When it comes to protecting your privacy online, VPNs hold the key. Security on the web in the modern age is more than just about setting up a firewall and antivirus software. VPNs, or virtual private networks, will allow you to connect to disparate servers to cloak location. We will be discussing Types of VPN protocols and how they work.

Crucially, the aim is to prevent would-be snoopers from finding out more about your activity and the data you exchange. VPNs are easy to set up privately and commercially – for example, you can test Surfshark VPN for free. Before you do, however, let’s take a look at VPN protocols and why they matter.

What are VPN Protocols?

VPN protocols, essentially, tell the network how data is to travel. Consider the VPN itself to be a map and the protocols to be suggested routes. 

As many people use VPNs for different reasons, protocols exist to offer a more customized experience. Some, for example, will use a VPN protocol to protect their data. Others will use their software to bypass international lockout. Beyond this, many users want speedier browsing and streaming!

Five Common Protocol Types

Here are the five most common VPN protocols you’ll be able to configure with leading software.

PPTP

Point-to-point tunnelling protocol (PPTP) tends to be the ‘default’ option. It was the first protocol of its kind, focused on ease of use and speed. However, while it’s fast and gets you across international blocks, it’s not the most secure. Compared to other protocols, it may even be the least anonymous

L2TP/IPSec

A dual L2TP/IPSec protocol allows you to secure your browsing to a literal military extent. What’s more, the L2TP side of things provides exceptional encryption of the data you send. That said, some may find this model to be a little slow – and it’s not always recommended for beginners.

OpenVPN

OpenVPN is widely popular, thanks to its open-source roots. It’s also arguably the best for data encryption and, therefore ideal for sensitive browsing. However, this comes at a cost – namely, the speed of your connectivity. It’s also very sensitive to set up correctly, so tread carefully.

SSTP

SSTP, or secure socket tunnelling protocol, is a Microsoft creation. Therefore, it’s primarily associated with Windows OS, and it’s a remote browsing standard. For the most part, SSTP is native and built into Windows, and it’s amazingly secure. However, the main issue here is that it’s tied to this technology – macOS users need to look elsewhere.

IKEv2

Finally, IKEv2 is another Microsoft creation, albeit with Cisco on board. This mobile VPN protocol is designed to keep your data connection steady in dropout zones. It tends to be very steadfast and performs well in said dead zones – but it’s not always the easiest to configure.

Conclusion

There is a different VPN protocol for every different need. Remember to choose the setting that suits your browsing needs the closest! Are you looking for speed or robust protection? If you’re looking for both, it’s time to take a test drive.

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People have been inventing things since time immemorial. From bicycles, cars, planes, rockets, medical equipment, telephones, you name it.

While all these are great, I feel the internet is the greatest invention of all time. It is the one thing that unites us through information and communication, and that has made life so much easier than ever before.

What can’t you do with the internet?

You can study, teach, do business, research, communicate, transfer funds, download or stream your favorite music, videos, and shows for your entertainment, and so much more.

Just about anything you want, you can do. All you need is a smartphone, laptop, or any other internet-enabled device and good internet.

But using the internet is not without challenges,

For starters, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is constantly tracking your online activity. They are aware of when, where, and what you browse. They can then sell this information to advertisers, which can be very risky if it gets into the wrong hands.

Secondly, public WI-FI might be convenient, but it is not always secure. Such networks are easy to intercept because they allow open access to everyone, and they will use either; a shared password or none at all. That means that anyone with malicious intent can spy on your banking information, passwords, and other sensitive information and use it against you.

Also, some sites and apps we use are malicious or insecure and will either expose your data to hackers or sell it to advertisers. In any case, your data is not safe in their hands.

The list goes on.

If you are reading this article, you are probably in a dilemma, whether there’s a safer way to browse the internet.

Lucky for you, there is! Just use a VPN service; it’s that simple.

What is a VPN?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an online tool that allows you to browse the internet anonymously, even on a private network. For that, the VPN tool encrypts all your connections and masks your IP (Internet Protocol) address, thus keeping your data and location hidden.

A VPN protects all your online activities from hackers and strangers with malicious intent. It gives you more freedom to access your favorite websites and application safely and without worry.

There are several advantages of using a VPN;

• It protects you from malicious websites and apps
• Allows safe internet usage over public WI-FI networks
• Enables you to stuff anonymously 
• Provides protection against ISP tracking
• Protects your data from your government
• Allows you to access and stream blocked content etc.

