Using VPN. Is It Really Smart?

A Virtual Private Network or using VPN creates a secure connection while you are accessing the internet.

It is used to access region-restricted websites, protect your browsing activity from the sneaky eyes of public Wi-Fi. 

 

 

 

You might be wondering why you should use a VPN.

If you have ever connected to a public Wi-Fi network, someone somewhere might be able to watch your online activity. 

But VPN can protect your privacy from outsiders and hide your identity on the internet.

 

How Does Using VPN Really Help You?

Switching on VPN in the system starts an encrypted channel.

This is between you and the remote server that is being operated by the virtual private network service provider that you have chosen.

The internet traffic is routed through that encrypted channel.

So, the data you are sharing is secure from the sneaky eyes all along.

As traffic exits the VPN service, your computer will have the IP address of the said server.

This masks your location and identity. 

In order to understand the value of VPN, you should think of some specific scenarios where you will be able to use the VPN.

 

Internet Connection Outdoors

Think of a public Wi-Fi network, maybe at an airport or coffee shop.

Usually, you might connect to the network without giving it a second thought.

However, do you even know who is watching over the traffic of the network?

It might not even be possible to ensure if the Wi-Fi network is a legit one.

Someone might get access to your banking data, password, plain private information, or credit card numbers that you transmit whenever you are online. 

But if you connect to the same public network using a VPN, you can be sure that no one can intercept the data.

This includes other users looking around for victims or operators of the network. 

There is another thing that you need to keep in mind.

It is difficult to tell whether or not the Wi-Fi network is just what it appears to be.

Simply because it has been named Starbucks-Wi-Fi, it doesn’t mean it is owned by the company. 

 

Internet Connection Indoors

When you are using the internet connection at home, you do not really have to worry about someone spying on the Wi-Fi network.

This is because you own the network. However, a VPN can help in this case, too.

Your ISP has significant insight into what you are doing online.

In fact, some ISP’s even sell anonymous data about the customers.

This means that the company that you pay for the internet connection is making money selling your data. 

ISP can see a lot of what you are doing online. As a matter of fact, they need to as they have to carry the traffic.

What’s worse is it means that preventing tracking by ISP is much more difficult than preventing tracking by third-party.

You cannot simply browse in incognito mode or install a Privacy Badger to prevent ISP tracking. 

 

Facebook and Google When Using VPN

Companies like Facebook and Google might make money.

This is based on your online behavior but you are not necessarily required to use the services.

In case you stop using Facebook, you might have to miss out on the political rants or cute pet pic from your family or friends but you can still have a decent life.

When it comes to your ISP, you do not really have a choice. It controls the gateway of your home to the entirety of the internet. 

While there are many alternatives to Facebook and Google, most people have limited home ISP alternatives.

There are some areas that have just one ISP offering wired internet access.

This makes the recent changes allowing ISPs to sell data from the customers more troubling.

It is one thing to choose a shady system; it is another to have no choice in the matter. 

With a VPN, you will be able to connect to the servers of different countries and spoof the location.

In case you are outside the United States, you can use VPN to place you in a familiar location as you access the internet. 

VPNs that you see in bestvpnhelp.com are also excellent when it comes to blocking websites.

Some governments have blocked certain websites to be accessed by all members of the population.

With VPN, you can tunnel into different countries with progressive policies and open sites that can otherwise be blocked.

Since VPN encrypt web traffic, they help in protecting the identity of people who cannot access the open internet in this manner. 

 

How Does a VPN Work?

A VPN functions by routing the internet connection of your device through the chosen private server of the VPN instead of your internet service provider.

This way when data is transmitted to the network, it will come from the VPN, instead of the computer.

So, the VPN serves as an intermediary of a kind. It hides the IP address and protects your identity.

Moreover, if the data gets intercepted, it is going to be unreadable till it reaches its ultimate destination. 

When you are using a VPN, it is going to create a private tunnel from the device you are using to the internet and will hide the process through the process of encryption. 

Encryption will hide details in such a manner that it can’t be read without a strong password called the key.

The key can break complicated codes to which the data has been transformed to. Just your computer and the VPN server will be aware of this key.

The decoding process of the data is known as decryption. It makes encrypted information readable through the key application. 

Now, you might have an idea as to how VPN works. But you need to make sure that you are getting the best VPN.

Check the VPN server location. For smoother operation, look for a VPN server that has a high number of the server.

Remember, the speed and privacy policy of a VPN service can make or break your experience.