VPN services will have servers located in different geographical areas, so it will look like the user could be from any one of those locations. VPNs associate a user's search history with the VPN server's IP address. The tunnel will connect a user's device to an exit node in another distant location, which makes it seem like the user is in another location. This is what will hide private information from attackers or others hoping to gain access to an individual's activities.

The VPN client is not noticeable to the end user unless it creates performance issues.īy using a VPN tunnel, a user's device will connect to another network, hiding its IP address and encrypting the data. The endpoint device needs to be running a VPN client (software application) locally or in the cloud. The tunneling protocol used may depend on the platform the VPN is being used on, such as SSTP being used on Windows OS, and will provide data encryption at varying strengths. Different VPNs will use different tunneling protocols, such as OpenVPN or Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP). To create the tunnel, a tunneling protocol is used over existing networks. How do VPNs work?Īt its most basic level, VPN tunneling creates a point-to-point connection that cannot be accessed by unauthorized users. Private browsing does not involve encryption it is simply an optional browser setting that prevents identifiable user data from being collected. Secure access through a mobile VPN should not be confused with private browsing, however. They can also be used to visit websites that are restricted by location. VPN apps are often used to protect data transmissions on mobile devices. The originating and receiving network addresses are also encrypted to provide better security for online activities. This makes VPNs a go-to tool for online privacy.Ī VPN uses tunneling protocols to encrypt data at the sending end and decrypts it at the receiving end. Anyone on the same network will not be able to see what a VPN user is doing. VPNs can be used to hide a user's browser history, Internet Protocol (IP) address and geographical location, web activity or devices being used. An internet user could use a VPN to avoid these encroachments on privacy. In addition, some unsecured Wi-Fi access points (APs) may be a convenient avenue for attackers to gain access to a user's personal data. Internet service providers (ISPs) normally have a rather large amount of insight into a customer's activities.

Typically, a VPN is used over a less secure network, such as the public internet.

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