Protects against public Wi-Fi eavesdropping, stopping hackers from extracting your passwords and other personal details. It also helps to avoid malware infections and improve ping on games.
It prevents ISPs from throttling users’ internet speeds by encrypting data. This lets people play games and stream HD videos without major bandwidth disruptions.
Encryption
Encryption converts data into unreadable code that can only be deciphered with the appropriate key. It is used to protect files that are “at rest,” meaning they have been stored on a hard disk, as well as data while it is being transmitted over the network. It is the backbone of all online security functions, and it can be used to safeguard sensitive information against cybercriminals, attackers, malware, and data breaches.
Most legitimate websites use encryption (look for the padlock icon in your browser’s address bar and https instead of http) to keep your data private from hackers while it is in transit between your web browser and the website server.
Data encryption also serves as a critical function for regulatory compliance and helps organizations maintain privacy standards for their customers, employees, patients, or clients. Many government departments and industries require that certain personal data be encrypted to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.
No Logs
So how does a VPN work? A VPN that abides by a no-logs policy allows users to browse the internet without tracking their online activities. A no-logs policy is necessary for any user who values privacy and security.
A reliable VPN can protect your online information and traces from being viewed by snoopers, including your ISP (Internet Service Provider), hackers, government surveillance, and ad trackers on practically every website. It also helps you avoid targeted ads by eliminating your browsing habits.
The best VPN services will have a clear no-logs policy on their websites and evidence proving they don’t keep any data logs. Knowing how long a VPN keeps its data logs and whether it has been independently audited is important.
While the main reason to use a no-logs VPN is to prevent snooping by your ISP and other parties, many people have other reasons for seeking out this level of privacy protection. For instance, no-logs VPNs are especially valuable if you’re a political dissident or journalist. In addition to protecting your privacy, no-logs VPNs can help you get around geoblocking.
Privacy
When you log into your online bank account in a hotel or pay for your coffee while connecting to public Wi-Fi, your data is vulnerable to hackers and cybercriminals. This is because when you browse the web, your data connects directly to the router without passing through a middleman like a VPN.
If your ISP or web browser keeps a browsing history, hackers can use that to discover your identity and steal your private information. VPNs can prevent this by encrypting your data and connecting you to servers worldwide through their tunnels.
VPNs can also help bypass content blocks on certain websites by masking your real location. You can geo-shift to another server to appear in that region, which helps you get past government internet censorship, such as China’s “Great Firewall.” The VPN can also protect you against price discrimination, where ecommerce sites change prices based on your location or ability to pay. However, it doesn’t prevent lateral threat movement from a compromised endpoint to an entire network.
Speed
While your search requests and web page traffic typically travel directly to your internet service provider, a VPN encrypts this data on the client side. This tunnel, which others can’t see or read, then routes your request to a VPN server. The server translates your data into readable text and forwards it to the website you want to connect with.
Without a VPN, this traffic first passes to an unsecured Wi-Fi network. Hackers, snooping government agencies, and other cyber criminals can intercept this information as it’s transmitted.
A VPN protects your privacy by scrambling your data into an unreadable jumble of code that only your device and the VPN server can decipher with the right key. This is why looking for a VPN with a robust encryption algorithm which offers more combinations than the number of stars in the galaxy, is important. Some VPNs also offer features like split tunneling, which allows you to use a private network and public Wi-Fi simultaneously with the push of a button.
Reliability
A VPN uses a combination of transmission protocols and encryption methods to create an encrypted connection between your device and its servers. You can choose which encryption protocol to use from the settings in your VPN app.
Your device’s IP address is a series of numbers and periods uniquely identifying it online. Anyone who captures this information can see your web browsing history, including what sites you visit, what search terms you use, and your physical location. A VPN encrypts your data and reroutes it through various servers, so the website you’re visiting sees a different IP address than the one assigned to your device.
A VPN also encrypts your data, so hackers and cybercriminals can’t intercept and read the personal information you send over the internet, including emails, text messages, and social media posts. This makes it much more difficult for these criminals to steal your identity or gain access to your financial accounts or credit cards.
