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VPN services are designed to protect data when working on the Internet. This technology ensures the security of corporate and government networks. Today it is available to everyone. Senior security analyst Max Eddy and Attila Tomaschek explained what VPN is, how it works and what it is for.

What is VPN?

VPN stands for "virtual private network". This is a service that allows you to remain private on the Internet and network. VPN establishes a secure encrypted connection between your computer and the Internet, providing a private tunnel for data and communication when using public networks.

Today there are two types of VPN:

• Secure gateways that create an encrypted data tunnel when a user connects to the Network. Available to anyone who has Internet access and the necessary software.
• Intranet - internal networks of large corporations or government organizations. The intranet works on the same principle as the Internet, but only authorized personnel have access to the network. This creates a reliable connection that allows remote employees to work effectively.

Intranet is also called "network-to-network" or "router-to-router" VPN. It creates a closed internal network where users from different locations can securely connect with each other without the risk of being hacked.

CNET portal author Attila Tomaschek writes that the Internet connection is encrypted when the user uses an application or PC software, creating a private virtual network. When traffic goes back and forth through this encrypted connection, traveling through a virtual tunnel between the device and the selected server, online activity and IP address are effectively masked from external objects.

The process takes place in several stages:

1. Connecting to a VPN server.
2. The device and VPN server exchange encryption keys during a process known as a "handshake".
3. Once the handshake is complete, a secure tunnel to the Internet is established.

This handshake process is performed instantly and is essential because it ensures that only the VPN server can decrypt the data sent from the device, and that only the device can decrypt the data sent back from the VPN server.

Data is encrypted before it leaves your device, then it passes through the tunnel to the VPN server, where it is decrypted and transmitted to the visited website. Then the website sends the data back to the VPN server, where this website's data is encrypted and returned through the tunnel to the device. Once they arrive on the device, the website data is decrypted so the user can read it.

What is VPN for?

A virtual private network protects user privacy on the Internet, which guarantees security against discrimination based on location or other hacker attacks. In practice, VPN encrypts the user's Internet connection and hides their IP address.

Advantages and disadvantages

Let's consider the advantages and disadvantages of using VPN services. The advantages include:

• Ability to hide your identity on the Internet. IP address masking and Internet traffic encryption guarantees that no one can track you on the Internet.
• Bypassing geoblocking. Sometimes you cannot log into a site because it is blocked in a particular country. This is geoblocking. Using a VPN service, you can select the country or region where the site is not blocked. This will allow you to open the web page without hindrance.
• Network connection protection. It is recommended to use a VPN when connecting to free public Wi-Fi. Cybercriminals can steal credit card data, bank details, login and password for email or social networks over this network. VPN encrypts all online communications and guarantees that no one can track your Internet activity.
• Bypassing firewalls. While at work, university, airport or even a hotel, you may encounter firewalls whose settings block certain sites. VPN allows you to easily bypass the firewall in such a situation.

The disadvantages include:

• slowing down Internet speed;
• incorrect VPN selection can compromise privacy;
• quality VPN services are paid;
• not all devices support VPN by default.

Internet security specialist Max Eddy writes that the biggest problem with VPN is not related to technology, but to trust, since all traffic passes through VPN companies' systems. If they want, they can see everything users do on the Internet, and then sell this data. They can place ads on websites you view.

How to choose a VPN

Many VPN companies try to gain user trust, but this is extremely difficult to do. Before choosing a VPN service, be sure to study the privacy policy to understand what efforts the company is making to protect it.

Also follow these tips for choosing a VPN:

• study the characteristics (Internet speed, type of encryption, anonymity, etc.);
• check compatible devices;
• find a service with a user-friendly interface to make it easier to install and configure VPN;
• make sure you can work with servers in the regions you need (each company has a limited list of servers in different parts of the world);
• decide if the tariff plan suits you;
• make sure the service provides a money-back guarantee for services.

How to connect VPN? First, choose a VPN service, then go to the official company website. You may need to register on the portal. Then download the software to your computer or phone, install it. Launch the application, activate the tariff plan and start the VPN.

Don't believe that all VPN providers provide absolutely the same services. First decide what you need from a VPN, then choose the right service based on your own requirements and preferences.