VPNs used to be a niche thing that only businesses and tech professionals used. But fast forward to today, and they have gone mainstream. Almost everyone who owns a digital device now has access to a VPN.
From protecting your personal data to allowing access to geo-blocked sites, VPNs have become the most useful digital tools out there. But how do they actually work, and why should you get one for yourself?
Let’s find out.
What Is a VPN?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It’s basically a secure tunnel between your device and the internet. It works on most devices, including;
- Your phone
- Laptop
- Tablet
Without a VPN, your internet traffic travels without protection and is visible to your ISP (Internet Service Provider), government, hackers, marketers, and anyone else who wants a peek.
With a VPN, on the other hand, that data is encrypted and rerouted through a private server. It hides your real IP address, location, and online activity from prying eyes.
How Does a VPN Work?
Here’s a simplified breakdown of how it works:
- You open your VPN app and connect to a server.
- Your internet traffic is encrypted on your device.
- The encrypted data travels to the server you connected to earlier.
- The server decrypts your data and sends it to the website you’re visiting.
- The website sees the VPN server’s IP address, which is not your real IP, and sends its data back.
- The VPN server encrypts that data and sends it to you.
Purpose of a VPN
Now that we have answered what a VPN is and how it works, the next question to follow is: What does VPN do? Knowing its purpose and features can help you understand whether you need a VPN for your digital life or not.
A VPN helps you:
Hide Your IP Address
Your IP Address is like your online home address. It reveals your rough location and identity to websites, apps, and trackers.
A VPN replaces that with a different IP, often from another country, making it harder to trace your activity back to you.
So, if you’re in the US but want the internet to think you’re in Canada, a VPN can do that.
Encrypt Your Data
Encryption is when your information is turned into unreadable data, and only the right decryption key can make sense of it.
When you’re using a VPN, your passwords, bank logins, messages, and search history are all encrypted. Even if someone does intercept your data, they’ll only see scrambled nonsense.
Bypass Geo-Restrictions
Have you ever tried watching a video or opening a website, only to get hit with a “This content isn’t available in your region” message?
A VPN lets you spoof your location by connecting to a server in a different country. So, you can access any location-restricted sites that you want.
Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi
Public networks, like those in coffee shops, airports, or hotels, are a goldmine for hackers. Without protection, your information is just floating out there.
Using a VPN on public Wi-Fi encrypts your traffic, so even if someone is trying to snoop on the network or attempt phishing, they can’t steal your data.