VPNs are not new to the world. They have been around for more than 2- decades, and they are so popular right now. For that reason, this is probably not the first time you are hearing about them.

Despite that, people are still unaware of so many things about VPNs.

Below is a list of 9 of those things that, you too, probably, never knew about VPNs.

1. VPNs are Not 100% Perfect, But They are Your Best Bet

Nothing is 100% perfect, and VPNs are no exception. VPNs are very hard to hack due to the encryption but doing so is still possible. The vulnerability is more for a free VPN. Even so, you are much safer using it than not.

2. All VPNs are Not the Same

There are so many VPNs in the market, and they are all different based on their uses, performance, prices, etc. When searching for your VPN, you will need to think of your needs first to find the best option.

Some of the questions you might want to ask include

• What is the VPNs provider privacy policy?
• Is the VPN up to date?
• Is the VPN accessible on multiple devices?
• How much does the VPN cost?

Confirm that your VPN has everything you are looking for before you make your final decision. Also, to make your work easier, you can click here to learn more about the best VPN services in the market right now and their uses. 

3. You are not 100% Anonymous with a VPN

Although most VPN services promise you anonymous internet browsing, you are not 100% anonymous. If they wish, they can access and identify you through your information through your IP address. But that should not worry you because they wouldn’t dare disclose your identity.

4. VPN Service Providers may Record your Information, but they Keep it to Themselves

There is a common belief that VPN service providers record customer logs for the government. That is not true. The only reason they keep that information is to make follow-ups on their network to identify issues and improve their services.

5. VPNs are Like Firewalls only that They are Untraceable

VPNs are more or less similar to firewalls, with just a very tiny difference between them. They both protect networks and prevent computer viruses from coming in. How they do it is the only thing that makes them different.

Firewalls do it by sifting through the incoming and outgoing data packets. VPNs, on the other hand, do so by encrypting your data and being untraceable.

6. VPNs Can Help You Save On the Subscriptions Costs

The cost of subscribing to streaming services and other internet sites may vary depending on location or country. Using a VPN service allows you to change your IP address and lower the subscription cost for your favorite services.

7. VPNs can Help you Save on Your Flights and Hotel Bookings

Just like subscriptions, the cost of booking a hotel and airline tickets can vary depending on your location. VPN allows you to alter your geolocation and lower the cost of your bookings on your next holiday or business trip.

But please do not use VPN to access your e-banking services and PayPal as this may lead to suspicion of fraudulent use and cost you your account.

8. VPNs Can Help Prevent ISP Throttling Practices

Throttling is a common practice by ISPs worldwide. It happens when your ISP provider decides to limit your internet connectivity, slowing down your speeds, especially on high bandwidth sites. VPN prevents this by encrypting all your data and hiding your online activities from your ISP.

Your ISP cannot see what you are doing, yet they cannot throttle your connectivity on all services. That prevents them from throttling your internet connection on any of the services.

9. VPNs are Illegal in Some Countries

Although VPNs are legal in most parts of the world, in some others, they are illegal. To be more accurate, 30 out of 196 countries have banned the use of VPNs to exercise complete control over their citizens. Some of those countries include China, Russia, Syria, Iran, North Korea, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, and Myanmar.

Conclusion

The internet can be very beneficial to your life, but it can also be very harmful. VPN technology provides an easier, faster, more convenient, and safer way of using it. It is the best way to avoid unnecessary stress while browsing the internet.

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The post 9 Things You Never Knew About VPN Service appeared first on Tricky Enough.

In a way, the internet is still a wild place, even though it may look safe. We don’t usually see the threats in plain sight or tend to underestimate them until we become victims ourselves. So, we need proper protection even if we feel we are safe. Today, we’re going to look into VPN, a cybersecurity tool protecting your privacy. And will be sharing the reasons to use a VPN.

What is a VPN?

VPN stands for “virtual private network”. It is a digital tool that secures your online privacy. When you browse with no VPN, your traffic is out there naked. Hackers can intercept it and snatch your data, while your internet service provider or other interested parties can easily check what you do online. VPN gives you the much-needed protection so no one can see what you do online or where you browse from. 

