What Is VPN And How A VPN Service Works?

Virtual Private Network(VPN) is a secure tunnel between two or more devices. It creates a secure tunnel between your computer and the internet, allowing you to surf the web anonymously from wherever you want.
Might be that you have not used it, but you must have heard about VPN or Virtual Private Network.
In this article, we will look at What VPN is and How does it work.

What is a VPN?

 
In simple terms, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can be defined as a secure connection across a public network, such as the Internet or a secure connection to a private network (Corporations, Educational Institutions, Govt. Organizations).
The sole purpose of the invention was to create a tunnel between distant computers for remote access. This was specifically designed to allow remote workers to access and make use of resources owned by corporations and agencies over a secure network.
For individual users, it is enough to understand that a VPN enables users to send and receive data across shared or public networks securely as if their computing devices were directly connected to the private network. It encrypts your data, making your online activities protected and illegible to anyone who tries to intercept your data.
VPN hides and manipulates your IP address, making you appear to be browsing the Internet from another machine, location or country.

How Does VPN Work?

 
When you try to access any website on your computer, your machine first connects to your Internet Service Provider (ISP), which then connects you to the website that you are trying to access.
This means that all the data transferred between your computer and the internet, passes through the servers of your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and it can be easily accessed by your ISP or anyone who manages to intrude your data.
In the case of a VPN, you will be connecting securely to a server run by the VPN provider which will then connect you to the website that you are trying to access.
All the data transfer between your Computer and the VPN server takes place in an encrypted form and it cannot be intercepted by anyone.

Benefits of a VPN:

 
Use of VPN offers manifold benefits to both Corporations and individuals. Below are the advantages of using a VPN over a public network:
Encryption of Data: VPN protects internet users from Hackers, especially while using Public Wi-Fi Networks. Even if a hacker wants to intercept your data, it will almost be impossible for the hacker to infer the data as it will be in an encrypted form.
Privacy Protection: VPN hides your activities on the internet from your ISP and any other agency which may have its own reasons for monitoring your activity on the internet.
Avoid Censorship: VPN makes it possible to avoid censorship and restrictions placed by organizations, companies, and countries.
Geo Restrictions: VPN allows you to gain access to services that allow access based on geographical location. For example, a service like Netflix is geo-restricted and its users are known to use VPN to gain access to Netflix while on holidays in a different country.
Secure VOIP Calls: Voice Over IP call services like Skype can be easily intercepted and listened to. Using a VPN service can provide complete protection for VOIP calls.
 
That’s It !! Use Virtual Private Network and stay safe and protected.
Also Read: How To Setup Virtual Private Network In Windows 10