More security always means the prevention of many issues. VPN, or in other words, a virtual private network, is one of the ways that we can improve our cyber security with the help of the concept of virtualization. More explicitly, a VPN or Virtual Private Network is a secure tunnel that connects your device to another network on the Internet without being traced—a VPN can connect to corporate networks or the Internet without revealing your information to websites.
But the main concern for some is the matter of safety and online security—is VPN safe? In the following, we will discuss this hypothesis. But before that, we must go through many other things to resolve this concern.
VPN Users statistics
In the world, 30 percent of people use VPNs for personal use. In the business world, about 40% of people work with VPN. In other words, we make out that there are over 1.6 billion (31% of all internet users) use VPNs– a fifth of the world population. The use of VPN is more popular among men. Men own 60% of VPNs, and women should learn to use this technology more.
How does a VPN work?
When you access a website without a VPN, you connect to the website through your Internet Service Provider or ISP. The ISP assigns you a unique address that refers you to the website. Since your ISP manages and routes all your traffic, you can see what websites you visit, and your activities can be linked to you through the same IP address.
The VPN creates a secure tunnel (i.e. a safe connection) between itself and one of the servers, and all internet traffic, from your apps and websites, will be received through this tunnel. Using a VPN, you turn its server into your data source, so third-party eyes can no longer pry into your online activities.
- VPN encrypts all your information like a filter (turning it into unreadable codes), and even if someone gets access to your information, they still won't be able to read it.
VPN advantages
Here’s a short list of VPN benefits:
Hiding your location
VPNs hide your IP address; therefore, you are not dispensable to third parties. Additionally, most VPN services do not store your internet logs. So, third parties only see the IP address of the VPN server they are connected to, and the rest of their location remains hidden.
Data encryption
As mentioned above, VPNs encrypt all your data and online affairs by creating a connection point between your device and the VPN server. The encryption is so complex that if hackers use a brute-force attack, they will still take millions of years to decipher.
Secured data transfer
VPN always secures data transfer, so we should use it. Your work may be remote, and you can access important files of your company's network. It is better to go to a safe place, to access such information using a secure VPN and prevent them from being stolen.
Overcoming the online censorship
In many countries, governments restrict or block certain internet services, websites and applications. (For example, China has blocked Google, Facebook and all related services such as Gmail, Google Maps, WhatsApp and Instagram). With the help of a VPN, you can bypass censorship and its restrictions and connect to a server in another country.
Anonymous downloading
Downloading a large number of software, applications, songs or movies, and series is illegal in most countries due to the copyright law, and those who download it can be prosecuted. By using a VPN, others cannot find out what you download or do online, so use VPN to vary all your traffic and change your IP address.
Good VPNs
One of the best ways to identify a good (or bad) VPN is to check its support site and protocols. Some providers respond to you within minutes, which is an advantage. VPN prices are important, but their performance is more.
VPN Protocols
VPNs have protocols in place that enable users to connect to VPN servers. Protocols define how your VPN connections work from start to finish.
OpenVPN
OpenVPN is an open-source VPN protocol. If there is a problem, this fast and safe protocol uses OpenSSL, SSLV3 and TLSV1 protocols to encrypt user data. Openvpn, which has many advanced users and is considered the best protocol, is one of Revea's platforms.
WireGuard
Wireguard is a relatively old protocol made with only four lines of code and is better than OpenVPN and IPSec protocols in terms of energy consumption and performance. Edge Security LLC develops the implementation of this free and open-source protocol. WireGuard supports
- Windows,
- Android,
- IOS,
- FreeBSD,
- NetBSD,
- OpenBSD
- macOS platforms.
IKEv2 protocol (Internet key exchange version 2)
IKEv2 stands for Internet Key Exchange version 2, is equal to WireGuard in terms of quality and is popular among mobile phone users. This protocol on IPSec can be switched through connected networks at high speed. Like OpenVPN, IKEv2 uses 256-bit encryption, but it's not open-source. This protocol supports the following:
- macOS,
- Android,
- Linux,
- Unix,
- iOS,
- Blackberry platforms.
Should we use a monetarily charged VPN?
Users' main goal in purchasing a VPN is to suit their needs. Can VPN stream make you happy? Go for it so, then! But seek out if it keeps information when affairs go online. Overall, it is a solution provider. A provider that offers different locations and platforms to cover is worth a monthly fee to obviate our needs.
Purchased VPNs usually provide traffic at a better speed and do not disconnect intermittently. Try to have one because it is worthwhile.
Final Thought
In this article, we tried to teach you why you should trust VPNs. If you have a special experience in this field, share it with us. In conclusion, VPNs can be valuable for enhancing online security and privacy. While they provide strong encryption and can protect your data, it's important to choose a reputable VPN provider and understand the potential limitations and risks associated with VPN usage. VPNs can offer a safer online experience with proper precautions and informed usage.
People also read:
- Tips for Safe Internet Browsing
- What is a Digital Footprint?
- How To Safely Post Content Online
- Are Your Mobile Transactions Safe?
Do you value your privacy online?
Use VPN Surf and surf safely and securely in the open waters of the internet.
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