What is a VPN?
Background
VPNs, or virtual private networks, are typically used to obfuscate users’ IP addresses and to add a layer of security to Web browsing. They work by routing traffic through a
VPNs, or virtual private networks, are typically used to obfuscate users’ IP addresses and to add a layer of security to Web browsing. They work by routing traffic through a secure, encrypted connection to the VPN’s server. With a VPN, all network traffic (data, voice, and video) goes through a secure virtual tunnel between the host device (client) and the VPN provider’s servers, and is encrypted. VPN technology uses several features including encryption and tunneling to provide you with a secure connection to private networks and to protect your identity.
VPN Providers
There are many VPN service providers available to choose from, with many offering VPN services to consumers for free or for a low monthly subscription fee. These services also make it easy and quick for you to install and use a VPN on practically any platform, including mobile and tablet devices.
These are some of them we recommend:
Personal VPN services are especially useful when connecting to a public WiFi network. By using a VPN service, all your internet communications will be encrypted, making it almost impossible for hackers and snoopers to read and steal your private information.
Benefits of Using a VPN
A VPN masks your IP address, giving you much greater privacy for your online activities. Unshielded, this IP address – the unique address for each device on the internet – can be misused to reveal your identity, location, ISP, and even the specifics of your online activity.
When you use a VPN, your IP address is masked so you can surf the web anonymously. Thus, no one can find out where you connect from or what you do online.
Moreover, by exchanging your IP address with the VPN server’s IP address, you can virtually connect from a geographic location that is different from where you are physically located.
For instance, you may be sitting inside a restaurant in Port Harcourt, but by connecting to a remote VPN server, you can appear to connect to the Internet from another location (i.e. Israel or Australia) which hosts the VPN server you’re connecting to.
This enables you to bypass regional internet restrictions and get access to content (i.e. YouTube, Twitter) or internet services (i.e. Skype, Gmail, Torrents) that are otherwise restricted or censored in the location you are staying in.
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