What is VPN or Virtual Private Network?

Sanoj
4 min readOct 16, 2023

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A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a specialized virtual network that provides a secure connection over the internet.

It encrypts your internet traffic and hides your online identity, making it significantly harder for third parties to access your data or monitor your online activities.

By connecting your PC or smartphone to a server computer through a VPN, you can securely browse the internet.

Many people and businesses use VPNs all around the world to keep their information safe from online criminals, and it’s totally okay to do so.

In regions where there may be strict government regulations, VPNs are particularly valuable for ensuring online privacy.

Now you might be wondering🤔, how does a VPN work?
Here is the answer😊 to what you might be wondering:

When you connect to a secure VPN server, your internet traffic passes through an encrypted tunnel, making it invisible to potential snoopers(Unwanted observers), including hackers, government entities, and your internet service provider.

In simpler terms, it means that nobody can spy on your online activity or access your data. Now, let’s look at how VPN works in two different situations.

Without VPN

When we access a website without a VPN, our internet service provider (ISP) helps us connect to the site. However, the ISP can see which websites we visit because it handles our online traffic directly, compromising our privacy.

With VPN

When we use a VPN to connect to the internet, the VPN app on our device, also known as the VPN client, establishes a secure connection with a VPN server.

Our internet traffic still passes through our ISP, but now, the ISP can’t see👀 the final destination of that traffic or the original IP address of the websites we visit.

So, why do we need a VPN🤔? Microsoft first developed VPNs in 1996 to enable remote employees working outside the office to securely access their company’s internet network.

As this significantly improved productivity, many other companies adopted VPNs as well.

You should consider using a VPN whenever online privacy is crucial, like during streaming, travel, using public Wi-Fi, playing games, or shopping.

Now that you understand how a VPN works and when to use it, let’s explore the different types of VPNs. There are two primary types:

Remote Access VPN

Through remote access VPNs, users can connect to another network using a private encryption tunnel. This is particularly useful for businesses to access their internet servers or public internet securely.

Site-to-Site VPN

Site-to-site VPNs, also known as router-to-router VPNs , are often used in corporate environments, especially when a company has multiple branches. It establishes secure internal network connections

across different locations, creating what’s known as an intranet.

Benefits of Using VPN

Using a VPN offers several benefits, such as hiding your browsing history, IP address, location, streaming location, devices, and web activity.

Disadvantage of using VPN

However, VPNs also have some drawbacks, including potentially slower speeds, lack of cookie protection, and not providing complete privacy, as the VPN provider itself could access your data.

How to Choose The trustworthy provider

Therefore, choosing a trustworthy provider is essential, considering factors like speed, privacy, protocols, reputation, data limits, server locations, device compatibility, cost, encryption, customer support, and the availability of a free trial or ad-blocking features.

What are devices is sutable for VPN

Finally, you can use a VPN with a variety of devices, including laptops, tablets, smartphones, voice assistants, smart appliances, and smart TVs. Most VPN providers offer multi-platform services.

Many providers offer free versions, but they may have limitations like data caps. Paid VPNs or those with free trials are worth considering.

You can download VPN clients for your Windows PC, Mac, Android, iPhone, iPad, and other devices from trusted providers such as Express VPN, TunnelBear, or Strong VPN, and explore their free trial options.

In conclusion, VPNs are an invaluable tool in safeguarding your online privacy and security. They provide a shield against prying eyes, ensuring that your data remains private and your identity protected.

Whether you’re working remotely, streaming your favorite content, or simply browsing the web, using a VPN can greatly enhance your online experience.

Thank you!! for reading ,I hope you found this information helpful! 😊🔒

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