Introduction
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a secure networking technology that allows users to access the internet securely and privately. It does this by encrypting data, so that only authorized users can access the network. VPNs are used for both personal and business use, and provide a way to protect confidential data and communications. With a VPN, users can access the internet securely and anonymously, while protecting their online privacy.
03/31/2022
BaseAnonymity
BaseAnonymity
What is a VPN?
The literal translation of this abbreviation (Virtual Private Network – virtual private network) fully reflects the essence of the service. This is a program whose purpose is to protect the anonymity of the user on the network, increase the level of security and allow you to bypass blocking.
A VPN user is extremely difficult to trace. Accordingly, it will be problematic to find out exactly which sites you visit, what operations you perform on the network, what kind of information you leave on third-party resources.
How Does a VPN Work?
Once you have downloaded the VPN app for iOS or Android, paid for the subscription, and launched the program, your smartphone or computer connects through an encrypted virtual tunnel to a remote server that can be located anywhere. Through it, you now go online – at least everyone around you think so. Accordingly, both blocked sites and those who can watch you (authorities, hackers, etc.) consider you a foreign user.
The provider will not see your “real” IP address, but the addresses of the servers that are the “entry points” in the VPN. It’s like walking down the highway and then getting into a passing car. Now you are hidden from prying eyes – everyone around will see only the car in which you are.
What is the use of a VPN?
The main advantage of a VPN is that it significantly increases the level of privacy. Services, programs, applications and sites that monitor the user’s activities on the network cannot monitor the user of the VPN service. Plus, a VPN encrypts traffic. This means that it does not allow the Internet provider, mobile operator or other users (the same hackers hunting for confidential information) to access your data. That is why security experts recommend using a VPN at least when connected to a public WiFi network. Indeed, in such a network, the data of a user who, for example, conducts financial transactions or enters a password to his mail is the most vulnerable.
There are other advantages, including, for example, geolocation masking. Those who want to know about your location will see the geolocation of the VPN server. If you are in Russia, for example, you will be visible to everyone as a user from the Netherlands.
Is it legal to use a VPN in Russia?
The Russian authorities are well aware that VPNs allow you to bypass the restrictions they have imposed and are trying to interfere with their work. In 2017, a law was passed that prohibits the use of VPNs to bypass blocking. It is assumed that VPN services can remain within the Russian legal framework, but only if they connect to the registry of banned sites and block their content for Russian users. It is clear that then the meaning of VPN partly disappears. Therefore, most services ignored this requirement. As a result, some VPNs have been blocked by Roskomnadzor.
However, if the paid VPN works, then you, as a user, will not have any claims from the authorities.
What are the cons of a VPN?
A VPN is, among other things, a development team that has created a specific software solution. And therefore, it is necessary to take into account the risk of the human factor – one of the employees can sell information about users. In addition, free VPNs are often accused of trading in information about their customers. So, a year ago, one of the hacker forums sold the confidential data of 21 million Android VPN users.
In addition, there are a number of purely technical difficulties, however, not critical for those who are serious about information security. First, a VPN slows down your internet connection a bit. Secondly, the application, like any other, consumes the battery resources of a smartphone or laptop. And thirdly, you always have to pay for using a good service – a VPN subscription costs from $4 per month.
How to choose a VPN service?
Here are some things to consider when choosing a service:
- Does the site have a privacy policy?
- how secure the data is. It is better if the service has 256-bit encryption;
- Is there user support?
- is it possible to connect several devices at once;
- how diverse is the geography of servers;
- whether bandwidth is limited.
It will not be superfluous to spend a few minutes and read what they write about the service on professional forums, and whether users are satisfied with the services provided by the VPN.
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Conclusion
A VPN is an essential tool for anyone looking to stay safe and secure online. It provides a secure connection for data transmission, allowing users to access the internet without worrying about their privacy and security. VPNs also offer added benefits such as access to geo-restricted content, faster speeds, and improved performance. With all the advantages of a VPN, it is no wonder why they are becoming increasingly popular.
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