What Is VPN?
If
you've ever had to use special software to log in to your work network
when working remotely, you are already familiar with VPN technology. It
creates an encrypted connection (often referred to as a tunnel) between
your computer and your company's VPN server, and then passes all network
activity through the protected tunnel. This way, even if you are using
the airport's Wi-Fi network, none of the other people on that network
can see what's happening inside that tunnel.
The VPN services I
talk about here work the same way, but instead of your Web traffic
moving through the encrypted tunnel to your company's server, it goes to
a server operated by the VPN provider. This not only means that your
data is safe from prying eyes on the network you're connected to, but
that advertisers and online snoops won't be able to see your actual IP
address or glean your current location. Instead, they'll see the IP
address and location information for the VPN server.
Think of it this
way: If you drive out of your garage, someone can follow your car and
track where you went, how long you were there, and when you returned
home. We call that stalking. Using a VPN service is like driving into a
closed parking garage, switching to a different car, and then driving
out. Anyone following your original car now has no idea where you went
after entering the garage. A VPN service keeps the stalkers at bay.
Of
course, no technology is foolproof. Once your traffic exits the VPN
server, it can be monitored and perhaps intercepted. It's also possible
to use complicated timing algorithms to predict when and where you leave
the encrypted tunnel. There are other services, such as Tor, that can
provide greater levels of anonymity. And if you're exchanging sensitive
information, consider using encryption software to secure it first or
using an encrypted messaging service such as Signal for iPhone and
Android.
Activists rely on VPN services to change their IP addresses
and spoof their online activity to get around government censors.
Regular people can use VPN services to encrypt sensitive online activity
while connected to unknown Wi-Fi networks to foil ad tracking and to
spoof their location. This last point means that, in some cases, you can
enjoy region-locked content.
What do I mean by region-locked?
The Netflix we know here in the US isn't the same Netflix that people in
other countries see. Overseas, Netflix subscribers can see HBO shows,
and major hit films on the streaming service that don't show up within
these United States. That's because Netflix has specific deals to
distribute this content in different areas.
Netflix isn't the
only service that can be tricked. The BBC and the MLB have different
streaming arrangements for different regions. There are numerous others.
It's
certainly fun to feel like you're getting away with something when
using a VPN to gain access to restricted content, but don't complain if
you get caught violating a company's terms of service in the process.
Just because you have a Netflix account does not mean you have a legal
right to access Netflix content in another country. In fact, using VPN
to watch Netflix has become much harder as of late, because many VPN
services render region-locked streaming sites inaccessible, and because
the streaming services are fighting back against the VPN services that
don't.When comes to the issue of online privacy and security, we suggest
to use a VPN, and our recommendation is RitaVPN.Qwer432
https://www.ritavpn.com/blog/what-are-the-best-chromium-based-browsers/
https://www.ritavpn.com/blog/how-to-download-geo-restricted-android-ios-apps/
https://www.ritavpn.com/blog/transparent-proxies-learn-how-we-can-bypass-them/
.jpg)