But how does it work? Well, it’s quite simple and complex at the same time. VPN routes your traffic through an encrypted tunnel so no one can decipher it. As a result, your traffic is safe from snoopers and cybercriminals. Moreover, a VPN changes your IP by sending your traffic to remote servers and changes your virtual location. So, if you are in France, you can connect to a UK server, and nobody will see your French locale.  

Why should you use a VPN?

VPN is an essential tool to protect yourself online. Below are the main reasons why you should use it:

• Staying safe on public Wi-Fi. Public Wi-Fi is often fertile ground for hackers and snoopers as it hardly ever has proper protection. When you connect to a public hotspot, you get exposed to a lot of threats. VPN encrypts your traffic, so you are no longer at risk when connecting to a public network.
• Bypassing georestrictions. VPN changes your IP address and virtual locale, so you can easily bypass geo-restrictions of a certain location. For example, if you are in the US and want to use a service only available in Poland, just connect to a Polish server, and you will be able to use it. A service would see your Polish IP and think that you’re connecting from Poland.

• Avoiding censorship. VPNs are widely used by various activists operating from restrictive areas where the internet is heavily filtered. VPNs help to bypass these filtering tools by routing your traffic via remote servers and hiding your IP. However, we strongly recommend using VPN obfuscated servers, as those can help you in a lot of these cases. Such servers hide the fact that you use a VPN, so no one will be able to block your connection.

• Protecting yourself from third-party snooping. While most of us think that no one sees what we do online, it is far from the truth. Government agencies, internet service providers, and other entities can see what you do on the internet. VPN encrypts your traffic, hiding everything you do online.

• Hiding your whereabouts. Your IP address can tell a great deal about you. Anyone who knows it can see where you are with street precision or find out your internet service provider. VPN hides your IP, preventing anyone from seeing such info about you.
• Avoiding bandwidth throttling. Some internet providers curb users’ traffic when they engage in certain activities (e.g. gaming or streaming) to save up bandwidth. As VPN hides your activities, they won’t be able to see what you’re doing and so won’t slow down your connection.

• Protecting your IoT devices. VPN can protect your whole network if installed on your router, so you can protect any device connected to it.
• Safeguarding you while travelling. When you travel, your device always gets exposed to various public networks, and each of them introduces additional threats. VPN encrypts your traffic wherever you are, so you no longer need to worry about external threats while travelling through different countries.   

What VPN service should you choose?

There are tons of VPN services available and it is easy to get lost among such a variety. So, how to choose the right one? Here are some tips on what to pay attention to when choosing a VPN service:

• Avoid free VPN services. While getting a VPN without spending a dollar is a tempting opportunity, you should avoid such services. The problem is that most free VPNs monetize their operations by gathering user data and selling it to third parties or bombarding you with annoying ads. So, instead of protecting your privacy, they introduce additional threats. Moreover, lots of them have very limited functionality, poor server infrastructure, and won’t provide you with proper protection. Some VPNs can even provide data to governments that stand behind them;

• Make sure the VPN service has a no-logs policy. This guarantees that the VPN provider doesn’t keep any of its users’ data and won’t be able to pass it to anyone trying to obtain it. Usually, reputable VPN companies conduct independent audits to prove that they adhere to such policies. Such info is normally publically available on their websites and doesn’t require much research.

• Make sure the VPN service has a customer support service. Even with the best app, you might encounter some issues, and you surely don’t want to lose your privacy even for a second. So, good customer service that can help you anytime is a must. Moreover, it indicates the transparency of a company;

• Check if the VPN provider has a vast server network because this will give you a wide variety of locales to choose from. Moreover, it will help to avoid server overload as there would be enough servers for all the users;

• It is also important for a VPN app to have some extra protection functionalities such as Kill Switch, obfuscated servers, Double VPN, etc. This will give you extra protection when you operate from high-risk areas where internet freedom is low and you could get punished for your activities due to freedom-of-speech violations. Kill Switch immediately terminates the internet connection if a VPN service is down, so you won’t get accidentally exposed. Obfuscated servers hide the fact that you use a VPN, so you could still use it in countries where such services are forbidden or discouraged. For rich and easily accessible functionality, check the NordVPN app, which is powerful and easy to use at the same time;

• If you plan to use a VPN for gaming and streaming, also make sure that the service offers high speed and won’t disrupt your activities with buffering. Again, NordVPN is a good choice here due to its ultra-fast NordLynx protocol offering blazing speeds;

• It should have a user-friendly and accessible interface. In this case, you will always be able to connect quickly and without hassle.  

