Today, there will be hardly any avid internet user who has not heard of VPNs. But what is a VPN and how does it work? Well, very few people have proper ideas about the nitty gritty of VPNs. Here we are to guide you on what is VPN network and how it works.
Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about VPN technology.
A VPN is a service that protects your internet connection and privacy online. Try ExpressVPN today, risk-free for 30 days with their money-back guarantee.
Last updated on 28 November 2023
What is VPN Technology?
In simple words, VPN allows you to enjoy free internet activities while avoiding the prying eyes of vigilant authorities, government bodies, and hackers.
What are the Benefits of Using a VPN
Here is a list of the benefits a VPN gives you:
Increase your Security Even When You are Using Public Wi-Fi
The first thing a VPN does is ensure your safety even when you are using a free public Wi-Fi network. What does a VPN do to offer this safety? A VPN will encrypt your traffic and data when you are connected to the public WI-FI in your favorite coffee shop or any space.
Thus, it will keep the snoopers at bay. It is crucial as public Wi-Fi connections are never encrypted, and your online security can be compromised at any time. Even many people set up fake hotspots, and once you connect to them, your data can be easily stolen.
So, a VPN works by preventing identity fraud, packet sniffing, and third-party and phishing campaign attacks.
Stop Your ISP from Interfering
One of the most important things a VPN does is protect you from your internet service provider. Your ISP will not be able to track your online activities and have access to your traffic or data. As a result, your ISP will not be able to throttle your traffic flow and internet speed.
Say Goodbye to Government Surveillance
You need to know what is a VPN and how it works to evade government surveillance. Many countries like the USA and the UK today are parts of 5, 9, and 14 eye surveillance. Further, these countries have strong digital laws and data retention laws. Because of all these regulations, your online activities are getting constantly monitored.
A VPN will safeguard your IP and keep your online activities anonymous with a strong security protocol. Thus, you will be kept away from the prying eyes of vigilant authorities. In addition, leading VPNs like ExpressVPN have headquarters (the British Virgin Islands) in countries that are not part of these 5, 9 and 14-eye surveillance or other data retention laws. So, they will never log into your sensitive data and resell it to any entity.
In addition, the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-in) in India has asked VPN services in India to keep track of the names, email addresses, and IP addresses of the users. This norm, implemented on 25th September 2022, has left many leading VPN service providers like ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark agitated. Today, they do not have Indian servers now.
Nevertheless, ExpressVPN and Surfshark still have virtual servers in India. ExpressVPN has virtual India servers in the UK and Singapore. Surfshark has virtual India servers in London, the Netherlands, and Singapore. Thus, these VPNs still let you connect to Indian servers with proper security and anonymity.
Stream Your Favorite Website from Anywhere
Today, digital streaming platforms are available in their defined territories. Irrespective of your geographical location, a VPN will let you connect to a server present in a location where your favorite streaming site works. Thus, sitting in India, you will be able to stream a site that is only available in the USA. In a nutshell, a VPN will let you watch any site from anywhere in the world.
Remote Working Facility
What is a VPN and how does it work in making remote working safe? Well, first of all, it encrypts all the data and makes it impregnable. Some VPNs offer application-based encryption, but the most reliable ones have both system-based and application-based encryptions.
Further, it does not matter where the employees are geographically located. Connected by the same virtual private network, there will be easy accessibility to the device of every employee.
Moreover, VPNs make file sharing safe through strong encryption.
Helps You Save Money by Spoofing Your Location
You already know what is a VPN and how it works to hide your real location. You can use this facility while booking tickets and availing yourself of other online services where the charges differ based on your location. For example, you are booking an air ticket, and the charges are higher in your location and lower in some other places. You can connect to the server of that location and make the purchases at a lesser expense.
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How Does a VPN Work?
A VPN encrypts your data and masks your IP address to maintain online anonymity. It sends your information through a secure tunnel to the servers of the VPN providers. Your information becomes encrypted and rerouted to the website you are trying to reach.
Premium VPNs usually use military-grade AES 256-bit encryption standards. In addition, they use a combination of hashing, symmetric and asymmetric cryptographies to bolster data safety.
Many VPNs even go one step further to ensure that your DNS or Domain Name System requests are never leaked to third parties. So, no unwanted entity gets access to your IP address by monitoring your DNS requests.
