VPNs, or virtual private networks, are commonly used because they keep our network connections safe. But how does a VPN work? Let’s explain that in this article.
The Way a VPN Works
After connecting to a VPN, you establish an encrypted tunnel between your computer and a VPN server. It means encapsulating your encrypted packet into another packet. This is done so that no eavesdropper can understand what the content in the tunnel is. After all, VPNs are made for privacy and preventing unauthorized access to personal data.
Then, when you try to visit a website, you will first send your request to the VPN server. After that, the VPN server will analyze the request and send it to the correct server while replacing your IP address with the VPN server’s address. When the server returns the HTML code, it will first send it to the VPN server. Finally, the VPN server will identify the request and send the data back to the IP address that you are using.
The Benefits of Using a VPN
What are the benefits of using a VPN? They are evident from what is explained in the previous two sections. However, we will still explain them in this section.
- Secure your browsing activities
- Protect your privacy
- Avoid advertising information
1. Secure Your Browsing Activities
Firstly, as mentioned above, VPNs emphasize encryption. Therefore, it is almost impossible for outsiders to invade your browsing activities. On the contrary, when visiting a website that doesn’t use HTTPS, especially if tunneling is not used, it becomes effortless for people to peek at your online activity and obtain private information, including passwords.
2. Protect Your Privacy
VPNs can be used to obscure your location and IP address. When you visit the website with a VPN connection, the website doesn’t recognize your computer as a visitor. Instead, the VPN server is the one that visits the website, according to the website’s server. Therefore, your browsing history will not be tied to you, preventing all kinds of havoc from being wreaked if the data falls into the wrong hands.
3. Avoid Advertising Information
Some users don’t like personalized advertisements in their browser because they may disrupt the browsing experience. In that case, VPNs can be used to combat them. It does not only prevent your browsing habits from being associated with you, but the VPN can also act as a filter, filtering out these advertisements if necessary.
Conclusion
In this short article, we talked about how a VPN works and some of its benefits. If you want to learn more, please visit the websites in the references below.
References and Credits
- Kaspersky. (2017, May 17). What is a VPN and Why You Should Use It to Protect Your Privacy. Retrieved January 12, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJQndtydiB0
- Chris Hoffman. (2021, August 11). What Is a VPN, and Why Would I Need One? Retrieved January 12, 2022, from https://www.howtogeek.com/133680/htg-explains-what-is-a-vpn/
- (n.d.). How Does a Virtual Private Network (VPN) Work? Retrieved January 12, 2022, from https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/how-does-vpn-work