A Virtual Private Network (VPN) makes it easier to create secure connections to other networks over the internet. You can always use VPNs to access region-restricted websites, protect your browsing activity against prying eyes on the web, and much more.
In the present world, VPNs are extremely popular as they allow users to access local network resources remotely and even bypass internet censorship. And that’s exactly why most operating systems feature integrated VPN support.
The Basics
Simply put, a VPN connects your Smartphone, tablet, or personal computer to a server located somewhere on the internet. It then allows you to browse the web using that server’s internet connection. Therefore, if that server is located in a foreign country, it will appear as though you’re coming from that particular country, and you can easily access things that you couldn’t normally.
Most people nowadays are using VPNs for torrenting and bypassing geographic restrictions to access content in a different country. Other uses include:
Accessing Your Business Network
Did you know that it’s possible to access your own network while traveling? Well, you can do this by setting up your own VPN. This will enable you to access a Windows Remote Desktop online, play games over the internet, and use local file shares as though you were on the same local area network (LAN).
VPNs are often utilized by business travelers to access their commercial network, while on the road. Remember, the local resources aren’t exposed directly to the internet, so maximum security is always guaranteed.
Hiding Your Browsing Activity
When using a public Wi-Fi connection on non-HTTPS websites, your browsing activity will always be visible to everyone. For more privacy, you may want to consider connecting to a VPN. This way, the local network will only be able to see a single and secure VPN connection. And all the other traffic will be transmitted over the VPN connection. While your ISP (Internet Service Provider) can use this network to bypass connection-monitoring, bear in mind that VPN providers might opt to log the web traffic on their ends.
Bypassing Internet Censorships
Most Chinese people utilize VPNs to bypass the Great Firewall of China and gain full access to the entire internet. Sounds amazing, right? That’s exactly what VPNs are capable of. They make it easier to access restricted content across the entire globe.
Downloading Files
Today, more and more people are using VPN connections to download files through BitTorrent. If your Internet Service Provider is throttling BitTorrent, hence making it too slow, you can utilize BitTorrent on a VPN to achieve faster speeds.
Unblocking Geo-Blocked Websites
Whether you’re trying to access region-restricted services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Pandora, you’ll be able to do so by using a VPN. VPN streaming will make your entertainment juicier!
Conclusion
When it comes to online privacy, VPNs offer quite a lot. They’ll help you access geo-blocked websites, download files, hide your browsing activity, and much more. And above all, a VPN will ensure that your personal data is kept as private as possible.