What are VPNs & How Do VPNs Work?

Everyone knows what a VPN is, but most people need help understanding how and why it works. Therefore this write-up will be here to explain it in the simplest way that I can.

A virtual private network otherwise known as a VPN increases our privacy online by hiding information. As you might already know, every computer connected to the internet has a unique IP address attached to it and this IP address is there to identify the computer on the network. Think of it like a unique name. Now a generic VPN essentially hides our online activity using IP addresses. For this to happen, it needs 2 things.

A VPN Client — This is installed on your device as it relays your requests to the VPN server

A VPN Server — This is a physical server that handles all the requests the vpn client needs

Now imagine you want to browse the internet but you don’t want anyone else to know that you’re the one browsing or you would like to access something only available in another country. In the case of a VPN.

• Well, first you turn on the VPN client and search for something on Google, like Netflix, this request gets put into a secure box.
• Before that box goes out to the internet, the VPN client intercepts it and changes the search to say that the request is from the VPN Client and not you.
• The box is then sent through the internet to the VPN server.
• The server receives the box opens it with its key, and sees your request.
• They then try to fulfil this request. For example, if you wanted to watch American Netflix shows…the VPN client would send the box to the VPN server in America.
• The server then gets the response like the latest shows available to watch in the country, so they take this response and put it back in the box, lock it, and send it back to the VPN client which then passes the box back to you.
• When the box gets back to you, you use your key to open it and see the information you asked for. The cool part? No one outside of this process knows it was you asking.

Neat right?

I am Nelson Chukwuemeka-Awuja and I am currently an application support analyst within the fintech industry. My journey has been intrinsically intertwined with the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity, a domain where precision, vigilance, and adaptability are paramount. As a future cybersecurity professional, I am committed to knowledge dissemination. Join me on an insightful journey through the dynamic landscape of cybersecurity. Together, we will explore the latest cybersecurity trends, dissect real-world cyber threats, and delve into the realm of digital defence.

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