What is a VPN? A Virtual Private Network (VPN) protects your online privacy by sending and receiving all of your data through an encrypted tunnel. Most people use VPN encryption to defend their information at public WiFi locations like coffee shops or airports, but many are using the service to hide their locations, ensure private browsing, improve your security, and a lot more.
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So, what is a VPN? VPNs work by taking your Internet connection and activity, encrypting them, and transferring that information to the intended destination via a secure VPN server somewhere else in the world. This ensures that all online activity and all data leaving and coming to your device, whether it's an email or file you're sending or receiving, a website you're browsing, or an online chat you're having, is safe from prying eyes and free from privacy risks.
A VPN Tunneling Protocol is the technological system that allows you to securely send your data over the Internet without leaking activity information. There are several VPN protocols that are used for different purposes, balancing connection speed and security, based on your specific needs. All these VPN protocols are great for protecting your privacy.
This is the strongest encryption protocol regarding security of any in existence. It is also the slowest because it checks every byte that is transmitted to make sure it's correct. However, it is still popular among VPNs because of the security benefits.
This VPN protocol is built for speed. Instead of checking the network transfer while it's going on, it sends a list with the public key that can be verified when the server has the full file. It has slightly less robust security than OpenVPN, but is still a great VPN protocol.
WireGuard® is a fairly new, but thoroughly tested, VPN protocol that balances speed and security for the best of both worlds. It uses AES encryption to build a key and a hybrid approach to data handling between OpenVPN and IKEv2, resulting in a more secure, faster connection.
Every device on the Internet has an IP address that everything you do online is associated with. Think of it as your computer's license. Using a VPN masks your IP address so any and all of your online activity is completely private.
As a Switzerland-based VPN company, we do not keep records of what IP addresses you connect to, nor what IP you were assigned while using our VPN service. Your online privacy is paramount, and your IP address is the easiest way to pry open your secrets online.
What is a VPN capable of doing? VPN functions as a combination of bridge and firewall between you and the Internet.
VPNs can protect your privacy and security while you're connected to the service in several ways.
With a VPN, you have the unique ability to pick which server you connect to. Using PrivadoVPN as an example, we have a VPN server network of more than servers in countries around the world. You can connect to a VPN server in any city where we have one located, and your IP address will make it seem as if you are physically there. Even your Internet Service Provider won't be able to see where you are digitally located, improving your privacy and security.
Of course, a VPN server also has an IP address. Taking the time to connect to a VPN server increases your privacy by masking that information so nobody else can easily identify you on the Internet.
Beyond hiding your IP address, a VPN also uses encryption to keep your connection secure. VPN encryption uses computer algorithms to scramble your data before it leaves your computer. It can then be unscrambled when it reaches the destination so that anybody snooping on your Internet connection won't be able to use any data they collect.
In fact, a VPN can even prevent them from getting to your data at all with encryption tunnels. VPN protocols usually have rules that help to establish secure tunnels between computers, which will encrypt the transfer itself, making it nearly impossible for anybody to watch what you're doing online.
The Internet has become a more dangerous place lately, and your privacy isn't the only thing at risk. Your VPN provider can actually be an important bulwark against many of the most common cyber attacks.
For example, a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack aims to shut down your server by making countless little requests, like DNS requests or other small packet communications. They are small, but if too many come in at once, it can force a computer to freeze or a server to crash. This can be done to your video game console as easily as a website if you're not using a VPN.
By connecting to your VPN, you have the security of knowing that their equipment will take the brunt of the attack. A VPN connection uses some of the most robust computers on the Internet, and frequently they have the power to withstand these kinds of threats.
It's not uncommon these days for a business to have their own corporate VPN. A business VPN has become even more important with the rise in remote work. It allows employees to connect directly to a VPN run by the company, securing their connection as if they were physically at the office. They provide encryption that meets company standards and keep proprietary documents secure.
It's important to note that connecting to your company's VPN server isn't about protecting you. A corporate VPN protects the business. Your Internet connection will still be visible to the company itself in most cases, despite the VPN.
The type of VPN that you are most likely to deal with is the commercial or consumer VPN. This is a VPN run by businesses like PrivadoVPN who offer access to their service. Generally you will either have to pay a certain amount to use a consumer VPN or have specific restrictions placed on a free account. Many offer a VPN free trial so you can test the security or, like PrivadoVPN, a money back guarantee.
In an increasingly vulnerable Internet, a strong connection to a VPN service with a variety of server locations can go a long way toward improving your Internet security.
It is possible for Internet-savvy users to set up their own, private VPN. This, like a corporate VPN, allows you to access the Internet remotely as if you were at home. In fact, many modern routers have built in VPN functionality. It's a lot like running your own VPN server.
The problem with a private VPN is that it doesn't actually improve your security. You don't get the benefit of a global VPN server network to hide your IP address, you don't have shared IPs to mask your identity, and you don't have the security infrastructure of a consumer VPN, to name just a few drawbacks. Private VPNs have a very limited purpose and won't really help you site to site.
PrivadoVPN is a "no-log" virtual private network. This means that we don't keep records of your online activity, so it can never be traced back to you. We base our free VPN in Switzerland, which has the best consumer privacy laws in the world, so that even if an ISP or government agency tries to access your data, we can keep your information private and safe.
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Setting up your free VPN is as simple as downloading the PrivadoVPN app on your computer or mobile device, creating a free account, and connecting to a server.
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If you want to set up a VPN manually, you can do so on many routers or within most operating systems. Our guides will walk you through the process step by step.
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