One of the main reasons why homes and businesses use virtual private networks (VPNs) is because of their increased security. With a simple VPN, you can protect your data online and use advanced encryption protocols. Because of the growing number of security threats on the internet, many people are turning to options like VPNs.
What Is a VPN?
A VPN is essentially another way to connect to the internet. When you are using a public network like a cafe or library network, a VPN is a way to add extra security. Because of this feature, many corporations use virtual private networks.
In a sense, a virtual private network is like a network within a network. When you use it, it makes you seem like you are on the VPN instead of the public network. This Virtual Private Network allows you to enjoy better security and privacy.
This technology is useful for home and business users. Sometimes, people use it to go around geographic restrictions like only being able to stream movies from a particular county. They may also use VPNs to circumvent censorship rules and add a level of anonymity; in terms of anonymity, there is a caveat, as discussed below, the data sent over the VPN is encrypted; however, the packets of data have information about where they have come from and where they are going to. If you are trying to protect your identity, you may want to use a VPN. A VPN ensures the confidentiality of the data within the encapsulated data packets between the user(s) and the VPN provider. But this is dependant on the VPN provider using strong encryption with minimal vulnerabilities. Not all VPN’s are equal!
When you use a VPN, your original IP address is replaced by an IP address that the VPN assigns you. Some VPN providers even let you pick which city. For example, you could make your IP address appear like you are from Paris or New York City.
History of Virtual Private Networks
In 1996, a Microsoft employee began creating the first peer-to-peer tunnelling protocol (PPTP). The specifications for PPTP were published in 1999. Since that time, the technology has skyrocketed in popularity and is in use by a wide array of users.
The original VPN technology was designed for just large corporations and not individual users. More than two decades ago, companies were looking for a private, secure way to communicate. They needed a way to share files and information between different offices and people without the fear that unauthorized users would steal sensitive or important files.
VPNs allow employees to gain access to a private business network so that the information can be viewed by any employee in the world. As this technology gained in popularity, new encryption standards and advancements worked to improve VPNs. Soon, individual consumers began to realize just how useful this technology was. Because of threats from hackers, censors, spammers and data miners, it has become increasingly important for average people to use VPNs to protect themselves online.
How It Works
When you use a VPN, you can connect remote users together in a safe, private way. The connection is routed through the internet from your VPN to a remote site. Your data is sent through a tunnel that is inaccessible to any data that is not correctly encrypted. Sometimes, the VPN will also encrypt the data itself, the receiving network address and the originating network address.
Currently, site-to-site VPNs and remote access VPNs are the most common options. A remote access VPN links the VPN’s gateway server to your network. To do this, a device has to authenticate its identity. The entire connection is generally secured through secure sockets layer (SSL) or IP Security (IPsec). If the target network has Layer 2 access, the VPN has to use tunneling protocols like layer 2 tunneling protocol or point-to-point tunneling protocol.
Meanwhile, a site-to-site VPN entails using a gateway device that connects the whole network in one location to the entire network in another place. The remote location does not have to have VPN clients because the gateway is in charge of the connection. For site-to-site VPNs, the general technique for connecting is IPsec.
Things You Can Use a VPN for
There are a few reasons why you may want to get a VPN for your home or office. When you have a VPN, it allows you to have better security and privacy. It also works to protect your identity from anyone else on your network. This is especially useful if you are sharing your internet connection with other people. If you are using a public connection, a VPN can encrypt and protect any of the data you send through it.
When you use a VPN, it allows you to mask your location. You can appear like you are from any country that the VPN allows you to choose. This is useful for individuals who need to hide their country of origin.
With a VPN, you can hide your real IP address and change it to a different one. This allows you to get around certain restrictions. You can also use a VPN to bypass censorship and geographic restrictions. Some websites have figured out ways to unmask the real IP address, but top VPN providers are already figuring out solutions. Since most websites do not have the technology to unmask your real IP address, your VPN can also help you see websites that are blocked by a firewall, the government, an employer or someone else.
A VPN can protect you from getting logged while you are torrenting. If you are on an untrustworthy Wi-Fi hotspot, it can give you an added layer of protection. Plus, a VPN allows you to watch streaming media like Hulu and Netflix if you are in a country that cannot normally view these programs.
If you are traveling, you can use VPNs to access your business’ network with better security than local Wi-Fi offers. Home users can also use VPNs to access their home network for local file shares. A VPN allows you to play games online like you are at home.
If you want to hide your browsing activity from your current network, a VPN is extremely useful. When you normally use public Wi-Fi, people nearby can see your browsing history if you go to a non-HTTPS website. When you use a VPN, anyone checking on the local network will only see your VPN connection. Everything that you are actually viewing travels through the VPN connection, so it can bypass any monitoring that your Internet service provider is doing.
