If you listen to podcasts or regularly watch YouTube videos, you’ll almost certainly have heard of VPNs through sponsored content. But what is a VPN? How they work and their benefits is often not well-explained. Even worse, if you do a quick Google, you’ll typically end up with results that feature a ton of dense tech jargon, which can give the impression that VPNs are expert tools. This couldn’t be further from the truth, with many of the best VPNs requiring nothing more than the click of a button to use. No matter your level of tech-savviness, there’s a VPN that you can use.
What are VPNs for?
It’s worth considering which kind of VPN you’re interested in before considering the purpose. A business VPN like the one you may use at work (or when working from home) is an essential tool for connecting remote users to a single Intranet and accessing restricted files. It will have specialized tools to allow teams to work well together like dedicated IPs and a central management system, but you won’t want to use it for more recreational reasons.
A consumer VPN – the ones you see advertised in YouTube videos and on TV – are optimized for personal use. This can include providing you with higher levels of privacy and security online, allowing access to sites that are blocked by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or government, and unlocking international streaming libraries – you’ll want one of the best streaming VPNs for the latter.
When using one, your traffic is encrypted before it leaves your computer, and then routed through a VPN server before emerging back onto the wider internet. Your activity is hidden, your IP address will be changed, and so will your apparent location. In short, a VPN can make you appear to be a totally different person online. That helps to avoid ad trackers, access different content that may be blocked by your ISP, and ensure that your browsing can’t be linked back to you.
VPNs can be used on all your devices and across most platforms. We have numerous guides to help you navigate choosing a VPN. These include the best mobile VPN, the best Windows VPN, the best Mac VPN, the most private VPN, plus many more.
What are VPN protocols?
VPN Protocols are the methods that VPNs use, covering everything from how your traffic is encrypted to how it is transmitted. The most secure VPNs use several protocols to encrypt your traffic, and typically give you a few to choose from. They’re especially important because your data is being transmitted over a public network between two remote locations.
The most popular VPN protocols include:
- Internet Key Exchange (IKEv1 and IKEv2)
- IP Security (IPSec)
- OpenVPN
- WireGuard
Most of the time, you’ll use WireGuard, as this is today’s gold standard, balancing battle-tested security with the speed you need to stream, game, and browse without hiccups. In all protocols, both endpoints – your computer, smartphone, or router – and the VPN server, use a “handshake” method of authentication. To successfully initiate this connection, the connecting computer must share a key that matches the required parameters for the receiving location. If it doesn’t match, then the secure tunnel that protects your data can’t be built.
Many leading providers have developed their own VPN protocols, designed for improved performance or added security. Examples include NordVPN’s NordWhisper, Surfshark’s Dausos, and ExpressVPN’s Lightway. You might also come across the term obfuscation or obfuscating protocols. These disguise the fact you’re using a VPN. This is crucial if you face internet censorship, as oppressive regimes also typically block known VPN servers. They’re handy for sites that like to block VPNs, too.
Why do I need a VPN?
Consumer VPNs have a huge amount of advantages. You’ll be able to access sites like torrent repositories that may be blocked by your ISP. If you live in a country with strict VPN or internet laws, you’ll be able to sidestep government restrictions. If you use one of the best Netflix VPNs, you’ll be able to watch shows on it that aren’t available in your country, and even access country-specific services you pay for, like Hulu and HBO Max, if you’re overseas.
They’re also vital when you use public Wi-Fi, such as at a coffee shop or in a hotel. Unencrypted Wi-Fi leaves your data hanging around in the air, allowing anyone with sufficient knowledge access through a man-in-the-middle attack. When you use a VPN, your data gets encrypted before it leaves your device, stymieing such attacks. What’s more, if you take the right precautions alongside using the VPN (for example, browsing in Incognito mode and not entering personal data), you can also avoid linking yourself to any activity you’d prefer to keep totally private.
Are there downsides to using a VPN?
It’s well-known that many VPNs do have an impact on performance. That’s almost inevitable thanks to the fact that you’re essentially making your connection travel further. However, if you pick one of the fastest VPNs you won’t notice a difference. These VPNs are capable of exceeding 1500 Mbps, allowing for rapid browsing that won’t miss a beat. So as long as your internet can handle it, a VPN won’t slow you down.
If you choose to try out a free VPN, make sure it’s one of the best free VPNs. They’re safe and secure, and will protect your data with the same security and privacy as their paid counterparts. These tend to be a fantastic way to try out VPNs for the first time, before committing to a paid VPN. Suspect free VPNs are popular and you’ll find a majority of free VPNs are outright dangerous. If you choose to go with a lesser service you may be putting yourself in danger of having your data stolen and leaked, or having your activity logged.
However, even reputable free VPNs have certain limitations. For example, you may have a data limit, find you can’t stream, can only protect one device at a time, or only have access to a handful of servers. These free VPNs do the basics well, but we’d always recommend a paid service. Our best cheap VPN guide is a perfect place to start if you’re looking for a VPN on a budget, with premium plans available for under $2 per month.
It’s also worth noting that you may be faced with CAPTCHA tests on some sites when using a VPN. This is because a VPN’s IP addresses are shared between users, and some sites may detect ‘unusual’ activity. There are ways around this, particularly if you opt for a VPN that allows you to use a dedicated IP. If you use one of these, your IP address won’t be shared with anyone else, so CAPTCHA’s shouldn’t kick in. In our experience, however, CAPTCHAs on shared IPs are fairly unobtrusive and is preferable to the unprotected alternative.
Is a VPN enough?
For many people, a VPN will offer enough functionality to get more out of the web and stay safe online. It’ll get access to more streaming content, stop ad trackers collecting your data, and keep you safer by encrypting your traffic on public Wi-Fi. If, however, you’re looking for the ultimate in online privacy, there are some key steps you should take to ensure that you’re remaining as anonymous as possible.
First, use Incognito or private browsing mode. That means your history will not be saved, and, depending on your settings, cookies will be disabled. Plus, you won’t be automatically signed into websites, which is an easy way of linking your fresh IP straight back to you. Beyond that, using secure browsers such as Brave, Opera, or Vivaldi help prevent tracking and removes you from the clutches of Google. Separate privacy-focused browser extensions like ad-blockers are a good idea, and you may also wish to consider some of the best antivirus software.
If you’re looking for anonymity rather than privacy, consider the Tor Browser. It’s a decentralized volunteer run network, which focuses on anonymity. VPNs can be used with Tor, although they do different things – our Tor vs VPN page details their similarities and differences. At the extreme end of the spectrum, Tails, a bootable Linux distribution, is about as close to anonymity as you can get online, but it’s not something you want to use day-to-day.
As always, though, you – the user – are the weakest link. If you’re not careful about inputting personal information, or want to stay logged in to social media, you can be tracked. Other common causes of privacy breaches include leaving apps’ location services on and accepting unnecessary cookies. That won’t be a huge issue for most, but no matter what precautions you take to secure your connection, you need to match that with your own diligence and common sense.
For more information on solutions for running your businesses’ technology more efficiently, visit our website or contact Megan Meisner at mmeisner@launchpadonline.com or 813 448-7100 x210.
This was originally posted by Toms Guide.