How does a VPN work? VPN Basics
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The Internet is not a very private place. If you use public Wi-Fi for things like shopping and banking, your online privacy may be invaded, your data taken, and your identity stolen. Using a virtual private network – a VPN, in short – can help.
A VPN can hide information about your IP address and allow you to connect to the Internet without revealing your identity. How do? A VPN encrypts your communications on any device you use, including your phone, laptop, or tablet. It sends your data through a secure tunnel to the VPN service provider’s servers. Your data is encrypted and redirected to any website you try to access.
VPN Basics
A VPN enables you to connect to the Internet in an encrypted manner. Encryption adds security and privacy, which is especially important when using public Wi-Fi. That’s because identity thieves and other cybercriminals often target public Wi-Fi networks to steal personal information that you send and receive while you are on those types of networks.
It gets worse. You might think that you are using the free public WiFi that is available at an airport, hotel, or coffee shop. But you may have logged into a Wi-Fi network that only looks legitimate. But guess what? A cybercriminal may have set up the network to steal your data.
A VPN allows you to use a public Wi-Fi network that is not private in nature by creating an encrypted tunnel through which your data is sent to a remote server operated by your VPN service provider. The VPN server then sends the data to the site you seek to connect to, and it is encrypted and safe from the prying eyes of identity thieves and other cybercriminals.
VPNs can sometimes slow down your computer’s performance. This can happen if the VPN servers are geographically far away. For best performance, you might consider a VPN with servers located all over the world. This way, your data can be routed through a closer location.
Some VPN services limit your use. For example, they might limit the amount of data you can send in a single connection, over a period of time, or limit the data speed. This can be common with free VPN services.
Types of VPN Security Protocols
VPNs use a variety of different protocols. Older protocols, such as PPP and PPTP, are less secure. Here are some types of security protocols.
- IP Security (IP Sec). IP Security is a common protocol that protects data through transfer mode or tunneling mode. Both provide encryption. It is considered highly secure and useful for securing both incoming and outgoing traffic. But it can require a lot of processing power, and that can affect device performance. Also, some of the security algorithms used in IPSec in the past were hacked by cybercriminals. Newer versions of IPSec use stronger and more complex algorithms.
- Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) / IPSec. L2TP is a VPN protocol that does not encrypt data on its own. That’s why it’s paired with IPSec encryption. One of its primary advantages? It is available in most devices and operating systems and provides a high level of security. What is the downside? It can lead to slower connections. This is because it uses a double encapsulation process.
- Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS). SSL was the generally used VPN encryption protocol before 2015. It has evolved into TLS to encrypt data that goes to an SSL VPN server. One of the reasons SSL has been largely replaced in VPNs is due to the large number of security vulnerabilities discovered in the protocol.
- Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP). PPTP was the oldest security protocol and was first released in Windows 95. It’s fast, but that’s because the protocol provides a low level of encryption.
- Secure Shell (SSH). SSH isn’t particularly easy to use and doesn’t automatically encrypt all of your data. Difficult for users to configure. Additionally, fewer providers use this protocol, which limits your choices.
- Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP). This Microsoft-developed protocol is very secure and easy to use, but it doesn’t work well on platforms other than Windows.
- Internet Key Exchange, version 2 (IKEv2). This protocol is based on IPSec. It is considered safe and fast. Negative one? It can be blocked by firewalls.
- Open VPN. This is probably the most popular VPN protocol. It combines high security and speed. Since it is open source, many third parties maintain and update the technology. Norton uses this protocol for its VPN, Norton Secure VPN.
Why do I need a VPN?
A VPN helps turn your internet connection into a safer and more secure experience. It can enhance the security of your personal information and your privacy on the Internet.
For example, consider the risks of using public Wi-Fi. Cybercriminals may be able to access the personal data you send and receive, even if the network you’re using is password-protected. In some cases, the data can be used to commit identity theft or to gain access to your online accounts. A VPN can help protect your data in two ways. First, it can help prevent data theft through a fake public Wi-Fi network created by a cybercriminal. It can also help protect data that is passed over a legitimate public Wi-Fi network that has been hacked by cybercriminals.
Furthermore, your internet searches on a VPN remain confidential. This is important because your ISP or ISP is allowed to sell your browsing history to third parties. And while third parties may only use this information to target you with advertising, there are other risks.
For example, your information could be accessed in a data breach. Criminals may use the exposed information to create phishing emails. If you click on one of these fake emails, you could become a victim of identity theft or a ransomware attack.
Spear phishing emails are often tailored to your interests. They try to lure you to click on links that contain a variety of malware. This includes push-to-login malware, which can lead to identity theft, or ransomware that can lock and encrypt your computer’s data, making it only accessible if you pay a ransom.
The enhanced privacy that a VPN provides is also a reason to consider using a VPN for your devices at home even when you’re not on public Wi-Fi.
In short, here’s what the benefits of a VPN look like. VPNs protect by:
- Encrypt your web activity.
- Hide your actual location.
- In addition to anonymity on the web.
- Secure the personal information you send and receive while connected to a public Wi-Fi network.
- Protect your online data from being used to make you vulnerable to phishing.
What is a VPN without a log?
A no-log VPN is one that does not collect and use the data you send through the VPN, such as the websites you visit or your downloads.
Since people use VPNs to enhance their privacy, you might think that not all VPNs will be no-logs VPNs. not like that.
Some VPN providers collect minimal user information, such as your email, but these exceptions to the rule should be available in the VPN provider’s privacy policy. Norton Secure VPN does not keep logs.
You can learn more in the Norton Privacy Notice. That’s what he says. Norton Secure VPN collects subscriber information for connection purposes, mobile device data, and overall bandwidth usage. It is important to note that Norton Secure VPN does not log information about where you go on the Internet.
VPN vulnerabilities and red flags
Nothing is perfect. For example, not all VPNs protect you from cookies on the websites you visit. Also, VPNs have been compromised by vulnerabilities that have not yet been discovered, or that have not yet been patched. This is one of the reasons why it is important to download the latest security updates as they become available.
VPNs come in many forms. Some are free and some have a monthly fee.
Free VPN services often collect information about you. They target you with ads related to your interests. It is determined by information collected by your computer or mobile device use.
This is not all. Some free VPNs sell your data to third parties that you have no control over. Cybercriminals have created free VPNs to collect your information.
Protect yourself with Norton Secure VPN
Norton Secure VPN is an excellent no-logs VPN that uses the Open VPN protocol, is fast, secure and works on Windows, Mac and Android devices. Norton Secure VPN also blocks ad tracking cookies, which stop annoying ads and enable faster browsing.
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