As you will surely have noticed throughout our website thus far, we really like VPNs around here. They are truly versatile tools which can completely change the way you use the Internet and web-based services in general, removing restrictions and hurdles in an easy and affordable way.
But what is a VPN anyway? And what are its real, usable benefits? Read on to find out the answers to those questions and more!
What is a VPN?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and as is often the case with tech-based acronyms, the name itself says much of what you actually need to know.
For the purposes of this article, we will not go into too much technical detail. Instead, allow me to explain what VPNs are as simply as possible.
Imagine that you are on the road, driving down the highway with your car. Since you are on a public property, anyone can see you and know what you are doing. If need be, you can also be intercepted and blocked from going into certain directions.
Now, imagine that you somehow had access to a tunnel that was only available to you and could take you anywhere you wanted, away from prying eyes and without anyone being able to place any restrictions on your journey.
The first analogy is exactly what happens when you use the Internet without a VPN. Your Internet Service Provider can easily see what you are doing as your Internet traffic is public and visible.
With a VPN, however, you can hide your internet traffic, protect your online identity and security, and establish connections that are not visible to anyone else.
How can a VPN help me?
Well, the answer to this question depends entirely on how you use the Internet and what you want to get out of it. Here are some simple things a VPN can help with:
- Privacy
- Anonymity
- Security
- Accessing content
But let’s be even more precise now.
A VPN will give you privacy and anonymity because it will not only hide your IP address, which could be used to identify you, but it will also mask your Internet traffic so no one knows what websites you are actually visiting.
It will give you additional security because, unlike public networks (which you shouldn’t trust), your VPN connections are secured with encryption, which means they cannot be hacked into and that you can just go about your business without worrying someone is snooping in.
Finally, they will give you access to a lot more content because they will remove geographical restrictions. Can’t watch a video because it’s only for US residents while you’re currently in another country? Just set your VPN to a US server and watch all the videos you want!
Who is a VPN for anyway?
In theory, a VPN can work for anyone. If you are at least somewhat interested in protecting your online privacy and security, for example, then getting a VPN is a great way towards such goals, allowing you to keep your online traffic and communications for your eyes only.
If you frequently download things, particularly through torrenting apps, a VPN will hide it all with ease. Even if you are downloading legitimate content, you may just not want anyone to know about it!
And if you frequently connect to public networks, whether that’s in a coffee shop, your university, or anywhere else, then a VPN will keep your information safe!
There are even more advanced uses of VPN, such as setting one up so that you can access your apps and files remotely, but such uses are usually reserved for people who already know what they are doing.
If you have any more questions about the benefits of VPNs, don’t hesitate to talk to us!