How Do VPN Connections Work?

      

A VPN routes the internet connection on your device through its own server instead of your Internet Service Provider’s (ISP). Data is transmitted from your device through the VPN server and to the internet and vice versa. The VPN acts as a go-between or buffer between you and the internet giving you an extra layer of security. The data is also encrypted and if intercepted will be indecipherable.

Encryption

Encryption is the process by which data is converted into a code so that it remains private.

Encryption takes readable data and turns it into gibberish which cannot be made readable again unless you have a special password or key. This key breaks the code and converts it into its original readable form again through a process called decryption. The key is only known to the VPN server and your device.

A simple example would be when you enter your personal login details into your bank's website, that data is encrypted and made unreadable until it gets to the final destination.  

There are several types of encryption processes but the ones used in VPNs tend to function like this:

You establish a connection to the VPN and this creates a secure tunnel through which your encrypted unreadable data uses to move between your device and the VPN server.

Your device is then seen to be on the same local network as the VPN server. Your IP address will also now be the same as that of the VPN server you connected to.

You’ll now be able to surf the internet safely with the knowledge that you have an extra layer of security shielding you.

The efficacy of your VPN service provider depends on the VPN protocols that they use for their encryption process.

Types of VPN

How your VPN operates on your device depends on the type of software you choose to use.

Most VPNs integrate with the settings of the operating system on the device(be it Linux, Windows, Mac iOS, or Android) to enable the VPN app to protect all apps and programs that connect to the internet.

Standalone VPN Services

This is the standard VPN that is used by homes and businesses for basic protection online. This is the VPN service where you download an application(VPN client) that connects through an encrypted connection to VPN servers which then route your connection to the internet. There are various examples on the market with a few notable ones being ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, and Cyberghost.

        

Browser Extensions

These are basically browser add-ons or extensions that you install and they give you a VPN. The disadvantage is that you only have protection when using the browser the VPN extension or add-on is installed on. Nothing else on the device will be protected. These types of VPNs tend to be less secure and sometimes can leak your IP address.

There are however a lot of fake or spammy VPN browser extensions so it’s best to do your homework and stick to verified, reputable extensions that have been reviewed by other users or experts.

  

Router VPN

This is a router that comes with built-in VPN compatibility. This is the perfect solution if you have many devices and need to protect them all without installing the VPN on each of them one by one. You just have to login to your VPN once on our router and you’ll be protected by the VPN.

These routers are more expensive than regular routers but the convenience of having them is worth it.

Corporate VPN

These types of VPNs are usually custom-made for large organizations to enable their employees to work remotely. They use an app and a password to logon to the internet to the organization's private intranet.

Why do you need a VPN?

Many people might not know it but online privacy is a must-have in today’s world. Others just ignore it as unnecessary but do not know how exposed they are when they use the internet without a VPN.

What if You Don't Use A Vpn?

Nowadays, most of the everyday tasks we do such as shopping, banking and even paying bills are done online. This means we are constantly sending very sensitive and crucial information online every single day.

This is very dangerous as just like in the real world there are many people who are good, honest, and hard-working but there are also a few bad apples. Using the internet without a VPN or other protection is basically like putting a target on your back and giving them an invitation to take advantage of you.

The internet is a global computer network made up of several interconnected networks with each one of those networks having millions of computers on it. It makes sense to give yourself the basic and very affordable protection of a VPN.

All websites are required to use HTTPS encryption but this alone is not enough. HTTPS is the padlock icon that you see in the browser’s address bar. Sometimes it also lights up the address bar with the color green. HTTPS will not be enough to protect you, especially on a public network or wifi hotspot where there could be people with malicious intent monitoring data.

  

Without a VPN, you are exposed to all kinds of vulnerabilities and attacks. Malicious individuals can see your IP address and use this to get an approximate location of where you are. You can easily get tracked online and targeted by annoying advertising that follows you everywhere. Your ISP sees all that you do and can keep a log of it. Most public places that offer free wifi are a haven for hackers ready to steal your data and exploit you.

When you use a VPN you reduce your exposure to these threats. Your real IP address is hidden and all that can be seen is the IP of your VPN server. You are protected. In the case that someone does intercept your data, they will find it encrypted and unreadable.

Reasons for using a VPN

There are many reasons to use a VPN. Most use it for that extra layer of security as they go about their online activities. It also complements antivirus and a firewall to give a strong security shield.

The other serious reason is to protect against being tracked or hacked. This is especially true if you usually connect to the internet on public wifi hotspots.

Many also use VPNs to access content that is restricted in their geographical location. This is the case for most streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and others. Some countries even have bans or censorship and using a VPN can allow you to bypass those.

There have been so many news stories on how large data hacks and leaks occur almost daily. Using a VPN protects you from being a victim of this to a certain extent. A VPN keeps you anonymous which is very important.

How Secure is a VPN?

There are several factors that determine how secure a VPN really is. Some of them are:

• The laws in your area
• The type of technology your VPN service provider implements.

VPN protocols

A VPN protocol is what governs how your VPN transmits and encrypts the data between your device and the VPN server. 

The main VPN protocols in use today are:

Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)

This is a very very old protocol that was invented by Microsoft and can be found in most of the older versions of Windows. It is fast and simple to configure. There are concerns about its security and because of this, it is not recommended to use it.

Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP/IPSec)

On its own, this protocol doesn't have any security or privacy feature which is why it is usually used together with IPSec which provides security. It is a combination of Microsoft’s PPTP and CIsco’s L2F protocols.

Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP)

This protocol was also created by Microsoft and is similar to the encryption protocols used by websites. It is quite secure and uses SSL/TLS encryption to transmit PPP traffic.

Internet Key Exchange, version 2 (IKEv2)

This protocol is also a result of a collaboration between Cisco and Microsoft. It’s based on the L2TP protocol and just like L2TP it is also used with IPSec. It is mainly used on mobile devices.

OpenVPN

This is the most widely used protocol on the market and is highly recommended, It is open source which means many people contribute towards its development and this keeps it up to date against any possible vulnerabilities. It is the default go-to protocol for most VPN providers.

VPNs and the Law

The VPN you consider choosing can also be affected by legal factors. The laws of the country you reside in and also the location of where the VPN is headquartered are very important. They could affect whether a VPN keeps logs or cooperates with court orders for information on you.

The laws on the use of VPNs are not set in stone. They are constantly changing and getting updated. As such, there are some countries where using a VPN is a bit of a gray area and there are others where use is banned or restricted.

        

An example is China where you need a license to use a VPN if you are a business. In Iran and Russia, you can only use VPNs that the government has approved. In the UAE, it is illegal to use a masked IP address. There are even countries like Iraq and North Korea that have completely banned the use of VPNs. So it’s vital to be aware of the laws surrounding the use of VPNs in your country so that you don’t break the law. 

Another important thing to do before choosing a VPN is to read the terms of service/use so that you are sure about what they are offering. There have also been cases of VPNs that promise to never keep data on clients actually doing so.

Nothing in life is free and if you are being offered something for free then you have to take that with a pinch of salt. The same applies to VPNs. It is better to go for a paid VPN service as those will most likely be genuine. Free VPNs have to make money and they do so by collecting and selling your information. They can even hijack your internet connection and force advertising on you.