What is VPN - simple explanation

What is a VPN?

VPN, or Virtual Private Network, creates an encrypted connection from a device to a network when connecting over the Internet. Encryption means that data which is in readable form (like this blog post, plain text!) gets converted into a form that can only be read by the person who knows a secret code. This code is used by an algorithm to encrypt and decrypt the content.

Simply put, the data that you send over a network when you use VPN is not that easily read by an unauthorized person. Especially if you are ever using a public network, such as WiFi connection available in a coffee shop, you should consider using a VPN so no one can detect what you are doing. VPN also masks your IP address so your actions online are virtually untraceable.

Without VPN cybercriminals, or for example the business providing the free WiFi, could be seeing which links you click, could see your chats, what files you download, could get details about your bank and so on.

How does VPN work?

As mentioned earlier, VPN first encrypts the data you are sending locally on the device. Then the data is sent to the server of your VPN service provider, which then forwards the request to the website you wanted to access.

This makes it look like your device is connected in a same network where the VPN provider is, so you could for example watch content that is region-locked, such as Netflix shows that are only available for people in USA. (However, some of the IP addresses of the VPN servers have been blocked so this doesn't always work).

What are the disadvantages of using a VPN?

There are also some disadvantages of using a VPN. Because all the data is forwarded via the VPN server, it can be slower than when you are not using it. For example, whenever I'm downloading a digital game I have bought, I disable VPN so I can get the game downloaded faster.

Sometimes the VPN can lose the connection, which was at first frustrating, because I didn't know why my internet was not working. It was almost always fixed by just disabling and then enabling the VPN connection.

Also sometimes for example Google might not allow my search to go forward because there's too many requests coming from the IP address. This is also fixed by disabling and then enabling the VPN again.

How to choose VPN?

It's important that you trust the VPN provider you choose, because they are able to see the data you forward by them. But when you search for VPN providers, you can easily find ones with lots of users and good reviews.

Other than that it depends on how you want to use VPN. Do you want to use it only on a laptop or maybe also with your phone? Do you want to forward everything by VPN servers, or only sometimes when using a public network or for example when using your online bank?

Some VPN providers offer free trials of their services and some might allow access to most of the features, but have set data limitations.

Here's some VPN providers that I have heard of:
ExpressVPN
NordVPN
Freedome

And a disclaimer, I am nowadays working at WithSecure (former F-Secure), but it's not the only reason I'm mentioning their Freedome VPN here. I have been using it couple years before I joined the company and I have liked it.

Summary

So as a summary:

• VPN helps you hide your browsing history, IP address, location and other web activity.
• It uses encryption to make your data private
• You should consider using a VPN at least if you are ever using a public network.

I hope this blog post helped you to understand what VPN is and why should you consider using it! Feel free to add more tips or suggestions in the comments.

You can also follow my Instagram @whatminjahacks if you are interested to see more about my days as a Cyber Security Academy trainee and learn more about cyber security with me!

References

CISCO - What is a VPN?
Norton - What is encryption and how does it protect your data?