What is VPN Used for?
So far, we have covered what is VPN along with the benefits of using a VPN. Besides what is VPN and its types, you also need to know a VPN’s usage.
Browse Anonymously
A VPN is needed so that you can browse online anonymously. It will keep your data and traffic protected. Once you connect to a VPN server, you will get an IP address from it. Your real IP location will be hidden, and the VPN will make your traffic on the internet appear to be coming from the connected server and not your device.
Bypass Geo-Blocking
Evading Geo-blocking is another thing if you want to know what is VPN and why it is needed. A VPN helps you connect to a chosen server. This is important because geo-blocking, or digital laws, make certain sites inaccessible beyond a particular territory. In simple words, we cannot access all digital platforms from any part of the world. This is where a VPN steps in, as it will allow you to evade censorship by connecting your connection to a server located in a place where Geo-blocking is not applicable.
Navigate the Web Safely
Once you connect to a trusted VPN, it will provide you with end-to-end encryption. Creating a guarded tunnel on your unsecured internet connection, a VPN will ensure that no one becomes successful in accessing your data or traffic. Even if any entity becomes able to reach out to the encrypted data, it will only receive some encrypted codes.
Furthermore, a VPN does not allow your internet service provider to throttle your connection and bandwidth. So, you will have a smooth experience throughout your online activities.
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How to Choose a VPN
You will come across many reviews online, and you can refer to them while finding the best VPN. However, if you take our recommendation, there are some specific parameters to consider while choosing a VPN.
A VPN must have a wide server base with sound safety measures to ensure access to streaming sites. Further, it must come with strong encryption protocols such as AES 256-bit military-grade encryption to protect your data.
A reliable VPN must also have a strict no-logs policy, data leak protection, and an automatic kill switch, plus ensures a good speed.
The other thing to look for in a VPN is how it offers malware, adware, and virus protection. If you are an avid gamer, you can even consider whether this VPN is optimized for gaming or not.
Moreover, a good VPN needs to be compatible with a wide range of devices and OS for users’ convenience. Finally, go for a VPN that is decently priced, has a money-back guarantee, and has friendly customer service.
More or less, these are the parameters to consider to find out what VPN technology you can trust. Based on these parameters, we think that ExpressVPN is the best. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee, and it offers a 7-day free trial for Android and iOS mobile users.
The Best VPN Services in 2023
It’s time you know what is VPN technology that you can trust the most. We have assessed many VPN services based on the number of servers, encryption standards, protocol, online anonymity features, and threat protection. We have even checked whether the service is value for money or not. So, here’s your list.
What is VPN Technology Setting Up Process?
In this section, you will get to know about what is VPN connection setting up process. You just need to follow a simple step-by-step process.
- First, find out what VPN software you can trust. We recommend ExpressVPN
- Then, visit the VPN’s website.
- Next, move to the order page and pick the package you want.
- Then, choose the device and its operating system. Download the app suitable for your device and OS.
- Afterwards, choose and connect to a server.
- That’s it! You are all set to stream and do other online activities using a VPN.
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Special Offer 49% Off (Valid Until December 2023)
FAQs
What is the best VPN for iOS?
The best VPN for iOS is ExpressVPN. It is our answer to what is VPN technology you can trust for iOS because of its speed, safety, and privacy features.
What is the best VPN for Netflix?
The best VPN for Netflix is ExpressVPN. We recommend it as it has a server base in 94 countries. Further, all its servers are speed optimized and offer consistent performance in unblocking Netflix from any part of the world. In addition, ExpressVPN has obfuscated servers, meaning Netflix will never be able to track and block your traffic.
How much does a VPN cost?
A VPN can cost you around $4 to $13 per month, depending on the service provider you are choosing. However, you will see your every month’s expenses coming down as you choose a long-term plan. In addition, many providers offer special discounts and coupons on long-term plans. For example, we recommend ExpressVPN as the most trusted service. It has various pricing packages.
- 1-Month Package: $12.95 per month
- 6-Month Package: $9.99 per month
- 12-Month Package+ 3 Months Free Subscription: $6.67 per month at a 49% discount rate
Conclusion
A VPN or virtual private network keeps your online activity private, safeguards your data, and gives access to any site you want. After our extensive testing on several VPNs in the market, we highly recommend ExpressVPN for its premium service and great value for money.
