How VPN works?

A VPN enables users to send and receive data across public networks as if their devices were directly connected to the private network...

How VPN works

If this is your first visit to VPN Reports, you may don’t know what a VPN stands for, let alone how it works. Worry not my friend, we’re here to help — that’s what this article is all about. Here, we’ll try to explain the basics without going into much technical detail. It is our hope that in the end, you will join our tribe and get a VPN for yourself. Even more, we hope you’ll suggest it to everyone you know.

How does a VPN work?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and it is the technology that enables users to send and receive data across public networks as if their devices were directly connected to the private network. All this happens in the background, with users not even knowing they’re connected to a VPN — all they have to do is press the “connect” button and they’re good to go.

Originally invented to allow users to connect to their home or office network while they’re on a different location, a VPN uses special protocols to encrypt all communication between your device(s) and the rest of the world. As a result, no one can snoop into your data as it passes through the network.

In other words, a VPN establishes a virtual point-to-point connection using so-called tunneling protocols over existing networks. And in that sense, there are two key ways of how a VPN protects users on the Internet…

1. Protecting user’s privacy

This we think is the most important reason why more people are getting a VPN these days. With its ability to encrypt all traffic on the Internet, a VPN makes sure that even if your data is intercepted – the malicious actor wouldn’t be able to do anything with it.

In a different scenario, a VPN protects your privacy by hiding what you’re doing online from the likes of Google and Facebook — both of which are known for keeping track of every move we make online. And, obviously, we don’t like that.

We all remember the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal so we realize where (misuse of) this tracking could lead. Most people don’t want to be tracked online and with a VPN, they get to keep what you’re doing on the Internet under the radar.

Like that’s not enough, there are also various government agencies looking to build our digital profiles by analyzing what and when we do on the Internet. And again, a VPN will protect you here as well.

2. Protecting users when connecting to public Wi-Fi

You have probably heard the “common sense advice” not to use public Wi-Fi networks; however, sometimes that is not an option – you have to connect to get something done online.

In those instances, you better have a VPN running on all your devices to stay safe from malicious actors trying to snoop into your traffic. The number of these “man in the middle” attacks has been growing in recent years – so you better protect yourself on a public Wi-Fi hotspot. And by that, we mean getting a VPN.

VPN offers so much more…

Keeping you protected on the Internet is a good reason to get a VPN, but there are also other benefits you’ll get as part of the deal.

For example, you can use a VPN to access video streaming services from anywhere. This is especially important when visiting other countries when a service like Netflix could block you from accessing your own account. That’s just the way these services work as they have content rights to deal with.

A VPN once again comes to the rescue, allowing you to trick Netflix’s servers into “thinking” that you’re in the U.S. (or wherever), while in reality – you could be on the opposite side of the globe.

Another popular use case for VPNs is to bypass restrictions that could be imposed in schools and universities, workplaces, and some (high-censorship) countries. Again, with a VPN, you get to select the (server) location and roam the Internet like it’s nobody’s business.

We truly believe that everyone should have a VPN these days, and the easiest way to do so is to visit our page with Best of the Best VPNs. We’ve tested a few dozen different services and out of them – we selected those that are worth your time and money. So, check out that page and thank us later. 😉