What does a VPN do? How does it do it? And do you really need one?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) works by creating a secure encrypted connection between your device (your computer) and the VPN server.
This means that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and other third parties can’t see which websites you visit or what data you send and receive online.
VPNs also hide your IP address and therefore your location and in that way, can help to protect your identity.
What Does A VPN Do.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) disguises your IP address when you’re connected to the Internet.
Every device that connects to the Internet has an IP address.
You can think of it as a phone number, it does the same job. The IP address identifies the device just as a phone number identifies a phone.
You can find your own IP address by just asking Google what IP address is.
You’ll find that not only can you view you IP address, but the website will also give you your location down to the nearest city, or district.
They can also tell you which ISP (Internet Service Provider) you’re using.
Every website that you visit can see your IP address. It’s like a track that you leave across the Internet as you move from website to website. Like foot steps in the snow.
But when you’re using a VPN service, the IP address that everyone sees is that of the VPN servers. It’s not your own IP address.
In that way, it’s very difficult to track, or trace, back to you.
Your ISP Can See Where You Go On The Internet.
All your Internet traffic, every website, every download, has to go through your ISP. They can actually see the data that’s passing between your computer and whatever website you’re visiting.
Your ISP can see it and can monitor it. They know everything that you’re doing.
By that I don’t mean that someone is actually watching you, not a real person, but the computers are. The ISP is monitoring you through their computers. Records are being compiled and kept.
A VPN Encrypts Your Data.
The VPN service that you’re using encrypts, or encodes, all the data that passes between your computer and the VPN servers.
So although your ISP can see data is flowing between your PC and the VPN servers, they can still monitor it, but they can’t read it. The ISP has no idea what information is passing between your computer and the VPN.
How A VPN Works.
To take advantage of a VPN service, you most often have to sign up, or create some sort of account. Some are paid for, but there are some free services available.
Once your account is setup. you’ll download a small program or app to your computer. When you run the program/app on your PC, the VPN is working.
For example, the two images below show my current IP address issued by my ISP, and then what my IP address is after launching my VPN service.
You can see that they are drastically different.
Data Encryption.
As well as changing the IP address, with the VPN software running, all the data passing between your PC and the VPN servers will be encrypted.
That makes it impossible for your ISP to monitor your online activities. They can know that you’re doing something, but they don’t know what.
Are VPN services Oversold.
Most definitely yes. Even with a VPN running on your computer, you’re never totally anonymous.
There’re many reasons for that but the most obvious is that the VPN service itself will know what you’re doing.
And remember that you’ve setup an account with them, so they will know exactly who you are.
Other claims made by VPNs is that they protect you from viruses and malware. Not so. Some do have anti virus protection setup, but that won’t be any more effective than what’s offered by your ISP. And is much less effective than the AV that you should be running on your computer anyway.
When Should You Use A VPN Service.
For me there’re two main uses for a VPN service.
- Using public Wi-Fi – If you use any sort of public Wi-Fi service, such as coffee shops, airports etc, then a VPN will protect you. Especially if you’re signing in to online accounts.
- Geolocation – VPNs offer the opportunity to log in using servers that are located in different countries around the world. That allows you to bypass regional restrictions that are placed on, for example, video streaming websites.
For example, I live in the UK, so to check that this website is functioning correctly in, let’s say the US, I connect using a VPN whose server is based in the US.
Does It Slow Down Your Internet Speed.
Yes. A VPN adds another layer to how you’re connecting to the internet. You’ll often see adverts proclaiming that they’re using super fast servers, but in truth, because everything is getting more complicated, your Internet will slow down when using a VPN.
By how much will depend entirely on your setup. Although the Internet will slow down, it may well still be very usable for you. But it might not be.
The best advice I can give you here is to take advantage of the free trials that are often offered by VPN companies.
Try two or three of them, test them thoroughly at different times of the day/night.
If you are looking to stream videos then make sure that you can connect to the streaming service of your choice.
Summary.
If you’re considering a VPN service, test them thoroughly. What works well in one country may not work so well somewhere else.
If you’re looking to protect your identity, then consider combining them with a virtual machine or possibly Windows Sandbox.
Also, make sure you keep your PC updated and do regular virus scans.