Conclusion

VPN is an essential tool nowadays. Don’t hesitate to spend an extra buck on it as the loss of your data or privacy could cost way more. NordVPN celebrates VPN Awareness Month, so don’t lose your chance and grab a 2-year plan of 72% off and receive 3 months for free.

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The post Why should you use a VPN? appeared first on Tricky Enough.

VPN Servers

There are many VPN services available online that you can subscribe to for a minimal fee, as well as free VPN providers. The Guardian states that free VPNs are unreliable and slow. The reason free VPN services tend to be slower is that as the service is free, they tend to have fewer servers and a higher amount of users, therefore at busy times when there is a lot of web traffic, the VPN becomes congested, slowing the speed of the connection. The Guardian also suggests that by using a free service you cannot be sure who you are entrusting your data, as it could actually be criminals or the government posing as a VPN service provider.

Your geographical location and distance to VPN servers can also make a difference in the speed of your internet connection. For example, if you are in America and are trying to access a UK website provider through a UK server, this could cause a slight delay in the speed, as data has further to travel across the world wide web.

Encryption

Another reason that a VPN could slow your internet speed is the process of encrypting data. As everything that goes in and out of the connection needs to be coded or decoded, this takes a short amount of time which could mean you find that using the internet through a VPN could take longer than when you access the internet solely through your Internet Service Provider (ISP). In many cases, the VPN doesn’t give a chance to scammers to steal your personal information.

IP Cloaking

Your internet will only be as quick as your ISP’s bandwidth offering. If you are on an ISP’s highest bandwidth package, generally there is not much that you can do to increase internet speed, as there is no way of increasing the capacity of data being delivered at any one time. ISPs tend to try and control their customer’s access to websites such as video streaming through the process of bandwidth throttling. Bandwidth throttling slows the internet connection. ISPs do this to prevent people from accessing illegal content and to encourage customers to purchase faster and more expensive internet packages.

When accessing the internet through a VPN you are provided with a different IP address, meaning your identity is hidden from your ISP. All that your ISP can see is data traveling to and from the VPN servers in code. This means that when accessing the internet through a VPN, ISP’s are unable to know when you are trying to access content that they wish to restrict and therefore cannot implement bandwidth throttling tactics. This can have an inadvertent effect on the speed of your internet when accessing certain content such as videos, meaning your internet connection could be quicker.

Firewalls

Strong firewalls are used by VPNs in order to prevent outside entities from hacking into your internet connection and disrupting your browsing. Some of these disruptions to browsing can be caused by pop-ups and spam. When you are trying to browse video content spam and pop-ups can slow down the speed at which you can view content, therefore firewalls on VPNs can help to speed up the connection of your internet by blocking pop-ups.

VPN Protocols

Different VPN services have different VPN protocols. Protocols determine the level of encryption that is used on your data. Newer protocols using newer technology tend to be more secure and harder to crack into as they use the latest technology. The stronger the encryption, the more time it takes to code, therefore, some protocols take longer, causing users’ internet connections to slow down. Most VPN providers use a variety of protocols and users should be able to select which works best depending on what level of security they require, balanced against the speed of their internet connection.

Devices

The BBC discussed findings from Ofcom’s most recent Communications Market Report which showed that people in the UK are increasingly owning mobile devices as opposed to desktops. They explored how the demand to remain connected via the internet whilst on the go has significantly increased, as well as what people are using mobile devices for. The number of calls made by mobile phones has significantly decreased over the last ten years, whereas using a mobile internet connection to stream online TV has massively increased. The focus for new technology is on mobile devices and therefore new mobile devices with the latest technology tend to work better with a VPN, as they can keep up quicker with the encryption of data than older desktops, that are using old technology. You may find that accessing the internet on your iPad through a VPN can speed up your internet connection, in comparison to when using your home desktop. Using a Proxy Store from the right resource can help you with better VPN usage.

With all of the above in mind, therefore, using a VPN could affect your internet speed positively or negatively depending on your individual requirements. It is important to remember that a VPN’s function is not to speed up your internet connection but to give you privacy on a secure connection. If you do find that a VPN is affecting your internet speed negatively, as discussed, there are several things you can do to limit its effects.

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