Security online is a big worry for everybody. Enhancing it through different tools and tech resources is a constant task. In this context, VPN is an attractive and efficient solution, businesses and common users should get involved with.
What is VPN?
VPN is Virtual Private Network, and it is a protocol that allows you to turn a public connection into a private network. VPN is a helpful ally to strengthen security by protecting data and making your Internet connection safer.
There were different developing efforts before modern VPN. In 1993, AT&T Bell Labs and Columbia University produced a software IP encryption protocol called swIPe. In 1994, another protocol for encrypting and authenticating info packets transferred online was created by Wei Xu.
Later, a Microsoft’s developer created the peer-to-peer tunneling protocol (PPTN) in 1996. The objective was to build a safe network for users based on encrypting data and a private tunnel on WAN or LAN connections.
How does VPN work?
If you use a public connection, VPN will turn it into a private and safe virtual network by masking your IP address. It gives your IP address an effective disguise for your online searches and movements not to be traced. A specifically configured remote server owned by a VPN host redirects your IP address to hide it. Enabling VPN every time you connect will make the VPN server your data’s source. Internet providers, search engines, third parties won’t see what you do due to the VPN tunnel you are in.
Your actual location and history of searches will also be hidden because all your internet activities, conveniently, will be connected to the VPN server’s IP address.
A very attractive VPN’s feature is the real-time encryption it uses in every connection to protect the transfers of your private data from hackers or third parties trying to track you to steal your sensitive data. Info keeps encoded during its transfer to a specific destination.
All you need to transfer data through VPN is an username, password, and server address.
Benefits of having a VPN
Security is the main benefit, and it spreads on different levels.
- Anonymity and privacy. Internet providers can be trustable, but if they are not or they get hacked, your daily online history, searches, and cookies can be shared for espionage or commercial purposes. Harassment by advertisers and other entities could be so annoying and even dangerous. Your personal, financial, private data could get really compromised.
- Secure information transfers. Nowadays, remote work is a strong trend, so businesses need their employees to have secure access to their networks and security guarantees for the info they exchange online, no matter their location on the planet.
- Extra authentication. There are different security methods among providers, but they usually give authentication features, check every attempt to log in and keep away uninvited entities from accessing your connection.
- Personal devices’ protection. Cybercriminals can really go so far when it is about violating your privacy. Protect and limit access to your phones, tablets, laptops, or desktop computers. Keep prying eyes away.
- Trustable use of public networks. You and many more people can access a network for legal and illegal purposes. Be secure in public networks while using your private tunnel for every connection.
- Access to worldwide content. For sure, you have gotten disappointing messages like “this content is not available for your country”. Services can track your location because common connections use local servers. VPN hides your real location and changes it for the VPN’s server one. So you can skip this obstacle.
Conclusion
Internet is a key component in our lives. Our business is online, our banking, payment systems, entertainment, etc. Never underestimate your security. Try VPN and feel the difference.