What is a Virtual Private Network?
Identity theft, online activity monitoring, and blocked content are all concerns in our digital lives. One of the ways you can protect yourself and your privacy is through a Virtual Private Network, or VPN.A VPN is a server your computer or device connects to the internet through in order to browse securely. While connected to a VPN, all of the data going to and from your computer passes through the VPN and is encrypted.It’s like you and the VPN have set up a secret language. For example, you want to go to google.com so you tell the VPN in this language. The VPN can understand your message and fetches google.com, again using this secret language. Nobody listening in between (hackers or monitors) can tell what the message is. Even google.com, the website in this instance, doesn’t know who is on their website except for the VPN.There is a degree of trust you need to have in a VPN provider because they are the ones that have access to all the information coming to and leaving from your computer. If the VPN provider keeps logs, those logs can be stolen or requested from government agencies. One selling point that VPNs offer is that they do not keep logs. Reading reviews of VPN providers is important.
Real World Scenarios
You are connected to a coffee shop’s WiFi and need to do some online banking. You connect to a VPN so that all of your web traffic is now encrypted. Even if someone was able to see the information going to and coming from your computer, they wouldn't be able to decipher it.You are in a country that has broad restrictions on internet usage, blocking sites like controversial Wikipedia entries. Connecting to a VPN fakes your location and your intended website which tricks and bypasses the restrictions. This also applies to company and school networks blocking content.
Do You Need a VPN?
If most of your online activity is through your personal home network, you probably don't need a VPN.
Security Tip: Whenever you are filling out a form with sensitive information such as your credit card, make sure the website starts with HTTPS:// instead of HTTP:// The S stands for secure and there is a little green lock icon.
If you connect to public networks often, or are concerned with identity theft and value your privacy it’s worth considering a VPN.
Setting Up a VPN is Easy
VPNs are increasingly easy to set up and use. They work similar to other applications. You install software on your computer or device, turn it on, and then all of your internet activity goes through the VPN provider in an encrypted manner.Avoid free VPNs with the exception of the Opera web browser, which comes standard with a free VPN. Private Internet Access is one popular, and user-friendly VPN provider. Read your own reviews and make your own judgment on which VPN to use.