protocols, such as OpenVPN or Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP). The endpoint device must be running a VPN client (software application) locally or in the cloud. The client will run in the background. The end user doesn’t notice it unless there are performance issues.
By using a VPN tunnel, a user’s device will connect to another network while the data is encrypted and the IP address is hidden. This is what will hide private information from attackers or others hoping to gain access to an individual’s activities. The tunnel will connect a person’s device to an exit node in a different location, making it appear that the person is in another location.
VPNs will associate a user’s browsing history with the IP address of the VPN server. VPN services will have servers located in different geographic areas, so it will appear that the user could be from any of those locations.
Performance can be affected by many factors, including the speed of users’ Internet connections, the types of protocol a VPN provider may use, and the type of encryption they use.
