As large-scale cyber attacks become more prevalent, Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs have been gaining in popularity as a way to make online interaction safer.
A VPN is a useful service for anyone trying to avoid being targeted by cyber criminals, but is a must for people who tend to use unsecure networks, like those in coffee shops or airports, to perform professional level or sensitive tasks. VPNs are also used by journalists and activists to protect their identities.
The standard use of a VPN is to protect your data, masking your IP, so that crackers are unable to access your information. The service a VPN provides is an encrypted tunnel to a remote server. Because your internet traffic takes place after the encryption, no one is able to track back to you as a source. At the same time, your IP address becomes that of the server so your location is not searchable.
A VPN is a useful service for anyone trying to avoid being targeted by cyber criminals, but is a must for people who tend to use unsecure networks, like those in coffee shops or airports, to perform professional level or sensitive tasks. VPNs are also used by journalists and activists to protect their identities.
The standard use of a VPN is to protect your data, masking your IP, so that crackers are unable to access your information. The service a VPN provides is an encrypted tunnel to a remote server. Because your internet traffic takes place after the encryption, no one is able to track back to you as a source. At the same time, your IP address becomes that of the server so your location is not searchable.