People share their entire lives online without even giving it a second thought. But how secure is the online world? We all know that the internet is no longer a safe place, with new stories of online crimes leaking every day. People shop, visit relatives, play games, and a whole lot more, on the Internet. So, all the sensitive data they upload on the internet needs to stay away from hackers and evil-minded people.
There are several ways to ensure online safety, such as using strong and unique passwords, regularly updating your software, and using a VPN. A VPN download encrypts your internet traffic, and is especially useful if you regularly use public WiFi. This article will examine what a VPN is and how it protects online privacy.
What is a VPN?
VPN (Virtual Private Network) is an application that you can use to encode everything you send and receive online. While you may be able to use a VPN as a browser extension, you likely need to download it as an application. This technology helps to anonymize your online activities by routing your internet traffic through a tunnel or through a secure server.
In a nutshell, it hides your IP address and prevents a third party from tracking you or protecting your data. If you work remotely and you want your sensitive information to be secure, then this tool is essential.
They use Internet Protocol Security (IPSec), Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), Transport Layer Security (TLS), Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) to make sure the connections are safe.
The Role of VPN in Protecting Online Security
Now that you have understood a VPN, let’s examine its critical role in protecting users’ online security.
1. It Encrypts Your Online Data:
As mentioned earlier, a VPN encrypts online data, but what does this term mean? Data encryption is a process that converts readable information (plaintext) into unreadable text (ciphertext).
One of the features used by the VPNs that help encrypts the data, making the information about your internet traffic into an unreadable text, which is really hard for a third party to read.
It protects sensitive data you enter on the internet, like passwords, credit card numbers, and other information, from malicious actions.
2. It Provides Anonymity:
A VPN hides your IP address, helping you to be untraceable on the internet; no one can know where you are, where you are browsing, or who you are.
So if someone is spying on you, they will have no way of tracking your physical location from your online activities, and you are very safe.
3. It Provides an Extra Layer of Protection While Using Public WiFi:
If you enjoy working from a cafe or often use the Internet in a public setting, a VPN comes in handy. The common public WiFi networks do not provide effective additional security layers, so as a result of it, it turns into a hotspot for hackers.
Using an insecure network often requires you to keep a VPN connection on so as you remain connected to it; your data is exposed, but with a VPN, you can avoid this risk to give an additional wall of security.
4. It Helps You Surpass Geo-Restrictions:
Have you ever faced geo-restriction simply because your IP location is from a certain country? While websites do this to save themselves and help improve their content, it can be irritating to the user.
To get around this restriction, one method you can use is a VPN. A VPN connects you to a server in another country, which is the reason you can reach many kinds of content and go to the sites with geo-restrictions in your country.
5. It Prevents ISP Tracking:
Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) can see your online activity.
Now, if you want to hide the sites you are visiting regularly or the nature of your browsing activity, only a VPN comes to the rescue.
Your browsing history is private, and no one can see what you do on the Internet.
Conclusion
A VPN, or virtual private network, is a crucial internet privacy tool. It protects your data and saves you from falling prey to malevolent activities online.
But despite all the advantages a VPN provides, you need the right one to elevate your digital defense.
