VPN
Short for Virtual Private Network, a VPN allows users to connect to a network through a tunneling protocol and access Internet and intranet websites. VPNs are available for any Internet-enabled device, including computers and smartphones. Without a VPN, users connect to websites directly through their Internet service provider. With a VPN, the computer connects to an intermediary server, which accesses the desired website, preventing the user's IP address from being exposed.
While your browsing data is hidden, your VPN provider still has your information. If you decide to use a VPN, ensure it's a trustworthy company. We also don't recommend using a free VPN because it may be selling your information to cover its costs.
VPN was featured as a top term in 2004.
Why should someone use a VPN?
Originally, VPNs were developed to allow employees working for large companies to connect to private intranet servers. This connection made file-sharing and communication easier and more secure for businesses.
Today, however, VPNs are used for a wide variety of purposes, including:
- Encrypting all data sent over the Internet.
- Preventing your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and websites from accessing and selling your user data.
- Ensuring your data is secure when using a public Wi-Fi network.
- Accessing country-specific online content by choosing a foreign server.
Do I need a VPN?
The following sections contain information regarding whether or not you may need a VPN. They should help dispel a lot of the confusion brought on by misleading advertisements from VPN companies and their sponsors.
Encryption
While it's true that all VPN companies encrypt your Internet data, it's important to realize that almost everything you do today is already encrypted. In fact, if you visit a website whose address has "https" at the beginning, all information sent to and from it is encrypted. If you visited an older website that's not encrypted (not secure, e.g., it starts with only "http"), a VPN would protect you on its pages.
Are unencrypted pages safe?
An unencrypted website is safe to browse. However, any information entered into an unencrypted web page is not secure. In other words, you're fine to browse an unencrypted page, but you should not be entering any sensitive information into that website like, your credit card information.
Keeps all browsing private
A VPN helps keep your browsing activity hidden from your ISP. However, realize that the burden of trust is transferred from your ISP to the VPN provider, and other companies can still track you, even with a VPN. For example, VPNs may protect your IP address, but logging onto social networking allows the account to be tracked across the Internet with technologies like a web bug. Other factors like analytics, cookies, browser, and smartphone and other accounts (e.g., Google account) can all be used to track you without needing a specific IP address.
Also, it's important to realize the tracking performed by your ISP only includes your IP address and the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the web page you're visiting. The information you type into websites cannot be tracked unless it's part of a URL. In other words, your ISP knows you're reading about VPNs on Computer Hope, but if you submit an e-mail message through our web page, the ISP wouldn't know its contents, even without a VPN.
Change your DNS (Domain Name System) address from your ISP to a free provider like Cloudflare or Quad9. Using either of these services hides you from your ISP and can also improve the speed of domain name lookups.
Keeps you anonymous
When you purchase any service, including a VPN, your payment method can be tracked. For example, using a credit card gives the VPN an idea of your identity and location. The payment company would also know you're using a VPN, and the provider.
Single-use credit cards are still traceable and are not meant for privacy. A gift credit card helps with anonymity if it's purchased with cash, and no ID was presented. However, the location that sold you the card and the time it was purchased could be tracked. Law enforcement could use this information and security footage to identify you buying a gift card.
Paying with a cryptocurrency helps keep you anonymous if you're not using a wallet service that requires personal information (e.g., Coinbase). Some VPNs accept cash, vouchers, and gift cards to help keep you completely anonymous.
Another point to consider is that most VPNs require you to enter contact information when you register. Unless you're falsifying your information, it can identify you.
VPN services like Mullvad create an account number to identify you and don't require an e-mail, username, or other PII (Personally Identifiable Information).
Protect Wi-Fi connections
When connecting to the Internet using an open Wi-Fi hotspot, an attacker could potentially view the unencrypted data. However, today, most websites you visit are encrypted; therefore, even if the data is intercepted, it can't be read.
If you frequently connect to unknown Wi-Fi networks, a VPN helps protect you from some types of attacks. However, if you only use the same closed Wi-Fi network at home or work, a VPN will not help protect you any further than a non-VPN connection.
Protect you from hackers and viruses
A VPN does make it more difficult for a hacker to attack your IP address. However, a VPN cannot make your computers or network immune to hackers, viruses, or other malware. Using any online connection introduces vulnerabilities, with and without a VPN.
Keeps your passwords safe
As long as the web page utilizes HTTPS, passwords are encrypted even without a VPN. Also, if you use easy-to-guess passwords or the same password across multiple accounts, you'll still be vulnerable to someone accessing your account, even with a VPN. Furthermore, VPNs can't stop identity theft, phishing, social engineering, data leaks, and other computer crimes that help attackers get passwords.
Changing regions
A VPN can change your apparent location by requesting information from a server in that region. This feature is helpful if you travel a lot or want to access content on services like Netflix that are unavailable in that location. However, realize these services may block VPNs from accessing their networks. Changing regions is also helpful if there are location-specific rules regarding certain websites or content.
ISP throttling
An ISP may throttle your Internet connection by applying rules to specific websites (e.g., Netflix). Using a VPN can reduce or eliminate some ISP throttling by preventing them from knowing the websites you're visiting. However, it is possible for an ISP to throttle your bandwidth, even with a VPN.
Torrents
If you participate in downloading torrents, because a VPN hides your IP address, it helps keep you anonymous.
Improve network speeds
You'll likely notice a slight decrease in network speeds because you're proxying everything you do on the Internet through an ISP. However, in some situations, you could experience improved speeds if the VPN has servers with a shorter route to your Internet destination. This situation could also improve latency with game servers. Essentially, it depends on how many connections (hops) you and the VPN must route through to reach the destination.
If you want a VPN for network speed improvements, ensure they have servers in your region or state.
Prevent DoS and DDoS attacks
If you're a frequent DoS or DDoS attack victim, a VPN helps protect you by making it more difficult to identify which IP address to attack. Also, if the VPN server is getting attacked they'll have staff to deal with the problem and you can also switch to another VPN server not getting attacked.
Access blocked websites
Because a VPN is a lot like a proxy, it can connect to a website using different computers, which helps bypass IP bans. However, if you or someone else on the VPN is abusing a service, the VPN can be blocked.
Still on the fence?
If you're still unsure if you need a VPN, consider using the Do I need a VPN website. It addresses this question by asking how you use the Internet.
How do I connect to a VPN?
A server is required to use a VPN. Here are two main ways people access VPN servers:
Using a VPN provider
A popular method for connecting to a VPN is with a third-party provider. Many companies offer VPN services via monthly or annual subscriptions and have servers in several countries, allowing users to choose their apparent location.
There are also some free VPN services. However, they options such as the number of available server locations and the amount of monthly data you can use. Also, as we mentioned above, some free VPN services are subsidized by selling usage information.
VPN providers are available on your computer or smartphone's app store. Once installed, each VPN app guides you through the automatic setup process and lets you change various settings. See the next section for a list of popular VPN providers.
Creating a custom VPN
Some users purchase physical servers or VPN-enabled routers, rent cloud servers through services like Amazon Web Services, or configure a Windows or macOS computer to act as a VPN.
In any of the cases above, you can manually enter the server's information in your device's VPN settings. When connected to a VPN, a shield icon should appear in your device's taskbar, menu bar, or notification area.
List of popular VPN providers
The following VPN providers are available on all major mobile and computer operating systems.
Computer acronyms, Hamachi, L2TP, Network terms, Open network, PPTP, Remote access, TLA, Tor, Tunnel, Virtual, Vishing