VPNs offer privacy, security, and convenience, so they're no longer just for techies anymore. VPNs aren't perfect. They don't provide total anonymity, and they won't stop all kinds of hacks

How VPNs help you stay safe online

VPN stands for virtual private network. A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your computer and the internet server you want to access. Encryption is a way to scramble data, making it impossible for someone else to read without special equipment. In the same way, if you use a VPN while browsing the web, websites can't collect any information about what sites you visit. And since the connection is encrypted, nobody, not even their ISP (Internet Service Provider), knows what you're doing on the internet.

VPNs offer privacy, security, and convenience, so they're no longer just for techies anymore. You may have heard them called a ‘secure browser', 'anonymizer', or a 'proxy' - these terms refer to similar features offered by VPNs. But how do VPNs work? How does a VPN protect your identity? What are the benefits of using a VPN? Read on to find out!

What is encryption? When you're connected to the internet, everything you type and click on is sent over the public internet unencrypted (meaning visible to anyone who's looking). To make sure your personal info stays secure, you need to connect to the internet through a website that uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption. That means that before the website sends anything back to your computer, it encrypts your traffic using a secret code generated by your web browser and then decrypts it again once it arrives at the site.

Think of it like this: let’s say you're trying to send me money. First we generate a random number, and then I give you the number. Now neither of us can know how much the other person got until we both agree to share the money. If I were to intercept the money before you gave it to me, I could only tell how much you gave me and nothing about the real amount you wanted to transfer.

With that said a VPN encrypts your connection to the internet, meaning that it generates its own unique set of numbers and then replaces those numbers with ones that look like the original numbers. So instead of giving the company my number, it gives them a different number, which looks the same to the recipient.

Why do people use VPNs? There are a few reasons why many people choose to use VPNs, including:

- Protecting your privacy. People often complain about companies collecting personal data through various tracking technologies (like cookies), and they rightly worry about third parties seeing what they type into search boxes. Using a VPN makes it harder for snoops to see what you're typing into Google or Face book searches.

- Security. When you're connecting to the internet through an open Wi-Fi hotspot, someone nearby might be able to intercept your internet traffic and steal passwords or credit card details. A VPN encrypts your connection, so no one can view your activity unless they've broken the encryption first.

- Safe browsing. While a VPN isn't 100% effective, it helps prevent malware and adware from infecting your device and hijacking your web traffic. Malicious software can download viruses onto your computer and trick you into downloading malicious programs. Not only that, some free apps use annoying ads to monetize their services. A VPN disconnects you from these websites, keeping you safe and making it easier to browse the web.

- Streaming content. Watching videos from Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Video, etc. is great, but ISPs sometimes throttle streaming speeds, slowing down connections to video streaming websites. By using a VPN, you get a fast, reliable connection to these websites.

VPNs aren't perfect. They don't provide total anonymity, and they won't stop all kinds of hacks, but they do help keep computers safer, and they can save you tons of time and hassle. Plus, they're easy to install and use. Many VPN providers allow you to download the app directly onto your phone or tablet, making it quick and convenient to use wherever you go.

 

VPNs have been around for years and they have changed the way we connect to the internet. VPN stands for virtual private network and is a service that creates an encrypted tunnel between you and the websites you visit. The encryption means that no one can read your data while it's traveling over the internet. This makes VPN a great tool to protect your personal information and identity online. Here are some things that VPNs do to keep us safe on the web...

 Encrypted connections

VPN encrypts your traffic using strong cryptography methods. When you send data across the internet, it travels unencrypted and anyone along the way can intercept it. By encrypting your connection, your data cannot be easily stolen.

 Secured locations

When you use a VPN, it helps to hide your physical location online. If someone was able to find out where you live, they could then track your IP address and learn your home address. A VPN encrypts your connection and sends it to a different server, making it difficult to locate your actual location.

 Privacy

A VPN keeps your real browsing history hidden. In fact, if you connect to a website that does not allow you to view their servers' logs, you'll never know that you've visited it before. You'll only ever appear to visit that site once.

 Security

VPNs are a helpful security measure because they make sure that everyone connecting to the internet is coming from a legitimate location. If you're connected to a server in China that contains malware, your connection may be infected. Your device and computer will then become compromised. When you connect to a secure VPN, the connection is always being sent to the correct server, ensuring that it's not hacked or contaminated.

Anonymous surfing

If you want to browse anonymously online, VPNs are a necessary tool. Websites like Face book and Twitter require users to log in or create accounts, but they don't verify your identity. If you try to access these sites without signing in, you might end up giving away information about yourself. By connecting to a VPN, you can surf the web securely and anonymously.

Online privacy

Since VPN encrypts your data, it helps to keep your data private and anonymous, even when you share it with others. When you connect to social media or messaging apps, you might accidentally reveal sensitive information about yourself that you didn't intend on sharing. VPNs ensure that your details remain private.