What is a VPN? Understanding What VPN Stands For

Most people spend a lot of time on the internet every day, and they therefore build up a large amount of internet traffic. Internet traffic can be insecure, so it’s a good idea to use a VPN. Virtual private networks (VPNs) provide a secure way to browse the internet and protect personal information.

Definition of a VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a technology that creates a secure and encrypted connection between a user’s device and a VPN server. This connection allows users to access the internet securely and privately, hiding their IP address and location from third parties. A VPN is termed “virtual” because it establishes a digital tunnel between the user’s device and the VPN server, and it is “private” because it encrypts the data transmitted through this tunnel. By doing so, a VPN ensures that your online activities remain confidential and protected from prying eyes, making it an essential tool for maintaining privacy on the internet.

Why use a virtual private network connection?

VPN stands for “Virtual Private Network” and allows you to create a protected network connection when using public networks.

When you connect to the internet, a VPN encrypts your internet traffic and hides your online identity. This makes it harder for third parties to track your online activities and steal your data. The encryption takes place instantly and creates a secure connection.

So a VPN protects your privacy when you access the internet, both on your computer and on other devices. This ensures that cybercriminals can’t see your online activities.

A secure VPN connection on the go

When you go online via public Wi-Fi networks, for example on the train or in a restaurant, cybercriminals can easily monitor your internet traffic and access your personal information. A VPN connection creates a secure encryption of your traffic and protects your data.

When you’re on open and public networks, it’s a good idea to have a VPN, as they are typically the hacker’s way into your device.

Your IP address reveals you

On a regular internet connection without a VPN, the IP address (a unique ID number on your computer or other devices) is available. The address is assigned by your ISP, so all your online activity can be traced back to you. This is because the IP address is stored every time you visit a website. An internet service provider can monitor and log your activities, potentially selling your browsing history. A VPN prevents this by masking your real IP address and encrypting your internet traffic.

Once the server hosting the website has stored your device’s IP address, you can access the website. This can potentially make you vulnerable to hackers, as there is a “bridge” between the internet and your device.

Cyber criminals can steal information about you as the information is passed back and forth between the server and your device.

Anonymize your IP address

You can protect your data and privacy with a VPN. A VPN connection can hide your IP address by allowing the VPN connection to redirect it through a specially configured remote server controlled by a VPN host. This means that when you browse the internet with a VPN, the VPN server is the source of your data.

Your ISP and other third parties therefore cannot see what websites you visit or what data you send and receive over the internet. A VPN acts like a filter, turning all your data into unreadable information. It is therefore useless to hackers should they gain access to it.

Access to content from other countries

Content online, such as films and series on streaming services, is not always available everywhere. Some services and websites have content that can only be accessed from certain parts of the world. The default connections use the country’s local servers to determine your location. This means that you cannot access the content if you are not in the country where the content is offered.

Many VPNs have location spoofing, which means that when you use a VPN, you can switch to a server in another country and thus “change” your location to make it look like you’re connected to a network in that country.

So if you want to watch movies that aren’t available in the country you live in, or you want to watch home content when you’re abroad, you can switch the location to the country you want when you use a VPN.

Benefits of Using a VPN

Using a VPN provides several benefits that enhance your online experience:

Enhanced security and protection from cyber threats: A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it difficult for hackers and cybercriminals to intercept your data.
Anonymity and privacy while browsing the internet: By masking your IP address, a VPN ensures that your online activities cannot be traced back to you.
Access to geo-restricted content and websites: VPNs allow you to bypass regional restrictions and access content that may be unavailable in your location.
Bypassing censorship and restrictions imposed by governments or ISPs: A VPN can help you circumvent internet censorship and access blocked websites.
Secure online transactions and protection from identity theft: VPNs provide a secure environment for online banking and shopping, protecting your sensitive information from theft.
Protection from data throttling and bandwidth limitations: Some ISPs throttle your internet speed based on your activities. A VPN can help you avoid these limitations and enjoy a smoother internet access experience.

VPN Pros and Cons

While VPNs offer numerous benefits, there are also some drawbacks to consider:

Pros:

Improved security and protection from cyber threats: VPNs encrypt your data, making it difficult for malicious actors to access your information.
Enhanced anonymity and privacy: By hiding your IP address, VPNs ensure that your online activities remain private.
Access to geo-restricted content and websites: VPNs allow you to access content that may be restricted in your region.
Bypassing censorship and restrictions: VPNs help you overcome internet censorship and access blocked websites.
Secure online transactions: VPNs provide a secure environment for online banking and shopping.

