How a VPN works and what you need to know in order not to make a mistake when choosing it
Recently, on the Internet, it is increasingly possible to stumble upon the abbreviation VPN. Many already know that this is a technology that helps to bypass blockages and bans on the network and visit blocked sites. But when using a VPN, many face problems. Most often they are associated with poor awareness of the principles of operation of such services and their wrong choice. We decided to talk about how a VPN works and how to make the most of its capabilities.
The abbreviated name VPN hides a very simple concept. This is a Virtual Private Network or, in simple terms, a "virtual private network". The technology allows you to establish a secure connection between the user's device and the Internet server. With its help, information about the visitor of the resource is protected from interception and modification. But the most important thing is that the VPN replaces the real IP address and thereby opens access to blocked sites and social networks.
Simply put, technology helps to solve the three most pressing problems of modern network users:
The third property is considered the most valuable. When a user accesses a resource via VPN, his own IP is not visible. Instead, the VPN server address is used, which can belong to any country. If a resource is blocked for users of a certain country or zone, then you can easily bypass the ban by logging in as if from another point of the planet.
VPN services can provide location options automatically or manually. The second method is convenient because you can easily visit sites that are blocked in your region, but are available in other places.Unfortunately, there are more and more restrictions on the network every day, so technology has become a necessity for many.
Nowadays, there are many VPN services for computers and mobile devices. They have different functionality and, of course, differ in quality and reliability. Both paid and free offers are available to users. To choose a secure service that will work stably, you need to know the answers to several questions.
First of all, it is worth finding out how long a VPN has existed. Now both old, time-tested services and useless "one-dayers" are available. Of course, a service that has been working for many years is much preferable to a new model, no matter how tempting it may be described.
To get maximum protection, it's worth finding out whether the VPN stores information about the sites you visit on its servers. Remember that if such statistics are kept, then there is a chance that your logs will fall into the wrong hands. Given that the "tightening of the screws" is intensifying, this can lead to the most unpleasant consequences.
When choosing a service, it is important to find out what protocol it works on. It is better to abandon the outdated PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) with a low degree of reliability. VPNs working with the OpenVPN protocol are considered to be the best today.
It is best to use a VPN with the ability to select a location manually. This way you will get more room for maneuver, bypassing the prohibitions that exist in different countries. This is important because many countries use site blocking and automatic selection may be ineffective. Make sure that the service does not show your real IP address when checking through services such as WhatLeaks.
Paid VPNs offer more features, so you can also consider the option of buying. This way you can get a wider choice of locations and the highest level of security. Most often, the owner of the service asks for a little, sometimes the price of services is generally symbolic.
In the end, you need to clarify that VPN services offer privacy, not anonymity. They protect the user's data and substitute information about his location. But all this is aimed only at circumventing the blocking of Internet resources, nothing more.