VPN
In this digital age, there are lots of tech terms that we often use. Some of them are known and familiar, but some are common, but we don't fully understand them. Many of you have heard the term VPN, which generally stands for Virtual Private Network.
What do you understand from VPN?, Many of you have heard it but don't know how a VPN actually works? When you should opt for VPN or which scenario is fit for VPN?, What type of VPN you should opt for?, What benefits a VPN service can give you?, What is the best VPN available?
All these questions are important and you should have some knowledge about them because VPN is now an essential part of this Digital Age. Large Enterprises and Companies are using VPN for their Security and Privacy for a long time. So why does an individual person need a VPN service?
Let's understand together why VPN is necessary for us.
What's a VPN and how does it work?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and it encrypts data. It works as a layer of privacy created to protect the user's identity and information, like computer resources, IP address, and location. Usually, computers access the internet via the ISP (Internet Service Provider), showing your computer's location and identity. But, when you install VPN Client software on your PC, laptop, smartphone, or Gateway-router. That VPN Client software establishes an encrypted & secure connection to a VPN server. You send your queries via that VPN server and that VPN server will mask your identity and Geo-Location with itself then VPN server will send and receive responses on the internet on your behalf and provide you the result. In this process the targeted site will never know about you and your location because the masked query was sent by the VPN server, So all it knows is about the VPN server identity, not yours.
VPNs work with a VPN server and a VPN client, the client is located in your device while the server can be located anywhere in the world. These two elements are connected by an encrypted tunnel. This way, the server can access the internet on your behalf, masking your location and securing your identity and information.
Why should I use a VPN?
Whenever someone suggests you for using a VPN service a question does strike the mind, why should you use a VPN in the first place?. Let's have a look at its advantages, you will easily understand why someone opts for a VPN service.
Advantages of using a VPN
Using a VPN comes with a lot of benefits. No matter if you want it for personal reasons or for your business. These are the top benefits that you'll get from installing a VPN:
Anonymity - Identity Protection
One of the top reasons people worldwide choose to install a VPN is that it hides their IP address and encrypts their online traffic. Meaning that digital footprints will be impossible to track. All the clicked links, visited web pages, research history, or even the downloaded content will have no connection to the user. Nor hackers, neither surveillance agencies will have access to real IP addresses hidden by the VPN. Having a VPN will allow people's identities to stay private on the web. No one will know your moves or your online activity.
Free Trial for ESET Internet Security!Data & Device protection
Besides protecting your identity, a VPN makes surfing the internet safer than ever. When using a VPN, the ISP (Internet Service Provider) can't access any type of data or information, instead, the VPN server shows encrypted statistics that mask your device's information. All sorts of companies use VPNs to make sure that their transferred data is completely secured.
You may be noticed sometimes when you access the internet certain websites show information about your PC, Laptop, and device status. These websites use the tracker to get your information, VPN server eliminates this issue because it sends a request on your behalf to the website, and the website can't track you.
Bypass geo-blockages
Geo-restrictions are more common by the day. Content creators and providers can decide the geographic areas in which their content will be available. Normally, the IP address shows the device's geolocation to the platform requesting it and if it is on the restriction list, it denies access to the content. With a VPN hiding real IP addresses, geo-blocks can be bypassed, therefore, unblocking the content from anywhere in the world.
More economical
Pricing discrimination is very common in certain industries like retailers or airline companies. They tend to changes prices depending on the geographical area of the visitors. While these tactics drive more profits to these types of companies, it is unfair for the ones paying more for a product that can be worth much less. As VPNs can bypass geo-restrictions, people can log onto a VPN server in a country with cheaper costs displayed.
Torrenting & File Sharing
That was the day when you got your favorite Content, Files, Software, Movies, and TV shows on torrent sites and you download it easily with torrent client software, like uTorrent. But now things got changed and some rules are put over the file and content sharing. Some countries have banned direct file sharing and torrenting. Now, you can't open a torrent website easily and download your favorite content. VPN software like ExpressVPN and NordVPN are providing torrenting features in their services. You can access non-stop torrents using this VPN.
Top Five And Affordable VPN software
1. Bluf VPN:
2. Express VPN:
3. Pure VPN:
4. VuzeVPN:
5. WeVPN:
Conclusion
Many websites gather user data for providing user-specific services, like personalized Ads, offers, and Promos. Sometimes it is okay but sometimes it's annoying. Besides that internet is full of spammy and dangerous sites, these spammy sites insert some unwanted codes and software inside the user's PC.
Some privacy lovers also don't want to reveal their footprints to other online tracking agencies. Some want open and unrestricted internet access. Many users want torrenting and free file sharing.
All these issues can be resolved by using VPN services. Some of the industry's best and known VPN software are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, IPVanishVPN, CyberGhost VPN, SurfShark.
We will do a comparison between VPN Service Providers in an upcoming article.