Cons:

Potential slowdown in internet speeds: The encryption process can sometimes slow down your internet connection.
Cost of subscription: High-quality VPN services often require a paid subscription.
Complexity of setup and configuration: Some VPNs can be challenging to set up and configure, especially for non-tech-savvy users.
Limited server locations and availability: Free VPNs often have fewer server locations, which can limit your access to certain content.
Potential for VPN server overload: High demand on certain VPN servers can lead to slower connection speeds.

How do I connect to a VPN?

There are different ways you can connect to a VPN, but the easiest way to get a VPN is to download a VPN client from a VPN provider.

Most VPNs possess a number of different servers around the world that you can use to encrypt your internet traffic and stay safer online. All you need to do is download a VPN client and connect to the VPN server you want via the VPN client’s application.

You should remember that there’s a big difference in how good these VPN services are when it comes to elements such as the security, speed and stability of the servers.

How does a VPN work?

Setting up a Virtual Private Network requires a server and a consumer. In most cases, you’ll just be a consumer or user on a VPN network. For example, you might want to connect to your company’s network. When you use paid VPN services, the server is already available.

Once you’re logged in, a secure connection is created between your device and the internet. This connection ensures that all data sent and received over the internet is encrypted. This ensures that only the sender (you) and the receiver (the website you’re accessing) can see the data being sent. This is why it is also called a “VPN tunnel”.

VPN protocols are essential for determining the functionality of VPN connections, influencing both speed and security. Various popular protocols such as OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard each have their respective advantages, making it important to select the right protocol for optimal performance.

The encryption that happens to your data can only be decoded with a special key. It’s just your computer, or other device, and the VPN, who knows this key. Not even your ISP can see your online activities.

When you are logged into the VPN connection and you go online, your device will be on the VPN’s local network and your IP address can be changed to an IP address provided by the VPN server.

VPN Servers

VPN servers are remote servers configured to accept VPN connections from users. These servers are typically located in various countries and regions, allowing users to access geo-restricted content and websites. When you connect to a VPN server, your internet traffic is routed through this server, masking your IP address and making it appear as though you are browsing from the server’s location. This not only enhances your privacy but also enables you to bypass regional restrictions and access content from around the world. VPN servers play a crucial role in the functionality of a VPN, providing the necessary infrastructure for secure and private internet access.

Which VPN service to choose?

There are a number of different VPN providers on the internet, offering both free VPN connections and paid VPN connections.

The best VPNs are those that cost money, such as ExpressVPN or NordVPN. Some VPN providers have additional security features, such as:

Double encryption
Security scans
Ad blocking

Most free VPNs have very few servers available compared to the paid versions, and there are also usually very few countries to connect to. They are furthermore typically slow and create an unstable connection to the internet.

What should a good VPN do for a secure connection?

When choosing a VPN, make sure your VPN service can perform a number of tasks, including those already mentioned above. In addition, the VPN should also protect you from compromise. Here are the features you should look for to get the best VPN service:

IP address encryption: The VPN's primary job is to hide your IP address from your ISP and other third parties. That way, you can send and receive information via the web, through a secure connection - without the danger of anyone other than you and your VPN provider seeing your data.
Encryption of other protocols: The VPN should prevent you from leaving digital traces, such as internet history, search history and cookies. Cookie encryption is especially important because it prevents third parties from accessing confidential information, such as personal and financial data.
Two-factor authentication: By using two-factor authentication, a VPN makes your accounts even more secure. For example, this can be done by entering your password for an account and then sending a code to your mobile device, or via authenticator apps where you need to log in with an additional password, biometric data, etc. This makes it harder for unwanted third parties to access your accounts.
Kill switch: If your VPN connection is suddenly disconnected, your secure connection is also disconnected. A good VPN will detect the sudden disconnection and terminate/close active applications, reducing the risk of data being compromised.

Summary on VPN

A VPN connection creates a secure link between you and the internet. The VPN sends all your data traffic through an encrypted virtual tunnel. It hides your IP address when you use the internet, making your digital location invisible to everyone except yourself and your VPN provider.

VPNs give you access to regionally restricted content no matter where in the world it comes from. Many streaming platforms, or parts of their content, are not available in all countries, but you can still access them through a VPN.

There are also many providers of VPN connections for smartphones that anonymise your mobile traffic. You can find certified VPN providers in the Google Play Store or iOS App Store.

Important to remember

It's important to point out that only your internet traffic is anonymised and protected via a VPN. The VPN does not protect you from hacker attacks, Trojans, viruses or other malware.

Therefore, you should also always use antivirus software on all your devices and be aware of cyber threats such as phishing attacks or malware.

What is a VPN? Understanding What VPN Stands For